My Warrior (Bewitched and Bewildered #12) - Alanea Alder Page 0,4

afraid of."

"There are freaking ferals popping up in shadows all over the city!" Meryn shouted.

"There are not!" The queen stood, her back ramrod straight.

"Are too!"

Ari could not believe that he was watching Meryn and the Queen of the Fae scream back and forth at each other like children. He glanced to his left. Gage and Priest were watching with wide eyes, completely riveted to the scene before them. He looked to his right. Poor Kincaid looked pale. Then again, nearly everyone sitting at the table looked a bit wan and shocked, so he was in good company. Had he not known ahead of time what The Menace had planned he'd probably be freaking out as well.

"Are not!"

"There are!" Meryn shouted. "And if you can't or won't do something, I will. So, go stick your head in a flower bush and continue to ignore the problem, making everyone anxious and walk on eggshells around you, and I'll be figuring out how they're getting in so we can fry the bastards!" Meryn's words rang through the room as she breathed heavily.

The queen stared and sat down slowly. "There can't be ferals in Éire Danu," she whispered. She looked up at Meryn. "Because if that were true, then I've failed to protect my people."

"The only way you can fail them is if you continue to do nothing, my love," Brennus said, taking her hand. "Meryn is right. For thousands of years, you had to rule alone, but that's not the case anymore. You have me, my brothers, our sons, their mates, and one courageous niece who did the one thing no one else could, despite being scared to death that she would anger an aunt she just discovered after living an entire life with no family."

The queen looked up at Meryn and saw her clenched hands and trembling lips. "Oh, my sweet darling, I'm so very sorry."

"I'm fine." Meryn protested. Ryuu massaged her back soothingly. Aiden looked completely wrung out as he brought her hand to his lips for a kiss.

Around the table everyone exhaled explosively.

"Gods! You can't do that to me, Meryn," Kendrick complained, clutching at his chest.

The queen stood and hurried to where her niece stood. She took the small woman in her arms. "You're right. I'm so sorry I pushed you to do this. You should be taking it easy." She led her over and sat her between herself and Brennus. Ryuu walked behind Meryn's chair to keep a watchful eye on his charge.

Brennus looked absolutely lost as to what to do. So, he reached across the back of the chair to squeeze the queen's shoulder and rubbed Meryn's knuckles with his free hand.

Aiden sat down in the empty chair beside Kendrick and looked at Cord. "A shot of whatever you have open."

Cord simply leaned down to kiss the top of the queen's head in way of an apology and nodded.

"Aiden, it's eleven o'clock in the morning," Micah reminded him.

Aiden sat back, closing his eyes. "You're right; Meryn has the whole day in front of her. Cord, make it a double."

Cord chuckled. "Of course."

The queen kissed Meryn's temple. "You're the only one who could have possibly gotten through to me."

Meryn sniffled. "I know."

"Is it because she's your niece?" Law asked, then pointed to Darian and Oron. "Wouldn't they have worked?"

The queen shook her head. "It had to be Meryn, because I know for a fact that she would never, ever want to take the throne. The absurdity of the whole scenario got through my anger, defenses, and guilt."

"Aunt Aleks, we have ferals trying to get into the city," Meryn said, leaning back to look up at the queen.

Aleksandra sighed. "I know. Of course, I know. I’ve known from the beginning. I just cannot fathom how."

"That's where we can help," Aiden said, opening his eyes. "We've been dealing with these kind of scenarios for months now."

Meryn sighed. "There's something else we need to figure out in addition to the portals," she said, leaning to one side to rest her head against Brennus' shoulder.

"There's something else?" Kincaid asked incredulously. "Isn't that enough?"

Meryn shrugged. "I'm not making the rules here."

Brennus kissed her forehead. "What have you figured out now?"

Meryn glanced at the queen, then looked around the table before staring down at her hands.

The queen placed her fingers under her chin and lifted her face. "No matter what you say, I won't be angry," she promised.

"Ferals and reapers trying to get into a pillar city to wreak havoc is kinda normal now, right?