It was awesome."
Jedrek leaned back. "Well, well."
Rex was licking his lips. "Maybe we should arrange a visit."
Leo placed his hand over his heart and gave a short bow. "I'll see what else I can whip up."
Meryn looked surprised, then she frowned. "You don't have to make anything special for me."
Ryuu ruffled her curls. "I will assist him, so don't feel bad."
Leo smiled at her. "Don't worry yourself a bit about it. Now, please sit down and rest."
Jedrek indicated to the empty chairs next to Ari. "Please make yourself comfortable, dear."
Meryn looked up at her squire, scowling. Ryuu sighed. "I promise that he won't be put out cooking for you."
Meryn gave a short nod and sat down next to Ari, much to her mate's chagrin. Aiden took the seat next to her, and Pierce stood behind them, leaning against the wall.
She looked over at him, and her eyes became slightly unfocused. "Stars, no, not just stars, berries and flowers. Stars? Or bells?" She tilted her head. "So, you're like a fruit basket?"
Aiden rubbed her back. "Good job, baby. You didn't even need Kendrick or Law to help you that time."
Ari blinked. How was he a fruit basket? "What?"
Meryn pointed to her chest. "My empathy thing does images, so that they can be processed quicker and not give me headaches. You're stars and berries and flowers."
Rex guffawed across the table, and Ari shot him a sour expression. "And I suppose you're something manly."
Rex shrugged. "She hasn't done me yet."
Meryn shrugged. "I can't really control it yet, at least not all the time."
Catherine turned to Meryn. "As much as I am pleasantly surprised at your visit, dear, was there a reason for your stopping by?"
Meryn's eyes widened. "Oh yeah. We're here to give an update regarding the queen." She turned in her chair to face Pierce. "Can you do the thing?"
Pierce nodded and reached into his pocket, retrieving a brass ring and key. Carefully, he moved the key until it was hanging within the ring. Around them the air pulsed, then settled.
Jedrek stared. "Did a jaguar-shifter just cast a soundproofing spell?"
Pierce winked. "A present from a certain archivist. He got tired of us asking for them all the time."
Aiden opened his mouth like he was trying to pop his ears. "He copied a prototype that Keelan invented to install a permanent spell in my father's study. I think it only cost Marius three of Keelan's favorite pies."
"That's ingenious," Jedrek said, looking very impressed.
Meryn spun back around. "So, the queen is stuck on being stubborn stupid."
"Meryn," Aiden chided.
"What? It's true. She's smart enough to realize that what we're reporting is accurate. She's just wallowing in guilt and pity, and it's making her obstinate."
Aiden gave her a flat look then pointed around the table. "She is still their queen."
Meryn crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, she's my aunt, so I can say what I want cuz I'm family."
Catherine sat back, cradling her tea. "If it were for any other reason, I would say she's more than earned the time to process, but we're already fielding concerns from cat and bird shifters alike." She looked at them, sadness in her eyes. "They want to leave Éire Danu."
Meryn's nostrils flared. "She has one tiny hiccup, and they're ready to abandon ship?"
Jedrek shook his head. "Meryn, if she told us to fight and die defending Éire Danu, we would, to the last man. It's the blatant denial that has everyone spooked. They're afraid that when the time comes, the city won't be prepared to face what may happen."
Leo and Ryuu came in carrying heavy platters. "I thought it got quiet in here. Soundproofing spell?" Leo asked.
Rex nodded absently before turning to Meryn. "Is there any way you can convince the queen to send out a public message. Even something as simple as she's looking into the matter could make all the difference in the world."
Ari sighed happily as eggs and bacon were piled on his plate. He had just taken a huge bite when Meryn gasped loudly, causing him to almost choke.
He pounded his own chest as Meryn grinned wickedly around the table. "I know what I can do! In times like this, you're supposed to help family. You know, give them encouragement and stickers." She frowned. "Or something. Ryuu's been helping me understand familial dynamics." She looked around the table. "But more than stickers, I know what I can do to help Aunt Aleks."
Ari was terrified to discover what this ticking time bomb was planning.
Aiden looked