And this was where Merrick felt like a real fucking moron. “I should have known he’d double cross me. My anger at you and the guild clouded my judgment. He took the laptop, the journal, and tried to kill me. Under normal circumstances I would have seen his deception a mile away.”
She pressed her finger firmly against his lips. “Shh, we’ll get it back.”
He shook his head, dislodging her hand. “There’s no need.”
She gave him a puzzled look.
“While I might have been out of it, I wasn’t a complete fool. I read the journal and I found the information Vander was after. I also kept the journal a day longer than necessary. Old habits die hard, and no matter how much I wanted to think I didn’t care about Vander or your guild, I couldn’t bring myself to completely sabotage all our hard work.”
“What are you saying?”
He squeezed her bottom affectionately. “I’m saying that if Vander had gotten the journal a day earlier he would have found his Mirror Mate. Her name is Deborah and she was visiting from out of town and would have been at a certain location at a certain time. Yesterday. Today she’s gone and the information Vander has at his fingertips is all but useless.”
She pushed off his chest hard enough to make him grunt. “Are you serious?” She was grinning like an idiot.
He ran his hands up her back and returned her grin. “Very serious. If Vander wants to find his Mirror Mate now, he’s going to have to wait until Kevin wakes up.”
“That could take years,” said Sydney.
“Let’s hope longer.”
He pulled her down for a kiss.
Epilogue
Two months later.
Merrick helped Luke center the Christmas tree in the corner of Sydney’s clinic’s lobby.
“You’re still crooked.” Niella tilted her head as she watched them from a distance.
“That’s because your head is crooked,” shot back Luke.
Merrick still had no idea how he’d gotten roped into this. Last night he’d been happily lying in bed after sex with Sydney, ready to drift off to sleep, when she’d asked him if he’d help decorate the clinic. He’d been too tired to do anything else but agree. Now, as he adjusted the tree for perhaps the millionth time, he realized Sydney had tricked him into this. She’d lured him in with sex until his defenses were down and his mind was fogged, then she’d sprung her trap.
He shook his head. The plan was brilliant, actually.
“Let’s finish with everything else, then we can come back to the tree and mess with it some more.” Merrick pulled out decorations that stuck to the exam room doors and handed some off to Niella.
Luke stepped up to take a share and stopped when Sydney’s voice traveled from the back of the clinic. “Luke, I need some assistance here, please.”
Luke smiled. “Duty calls.” He cheerfully sprinted off.
Luke had started working for Sydney weeks ago after going through a crash course in being a veterinary assistant. It turned out that Luke had a real knack for working with animals. He looked a lot happier, though Merrick could still sense his unease every once in a while. It’d take Luke a long time before he felt comfortable enough to not have to check over his shoulder every five minutes.
Hell, Merrick even found himself still checking every dark corner of his life for Vander, half expecting him to come out of the shadows and kill him for ruining his only chance at finding his Mirror Mate. But so far he’d remained off the radar. A week ago they’d gotten a lead on some illegal activity at another Kratos location and had sent Felix and Cali. The two were due to return today, and they were all going to gather at Felix’s for a welcome home/pre-Christmas dinner.
While it was a nice change to think of Vander as gone for good, Merrick knew he’d be back. Kevin and Collette were still waiting in their hospital room. Vander wouldn’t leave that kind of treasure just sitting around. If Merrick had to guess, he’d say Jente was left behind to watch over Vander’s prized Dreamer.
Merrick made his way toward the exam rooms to begin the decorating process when the phone started to ring.
Niella smirked at the excuse to stop helping with the decorations.
“Not you too,” he said.
She gave Merrick a mock salute before quickly rolling behind the receptionist desk. “Duty calls,” she parroted Luke’s words and picked up the phone.
Merrick stared down at all the cheesy Christmas decorations in his hands. “Unbelievable.”
• • •
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Merrick looked over his shoulder and started at the sight of Joel.
Dinner was over and everyone had sprawled out on the couches as Felix put on some ridiculous animated — claymation? — Christmas movie.
Merrick had been busy in the kitchen opening another bottle of wine when Joel had snuck up on him. He hadn’t really seen much of Joel for the past two months. Not that he could blame him for wanting some space.
Tonight had been the first time they’d all really been together for a long period of time. Sydney had cut back on the public displays of affection and Merrick had had no problem with that. He didn’t want to rub it in Joel’s face. Joel had been doing a good job of keeping a fake smile plastered on his face, and Merrick had only caught a couple of wistful glances at Sydney the entire night.
Merrick cleared his throat and turned his attention back to the man in front of him. “Sure. What’d you need to talk to me about?”
Joel led him back to the guest room and gently shut the door once they were both inside. “It’s not so much talking as I wanted to give you something — something for Sydney.” He pulled out a velvet box from his pants and quickly gave it to Merrick as if he was afraid of losing his nerve.
Curious, Merrick opened the box. His eyes widened. “Joel, I can’t give her this. It’s too much.” Inside the box was a beautifully crafted gold necklace with a pearlescent seashell charm.
When he tried to give it back to him, Joel pulled his hands back and held them out at his sides. “I can’t give it to her. I don’t have that right anymore, Merrick. Besides, the necklace screams Syd. She’ll love it and I can’t bring myself to return it. Just give it to her. She doesn’t need to know it was ever from me.”
