Chapter Sixteen

Meryn walked in and immediately went to Aiden. She didn't know what he saw on her face, but he pulled her close. Smiling she recognized his favorite way of holding her. In his lap, arms wrapped around her, his chin on her head. Him covering her as much as possible. She looked over to where her boys watched, looking worried. ‘ Later ', she mouthed. They nodded.

Across the room Oron sat with the queen looking pissed. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. Would he hate her? Would her Auntie?

"Meryn, what can you tell us?" her Uncle Brennus asked gently.

"Meryn did you want me to tell them?" Kendrick offered.

She shook her head and began. "The Eirson men were frozen in place, paralyzed really, at a large table. While everyone discussed what would be an appropriate punishment, I wanted to find out more about what had been going on in the house. I went up to the woman who let us in and walked us to the ballroom. She was… empty, for lack of a better term. She kept asking to be set free. When I told her we could take her with us, she led me and Ryuu down to a large cellar." She grabbed Aiden's hand. "He tried to keep me from the room Aiden, he really did."

She felt Aiden's arms tighten.

"Oron's dad was a scalpel to me. She said that was his gift, he was able to isolate things like sanity, magic… life. It's how they remained sane." She took a deep breath. "He had removed their wombs and parts and was keeping them in large glass tubes. I think that is where they grew the children. The women, they moved like robots, vacant expressions. They said that the men would take their babies, then put them back. I don't think their minds would allow them to realize that they kept losing children, it was easier to think that the same baby was being taken out and put back in the tube." She paused. "I think they knew on some level though. One of the women said that eventually the men would decay and rot, she then looked back at the tubes. I think they knew the children were being harvested for their light."

The queen covered her mouth with her hand, looking like she was about to be sick.

"They kept asking to be set free." She looked at Kendrick. "He would have tried, but, that's not what they wanted."

Her Aunt Lily reached over and took her hand. "I would have done it for you, if I could have."

The queen looked at her. "You killed them?"

Meryn nodded.

Oron stood and stumbled over to her on trembling legs. He collapsed in front of where she sat in Aiden's lap. "You?" He took her hands and pulled her forward so that he could rest his face on her shoulder. "Was she there? My mother?" he asked, brokenly.

"I have to assume she was. I couldn't let you see. I'm sorry," she whispered.

He broke down into heaving sobs. Not knowing what else to do she held him while he wept. Darian knelt down and held his brother from one side.

When his tears abated, he looked up. "You shielded me? I was supposed to be protecting you."

"You don't hate me?" she asked, feeling tears burn her eyes.

"How could I? I will never know what you saw, what you will carry with you, because you kept it from me. Seeing my father being eaten by that shadow entity was nothing to me. Seeing my mother like that would have broken something inside of me that I don't think could have been fixed." He touched his chest. "Fulfilling her request to set her free would have changed me."

"I was scared you'd hate me," she confessed, wiping the snot off her nose.

"You saved them. You gave them peace and mercy. You made the decision, so I didn't have to. I swear it on my life, I will be the best big brother to you that I can be." He kissed her hands. "I will spend the rest of my life healing the scars my family has inflicted."

"I just need food and like some guns," she said. Oron blinked. "Maybe some older brother stuff like roller coasters and keg stands."

Oron stared. "What are you basing this on?"

"Television."

"How about this? While you are here, we ask Cord to teach us a new recipe every week. I can show you how to beat Darian with foam swords and I treat you to something different at the Brick Oven whenever you want?"

Meryn couldn't help but smile. "That sounds even better than keg stands."

Darian frowned. "One, I will not lose in sword fighting and two, Meryn I don't think you could get upside down for a keg stand."

"Amelia, Darian is being mean to me," Meryn complained.

"Darian! You know she just went through something horrible. How could you be like that?" Amelia demanded.

Darian's mouth dropped. "I…"

Oron winked at her then turned on his brother. "So harsh."

Darian's eyes narrowed at Oron. "You're not playing fair."

Amelia came over and dropped a kiss on Darian's cheek before sitting between him and Meryn.

She felt Aiden kiss the back of her head. "Baby, I'm trying really hard to keep it together, but Ryuu looks exhausted and you're wearing something that reeks of sulphur. I need to know you're okay."

Marshall leaned in. "Yes, exactly what did Oron mean by shadow entity?"

Meryn yawned. "Okay Kendrick you can take over now."

Oron turned and simply leaned against her legs to face the room.

Kendrick explained how Ryuu reached out to some of the darker forces lingering in Japan and was answered by a creature with no name.

Ryuu flexed his hands. "He was supposed to speak only to me, but I think he caught the demon's scent on Meryn, and she became interesting to him."

The queen held up a hand. "Let me get this straight, the entity swallowed the men whole to take them to his realm where they will be tortured for eternity because part of the request by Meryn was for them to become immortal? He enjoyed the meal so much he gave her a ring that is somehow a weapon?"

Justice, Law, and Thane all nodded.

Oron, Darian, Ange, Rio and Cristo were smiling.

Brennus and Doran looked proud.

Lily looked satisfied and like Ryuu, Kendrick looked tired.

The queen looked to Kendrick. "The women?"

His hand went to his waist where his Bag of Wishes was attached. "I have them here. We can arrange for a memorial whenever you wish."

"The tubes?" she asked, through clenched teeth.

"Dissolved."

"Darian, as king you should think of a way to thank her," the queen said, looking just as proud of Meryn as Brennus.

"Can't I just go back to being a unit warrior?" he asked, laying his head on Amelia's shoulder.

"You are more than capable. I'll say this, in case he hasn't figured it out, Aiden, you'll have to replace Oron as well. He swore to serve as Darian's guard once he became king."

