Aiden blinked. “Huh?”
“May I go later?”
Meryn nodded. “You’re a free chick now and of age, so do whatcha want.”
Aiden frowned down at his mate. “Maybe not everything she wants.” He then turned to Aeson. “Dav’s?”
“Yes, sir. She made an impression on the old timer, so he wants to serve her her first beer.”
Aiden nodded. “Sounds important, not something one should miss out on.” He looked down at his mate. “Would you like to go try that fish you've been hounding me about tonight for dinner?”
Meryn’s eyes brightened. “Hell yeah!”
“Party at Dav’s?” Neil asked.
“We gonna get funky!” Pip announced.
The queen snort laughed into her tea cup.
Ramsey rubbed his hands together. “It can be Zoe’s welcome party.”
Aeson grinned. “We’ll bring snacks.”
Ramsey gave a small salute, and he and Aeson left arguing over which snacks would go best with beer.
Zoe sat down and looked around the table. Even knowing the twins, there were still a lot of names she didn’t know. “Hello!” She started in a bright voice. “My name is Zoe Appleblossom. I look forward to working with all of you.”
Meryn grinned. “Appleblossom jeans…” she sung.
“Boots with the fur…” Three others in the room responded at the same time.
The tall cocoa-skinned man turned to Meryn, a look of disgust on his face. “Thank you, ever so much. Now that song will be stuck in my head for days.”
Meryn cackled in her chair. “Watch out, Pierce, earworm attack.”
Kincaid and the young woman sitting next to the queen also glared at Meryn.
The queen tilted her head. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Kincaid sighed. “It is, or was, a popular song in the human world. It has a very catchy tune, so it stays with you once you’re reminded of it. That’s what Meryn meant by earworm. It’s a song that sort of plays on repeat in your mind.”
The queen looked at Meryn aghast. “That sounds dreadful.”
“He he he he,” Meryn chuckled to herself.
“I think some introductions are in order since Zoe greeted us so politely,” a woman said, standing. “My name is Kari Lionhart. I am mated to Declan,” she pointed to the man next to her.
For the next twenty minutes, they went around the room, slowly introducing those present and explaining any familial or political connections.
Zoe sat there, trying her best to keep up. A light tap on her shoulder had her looking up. “Cord, right?”
“Yes, Lady Zoe. You’re doing very well in remembering everyone. What can I prepare for you for lunch?” he asked.
She just blinked up at him. She had never had to pick her lunch before. It was always prepared and served to her. “I don’t know.”
His eyes widened, and he tried a different tactic. “What is a favorite from home? I can try to make it for you.”
“I…I…I don’t know. I have never picked my lunch before,” she admitted.