Page 18 of My Pleasure

Smirking, Meryn handed him her tablet. He began reading, then kept swiping. “Is this real or did you make stuff up to keep your database?”

“I am o-ffended!” Meryn protested.

The handsome Japanese man behind Meryn cleared his throat. “She worked with both Rheia and Serenity for those numbers.”

“Thank you, Ryuu,” Meryn said, glaring up at her mate.

Aiden dropped a kiss on his mate’s forehead. “Aedan, Konstantine, meet me out back for new drills.”

Both men, whom she assumed were Aedan and Konstantine, groaned and stood.

“Pretty purple one on the left is Konstantine and the tall golden one on the right is Aedan.” Meryn pointed around the room. “My squire Ryuu Sei. My brothers Pip Maverick, Nigel and Neil Morninglory, Hunter’s unit leader, Caiden Ironwood and his mate Genevieve Taylor.” She looked around. “Zev left to get more groceries, so I think that’s everyone who’s here right now. Kendrick and his mate Anne have been bouncing between here and his fairytale cottage in the city.”

Aiden was still looking at the iPad when he walked out, Aedan and Konstantine behind him.

Caiden set a plate of glazed meatballs in front of Meryn. “What on earth did you show him?”

“I had Rheia and Serenity help me measure bone and muscle density based on paranormal type. I think it affects how strong they are or something. Then I pasted a bunch of sport science stuff in there for him,” she explained.

“Will it help?” Caiden asked.

“Aiden is smart. I bet he saw something in there I missed that they can actually use. Lucky for me,” Meryn said, spearing a meatball.

Kiera watched the entire interaction fascinated. “You have a database of warrior stats?”

Meryn grinned. “And rankings.”

“Like, how they placed with the units?”

Meryn shook her head. “No, how they placed with our judges.”

Kiera thought it over. “Oh. Oh! Are there pictures?”

“Oh yeah, we even have categories. Shirtless, uniform, fatigues and formal wear.”

Kiera cut her eyes to her mate.

He just winked and nodded toward Meryn. “You can look all you want, then you’ll see you got the best one.”

She stood on tip toe and frowned. “Get down here,” she ordered.

He leaned down looking surprised. She pecked him on the lips then went to sit next to Meryn.

Meryn held out her hand. “Welcome to the judges panel.”

Kiera shook it, smiling. “Thank you, for having me.”

“I wasn’t sure if we’d get any judges in Storm Keep. So far, Genevieve doesn’t care.”

The woman puttering behind Caiden laughed. “Meryn, I sleep next to perfection each night, I don’t need to judge anyone else.”

Kiera watched in fascination as one of the most famous witches in the city’s mouth dropped open and was left speechless.

Genevieve put down her measuring cup and with her index finger she closed her mate’s mouth. “Later,” she said, then kept pulling out ingredients.

Kiera felt the air begin to vibrate as Caiden’s eyes turned to quicksilver. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms.

“You an air witch too?” Meryn asked.