The queen became thoughtful. "That's right; you're an Ironwood...hmmm... that must mean you also know the Ashleighs?" she phrased it as a question.

Amelia nodded. "Despite actual blood ties, I consider the Ironwoods my brothers and the Ashleighs my half-brothers."

"Maybe if Amelia stayed here for a while, we could entice the Ashleighs to make their home here," Brennus suggested.

Amelia shook her head. "With what we discovered, they'll be needed by the council and Aiden McKenzie now more than ever."

The queen looked at Oron who shrugged. "What do you mean, dearest, by with what you've discovered?"

Amelia quickly looked at Darian. Was she not supposed to say anything?

Darian leaned forward. "Mother, a soundproof spell if you would."

Looking shaken she ordered most of the servants to leave and then folded her hands in front of her. A silver white light shone from her body and filled the room.

"Done." She nodded at Darian.

"The day before we arrived here, my unit was investigating the feral necklace for the council," he began.

Brennus nodded. "We have all read Aiden's report that the necklaces can halt the decay of a feral, mask their scent and give them abilities."

Darian's jaw clenched. "What we discovered that day, thanks to Amelia's amazing empath abilities, is that each bead in those necklaces is a soul."

Oron stared as the queen gasped.

Brennus shook his head. "We would have had a report from Aiden if that was true."

Darian exchanged looks with Oron. "We don't know what new information could have been revealed while we were here or what the orders from the council are."

To Amelia, it seemed like the light in the room dimmed just a little with the sad news, like the sun going behind a cloud. She turned to Darian. "I want to get home and check on Meryn." She hadn't been a big sister-cousin for long, but she couldn't stand the thought of anything happening to her quirky baby sister-cousin.

The queen turned to her a questioning look on her face. "You're concerned for Meryn McKenzie. What ties do you have to her?"

Amelia smiled. "She's my baby sister-cousin! Technically, my cousin, our mothers were sisters, but since I've never had a sister before, I claimed her as my baby sister-cousin."

Oron burst out laughing, hooting loud, and banging the table with one hand.

"Shut up, Oron!" Darian growled.

"Oh, this is rich! You mated into that craziness! Has she tried to electrocute you yet?" Oron heckled.

"You've mated into the craziness, too, Super Big Brother," Amelia teased.

Oron's laughter stopped immediately. "That's not funny. Seriously? That crazy little human menace is my sister now?"

The queen smiled. "Menace? I really do have to meet this woman. I don't think I've laughed harder than when Oron was telling me about her mating Aiden McKenzie."

Oron chuckled. "Trust me, the unit warriors enjoyed every second of watching those two come together."

The queen turned to Darian. "You would have missed knowing the Unit Commander. You would have never known Meryn or met your mate had you listened to me." She looked away, ashamed.

Darian strode over to her chair and dropped to one knee beside it. "I felt like I had betrayed everything you had done for me the day I left. I just couldn't explain the push I had to leave. Will you forgive me for the worry and heartache I caused you?"

The queen held him close. "Only if you forgive me for telling you that the only choice you had was to stay or forever be banished, I never should have given you that ultimatum. I just couldn't see how my gentle son could last as a warrior. Oron yes, but you my sweet boy, you couldn't stand to see people get hurt."

"Hey!" Oron protested.

The queen pulled away from Darian as he stood and looked at her eldest son. "You've always been a warrior my son, from the day I met you until this very second."

"Yeah, you brute," Darian teased.

His mother nudged him in the ribs. "Be nice to your brother, as memory serves me, he saved your butt more than once."

"Mother!" Darian protested, turning red.

"You tell him, Mother." Oron nodded.

The queen stood shaking her head. "Thousands of years old, and you still act like children." She stood on tiptoe and kissed Darian's cheek. "As much as I want to keep you here for months catching up, you're clearly needed back in Lycaonia. I think it's about time you have this." She reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out a silver ring. When Darian looked down, he paled and stepped backwards.

"Mother, no." He shook his head.

"I have already had this conversation with Oron. He knows he cannot inherit since his family name has been stricken from our records..."

"You could have children of your own," Darian interrupted.

The queen shook her head, and Brennus rose to stand behind her. "We've consulted every witch with the gift of premonition; I will never conceive."

Brennus wrapped a supportive arm around her shoulders and looked at Darian then Oron. "Besides, we do have children of our own. Fate does things for a reason, do you think it coincidence that your mother adopted you, unbeknownst to her at the time that she couldn't have children?"

The queen stepped forward and took Darian's hand. She put the ring in his palm and closed his fingers around it. "You are my heir. This ring can take you to any pillar city through the fae portals along with select human cities. It will also act as a signet ring allowing you to speak for me and be recognized as my heir."