by Alanea Alder
Leo blinked. "Of course she is." He pointed down. "Look at that devious little smile. How could I say no to that?"
Jedrek looked from Meryn to Leo and then to his mate. "Thank you for having boys. They're so much simpler."
Catherine raised a brow. "You have two daughters now, remember."
Brie flashed him a peace sign, and Kari smiled sweetly. Jedrek reached for his drink again.
"So, if we follow the trickle down path of bullshit concerns, then we really need to start with the people, not the council, right?" Meryn asked. She now held a fork in each hand, with beef on each fork.
Kendrick snapped his fingers. "Exactly. Meryn, as usual, you're a genius."
"I knooow," she said with a mouth full of food.
"If we do something similar to what we did in Lycaonia, it may work," Kendrick continued. "I know a journalist that submits to the Chronicle."
Jedrek sat back. "That's impressive. They like to keep their names secret to avoid outside pressure. It lends credibility to their neutrality. You contacting them is exactly what they try to avoid."
Kendrick gave a half shrug. "I won't tell them what to write. I'll just give them all of the facts as I know them and let them decided what to do. The Chronicle is the only newspaper that is distributed to all four pillar cities. It would be the fastest way to sway public sentiment."
"It could backfire. They could reveal that you tried to color what would be written," Rex pointed out.
"It may be a chance we have to take," Kendrick said. He tapped his lips with his finger. "Storm Keep will be the hardest sell. Meryn and Aiden have almost no ties to the city."
"Her uncle is an Elder there," Anne pointed out.
Kendrick shook his head. "That doesn't carry much weight in Storm Keep. The Witches' Council runs the city."
"Yeah, and I may be responsible for a murder there soon," Meryn admitted casually.
Nearly everyone choked.
Aiden and Kendrick whirled on her. "What!"
Meryn's eyes darted to the twins then down to her plate. "The guy that runs the orphanage may be expiring due to unforeseen circumstances." She grabbed her forehead. "It must be a premonition."
Kendrick sputtered, laughed, sputtered again, then finally he shook his head and sat back. "Is there any way this premonition could possibly be from a much more distant future? Like much, much more distant future?"
Meryn shrugged with one shoulder. "Maybe."
"Meryn," Aiden growled.
"Fiiiiine!" she pulled out her phone and sent a text. "There. Happy now?"
Rex closed his mouth. "You know what? I don't really need to know." He looked up at Leo. "Wonderful meal as always."
Leo held up a bowl. "More potatoes?"
"Yes, please." Rex sat back to give him more room to serve.
Brie looked up at Ari. "Are we gonna ignore that?"
Ari pointed to his brother. "I have been following his lead since I was in diapers. He hasn't steered me wrong yet." He held up his plate. "More potatoes for me as well, Leo."
"Alrighty then," Brie picked up her fork and dug into her meal. After the fight, she was craving protein, and the London Broil really was cooked to perfection.
Across the table, the twins were sniffling and squeezing Meryn between them while Pip kissed all three heads repeatedly.
Aiden held up his glass, and this time it was Ryuu pulling out the small bottle of apple scented amber liquid. He filled the glass once, which Aiden promptly emptied and then filled it again. "Just a premonition," he muttered.
Kendrick turned to Aiden. "Did you need Micah back here?"
Aiden blinked then shook his head. "What?"
"Micah? He rejoined Eta for the mission; did you need him back here?"
Aiden rubbed his chin. "No. I'd rather he work with his unit in guarding the warehouse."
Declan sighed in relief. "Don't tell him I said this, but we all missed him at home. He kinda made the day go by faster."
"When will you be going back?" his mother asked.
"Tomorrow. We'll spend the night here then go back," Declan said.
"Oh," Catherine sighed.
"Mother, as long as the portal is open, I can come home every day for lunch." Declan's eyes widened as he realized what he said. "Hot damn! I can come home for lunch."
Catherine turned to her squire. "Leo, starting tomorrow let's make lunch our bigger meal of the day. If that's the meal where all my boys will be able to be together at once, let's make it a good one. They need their energy."
Leo was already nodding. "I can easily adjust our menus." He eyed first Ari, then Declan. "We'll need to order higher quantities though."
