"Elder, what brings you out here?" Aiden asked.
"I came to speak with your mate. Evidently she had information to share with Elder Rioux that I would like to discuss with her," he sneered.
Elizabeth stepped forward. "Actually Elder, I was the one who called Elder Rioux. My name is Elizabeth Monroe."
She noticed that his entire demeanor changed. "Elizabeth Monroe, what a pleasure it is to finally meet you. Your uncle has had nothing but wonderful things to say about you." The change from prickly to pleasant was unnerving.
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed movement at the top of the stairs. When she saw Elder Evreux's line of sight turning to the stairs she stepped in front of him. "My uncle has spoken of your dedication to our people."
The Elder's eyebrow's shot up. "Our people?" he asked.
"Of course. I was raised in Noctem Falls after all, this is the first time with the exception of my short forays into human cities that I haven't been surrounded by vampires. I find that I miss the caves." She smiled, hoping that she had distracted him. What on earth was Meryn doing?
Elder Evreux preened. "I am dedicated to our race, I am humbled that Elder Rioux has taken notice. I find your manners a refreshing change, maybe I should visit Noctem Falls sometime soon." He turned to Aiden, his smile dropping. "Where is your mate?" he demanded.
"Meryn! Someone is here to see you!" Aiden called up the stairs.
"Hold on!" was her reply.
Aiden's smile to Elder Evreux was tight. "She'll be right down."
"Ahhh!" Meryn wailed. Everyone turned to look up the stairs.
"What?" Aiden yelled, concern written all over his face.
"I dropped my iPod in the toilet!" Meryn sounded frantic.
"Pull it out and dry it off, it will be fine," Aiden bellowed.
"You don't understand, I didn't flush yet.... And I went number two." Meryn's tone sounded so tragic that Elizabeth was starting to believe her.
Aiden turned to Elder Evreux his face red. "She's busy, maybe another time..."
"Never mind! Got it!" Meryn yelled triumphantly. Seconds later she was walking down the stairs wiping her hands on her jeans. Smiling at the Elder she walked right up to him and offered him her hand to shake.
Elder Evreux looked like he was going to be ill. He stared at her hand as if she were a plague carrier. He spun on his heel to face Aiden. "You know what. You look very busy getting these boys settled. I'll come back at a more opportune time." Without waiting for a reply he bolted for the door as if the hounds of hell were after him. The sound of the door slamming shut echoed in the foyer.
"Can I be just like you when I grow up?" Noah whispered.
Meryn jumped up and down throwing her tiny fists in the air. "Whoo hoo! Meryn two. Douchebag zero."
"Meryn, you shouldn't call Elder Evreux a douchebag in front of our new trainees," Aiden admonished even as his lips were trying not to smile.
"Don't mind us, sir." Lennox and the other trainees gave Meryn a thumbs up sign.
"You little minx. How on earth did you find out that Elder Evreux has to be the biggest germaphobe this side of the Mississippi?" Elizabeth pulled the smaller woman in for a hug.
Meryn looked at her and winked impishly. "I have learned well, Master Yoda," and then held up her phone.
Elizabeth's mouth dropped. "Of course! The history books! You little genius!" She laughed and danced around the foyer with her.
Meryn stopped dancing and turned to Aiden. "And he can't say I wasn't nice. He left all on his own so he can't complain. I am learning about politics."
Aiden shook his head smiling. "I don't think that your version of 'politics' is quite right, but that's okay."
"I like her version, Commander, I say we learn more about her style of politics," Colton joked.
"Okay, enough shenanigans. Alpha Unit, let's get these trainees settled and then introduce them to drills." Aiden's grin was decidedly wolfish.
All the men including the new trainees groaned.
Aiden laughed. "You all didn't think you'd be getting the day off did you? Welcome to the Alpha Unit, you'll soon be missing my brother and his soft ways."
Lennox looked at the other trainees then to Aiden before swallowing. "He was soft?" He looked at Aiden in disbelief.
"Come on squirts, if Aiden hasn't killed us yet I doubt you're in any danger. But you may want to leave the name of your next of kin with Ryuu, he's the house squire," Colton said slinging an arm around Lennox's shoulders.
The trainees turned to Ryuu and gave a half bow which the squire returned. "You are to come to me with any concerns regarding your domestic arrangements. Unit Commander McKenzie has given me leave to discipline you if you get out of hand, but having met you I don't think that will be a problem. But just to be on the safe side, are any of you especially susceptible to electricity?" Where Aiden had been kidding, everyone could tell Ryuu was not. The newcomers all shook their heads looking dazed.
"Buck up gentlemen, you're here because you scored the highest and wanted to be here. You have what it takes to keep up," Elizabeth said encouragingly.
The trainees all smiled at her warmly. Cenric the fae even winked. Gavriel let out a low, long hiss and moved closer to her. He glared at the paling trainees before taking her hand. "In case you didn't know, the rumors floating around Lycaonia are true. A spell was cast to bring all of the unit warriors their mates. Any female that lives here is spoken for, and you would do well to remain respectful."