Kendrick threw his hands in the air. "And she's my..." He paused and turned back to Meryn. "What are we anyway?"
Aiden collapsed back on the sofa looking drained. "Gods, they are alike. That sounded like a Meryn question."
Meryn looked up at Ryuu. "How does this work?"
Ryuu rubbed his chin. "You adopted his cousins as your brothers, but your tie to him was established before you met the twins."
Amelia clapped her hands together excitedly. "Oh! I know! He's your big brother-cousin!"
Meryn nodded. "Okay, that is kinda perfect. Let's do that. You're my big brother-cousin."
Kendrick gave Thane a shit-eating grin. "I'm her big brother-cousin."
"What does that make Thane and Kendrick?" Meryn asked.
"An asshole," they both said at the same time.
Cord and Pierce came back in with trays. Cord looked around. "There's enough for everyone."
When Pierce brought a tray around, Oron shook his head. Pierce looked at her and she gave a quick shake as well. If he wasn't having any, neither was she.
"Oh, I like this. It's stronger than the Blessed Chamomile," Meryn said, leaning back into Aiden, holding her cup.
Ryuu's pinched features relaxed as he released her wrist. "You're doing much better."
Meryn closed her eyes. "That was my mom and dad, huh?"
When Oron stood and walked over to Meryn, Izzy followed.
Meryn peeled one eye open. "What?"
Oron knelt down and bowed his head. "Meryn, I am so sorry."
Meryn handed her cup to Aiden and had Ryuu help her up. Once standing Oron looked up at her, Izzy could see the fear of condemnation in his eyes.
Meryn took a deep breath and slapped Oron across the face, the cracking sound silenced the room. Aiden quickly stood and set the cup down on the table. Like Aiden, Izzy was about to step in when she noticed the look on Meryn's face.
"Don't you dare say you're sorry as if you were somehow responsible for any of this. My Dad loved you, he called you son, so don't you belittle yourself that way. We're family."
Oron's eyes streamed tears as he stood. He took a single step back before placing a fisted hand over his heart and bowed low.
"Meryn, I swear to you by all our gods, that I will see my family pay for the pain they've caused."
Thane, Justice, Law, and Cristo placed their hands over their hearts. "So do we swear," they repeated.
Oron looked shocked. She tugged on his sleeve. "What?"
Aiden answered. "They have also taken on his oath; they are promising to help him see it through."
Thane nodded. "So will Rio and Ange, if their dumbasses ever find their way here."
Oron turned to him. "You didn't have to..."
Thane held up a hand. "We will complete Eamon's mission. He died getting us this information, we will finish what he could not."
Izzy rubbed her nose back and forth on his upper arm. "Just say thank you," she suggested.
"Thank you," he said, his voice catching.