Portia just nodded. "I am beyond being surprised. I will see it done. The young masters should have robes and dress robes by this evening. I will ensure they are self-fitting and cleaning."
"You are simply a marvel," the queen gushed.
"I do try," Portia replied dryly, then left.
Pip practically glued himself to Meryn's side. "The pretty queen said I was to be treated like a Founding Family member, but I am a nobody," he whispered. "What do I do?"
Meryn wrapped an arm around him. "You're my brother," she said firmly. "And she is my aunt. And she's the Queen of all the Fae and is like ten-thousand years old, Pip. If this amazing, smart woman who has seen so much says you're to be treated at the very least like a Founding Family member, then don't you think you're actually something very special?"
Pip stared at Meryn. "Just being your brother is special."
"I freaking love you, Pip," Meryn exploded.
Pip sat up straighter. "And I freaking love you too. And I am special because the pretty queen thinks I am."
Aiden ruffled Pip's hair. "We all think you're special, kiddo."
Neil snagged a meat kebob and handed it to Meryn. "What do you want us working on?"
"Foreclosures and past due property taxes using a four-hundred grid matrix," Meryn replied immediately.
Brie shook her head. "Little genius."
Meryn winked at her. Pip bumped Meryn's shoulder. "What about me?"
"Pip, you're in charge of cuddles," she replied, biting into her meat kebob.
Pip saluted. "Roger!"
"Creelee, you have to try this." Meryn waved an entire skewer at the small brownie.
Creelee flew over, eyes wide. "So much bob."
Izzy watched, concern written all over her face. "Creelee, did you want me to take it off the skewer for you?"
Oron waved off her concern. "He'll be fine."
Creelee sat down and lined up the meat kebob.
Meryn turned to her brothers. "Watch this."
Creelee pulled one chunk of meat off after another, practically inhaling them. "More bob!" he chirped.
"Whoa," the twins said in awe.
Pip handed him another skewer. "Here you go."
Once again the tiny brownie decimated the small pieces of meat. Meryn continued to eat hers as Brie watched the huge pile of kebobs dwindle down to sticks.
Meryn sat back rubbing her stomach. "Now time for Magic Pudding."
"Pud-ding," Creelee repeated, his stomach engorged.
Cord set down a stack of bowls in front of Meryn and scooped out some for her, then Creelee, then the small sprites.
Creelee eyed the pudding then climbed up on the rim of the bowl.
"No!" Izzy rounded the table and caught him before he dived in.