Meryn exchanged looks with Amelia. "I'm really missing Kari right about now. She'd have an entire explanation whipped up in PowerPoint, in like three seconds flat."
Oron stepped forward and took the seat next to her. "How about this? Let's eat lunch. Over lunch we'll explain things as they come up in conversation until all your questions have been answered."
Izzy nodded slowly. "I think I can do that."
The other men vacated the kitchen, giving them some space. Amelia and Serenity helped Ryuu churn out some sandwiches as Oron started explaining what he called the 'basics' to her. Every once in a while, Micah, Serenity, Law or Darian would add things. Pierce helped Ryuu by passing him ingredients. Every time he got close to the gorgeous Japanese man; Meryn would practically growl. Izzy thought it was adorable how protective Meryn was of her friend.
Somewhere between her tuna fish sandwich and her ice cream sundae she was sure someone had slipped her the good drugs.
"So under normal circumstances y'all have ferals, but you just found out that there are like serial killer type ferals?" she asked, wishing she had more ice cream to process all of this.
Meryn nodded. "Yup, plus a lot of possible 'been going on for decades' type evil schemes in action."
She looked around the table feeling panicked. "I just
make coffee, that's it. I'm not a witch or a shifter. Why me?"
Oron reached over and gently took her hand. He tugged on her fingers until she relaxed. She had been digging into her palm with her nails.
"Because I need you," he said simply. "Forget about the ferals and schemes. Don't worry about anything else, I'll keep you safe."
That was another thing she didn't understand. He was perfect. No one was this perfect and even if he were real and not part of a caffeine-induced dream, there's no way in hell she'd end up with someone like him.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. "I have never been more sure of anything in my life. Your soul's light shines for me."
"Hold the fuck up, you make coffee. You're a barista, right?" Meryn asked, a devilish look in her eye.
"No Meryn, you're pregnant remember," Aiden said, shaking his head.
"Yeah, and? Meryn-two-point-oh loves coffee, I need Izzy in my life."
Izzy grinned at the small woman. "You are my people."
Meryn pointed at her. "See! She gets it!"
"I promised Rheia I'd look after you shorty, so don't OD on caffeine on my watch, okay?" Serenity pleaded.
Meryn rubbed her hands together. "We need supplies."
"I have a distributor account for most coffee wholesalers," Izzy volunteered.
Meryn turned in her chair to face her handsome friend. "Ryuu, please do that squire thing and get stuff for Éire Danu," she pleaded, her hands clasped in front of her chest.
Ryuu bowed. "Of course, denka. Lady Campbell, if you are comfortable with providing me with your log in information, I can arrange for supplies to be sent to our next destination."
Izzy nodded. "Sure, but I don't have much money on the card stored with the profile." She looked between him and Meryn. "Why did she ask you to get supplies? What's a squire thing?"
Ryuu gave an elegant half bow. "Squires in our world run the households of important families, leaving them free to assist in the leading of our many peoples. Unlike the human world, which denotes the position disdainfully, squires in our world are revered and respected." He handed her a piece of paper. "With your permission, I'll add our house account to the profile. I have a sneaking suspicion I will be ordering quite often in the future."
Izzy eyed the gleeful Meryn and the concerned looking Aiden. "That's cool." She wrote down the sites and log in information on the piece of paper, then handed it back to Ryuu. She turned to Oron. "What now?"
"Now, I'd like to invite you to take a walk with me outside so we can get to know one another better," he offered.
Izzy turned to the other women and they nodded. Amelia took pity on her. "Oron is both noble and kind. You couldn't ask for a better man. He will not only keep you safe, but put your needs above his own. Take a leap of faith Izzy, I promise you, you won't regret it."
Izzy looked back to Oron to see the concern in his eyes. She squeezed his hand. "Okay, but only if we find some bug spray first. I fucking hate bugs."