Magnus shrugged one shoulder. "There are days when I feel as if people forget that I am a person as well as the Prince. After so many millennia being in charge, I think maybe your queen likes to be treated like a woman now and then."
Vivi looked at Magnus with new respect. He seemed to go out of his way to make sure people were taken care of. Their people couldn't have asked for a better leader.
Cracking wood had everyone turning to Aiden. He looked at Etain. "What the hell happened to my mate?" he demanded.
CHAPTER SIX
Etain's expression darkened. "Earlier this afternoon when Vivi and I took the injectors up to Level Six, Meryn joined us. She wanted to install speakers there for her new PA system. One of the tunnel escorts said some things to Meryn that hurt her feelings."
Vivi rolled her eyes. "Men." She turned to Aiden. "From what I heard Meryn has had run-ins with this particular escort before because she said, 'Not you again,'. The tunnel escort said that people were talking about Meryn saying that she was an embarrassment to you and how people felt sorry for you."
Rheia sucked in her breath, and Aiden snarled. Vivi looked down the table at Rheia. "What?"
Rheia's eyes were misty. "Meryn had a very difficult childhood. We're still getting details as she's not one to share, but one thing has become extremely clear. She must have been told on an almost daily basis how worthless she was. Her grandmother ignored her to the point of neglect and put her down often. Meryn has been walking around for the past couple months waiting for Aiden to announce that he has changed his mind, and that he would never be with someone like her."
"Oh gods! Hearing that from the tunnel escort must have been like her worst nightmare coming true," Ellie said sniffling.
Aiden stood chest heaving. He looked over to Etain. "You're with me."
Etain stood. "Yes, sir."
"Aiden," Magnus called out as the Unit Commander stalked from the room.
Aiden spun a dark-brown muzzle semi-imposed on his face. "Yes," he snarled.
"Whatever you do. You have my blessing." There was a dark look in the prince's eyes.
Aiden simply nodded and headed for the door. Etain dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
"Have fun storming the castle," she called out after him.
Etain frowned. "What castle?"
Vivi shook her head. "Never mind. Give em hell."
"That I can do," he promised, grinning evilly.
*****
Etain had to almost jog to catch up the commander by the transport tunnel. Etain held out his arm. "What level, sir?"
"Give me a second. If we go up there now, I will kill someone." Aiden put his hands on his hips and took a few deep breaths.
Etain noticed that when Aiden rested his hand on his arm, his claws were out despite trying to calm down. "Level Five first," Aiden said.
First?
Once on the level, Aiden walked up to the door of the first set of quarters. Etain inwardly groaned. The quarters next to the tunnel were always those of the highest ranking family, in this case. DeLaFontaine.
Aiden raised his hand, but instead of knocking, he beat on the door so hard it split down the middle. A moment later, a frightened looking squire opened the door. "Y-y-yes?"
"Tell DeLaFontaine he has two minutes to assemble his people before I start pulling people out of their houses and considering how pissed I am. They may not make it out in one piece."
"Yes, sir!" the squire left the open door at a run.
Less than a minute later DeLaFontaine was standing in front of him. He opened his mouth to speak, a sneer on his face. When he saw the state Aiden was in, he swallowed hard. "Unit Commander, what can my people do for you?"
"With Etain Vi'Aerlin as my witness, I am challenging anyone on the level that feels that they have a right to hurt my mate. Once I leave this level any future insult will be seen as a direct challenge to me, and I will respond in kind with a fight to the death," Aiden announced in a quiet tone.