Both Declan and Ari looked pleased at his assessment instead of offended.
"So Kendrick calls this Clark Kent, then a story goes out about how awesome I am, hopefully swaying the public. If that doesn't work, then we target the Committee?" Meryn asked.
"Meryn, no," Aiden repeated, sounding exasperated.
"What? It's not like we have a lot of choices. They're creating new rules. How'd the Committee get so much power anyway? One day, some peeps just said, 'hey, you have to do as we say,' and everyone just hopped to? That's bullshit," Meryn groused.
Kendrick inhaled his wine and started choking. Anne immediately began to rub his back. "Gods!" he gasped. "All these long centuries, I blamed the people. I just couldn't fathom how one day we had a king and queen and then the next a council." He turned deathly pale. "But it's happening again, isn't it?"
Kendrick stood, causing his chair to tip. "Aiden, we need to head to the palace." He looked around the room. "Rex, Ari, Declan, you'll all be needed. Rex, you can filter what you know to the council; you'll know what to leave out. Declan, you'll need to be included to help Magnus and likewise Ari to assist Aiden and Brennus." He threw his napkin on his plate. "Leo, Catherine, thank you for a lovely meal, but we really do have to go."
Catherine, looking flustered, stood. "Of course."
Jedrek didn't look at all pleased at being excluded. Rex placed a hand on his shoulder. "Trust us," was all he said.
"You boys help one another, and don't forget that I'm here if you need me," Jedrek said, nodding at his eldest.
Brie looked at her dad. He held up his hand that was twined around Doran's. "We'll be staying here. Brennus will update us later."
Doran looked worried. "Tell my brother to call me if I'm needed."
Brie gave his arm a squeeze. "We will," she promised.
Everyone was almost to the foyer when Kendrick looked around. When his eyes landed on something back at the table, his eyes softened. "Meryn, come on."
Meryn hadn't stopped eating as everyone was getting ready to go. She was still at the table, plowing through some beef. Leo placed a hand on her back. "I'll send up a midnight snack for you, okay?"
Meryn sighed, then stood. She picked up two rolls and crammed slices of beef in each. "Thanks, Leo, you rock."
Ari turned to Brie. "You can stay if you wish. You have to be tired after that fight."
She shook her head. There was no way she was going to miss whatever that witch had to say. "I'm staying with you." She bit her lower lip. "Leo, about that midnight snack?" She pouted, giving him the best 'boo boo' face she could muster.
"Please, Leo?" Both Ari and Declan wore similar pouty faces, which ruined her efforts because she was now laughing.
Leo beamed. "It feels so good to be cooking large meals again."
"Come on, you three," Rex called out.
Together they headed out and back up the golden street toward the palace.
*****
When they arrived, it was eerily quiet compared to the chaos they had left.
The marble halls had an ominous feel after Kendrick's scary observation.
"I feel like a masked murderer is about to pop out with a butcher knife," Meryn said, sticking close to Aiden.
"It does feel empty, doesn't it?" Anne agreed, inching closer to Kendrick.
"And darker," Brie added, and it did seem darker to her.
When they approached the queen's personal chambers, the door swung open, and Darian greeted them. "What's this about an emergency meeting?" he asked, holding up his phone.
"Were you able to contact Magnus?" Kendrick asked, walking past the prince.
"Nice to see you, too, Kendrick," Darian drawled. "And yes, he arrived a few minutes ago via the warehouse portal."
"Magnus is here?" Meryn demanded, then flew past Darian as well. "Sebastian!" she called out.
"I thought she asked about Magnus?" Brie observed out-loud.
Ari pointed to Ryuu, who hurried after his charge. "Usually squires follow their charges. Sebastian would of course be with Magnus."
The twins and Pip ran after Meryn. "Sebastian!" they hollered.
Declan smiled. "Sebastian became like a pseudo-mom for them," he explained. "They must have missed him."
When they entered, Brie saw that Meryn, the twins, and Pip were gathered around a tall man who looked just as happy to see the younger people bouncing around him as they were to see him. "Level One has been so very empty without you!" Sebastian pulled Meryn into a hug then held her out at arms' length. "Look at you, Princess Meryn."