Merrick stared down at the pendant. “Why are you giving it to me? You could have given it to anyone else in the guild.”
Joel shrugged. “You make her happy. This’ll make her happy and as long as she’s happy, I can pretend that I am too.”
Merrick’s respect for Joel went up about ten notches. Under different circumstances he’d like to think they could’ve been the best of friends. But life didn’t work that way, and so Merrick kept his distance. Maybe one day they’d be able to become friends. He didn’t mind waiting.
He curled his hands around the necklace. “Thanks. Is there any specific date you’d like me to give it to her?”
“Tonight, if you want. I heard rumors that tonight was going to be a special night.”
With that he left.
Merrick had no idea what Joel had meant until after the movie when Felix started to put on some seasonal music. Sydney pulled Merrick up to dance while Felix and Cali swayed around the floor. Out of nowhere a very non-Christmas song came on and Felix dropped down to one knee in front of Cali.
Sydney gasped as Felix took out a little black box and flipped it open to reveal a white gold band adorned with a black diamond.
“Cali Crazar.” He stared up into Cali’s wide obsidian eyes. “I’m already yours for the rest of time, but would you marry me anyway?” Felix flashed her a grin and Cali nearly tackled him to the ground.
“You pompous ass,” Cali said. “You told me you were going into that jewelry store to gather intel.”
“And you bought that?” Niella asked incredulously.
Cali glared at her good naturedly over Felix’s shoulder.
“So is that a yes?” Felix asked.
Cali kissed him soundly on the mo
uth. “Of course it’s a yes,” she told him, then her lips moved but Merrick couldn’t hear a word. It was as if he suddenly went deaf.
Felix’s grin grew wider at whatever Cali said. It looked as if he had no trouble hearing her.
The alcohol really started flowing then. Merrick stole Sydney away before they had too much.
“What is it?” Sydney giggled as he closed the guest door behind her.
It looked like she’d already had a few good drinks.
“I wanted to give you something. I figured tonight was a good night.” He pulled the box out and handed it to Sydney.
She instantly sobered. “Oh, Merrick … ” She gingerly opened it and her breath caught. “It’s beautiful. How’d you know I loved seashells?”
Merrick’s smile was bittersweet. “Let’s just say someone passed on the information.”
Sydney beamed and threw her arms around his neck. “I love it. Will you put it on for me?”
When they went back to the living room everyone commented on Sydney’s necklace. Cali and Sydney had fun comparing jewelry and as the night neared its end, Joel and Felix held up their beer bottles to gather attention.
“All right everyone, we have an announcement. We’ve official created a Title for Merrick.”
They lifted their drinks in his direction.
“I know it’s been a while,” said Felix, “but you were a little tricky to figure out. So we’ve settled on … drum roll please … ”
Joel pounded on the nearby coffee table.
“The Decoder,” Felix said with a flourish.
Sydney’s nose wrinkled. “Ew,” she yelled. “You make him sound like a cereal box toy or something.”
Joel and Felix opened their mouths to protest when Luke shot eagerly to his feet. “Hey guys, have you thought up a name for me yet?”
“Uh … ” Joel looked to Felix.
“Sure,” said Felix. “You’re the … um … ”
“The Generator,” Joel shouted triumphantly as if the thought had just struck him.
Merrick stared down at his drink and realized with all the alcohol they’d consumed the name probably had just popped up to him.
Luke’s face fell. “The Generator? That sounds too much like terminator.”
Felix shoved Joel. “Yes! The Generator.” He dropped his voice and adopted his best Arnold Schwarzenegger accent as he spoke the title. “I now dub it mandatory to say your name like this.”
“What?” said Luke.
“Come on,” Joel piped up. “Say it.” Then he put on his own accent. “Luke the Generator.”
Felix shook his head. “Mine was way better, man.”
“I don’t think so,” argued Joel.
Merrick sat up a little straighter and put on the accent. “Luke the Generator, come with me if you want to live.”
Joel and Felix both froze and stared at him. Then at the same time they burst.
“Holy shit!”
“That was awesome!”
Cali and Niella both cheered.
Sydney leaned into him with a grin. “I’m so proud,” she teased him.
• • •
“So something has been bugging me. You mentioned before that everyone comes up with titles and terms for the guild.” Merrick came to a stop at the light as he drove himself and Sydney home.
Sydney yawned. “Yeah. And?”
The light turned green.
“And I was wondering who made up the term Mirror Mates?” he asked.
“Felix. He was the first to find out about them so he named it.”
“Is there any reasoning behind it?” He pulled into her designated parking spot and turned off the car.
“Felix believed that two souls that reflect one another are always destined to find each other. Or something.”
Merrick turned in his chair and cupped her face. “He’s right. And I’ve never been so glad that you found me.”
Sydney’s eyes sparkled with love and affection. She was his everything.
She leaned in and kissed him. “I’m glad I found you too.”
About the Author
Mary K. Norris loves to travel the world and go on crazy, extreme adventures. Unfortunately, she can’t do that all the time, so she creates crazy adventures for her characters in supernatural worlds from the comfort of her home in Southern California. She has a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and when she’s not reading or writing she’s usually found doing some kind of physical activity, playing video games, or at Disneyland.
In the mood for more Crimson Romance?
Check out Once Upon a Couch
by Kristine Overbrook
at CrimsonRomance.com.
Guild of Truth 02 - Shield from the Heart Page 27