Doran looked worried. "Tell my brother to call me if I'm needed."
Brie gave his arm a squeeze. "We will," she promised.
Everyone was almost to the foyer when Kendrick looked around. When his eyes landed on something back at the table, his eyes softened. "Meryn, come on."
Meryn hadn't stopped eating as everyone was getting ready to go. She was still at the table, plowing through some beef. Leo placed a hand on her back. "I'll send up a midnight snack for you, okay?"
Meryn sighed, then stood. She picked up two rolls and crammed slices of beef in each. "Thanks, Leo, you rock."
Ari turned to Brie. "You can stay if you wish. You have to be tired after that fight."
She shook her head. There was no way she was going to miss whatever that witch had to say. "I'm staying with you." She bit her lower lip. "Leo, about that midnight snack?" She pouted, giving him the best 'boo boo' face she could muster.
"Please, Leo?" Both Ari and Declan wore similar pouty faces, which ruined her efforts because she was now laughing.
Leo beamed. "It feels so good to be cooking large meals again."
"Come on, you three," Rex called out.
Together they headed out and back up the golden street toward the palace.
*****
When they arrived, it was eerily quiet compared to the chaos they had left.
The marble halls had an ominous feel after Kendrick's scary observation.
"I feel like a masked murderer is about to pop out with a butcher knife," Meryn said, sticking close to Aiden.
"It does feel empty, doesn't it?" Anne agreed, inching closer to Kendrick.
"And darker," Brie added, and it did seem darker to her.
When they approached the queen's personal chambers, the door swung open, and Darian greeted them. "What's this about an emergency meeting?" he asked, holding up his phone.
"Were you able to contact Magnus?" Kendrick asked, walking past the prince.
"Nice to see you, too, Kendrick," Darian drawled. "And yes, he arrived a few minutes ago via the warehouse portal."
"Magnus is here?" Meryn demanded, then flew past Darian as well. "Sebastian!" she called out.
"I thought she asked about Magnus?" Brie observed out-loud.
Ari pointed to Ryuu, who hurried after his charge. "Usually squires follow their charges. Sebastian would of course be with Magnus."
The twins and Pip ran after Meryn. "Sebastian!" they hollered.
Declan smiled. "Sebastian became like a pseudo-mom for them," he explained. "They must have missed him."
When they entered, Brie saw that Meryn, the twins, and Pip were gathered around a tall man who looked just as happy to see the younger people bouncing around him as they were to see him. "Level One has been so very empty without you!" Sebastian pulled Meryn into a hug then held her out at arms' length. "Look at you, Princess Meryn."
Meryn waved her hands in front of her. "None of that stuff. Just Meryn for you, Sebastian." She surprised the squire when she wrapped her tiny arms around his waist. "Missed you," she mumbled.
"And I have missed you too," he admitted.
"Princess Meryn, I bring you greetings from the City of the Night," a deep voice declared.
"Magnus!" Meryn turned from Sebastian and hurried over to the gorgeous dark-haired man. "I got my flame-thrower!"