"If I lived and you died, you'd take a piece of my heart Felix. That's no way to survive. If there's a way for you to escape, then do it."
Felix stuck out his bottom lip in a pouty fashion. "I protect."
Meryn threw her hands in the air. "Fine! But we're getting you Kevlar and tiny guns."
Felix brightened. "Guns?"
Garrick began to shake. "No sprite has ever wielded a weapon, he is a dishonor to his family."
Meryn grinned. "You're kick-ass Felix."
"Kick-ass," the little sprites yelled.
Meryn's eyes softened. "You two are adorable."
Felix looked over his brothers and saw the same thing Izzy was beginning to notice. Unlike everything else in the fae city which shined and looked exceptionally well kept, these two had on threadbare clothing, no shoes and appeared to be dangerously thin.
When Izzy glanced over at the queen, she noticed her mouth was set in a straight line. She knew that the queen wanted to say something, but more than likely couldn't interfere.
"What..." Felix started then looked over to Garrick. "You said you would take care of them!" he shouted.
"Whoa, Felix, what's wrong?" Meryn asked, gathering all three in her arms. Felix had tears rolling down his rounded cheeks. He pointed to Garrick. "He punish them for my failure. Not their fault! Not their fault!" he sobbed.
Meryn realized what Felix was talking about and quietly began to cry. "They're mine."
"You're human! Don't interfere!" Garrick exploded.
"Mine!" she screamed back. "Because you can't be trusted with them."
Doran simply plucked Garrick up and began walking from the room. "I'll check on the colony to ensure no one else is being abused unjustly."
"Thank you, brother," Brennus said from between clenched teeth.
"You okay. You okay," Felix repeated awkwardly patting each brother on the forehead.
Meryn laughed and wiped her eyes. "I taught him that." She looked up at her mate.
"I don't know exactly what is going on, but if you're talking about Felix's brothers, of course they're ours," Aiden said, running his hand over her hair.
"Cord!" Meryn shouted. "They're starving!"
Izzy turned and was shocked to see the gentle looking Cord about to breathe fire. "Starving! In the Royal Garden of all places. In our own backyard!"
The queen lay a calming hand on his arm. "We can take care of them now. Meryn has invoked familial claim; they will be protected from now on."
Cord turned on his heel muttering under his breath as he headed toward the kitchen. "I will be right back with food for the youngsters."
"They're hungry?" Aiden whispered.
Felix wiped his nose with his sleeve. "Garrick punish after our parents die in flower blight. He think I bring shame to colony."
"You not bad. You not bad," the sprites said, hugging their brother.
Aiden squinted his eyes. "They are by Felix, right?"
The queen turned to Law. "May I beg a favor?"
Law swept his arm across his chest. "For you, anything."