by Alanea Alder
Brennus shook his head. "He was killed by ferals. That's when Felix left the garden to go to Lycaonia to be with Celyn, he felt like he failed Eamon." He looked at Meryn. "You have given him a new purpose in life."
Meryn's eyes filled. "My poor little buddy." She turned to look at Felix and her eyes filled with anger. She popped up out of her chair and ran over to the window.
Izzy looked over to where Felix was wrestling with an older sprite his hands clutched around something at his chest.
Brennus and Aiden stood so quickly their chairs were knocked over. Meryn was already at Felix's side. She peeled the older sprite away from Felix and dropped him on the ledge. She held up her forefinger and her thumb menacingly. "Sprite or not, I will thump the shit outta you if you don't leave Felix alone!"
"Holy shit!" Izzy exclaimed.
She exchanged looks with Oron, and they both stood and rushed over to help Meryn.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"Garrick! What is the meaning of this?" Brennus roared.
"That insolent youngling has gone too far!" The older sprite shouted.
Meryn held Felix close to her chest and held out her 'thump' poised fingers in front of her. "Stay back," she warned.
"Garrick you need to calm down and explain yourself," the queen ordered in a quiet voice.
The sprite hmphed and straightened his robes. "First, he allowed a member of the royal family to die, now this!"
Brennus practically bent in half to confront the sprite. "As I have told you before, if I, as Eamon's brother don't feel that Felix is in any way responsible for Eamon's death, then you as his former Chieftain have no room for complaint."
"You are fae. You are kind. Felix should have gone with Eamon. He should have died instead."
"Seriously?" Meryn demanded.
Brennus shook his head. "There is no possible scenario where Eamon would allow himself to escape while Felix died."
"So, he's just a mini douchebag?"
Brennus eyed the chieftain. "At the moment."
"Brennus," the queen admonished softly. Her mate walked away, his hands on his hips as he tried to regain his composure.
"You said, first. Since that transgression is groundless, what other complaints do you have against him?" Izzy asked, wanting to defend the little guy too.
"He wears that necklace trying to move above his station. Only those who have earned their years like I have can appear before others, he does it at will," Garrick pointed to the small amulet around Felix's neck.
Felix shook his head bouncing his auburn curls. "No! It is gift. From friend, special friend. You never get!"
Garrick raised his long wooden walking stick he was going to take a swipe at Felix when two darts of light flew between them.
"Finley! Feris! Get back to your flower!" Garrick bellowed.
"No!" they yelled back.
Meryn was staring down at the pair. "They look just like you Felix."
Felix drifted away from Meryn to the two little sprites and hugged them close. "Baby brothers. They were so tiny when I left, now they fly!"
"Baby Felixes!" Meryn exclaimed.
"A sword!" Garrick screeched, his face turning a deep purple.
Aiden rubbed the back of his neck. "I knew we'd eventually catch static about that."
"Whatever! If Felix is supposed to be a protector or whatever he needs a weapon," Meryn refuted.
Brennus hurried over an excited look on his face. "He has a weapon?"
Felix shyly held up his claymore. "Gift from Magnus."
Brennus whistled. "You can't be angry with him Garrick, it's a gift from the Prince of the Vampires himself."
"Abomination!"
"How is he supposed to protect people without a weapon?" Meryn asked.
"Sacrifice himself," Garrick answered angrily.
"Fuck that!" Meryn turned to Felix. "No sacrificing! You take out as many enemies as you can then you fall back and get help. That is the plan, got it?"
Felix shrugged. "I protect."
"If I lived and you died, you'd take a piece of my heart Felix. That's no way to survive. If there's a way for you to escape, then do it."
Felix stuck out his bottom lip in a pouty fashion. "I protect."
Meryn threw her hands in the air. "Fine! But we're getting you Kevlar and tiny guns."
Felix brightened. "Guns?"
Garrick began to shake. "No sprite has ever wielded a weapon, he is a dishonor to his family."
Meryn grinned. "You're kick-ass Felix."
"Kick-ass," the little sprites yelled.
