"He stay with us?" Felix asked.
"Yeah, he's returning with us," Izzy answered.
Meryn shook her head. "I think he's asking if it's okay for Creelee to stay with him and his brothers in their house."
Felix nodded emphatically.
"Oh." She looked down. "Would you like that? Play with young Finley and Feris in the evening, sleep in their sprite sized home, then spend the day with me?"
Creelee looked a bit overwhelmed. "You."
Poor little Felix looked so rejected.
"Creelee, we're going to be together no matter what. We are Team Izzy and Creelee, don't doubt that. I just want you to be comfortable while I get your own home set up. Felix has a smaller sprite sized house that will fit you. If you meet his brothers and are still nervous, we'll figure something else out. But if you meet his brothers and decide you'd like to get to know them better, you won't hurt my feelings at all if you stay with them at night."
Creelee brightened now that she had reaffirmed that they were a team. "I try."
"I'm very proud of you, Creelee. When we're not together, you listen to Felix okay? He'll watch out for you like I would."
Creelee nodded. "He older."
Felix puffed out his chest. "I help."
"You're just like Oron, an excellent big brother," Izzy complimented.
Felix turned bright red and ducked down Meryn's tee shirt.
"You know, after visiting the goblin village, this morning doesn't seem real. I wish we could just enjoy the simple things like they do. Like those flowers or that freaking amazing pork," Meryn licked her lips.
Ryuu ruffled her hair in a rare display of affection. "Some live to be thousands of years old and never realize that true happiness exists in the small things."
When they reached the edge of the woods, everything looked darker as the dim began for the evening. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a shadow move, but then it was gone.
Gilheim scuffed his foot. "Will you visit again, Meryn, daughter of Eamon?"
"You bet! Can we bring our mates next time?"
He smiled wide. "It would be an honor."
"Til next time," she said waving.
He waved then began to jog back the way they came.
Meryn looked at the fae city and sighed. "It is pretty, I guess."
Izzy giggled. "Can you imagine his reaction if we talked the queen into coming?"
"I bet he'd faint." Meryn laughed. "Elder Tanir would bow so low he'd get mud in his hair," Meryn continued.
"Telk would say something horrid, then Brennus would have to bury him," Izzy added.
"Aiden would spend the entire time with his hands over my eyes to prevent me from checking out Gilheim's ass," Meryn said, placing her hands over her eyes. "Meryn!" she roared like her mate. Izzy could barely see as she walked, she was laughing so hard.
Slowly they walked back to the city, predicting each goblin's reaction to meeting the queen of the fae and the rest of their family.
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN