"Where is it? Where is this necklace that was found?" he demanded.

Beth stepped closer. "Elder Evreux, how nice to see you again."

The Elder nodded at Beth and then his eyes traveled downward until he was looking at Penny. His lip curled. "How disturbing. Children like her always make me nauseous." Penny edged behind her as Rheia glared at the odious man.

Meryn stepped forward. "Elder, I'm afraid the necklace isn't here. Aiden has it with him at the clinic."

Elder Evreux looked down at Meryn and sneered. "I heard you were breeding. Gods only know why the world would want another version of you running around. You probably won't be able to carry to term you know, most human shift pregnancies are dangerous."

Meryn's eyes filled with tears and she stepped back placing her hands over her stomach. Without even thinking Rheia reared back and punched the man as hard as she could, aiming for his nose. When she heard a crunching sound she smiled.

The Elder spun around and hissed at her. He took a step forward and was brought up by an incandescent Ryuu. The squire had a faint blue glow surrounding him. He placed his body directly between the Elder and the women.

"Elder, I suggest that you leave. I will let the Unit Commander know that you were inquiring about the necklace. But for future visits, please call ahead and make arrangements with me, personally." Ryuu seemed to swell, his presence filling the foyer.

"Elder McKenzie will hear about this!" he said threateningly. When it seemed that Ryuu was about to step towards him, the Elder turned and left.

"I am not going to lose my baby!" Meryn wailed.

Rheia turned to her. "Of course you aren't, I'm here now and I don't make it a habit of losing patients."

Beth took out her cell phone and brought it to her ear. She didn't even give him a chance to say hello.

"Uncle, you will probably be getting a phone call from Elder Evreux about an assault charge, don't even bother listening to his drivel, he completely deserved it. In fact, he's lucky I didn't hit him myself! No.. I don't care about his station. You shorten his choke collar Uncle, or I will!" Beth stabbed her finger at her phone ending the call, her normally creamy cheeks flushed pink.

Ryuu steered Meryn and Beth into Aiden's office. "Why don't you two work on your projects, that should take your minds off of things. I'll bring in some tea later."

Penny pointed to her wall and Rheia nodded.

Meryn sniffled as she turned on her laptop. "Fucking douchebag."

After all of the afternoon's excitement  she didn't know what to do with herself. She walked around and found her way to the kitchen. At home when she felt discombobulated, she always did the dishes. She looked around the kitchen and sighed, it was immaculate, every surface gleamed.

Ryuu walked in from a back room holding a pad and pen. He looked surprised to see her in his domain.

"Was there something I could help you with?"

Rheia shrugged. "I'm feeling out of sorts and was hoping to find some dishes to wash so I could feel useful, but it looks like you clean just as well as you cook."

His expression softened. "Why don't you sit down, I'll make us some tea." He pointed to the small table that held five chairs.

She sat down. "Why is there a table in here if everyone eats in the dining room?"

Ryuu put a kettle on to boil. "Because less than two months ago, only five men lived in this house. First Aiden found Meryn, or I should say Meryn crash landed in his life," he smiled, "Then Beth came. After Beth we got Jaxon and Noah, then you and Penny. This family is growing exponentially," he said smugly.

"You seem pleased with the idea."

Ryuu nodded. "The last family I served, I was with them until the last of their line drew breath. Then I found myself banned from my own country. I came to Lycaonia thinking this would be a good place to die. My kind, what I am, we have to be bound to service. Without a family to serve, I grow weak and begin to fade away. The larger this household, the more mates and children that live here, the better."

"Don't you ever get tired of taking care of everyone?" she asked, curious.

Ryuu shook his head. "It pleases me to serve others, especially someone as special as my denka."

Rheia had to grin, Meryn sure was special alright. "Thank you for all your help with Penny's family."

"Family is important." He lifted the kettle and poured the hot water into a simple cream teapot, the smell of jasmine filled the air. He carefully poured two cups and set them on the table. He sat down next to her and took the second cup for himself.

"Do you believe finding your mate results in an 'instant love'?" she asked. She'd been battling her feelings for Colton all day. Her body and her heart wanted him, craved him like a drug. Her mind, however, kept rejecting the idea that what she felt was love. It shouldn't be so easy.

Ryuu sipped his tea. "I believe that matings induce the feelings one experiences when one falls in love. That rush one feels at the thought of seeing their mate, the overwhelming desire to touch and be touched, the realization that no one else in the entire world will ever suit them as perfectly. These are all things humans experience over a certain amount of time when finding a life partner. For paranormals, these feelings herald the knowledge that the person they are with are their pre-destined mate, that literally the person that they barely know will be the only person they will be with for the rest of their long lives."