"Darian, we've been here days and I've barely seen outside of the palace. Can't we go shopping?" She smiled at Izzy. "You have to show me where you got your robes."
Izzy nodded quickly. "Of course! It can be sisterly bonding!"
Oh my god, I sound fake!
Brennus began to nuzzle the queen's neck. "We haven't had much time alone," he said, in a sultry voice.
The queen flushed. "I can see that our guests have plans, let us retire early," she offered.
Brennus beamed at them. "You heard her, now shoo, shoo."
"Brennus!" The queen looked at her mate aghast before turning to them with pink cheeks. "Enjoy the city," she said.
They all started filing out discussing their plans. Amelia looped their arms together and they walked with their mates through the palace, out the gates and down the streets.
Somehow she wasn't surprised when literally everyone ended up in Dav's tavern not thirty minutes later.
Aiden stood from his chair after they walked in, looking grim. "Kendrick."
"A please would be nice," the witch said, before casting another ear popping soundproofing spell. Aiden rolled his eyes.
Izzy looked up at her mate and saw that both he and Darian looked pissed.
"They're not betraying your mother," she said loudly and on purpose.
Oron scowled down at her. "What else can all this mean?" he waved his hand around the tavern, pointing to their friends and family.
"It means we are doing everything we can to protect her," Doran said gently as he stepped from the corner with Celyn and Vivian.
Darian sighed. "Why is she being so stubborn about this? It wasn't just Meryn, it was also Ryuu, Pierce and a good portion of the Old Guard who saw this shadow."
Meryn threw a coaster at him. "Why you gotta say it like that? 'It wasn't just Meryn'," she asked holding up her fingers in air quotes. "I don't lie Darian."
Amelia crossed her arms over her chest. "Yes, exactly what did you mean?"
Darian backpedaled quickly. "What I meant was, that of everyone who was there she is the youngest and has been in our world the shortest amount of time. Those facts don't matter to me, but they do matter to my mother."
Meryn lifted both arms and pointed to Ryuu. "Ryuu saw it. Ryuu!"
Darian looked away. "I know."
Oron turned to Aiden. "What do we do?"
Aiden walked over and placed both of his hands on Darian's shoulders. "For now we continue what we started earlier. I will coordinate the warriors and Dav will organize the Old Guard. The warriors will be in charge of patrols and perimeter defenses and the Old Guard will patrol the city where they will be noticed less." He dropped his arms, stepped back and looked around.
"I want to make one thing perfectly clear. Technically what we're doing isn't wrong since I am the Unit Commander and all unit warriors report to me." He exhaled. "But the second the queen asks me to stop our efforts or leave, I will do so out of respect for her. At that point, the defense of the city becomes political and every single decision will need to be reviewed. Brennus will do what he can to act as a buffer until we can convince her of the seriousness of this situation, but until then," he looked around. "I suggest frequent meetings here for updates."
"She loves her people like they're her children," Meryn said quietly. "Something else has to be wrong."
Oron stepped so that his shoulder was touching Darian's. "She's right. It will be our job to find out what's really bothering her."
Darian looked around and his eyes held a sheen. "I would rip off my arm to keep her from hurting," he admitted brokenly.
Dav handed him a pint. "Son, do you think there is a person here tonight who wouldn't?" Darian looked around and relaxed a fraction. Nearly every head was nodding. Izzy knew it was because the queen was that beloved.
Izzy moved so that she stood in front of her mate and relaxed against him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She swung her hips and bumped Darian causing him to spill his beer. Oron laughed and she winked at Amelia who was fighting back giggles. "Look at it this way Darian. Your whole family has just gone through some major changes and some serious grief. Maybe she just needs time to make sense of it all. What we're doing is making sure that the decisions and work don't pile up on her," Izzy explained. She thought it was ironic that she was here this afternoon complaining that she needed time.
Darian looked down at her relief in his eyes. "We can do that."