Meryn's eyes softened. "You two are adorable."
Felix looked over his brothers and saw the same thing Izzy was beginning to notice. Unlike everything else in the fae city which shined and looked exceptionally well kept, these two had on threadbare clothing, no shoes and appeared to be dangerously thin.
When Izzy glanced over at the queen, she noticed her mouth was set in a straight line. She knew that the queen wanted to say something, but more than likely couldn't interfere.
"What..." Felix started then looked over to Garrick. "You said you would take care of them!" he shouted.
"Whoa, Felix, what's wrong?" Meryn asked, gathering all three in her arms. Felix had tears rolling down his rounded cheeks. He pointed to Garrick. "He punish them for my failure. Not their fault! Not their fault!" he sobbed.
Meryn realized what Felix was talking about and quietly began to cry. "They're mine."
"You're human! Don't interfere!" Garrick exploded.
"Mine!" she screamed back. "Because you can't be trusted with them."
Doran simply plucked Garrick up and began walking from the room. "I'll check on the colony to ensure no one else is being abused unjustly."
"Thank you, brother," Brennus said from between clenched teeth.
"You okay. You okay," Felix repeated awkwardly patting each brother on the forehead.
Meryn laughed and wiped her eyes. "I taught him that." She looked up at her mate.
"I don't know exactly what is going on, but if you're talking about Felix's brothers, of course they're ours," Aiden said, running his hand over her hair.
"Cord!" Meryn shouted. "They're starving!"
Izzy turned and was shocked to see the gentle looking Cord about to breathe fire. "Starving! In the Royal Garden of all places. In our own backyard!"
The queen lay a calming hand on his arm. "We can take care of them now. Meryn has invoked familial claim; they will be protected from now on."
Cord turned on his heel muttering under his breath as he headed toward the kitchen. "I will be right back with food for the youngsters."
"They're hungry?" Aiden whispered.
Felix wiped his nose with his sleeve. "Garrick punish after our parents die in flower blight. He think I bring shame to colony."
"You not bad. You not bad," the sprites said, hugging their brother.
Aiden squinted his eyes. "They are by Felix, right?"
The queen turned to Law. "May I beg a favor?"
Law swept his arm across his chest. "For you, anything."
The queen whispered in his ear, and he nodded. "Felix, can you come here a moment?"
Felix made sure his brothers were safely within Meryn's arms and flew over to the witch. The queen took Law's hand, and Law whispered low as he reached forward and tapped the small amulet hanging from Felix's neck. When he moved his finger back, she heard two tiny clinks. Duplicate amulets fell to the floor.
Felix's eyes widened. "For brothers?" he asked reverently.
The queen nodded. "It will never make up for what they experienced, but I hope it will help them in their new home."
Felix immediately flew back to his brothers and gently slid the necklaces over their heads. He showed them how to rotate the stone.
"Now everyone see."
Finley and Feris looked around. "All see?"
"Yes, all see."
They looked at each other, then laughed joyously, making everyone
around them smile.
Cord re-entered with a plate full of honeycomb, cheeses, bread, fruit, and little cakes. "Come here, little ones, time to eat."
Finley and Feris swooped down to the table looking for Felix. When they spotted their older brother, they beckoned him over. "You eat." Felix shook his head. "Not hungry, Meryn feeds me."
Meryn dipped both pointer fingers into the icing and held it out to the small sprites. "Is it okay that you stay with us?" she asked.
Each sprite gently took the sugared confection from her. "We stay."
"Good." She turned to the queen. "Oh, Aleks..."
"Yes, dearest?"
"Can you help me buy some sprite sized clothes?"
"I'd be delighted." She tapped at the crystal on the side table. A moment later, Portia's voice was heard. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Portia, can you arrange for a wide selection of young, male sprite clothing to be delivered to my quarters. Oh, and can you also see about getting a sprite built home sent as well, large enough for at least five."
"As you wish, Your Majesty," Portia replied, then the crystal dimmed.
