My Warrior (Bewitched and Bewildered #12) - Alanea Alder Page 0,32

what's that make me and Ari?"

Ari looked at his brother. "Cousins?"

Rex beamed out at the room. "The adorable menace is my baby cousin!"

"I can still call you hot right?" Meryn asked.

Rex nodded as Aiden growled the word, 'No!'

"Much better," Amelia murmured as she sat back.

Brie realized she was right. This was much better than wallowing in despair. She stood and held out her hand to Ari. "Like father, like daughter." She raised an eyebrow at him.

Ari, much like Doran, shot out of his chair. "Goodnight," he said simply. He scooped her up in his arms and ran from the room, leaving catcalls and whistles in their wake.

Chapter Six

Once they were outside, Ari set her down on her feet. "We have a couple options."

"For what?" Because there was only one thing she was thinking of, and if that's what he was referring to, options were always good.

"We can return to my rooms at the Lionhart estate or head to the Unit Warrior villa."

Oh, that's what he meant.

"Since I've already seen the Lionhart estate, we can go to the Warrior villa. I just need to grab my clothes from your parent's place."

"That won't be a problem," Ari smiled, then reached down and took her hand. "Why the shift in attitude. Wasn't I your 'supposed' mate?"

"I'm not sure. Earlier, when I was feeling like my head was about to explode, just being in your arms made everything feel safer. That kind of comfort can be an aphrodisiac, and I found myself craving you more. If Fate, or whatever, feels like we'd be a perfect match, I'm going to throw caution to the wind and just try this out. I mean, Fate can't choose worse than I've chosen for myself over the years."

Ari frowned. "I'm ecstatic that you have accepted our mating, but I'm not sure how I feel regarding the 'it can't get any worse' mentality."

"I'm a cop, Ari, we're pessimists by nature."

"Warriors aren't much better." He gently tugged on her hand, and they slowly made their way through the golden city until they were back at his parents' home. He opened the door and they stepped into the foyer. "You run up to the bathroom and grab your stuff; I'm going to my room to grab my fatigues, duffel, and your gun from the safe."

"Fatigues?"

"Yeah, tomorrow Tau unit is training, so our fatigues serve as our workout gear."

"Hmmm."

He flashed her a boyish grin. "I'll model them for you tomorrow."

She laughed and began to jog up the stairs. "Damn right, you will."

Once in the large bathroom, she discovered that someone had laundered and delivered her clothes. They sat folded neatly in a pile on the counter. The travel toiletry kit sitting on top made her smile. She scooped everything up and went to Ari's room. He was waiting for her by the closet. "Come here," he asked.

She followed him into the closet and he led her to one side where the wall was covered in different mirrors. He had her place her hand on the center mirror. "Now, you have access as well." She stared as the mirror slid aside to reveal a massive gun safe. "This is so damn sexy."

He chuckled and retrieved her gun. He showed her that it was loaded and handed it to her. She tucked it away with her things and he closed the safe.

"Your squire is a miracle," she said, holding up the kit. He handed her a small travel bag and she dropped her things in.

Ari's face brightened. "Leo has been taking care of us since before I was born. He's just as much a parent to me as my mother and father."

"So, what Meryn said about them being like Super Moms is true?"

"Very much so, in fact, it's probably one of the best descriptions I've heard for a squire. Granted, not all squires are the same. Most strive to become even a fraction as good as Sei Ryuu, Cord Danuthal, and Sebastian Hearthstone."

"So, we're just lucky?"

"Pretty much."

This time she didn't wait for him. She reached down and took his hand, earning her a bright smile. "I wasn't kidding when I said I was all in," she reminded him. They walked downstairs and into the warm evening air.

"Once you make up your mind, that's it, huh?"

She gave a half shrug. "I've always been that way."

Together, they walked through the streets, past the splendor of the Upper City, until they came upon a brightly lit building amongst some of the older homes on the street. The windows