Page 21 of My Eternal Light

Soon all the children were singing the names that they had memorized growing up.

When they were done, the silence was heavy, but it radiated satisfaction from the ones who had been lost and were now found.

Aeron swallowed hard. “Out of all of you, it seems like you are the only one that truly understands the depth of what we lived. We all survived, but we had each other. Meryn did you have anyone?”

Meryn shook her head.

Aeron closed his eyes. “I cannot even imagine.” He pointed to the children around them. “To answer your question, in case you were counting names, we’re the seventy-sixth set.”

Meryn looked to her Aunt. “Can we make a memorial for them?”

“Of course. I think that is a wonderful idea,” the queen said.

Meryn turned back to Aeron. “I’m so proud of you. Of us.” She smiled. “We lived and they will die. In the end we’ll win.”

Cody hurried over to squeeze her tight. “You promise? You promise they’ll die?”

She hugged him back, then patted his forehead gently with the palm of her hand, before stepping away from them to lean back against her mate who then scooped her up. “The one who told me where you were promised he would kill them.” She looked each one of them in the eye. “And if he doesn’t. I will.”

“No, you won’t. You will keep your cute, little ass on a pillow in the sitting room and eat whatever disgusting mixture of chocolate and coffee keeps you happy,” Aiden argued.

Meryn narrowed her eyes at him. “I will kill people if I want to!”

“No, you will tell me who to kill and I will do it for you. That is my gods given right as your mate.”

“No offense Ms. Meryn, but your mate looks like he’ll have an easier time killing the bad men,” Cody pointed out.

Nigel and Neil cracked up. “That’s because you haven’t seen her in action, little buddy,” Nigel said, winking at Meryn.

“No. No more killing, well, at least not until after the baby is born. You need to relax more,” Aiden said, rubbing his cheek in her hair.

Meryn gave a tiny growl of her own. “But, killing bad guys is relaxing.”

“Meryn!” a tiny voice called out.

Everyone turned to see an avalanche of sparkling sprites fly into the courtyard.

Meryn’s eyes widened as Felix, Feris and Finley buried themselves in her chest. “What are you three doing out here? It’s cold!” She quickly wrapped her coat around them.

Felix waved his sword. “You got sad! Really sad! Who do I stab?”

Aiden grinned. “I fucking love you Felix.”

Felix smiled up at Aiden, then turned back to Meryn, patting her cheeks.

“What are they?” Cana asked.

The queen looked around. “Can you all see them?” she asked.

All the children nodded as the sprites swarmed them, ducking under blankets and through their hair.

The queen clapped her hands together. “They’re Eirsons,” she whispered.

Meryn looked over to her. “Auntie, not to sound critical, but we knew that.”

Kendrick began laughing. He surprised everyone when he whooped and swung Anne around. “They’re Eirsons!”

Kincaid was feeling really left out but saw that even Brennus looked confused.