Page 21 of My Pleasure

Everyone stared at her mate. Had she not known the actual story of what happened, she would probably have the same expression the others had.

“Stalked?” Anne asked.

Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. “Kinda, but I needed to make sure they were okay.”

She rubbed his arm. “They know now, hun.”

Meryn stretched. “Good, Kendrick is here. You explain to her why the Academy sucks butt.”

Kendrick opened his mouth to speak, and Anne covered it. “Actually, I think Marshall would be better,” she suggested.

Kendrick looked down at his mate and removed her hand. “Why him and not me?”

Anne pointed up at him. “Because you and Meryn have a very cavalier view of the world that skews how you explain things. Marshall is patient and used to choosing his words carefully being an Elder. You and Meryn both rip the bandaid off painfully first, then answer panicked questions second.”

Caiden was nodding. “I’ll call father,” he said, then pulled out his phone to send a message.

Both Kendrick and Meryn pouted.

Pip cuddled Meryn. “Different people have different strengths.”

“I suck at explaining things?” Meryn asked.

Pip didn’t answer, but Nigel and Neil nodded. Nigel ruffled Meryn’s curls. “Kinda, yeah.”

Meryn thought it over, then sighed. “You’re right. I’d rather have Kari explain things to me, than me.”

“No one beats you in a crisis,” Neil added.

Moments later, Kiera heard the door open and close. “What’s this about an explanation?”

Kiera stood and gave a small half bow to her Elder. “Elder Ironwood. Anne thought you’d be best to explain what is going on with the Academy,” she explained.

The Elder smiled. “I am honored at her faith in me.” He leaned against the counter. “Where do I begin?”

“Start at the part where they suck butt,” Meryn said.

The Elder smiled, but shook his head. “They didn’t used to be like that. Lately, both the Witches’ Council and the Academy began to make unilateral decisions that impacted the entire city. Their actions led to the portal closing and dissolution of the alliance with the fae.”

She reached for her chair and sat back down. “What? We’re no longer allied with the fae?”

Meryn waved her hand back and forth. “Y’all will be once we get rid of all the douchebags.”

“A couple days ago, enforcers kidnapped Genevieve, beat her and placed her in their holding cells.”

“For what?”

Genevieve went to Caiden and he wrapped his arms around her. “Because she was human and I hadn’t announced our mating.”

“We announce our matings now?” she asked.

The Elder shook his head. “They passed that law in a clandestine manner, the night before she was arrested. Caiden never even had the chance to do anything.”

“Is that legal?”

Elder Marshall shook his head. “The Witches’ Council isn’t permitted to create laws, and they certainly don’t have the authority to create a group to enforce them.”

Kiera thought back to how the streets seemed quieter when she arrived. “Normally, when I come home, people are out and about and chatting with one another. It was quiet today.”