Kincaid looked over to Ari who shrugged. "I told you this was going to be a high-profile breakfast."
The queen sipped her coffee. "I think I feel slighted."
Instantly the entire Tau Unit stood and bowed over Kincaid's infraction. "Forgive me, Queen Aleksandra, I meant no disrespect. My only excuse is that being in your august presence has scrambled this poor witch's mind," Kincaid said, stumbling over his words.
The queen chuckled at his apology. "You are a dear boy. There's nothing to forgive. Please sit down and enjoy breakfast, I know Cord has been working hard on it." The men sat back down, all four of them looking a bit nervous.
"Y'all are acting like you never come here," Meryn commented.
Ari frowned. "We don't. Brennus usually meets us down at the estate for us to give our reports. We hardly ever come to the palace."
"Why not?" Meryn asked.
Aiden sat back, resting his arm on the back of her chair. "Meryn, honey, you have to remember, before we visited Noctem Falls the Eta Unit hardly met with Magnus either."
"Oh yeah. I guess I forgot," Meryn murmured, staring down into her coffee cup.
Ari leaned forward. "We heard of the virus, but we'd like to verify some of the details we've heard," he glanced at Kincaid, who closed his eyes and cast a soundproofing spell. Ari continued. "I know some things because of what my brothers have told me, but we would like to ask questions of our own."
Aiden nodded. "Of course."
"Is it true that the virus was manufactured?" Gage asked.
Kendrick nodded. "I can confirm that. I saw the magic in the virus myself."
"Magic?" Thane asked.
Kendrick exhaled. "Yes. Whoever did this was able to use magic to engineer on a molecular level. The virus was designed so the only cure was older vampire blood."
"Those damn necklaces!" Priest exclaimed, sitting back in his chair.
"Uh, Kincaid, can you let Micah, Serenity and Zach in the bubble?" Meryn asked, pointing to the doorway where the three looked on, concern on their faces.
"I got it," Justice volunteered. He whispered low, waved the trio in, before casting a new spell.
"I know you weren't having a super-secret meeting without me," Micah said, walking up to the table.
Serenity and Zach sat down, but Micah walked over to Meryn. He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "You doing okay Dewdrop?"
Meryn looked up at him. "You know?"
He nodded. "When the announcement went out yesterday, I called Aiden and he filled me in." He ruffled her curls before he sat down next to his mate. "I, of course, relayed everything to Adriel during my check-in call. He had already heard most of it from Stefan and Kari's report though." He rubbed the side of his nose slyly. "You didn't hear it from me, but the boys are going all out to get Pip open-air acclimated. They are frantically doing everything they can to come to your side."
Cristo threw his fist in the air. "I knew he'd get Kari to help him report." He eyed Meryn, Aiden and Kendrick. "Y'all owe me."
Meryn's
eyes filled and her lower lip began to quiver.
Cristo looked at her a panicked expression on his face. "I was just kidding Meryn."
"I want my brothers," she whispered.
Serenity and Amelia were up in an instant going to her. Amelia all but knocked Aiden out of his chair.
With a disgruntled look on his face, he made room for Amelia to squeeze in between him and his mate.
"Oh Meryn, it's okay," Amelia murmured and she held Meryn close.