Page 84 of My Eternal Light

Izzy winced. “Her last one was de-caf. Cord brought in some snacks, but she’s not eating. I bet she won’t until everything is over.”

She waved Ryuu over.

He bowed. “Yes, Lady Zadie?”

“Maybe we could tempt her with those Toast’Ems that Kincaid brought back for her?” she suggested.

Ryuu froze for a second, then smiled. “Excellent idea. I forgot she had a stockpile in her bat cave. Give me one moment.”

After a few minutes, Ryuu came back in with a small platter of assorted breakfast treats. Without looking Meryn picked one up and began eating.

Ryuu placed a hand on his heart and inclined in head in thanks.

“Anne, I need an update,” Meryn said, working on her second pastry.

“People are stopping once they get on this side of the portal, they think they’ve been tricked since it’s so cold. It’s taking Brennus, Portia, Molvan and a lot of neighbors to keep them moving,” Anne reported.

“I’m getting numbers from Aiden now. We lost half,” she reported through gritted teeth.

“Oh, no. The queen is going to be devastated,” Anne spoke quietly.

“Since we’re splitting the group, half of half still means about seven-hundred are heading your way. Anne, we need to close that portal in twenty minutes. I want the men back before possible reinforcements arrive at the facility and it turns into a pitched battle.”

“Leave it to me,” Anne said, then disconnected.

Next, she dialed Magnus.

“How’s my Auntie?” she asked, by way of greeting.

“She has been instrumental in getting people to come through the portal for sorting. I have never seen anything so beautiful in all my years. The queen is standing at the back of Level Six and is radiating a warm light. The fae are instinctively drawn to it. They are looking to her like she is their mother.”

“She kinda is.”

“I believe it. I am the Prince of my people, but this is something different,” Magnus shared.

“We need to keep the portal area clear. I’m trying to get the guys out in the next twenty minutes.”

“Agreed. We will be ready, Meryn,” he promised.

“Magnus, if she starts to blink in and out or some shit, like a lightin bug. Shove her through the portal and tell Oron to get her home.”

“On your authority?” Magnus teased.

“Auntie left me in charge while she and Darian were gone, technically I am speaking with the authority of the royal palace.”

Magnus chuckled. “Then she will have no one else to blame but herself. I will watch her like a hawk. Also, Sebastian finished his, what in the devil did he call it? Elevated Magic Pudding or some such nonsense.”

“Yes! Tell him he’s amazing.”

“I absolutely will not. He is hard enough to live with as it is.”

“I’ll tell him later.”

“He’d probably want to hear it from you anyway. I will go through and check the site myself in eighteen minutes. Get some rest, young lady,” he said, then disconnected.

Meryn’s phone buzzed and she looked down. Frowning she looked up, saw her, then frowned fiercer.

Zadie squeezed Cody a bit tighter. “Kincaid?” she asked, fearing the answer.