Darian looked down at Felix. "Why did the colony send Felix stuff when he moved in with us if his brothers were being shunned?"
Vivian held out a spoon of honey to Finley. "I think they didn't want our colony to show them up."
"Little douchebags," Meryn said quietly.
Feris shook his head. "Not all bad. Some help."
Finley wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "When they could."
Felix picked up a napkin and handed it to his brother. "We protect Meryn."
The boys nodded. "Okay."
Meryn shook her head. "No. They are going to school or whatever baby sprites do."
Felix looked confused. "We no school."
Feris pointed to his chest. "Not baby. We is fifty."
Meryn's mouth dropped. "The babies are older than me?"
The queen looped her arm through Izzy's. "You're all babies to me."
Meryn turned to Felix. "How old are you?"
"One-hundred and forty," he chirped.
"Dude," Izzy breathed.
"That was the reason Eamon left him behind, he had only just reached adulthood when he left for his mission."
Meryn rubbed her finger over Feris' curls. "You are a baby."
"We help!"
Meryn grinned. "I know! You can be baby monitors!"
Ryuu nodded. "Excellent idea, denka."
Feris and Finley exchanged looks. "What that?"
Meryn pointed down to her rounded belly. "When my baby is born, you can help me watch after them, you know to make sure they keep breathing and stuff."
Feris and Finley flew into the air and swirled around her belly. "We help! We protect!" They wrapped their tiny arms around her barely covering half each.
"Awwww," Amelia said, reaching for her phone. She took a picture and started tapping. "I'm sending this to Beth."
Aiden cleared his throat. "Can I get it too?"
Felix tapped the plate. "Come eat."
"Ooookkkaaayy," the boys sang and flew back to the table.
As everyone sat back down the door opened and Doran returned without Garrick carrying a huge box, Portia right behind him.
Doran sat the box down on one of the smaller side tables. "I'm assuming this is for the boys."
The queen beamed. "Thank you, Portia. What would I do without you?"
Portia gave a small smile. "I came personally because we received a strange request from Cristo Bolivar."
The queen turned to Brennus. "Isn't that your brother's friend?"
Brennus nodded. "What did he need Portia?"
"One of Eamon's boxes."
Brennus, Doran, and Celyn stared. Doran recovered first. "Did he say why?"
"No, only that it was vitally important he retrieve something," she explained.
Doran and Brennus looked at each other, and Brennus nodded. "Cristo is an honorable warrior, I know that he would only request such a thing if it were absolutely necessary."
"Could be related to why I'm here. He said he had to get something first," Meryn said.
"Tell him he has our permission to retrieve anything he needs," Brennus advised Portia. She inclined her head. "As you wish." She looked down at her scroll. "We also have a Thane and Justice Ashleigh in the palace antechamber requesting to see Law."
Law grinned then frowned. "I can't wait to see my brothers, but Thane may kick my ass for calling him here."
Portia's mouth twitched as she hid a smile. "I will show them in." She turned and walked out, shutting the door behind her.
Meryn stared. "I think I like her."
Five minutes later, two warriors slightly larger than Law's impossible height walked in glowering. "Law," Thane said curtly.
He smiled warmly at Amelia, who waved enthusiastically, before his face turned frosty again when he looked at his brother.
Law smiled and stood. He clasped arms with his brother. "I'm glad to see you well."
Thane gave a terse smile before he wrapped an arm around Law's head and bent down, holding him in place.
Izzy pointed. "That's a headlock."
"Dammit, Thane, let me go!"
"You greet us with a smile as if nothing were wrong after invoking our password to drop everything and come to your side?" Thane demanded.
"It was for a good reason," Law said twisting and turning.
At the table, everyone continued eating as if the smackdown of the century weren't happening behind them.
Izzy looked at the queen who shrugged. "Brennus and Doran talk to each other like that as well."
Doran nodded. "It's a brotherly thing."
Amelia laughed. "Trust me, this is normal. Brothers tend to communicate more with their fists."
"True," Aiden agreed.
"I also hear that you fell under the influence of that spineless librarian," Thane continued.
