Brie sat straighter. "I will do everything I can to help. Though, it feels like we’re at a standstill at the moment, until I get more information from River confirming what we suspect, or unless Meryn finds another warehouse."
The queen smiled. "I know you will. Even more so after your arm feels better."
Brie blinked. "My arm?"
Brennus chuckled. "Elysa came by first thing this morning to requisition fae enchanted ink for your tattoo."
"I'm getting a tattoo?" Brie looked up at her mate.
Ari beamed at her. "One of the rarest ones in our world. The tattoo for Eliana's Daughters isn't offered lightly. It's a symbol, much like our warrior tattoos, that you have proven yourself." He nuzzled her neck and whispered. "I'm so proud of you."
Brie couldn't say no after her mate said something like that. In truth, she had never wanted a tattoo before. They looked great on others, but she hated needles. "I will require pampering afterward," she informed him.
He frowned. "Why?"
Across the table, her father laughed. "Because she hates, and I do mean hates needles. She passed out when she had to get her tuberculosis test for college."
"Dad!" she protested. "They're going to think I'm a big baby."
Brennus placed another scone on her plate. "After your bout with Elysa, I highly doubt anyone would think that."
"You heard about that?"
Brennus nodded. "My niece flattened the acting Alpha Female of Eliana's Daughters and was offered acceptance in their ranks? Of course, I heard about it." He nodded at Ari. "You'll learn that the warriors are horrible gossips. Balder and Bastien were waiting for me in the queen's outer chambers this morning to be the ones to tell me."
"Why acting Alpha?" she asked Ari.
Ari lowered his coffee cup. "Mother is the Alpha Female, she is the eldest and the strongest, but her mating my father shifted some of her focus away from her duties for Eliana's Daughters. My aunts refused anyone else as Alpha, so they made Elysa acting Alpha Female. It frustrated Mother to no end that Elysa wouldn't actually be Alpha, but there was nothing she could do about it. Her sisters are just as stubborn as she is."
She dipped her scone in her cream and took a bite. She didn't think they were supposed to be eaten this way, but if everyone from the queen to Aiden dunked, then so would she.
It didn't take Ryuu and Cord long to whip up the waffles and soon everyone was enjoying the tasty breakfast.
Amelia turned to Aiden. "Should she wake her? If she hears we let her sleep through waffles, she'll be angry."
Aiden shook his head. "Let's let her sleep herself out. If she gets some good rest in now, she'll be good to go for a while."
*****
&n
bsp; It was early afternoon by the time she had finished her breakfast and received the update from Ben at the facility.
Groaning, Brie sat back patting her belly. "Those have to be the best waffles I've ever had."
"Ready for your tattoo?" Ari asked excitedly, standing.
"I guess. But remember, pampering and spoiling are required later."
"Spoiling you is no hardship."
"Ari, if you swing by around dinner time, Neil and I should have some more warehouses and buildings picked out for Meryn to review. We can give you both locations then so you can start planning," Nigel offered.
Ari looked at him. "Why around dinner?"
Nigel and Neil exchanged looks then turned back to him and shrugged. "That's when we always go over things."
Amelia laughed. "Meryn got us in the habit of doing all our meetings and updates over a meal. The reasoning was that we had to stop and eat anyway, honestly I think she just wanted to eat during our update sessions."