"She's what?" Aiden demanded.
Elizabeth heaved a huge sigh. "After her last announcement on Facebook, she was asked to act as a liaison for LGBT shifter groups since she's mated to you and will be the next Lady of House McKenzie." Elizabeth tapped her lips with her finger. "Politically, it's a brilliant move. It shows she is very progressive."
"Ambassador? Meryn?" Aiden asked again in disbelief.
"Dani," Meryn mumbled and sat up. On her chest she now sported a small rainbow-colored button. "Gotta represent." She put her head back down.
"How'd she do that?" Ellie asked.
Eva pointed to Meryn. "She's wearing the Gown of Eiré Danu. Meryn calls it Dani for short. It can change into whatever outfit Meryn thinks of."
"Extraordinary." Ellie thought about it for a moment. "So M.A.S.H.E.D. We call it a M.A.S.H.E.D Stone?"
Grant looked at her confused. "Mashed?"
"Yes. Mornings. Always. Suck. Huge. Elephant. Dick. If you take the first letter of each word, it spells mashed," Ellie explained.
Snorts erupted from under the hoodie, and it looked like Meryn was convulsing. She sat up, her eyes looking more awake. "That's awesome."
"We are not calling a revolutionary magical tool that gives non-flyers freedom to move about the city mashed, especially when I know what it stands for," Elizabeth protested.
Meryn chortled. "Too late. It's stuck."
Magnus raised an eyebrow at Meryn. "I believe the twins already registered a patent with the Academy of Magic for these stones. They are calling it a Caelum Stone. It is Latin for sky stone."
Meryn shrugged. "I like mine better."
Grant looked at Meryn. "The twins weren't playing video games last night with Micah, were they?"
Meryn shook her head. "They wanted to give you a mating present. Plus, it made sense with how often the two of you will be traveling back and forth."
Grant looked down at his hands as he turned the stone over again and again. "Little devils."
Magnus chuckled. "They are brilliant devils though." He looked at Ellie. "What are your plans for the day?"
"I was able to look at some of their bloodwork last night. Unfortunately, I didn't see anything that would help formulate further treatments. I'd like to get to the gardens today to see if I can find something that would cause the symptoms we're seeing in the children."
"Just let me know when you are ready, and I will let you in," Magnus promised.
"Ellie, Emeric will be catching up with you sometime today for guard duty. So if you find yourself being followed by a man with a Cajun accent, don't be alarmed," Elizabeth informed her.
"Right. Thank you." Ellie nodded.
By the time breakfast was over, Meryn had had enough coffee to be human again. When it was time to leave, Grant practically dragged her down the hall to test their stones. Meryn had gone over the phrases needed to use the stones to make them float, stop, hover, and descend.
Stepping off the stone ledge, her mate used the first command. "Autem."
She followed and was surprised how much fun she had. When she wasn't worried about someone else dropping her, she actually enjoyed herself. Once they arrived on Level Six, Grant spotted Micah. He turned to her. "Be right back." He hurried over to where Micah stood smirking at them. Even from a distance Ellie could see that the witch was pleased with himself. Grant pounded him on the back still grinning from ear to ear over having the ability to use the transport tunnel without having to ask for help.
"Thank the gods I did not have to float your fat ass up. I would have given myself a hernia," the tunnel escort for the level jeered quietly, his eyes cold and full of disgust.
Ignoring the escort's hurtful words, she quickly walked past her mate toward the wolves' houses. Grant caught up with her and frowned. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. Let's go."
When they reached the children, she saw four men she didn't recognize speaking with Dr. St. John. When they saw her coming, Dr. St. John stepped forward. "Dr. Kimball, I'd like you to meet Artemisia Dracunculus."
The man sighed. "You might as well call me Tarragon; everyone else does." Ellie smiled at the nickname, and the doctor continued the introductions. "The scary looking one is Emeric Foret, your daytime bodyguard."