"That's not true!"
"First he compromises Marshall and now my own brother. When I see that worthless mage, I will make him regret being born."
"Brother, I beg you, say no more," Law entreated.
Thane released Law looking concerned for the first time. "What hold does he have over you? Tell me and I will destroy it."
Law shook his head. "It isn't like that."
"This is great," Meryn said, laughing as she held up her phone.
Law looked ill. "Please tell me you didn't send him a recording."
Meryn shook her head. Law slumped forward in relief.
"It's Facetime, he watched it live," Meryn informed him.
Darian's phone dinged. With a shit-eating grin, Darian walked off to one side and opened a portal. Moments later, Izzy watched as another impossibly tall man and a laughing woman stepped through.
"Izzy that's Kendrick Ashwood, amazing witch and his mate Anne Ashwood, kick-ass nurse," Meryn said pointing to the attractive couple. "Kendrick, Anne, this is Isabelle Campbell, Oron's mate and Coffee Goddess." Anne gave a little wave as Kendrick eyed Thane and his brothers.
Law dropped to his knees his face in his hands. His actions had Thane and Justice moving to stand directly in front of him. "Whatever you have done to our brother we will revisit upon you a thousand-fold you spineless worm," Thane threatened.
"Now I'm recording. This is great," Meryn said, laughing.
Darian closed the portal and sat back down. He picked up a scone. "Meryn's right, this is quality entertainment."
Kendrick blew a kiss at Darian. "Thank you for the portal, Your Highness."
"Highness?" Several people echoed. Kendrick frowned. "You haven't told them yet? I thought that would have been one of the first things you did on this visit."
Darian shrugged. "We've been busy."
Kendrick eyed Meryn. "I'm not surprised." He turned back to Law. "You couldn't tell them?"
Law stood scowling before he walked around his brothers to effectively stand behind the queen. "I'm not suicidal
."
Brennus reached behind his mate and dragged Law behind his own chair. "Please do not use my mate and the queen of all the fae as a shield."
Thane took in Law's words and pulled his fist back to punch Kendrick. Kendrick sighed and whispered a spell. "I really didn't want to have to do this, but you have left me no choice." He turned to Law. "You're not this violent."
"I would be if I thought you had done something to one of my brothers."
Kendrick rubbed his chin. "True. I'd level whole cities for Keelan."
"Ah, Kendrick, what did you do to my brothers?" Law asked.
"They're just frozen for the moment so I can divulge certain facts to them without worrying about one of them breaking my jaw."
"You do know that may still happen, right?"
Thane grunted his agreement.
Kendrick shrugged. "At least this way, I can have my say, but first." He whispered again and Izzy felt the air around them flex and her ears popped.
"What was that?" she asked.
Kendrick turned to her. "My apologies, you must be new to our world. What I just cast was a soundproofing spell, so what I tell our angry friends here stays amongst us."
Izzy pointed to her chest. "Even me?"
Kendrick gave her a dazzling smile. "Let's see. According to Meryn, you are Oron's mate. Oron is Darian's brother. Darian is mated to Amelia. Amelia is Meryn's big sister-cousin. Meryn adopted my cousins, so that practically makes you family."
"What!" Meryn screeched.
Kendrick looked at the group around the table, everyone wore equally stunned expressions. "Oh yeah, we forgot to mention that."
Micah chuckled. "I got him with that one."
Serenity punched her mate in the thigh. "How could you not tell me?"
Micah rubbed his leg. "That hurt."
Zach laughed at his brother-in-law's pain. "Get him, Seri."
Serenity crossed her arms over her chest. "Any other secrets?"
"I ate your stash of Marjoram's cookies before we left," Micah confessed.
Meryn threw a scone at him. "Off topic." She glared at Kendrick. "Do they know?"
Kendrick shook his head. "I was going to tell them here, where's it's safer, but as you know, they stayed behind."
Meryn's expression became thoughtful. "Cristo said something like that. That he could only tell me in the safety of Éire Danu, what does that mean?"