Page 13 of My Haven
Kendrick scowled. “Of course not.”
She exhaled. “Thank god!”
“It’s a finely compacted and condensed form of my magic and Thane’s.”
“Can I do magic now!?”
“No!” Kendrick replied immediately.
“Well, that’s dumb.”
Brennus howled his laughter, as Byron kept trying to prop Aiden up.
Byron patted his son on the back. “Her reaction to the crown is exactly why she’s trusted with it.”
“Is this like my unlimited meat kebabs from Magnus kinda thing?” she asked.
The queen ignored the men. “It is like the Regalis card from Magnus, but more.” She pointed to the ruby. “That is a bloodstone gem from Magnus and Gavriel. It is encircled by the eternal dragon, the vampires’ symbol for immortality.”
“It’s your actual blood,” she whispered.
“Yes, gladly given,” Magnus answered.
“Fucking metal as shit. That is so cool!”
The queen then pointed to the ivory. “That is tooth and claw from Byron, held by a bear’s claw.”
Meryn whirled. “Are you hurt!” She passed the crown over her shoulder to Ryuu to go to her dad. “Let me see your hands!” She tugged at them, trying to make sure he was okay.
Byron took her hands gently. “I am fine. I donated while shifted, they grew back the next day.”
Meryn felt a wave of nausea. She couldn’t stand the thought of her dad hurting.
“Chair!” Adelaide yelled.
Felix fanned her face with his hands. She smiled weakly at him.
Seconds later she was steered into a chair and Aiden began to also fan her. “Baby, he’s fine, I promise you.”
Byron knelt down in front of her. “I swear to you, it hurt, but it was fleeting. Like when you lost your baby teeth.”
She glared at him.
He took her hands and kissed each one. “Oh, my poor, sweet, baby girl.”
Brennus rubbed a hand over her hair. “The thought of you hurting made her sick, and she doesn’t think she knows what family is.”
She looked around and Ryuu set the crown in her lap.
The queen twisted her hands. “Oh dear, I thought she would like it.”
“She was fine with our blood and magic,” Kendrick pointed out.
Meryn looked around. “Did y’all hang up on Magnus?”
Kendrick rolled his eyes, then pointed to the marble pillars. “He’s on his way. When you turned the color of milk, he disconnected.”
Meryn couldn’t help but smile. Kendrick and Thane were like older brothers. Her Uncle Bren and Byron were like fathers toher, but Magnus was something special. He didn’t have any ties to her except for Beth’s claim on her. But she knew, down in her soul where her love and trust for Aiden, Ryuu and Felix lived, that Magnus would do anything for her.