Meryn waved her hands in front of her. "None of that stuff. Just Meryn for you, Sebastian." She surprised the squire when she wrapped her tiny arms around his waist. "Missed you," she mumbled.
"And I have missed you too," he admitted.
"Princess Meryn, I bring you greetings from the City of the Night," a deep voice declared.
"Magnus!" Meryn turned from Sebastian and hurried over to the gorgeous dark-haired man. "I got my flame-thrower!"
Magnus chuckled. "You will have to show me later."
"Like hell she will. When did you get it?" Aiden demanded.
Meryn looked up to the ceiling. "I don't know."
The queen shook her head at Aiden's distress and turned to Kendrick. "What was so important that you called a meeting tonight, of all nights?" Brie had to admit the queen looked absolutely exhausted.
Kendrick went to the queen and pulled her in for a hug. When he kissed her forehead, Brennus was there in an instant. "Keep your lips off my mate."
The queen sighed. "That bad?"
Kendrick simply leaned down and rested his forehead on Brennus' shoulder, much to everyone's shock. "Gods, I'm tired," he admitted.
Anne went to her mate and wrapped an arm around his waist. She pulled him back so she could hold him close. She then shot a look at Thane. Instantly, the Ashleigh brothers were there. They each laid a hand on Kendrick's back, which soon began to glow in different colors.
Kendrick exhaled and stood a little straighter. "Thank you, my friends."
Brie realized that he had not only assisted Aiden in his mission this evening, but he had also been called to help them as well. He was probably at his limits as much as the queen.
Sebastian turned to Cord. "Let us get everyone settled. Does the queen have an antechamber?"
Cord shook his head. "We've been using the outer rooms of her personal chambers. We have plenty of seating there."
Sebastian nodded, then turned to where everyone was standing—looking spooked at both the queen's statement and Kendrick's admission. "It is late, and everyone has had a very long day from what I have heard. Let us adjourn to these outer rooms and get comfortable for the evening. Ryuu, Cord, and I will serve late night cocktails and desserts."
"Magic Pudding?" Meryn asked immediately.
"Of course, darling."
Slowly, everyone began to claim either loveseats or sofas. Oron, Darian, along with their mates, sat close to their mother and Brennus. Brie sat with Ari and the Lionharts to their right. Magnus sat with Meryn and Aiden to the queen's left along with the twins and Pip. Which left Kendrick and Anne with the Ashleighs sitting across from the queen.
Kendrick looked at Thane. "Can you cast a sound proofing spell, the strongest you can?"
Thane didn't argue for once, and he and his brothers cast the spell that had everyone popping their ears.
Kendrick looked over at Meryn. "Meryn, can you repeat what you said about the Committee, so that the queen and Magnus knows what I'm referring to?"
Meryn's face scrunched up. "The douchebag by proxy?"
"No."
"The kill first, ask questions later, plan?"
By this time Kendrick was smiling. "No."
Meryn scratched her head. "Was it how we're all being gaslit into accepting their trumped up power plays?"
"Yes." Kendrick turned to the queen and Magnus. "You both are the sovereign leaders of your people; why are you listening to the dictates of the Committee?"
"Because they are the Committee," both Magnus and the queen said at once, in unison.
Kendrick pointed. "That's a conditioned response."
The queen held a shaking hand to her mouth. "When?"
Magnus grit his teeth. "How?"
The squires began walking around with trays holding varying cocktails and treats. Brie looked the tray over until she saw something pink. "Cosmo?"
Sebastian nodded. "A wee bit strong too."
"Perfect," she whispered and lifted it from the tray.
Brie looked around the room and shook her head. Aiden, bless his heart had a drink in each hand, and Meryn had a serving size bowl in her lap with two spoons. Aiden sipped from one of his drinks. "It had to have started around the time the perimeter went up. That's when they first appeared in Lycaonia."
"Let me text René Evreux. He is the Committee member for Lycaonia," Magnus said, lifting his phone.
Meryn growled. "No. He's a huge jerk."
Magnus gave a half nod. "He is not the best when dealing with others, which is why I made him the Elder for Lycaonia, the most diverse of the four pillar cities. Of all people, Meryn, I thought you would see that about him."