Meryn felt Aiden slump back. "Dammit!"

Meryn half turned. "Can I pick them out?"

"No."

"Why?"

"What will you base their capabilities on?"

"Uhhh."

"You're not adding to your database."

"Do they hafta be fae?"

"That's kinda the point, representatives from each race to maintain neutrality," Aiden replied.

"Each race or each city? Can we recruit a goblin?"

She felt him rubbing his chin, she had him thinking so she kept going. "They're hella cool."

"You just want to bring Gilheim home," Aiden said.

She shook her head. "No, because I don't think he'd be happy in Lycaonia. He's happier in the forest."

"I'll think about it."

There was a knock, then Portia walked in. "Your Majesty," she paused and blushed. "I mean…" She looked from the queen to Darian and back.

"Awkward," Meryn sung. "Is Auntie still a majesty?"

Darian stood. "My mother will always be the queen of the fae."

"So, two majesties?" Meryn asked. "How does this work, Portia?"

The woman simply shook her head. "There is no precedent for this."

Zadie spoke up. "In the academia world if a person of distinction steps down, like a professor, they are called Professor Emeritus. Could you create a term like that?"

Anne turned to the queen. "There's also the title of Queen Mother, used for the mother of the king or queen."

The queen smiled. "I like that. I am very proud to be his mother."

Portia looked relieved as she began to take notes. "Will you keep the title, Her Majesty?"

The queen shook her head. "I have heard that all my life. I think I'd like something different. There must be a clear distinction between my rule and Darian's."

Meryn grinned. "Be a Royal Highness like me and Izzy. We can create a Bad Bitches club!"

The queen looked surprised for a moment then began laughing. "Why not? Let us go with that Portia."

"Do you gotta share Cord and the palace and stuff?" Meryn asked, reaching for the bowl of chips.

Without looking Oron simply grabbed them from the table and passed them backwards.

Darian looked from his mother to Cord, to Portia. "I quit. Things were easier when I was a unit warrior."

"Amen," Aiden muttered behind her.

Cord set a tray of cups on the table and began distributing them. "Your Majesty, you are making so many changes in the city, why not here in the palace as well?"

Darian flushed at the new mode of address. "What do you mean?"

"Embrace our heritage. Build a Summer Palace for Aleks and you can live in the Winter Palace. Create a shared executive building in the middle for administration," he suggested.

"What about you?" Darian asked, looking sad.

"Portals not withstanding, you're young. I'm fairly certain you can walk over here for meals," Cord said, handing him a cup of tea. "Though after the arrival of your little one, you might want a squire of your own."

Portia stared. "Molvan will stroke out if you tell him we are building two new palaces."

Meryn giggled. "He'll be fine."

"Portia, make sure there is plenty of space in my palace for my grandchildren to play," the queen requested.

"Of course, Your Royal Highness."

The queen wiggled in her seat. "This is so exciting."

Darian looked to Meryn and Aiden. "Will you stay for the coronation?"

"When were you thinking of having it?" Aiden asked.

"Summer Solstice," Darian said. "It's a very special day for us."

"What do you think baby?" Aiden asked.

"We can stay for a bit, but I think we'll go back to Lycaonia to check on everyone, before coming back here for the coronation. We still have those douchebags in Storm Keep to deal with," she said.

Aiden looked across the room. "Kincaid, is your family settling in with the kids?"

Kincaid nodded. "Kyla and the others will begin watching the kids in a few days. Zadie will soon be up to her eyeballs in tablets."

Zadie laughed. "Speaking of which, we need to order some for the kids."

Meryn waved her hand. "I can do that. Apple?"

"Might as well."

"House still standing, no structural damage?" Meryn teased. She loved messing with Kincaid. He blushed like Keelan used to.

Zadie wagged her eyebrows. "Not yet."

"Gods above," Kincaid muttered.

Kendrick, looked to Meryn, then to her hand. "While you're here, we'll be doing dark magic scrubs, just in case."

"Will it hurt?"

"Shouldn't."

"That's giving me warm and fuzzies," she said.

"Why? Why is it always you?" Aiden asked, lightly banging his forehead on the back of her head.

"Just lucky I guess." She climbed from his lap and grabbed her computer. She sat at the table and brought up her ordering page.

"Guess that means I need to find a guard for you," Aiden said.

She looked back at him. "Good luck with that shit. I am a delicate individual. You can't just add someone to my personal space."

"Really?" Aiden asked.

"Yes. I refuse anyone lurking around behind me."

"You sure about that?"

"Yes."

"You wouldn't be able to adapt?"

"No."

She eyed her mate. Why did he look so damn smug?

When his eyes cut to Pierce, she gasped so hard she choked on her own spit. "You!" she screeched.

Pierce winked at her.

Wait, did Ryuu know? She stood and spun to face her squire. He smiled at her. "You!"

" Denka , I told you from the first day I was aware of his intentions, and they didn't bother me."

Turning, she looked at her mate. "You! How?"

He picked up a chip and popped it in his mouth. "It's so strange, it's like I know you or something?"

Meryn felt a level of arousal she had never experienced before. The layers of machinations that went into this had things tightening in her lower body. Who knew she had a power kink?

Aiden was smiling in satisfaction, until he sniffed the air. Instantly his eyes went black, and she shivered.

"If you will excuse us for a bit?" she said, walking backward toward their rooms.

Aiden stood and even from where she stood his shirt looked a bit tighter.

"Get it girl!" Zadie hollered.

Izzy, Zoe, Brie and Cas were all high-fiving one another.

She squeaked when Aiden lunged. Laughing she ran for their room. No matter what the future held for them, as long as she had Aiden and her family, anything was possible.