Meryn's lips were pressed in a straight line. "He said that my baby and Penny made him sick."
Magnus scrubbed his hands over his face. "It is his gift, Meryn. He can see the true nature of a person. We now know that you were missing your light. It was normal for you, but how do you think that registered to him? Also, you are carrying a mixed race child, similar to Penny. He has admitted to me on more than one occasion that he sees both essences, and it gives him motion sickness. He is rude, crass, and tends to despise anyone not a vampire, but he is learning."
Meryn's mouth dropped. "He's not a douchebag?"
Magnus winked. "He absolutely is, but he is not evil."
"Meryn, I believe that it was René that snuck me the necklaces for testing. He was also the one that saw through Rowan's deceit and freed me to save the Alpha Unit," Kendrick admitted.
Meryn held up a hand. "I will need time to realign him in my brain."
"Understandable," Magnus said, looking down at his phone. "He said he was one of the last ones to be approached. Jourdain Régis put his name forth as a candidate last August, and he was officially asked to join in September."
Meryn frowned. "That was months before I even moved."
Aiden sat back. "You're right, baby, this was before you." He looked around. "But it lines up perfectly to when the spell was cast to bring the warriors their mates."
"That spell's reach has yet to be determined," Thane said.
"What if that wasn't the only thing the spell did?" Meryn hypothesized.
Kendrick leaned forward. "Go on, Meryn, this is where you usually shine."
Meryn scooped up another spoonful of pudding. "Well, it's kinda like when you send out a massive update to multiple computers. You have to make sure everyone has turned on their systems, they have to leave them on overnight, you have to push the packets. Pain. In. The. Ass. So, usually, higher ups and tech supervisors are like, if we're going to dedicate this much manpower for this update, let's get a lot of other stuff knocked out at the same time, like OS updates, removing certain installed games, adding VPNs, the whole ball of wax, s
o that when they're done, they're good for a while." She looked around. "What if this spell had some huge component that had to be obtained, and they just made sure that they got their money's worth."
"Sonofabitch," Justice whispered, collapsing back into his chair.
Law shook his head at his brother's disbelief and pointed to Meryn. "I told you she's a genius."
Kendrick held up a finger. "So, what was the intended spell and what was added on? Was the primary purpose of the spell to seamlessly add the Committee to our society without question or was it to bring the warriors their mates for culling?"
Anne smacked her mate. "Did you have to word it like that?"
He shrugged. "Either way, it's terrifying."
"I wonder if it's neither," Meryn said, eating another spoonful of pudding.
Even Kendrick looked ill at her statement. "What do you mean?"
She held up her spoon. "Remember the demon guy?" She smiled. "Dude was seriously hot, by the way. Ouch!" Meryn rubbed her shoulder where Aiden nipped her. "Anyway. He said that the necklaces were just a means to an end. What if everything is moving us toward an endgame we don't even know about?"
"Meryn, please don't take this the wrong way, but I hate you right now," Kendrick growled.
She shrugged. "We don't have all the pieces, so trying to nail everything down and make sense of it all is pointless. All we can do it address what is right in front of us and do what we can to mitigate the damage."
"The damage is our people being murdered, Meryn," the queen reminded her softly.
Meryn nodded. "And back in November, it was pregnant shifters. In February, it was the citizens of Noctem Falls. At each turn, we have thwarted them in some way, shape, or form. They didn't get Lycaonia, Keelan saw to that. They didn't destroy Noctem Falls, Vivi, Ellie and the healers blocked them there. Yes, they have killed fae, but we surprised them tonight. We're one step closer to figuring out what the grand scheme is." She grinned. "We'll be even closer when we figure out how to open Kincaid's dirt box."
"Porcelain," both Kendrick and Thane corrected in unison.
Meryn shrugged. "So they've used some crazy mind stuff to install this Committee. Paranoia is a powerful thing. Just start rumors that the Committee is trying to secure property in each pillar city for an elite neighborhood or something. The demand for housing in the pillar cities is at an all-time high due to all the murders. If people suspect, for even a second, that the Committee is acting out of greed, they won't listen to a word they say."
