"Thank you very much for your insight. You are very brave and wise to have lived through so much." Aiden offered him his hand. The older man chuckled and shook Aiden's hand.

"Sounds like you have a firecracker on your hands son."

Aiden grinned wide. "Yes sir, I do, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Good for you son. Come back any time for advice."

"Thank you, sir."

Aiden knew that he had found an ally and a valuable source of information on how to take care of his human mate. Feeling better than he had since Meryn explained her condition he got in the car and drove back to Lycaonia.

*****

"So where is he now?" Sydney asked.

"Out getting me something from the store. I'm not sure how long it's going to take him so you'll have to talk fast." Meryn adjusted her cell phone on her ear. As soon as Aiden left, she remembered the café owner's offer. She decided that while Aiden was out she would give him a call.

"Girl, I can talk fast. Now. Most of the ladies, despite their paranormal selves, are sheep pure and simple, or should I say simpleton. I swear they share brain cells. There's a real mob mentality with that bunch. Imagine every single catty, hateful, backstabbing bitch you hated when you read a regency romance novel and put them in one room and you have the Daughters of Lycaonia Sewing Circle."

"How did you know I read regency romance?" Meryn interrupted.

"Hasn't everyone?" Sydney asked.

"Good point. Continue."

"Anyway. Most of the women are harmless little sheep, unless they are following someone's example. In most cases it's either mimicking Adelaide because she really is perfection dah-ling, or they become backstabbing heifers when they are trying to stay on Daphane Bowers's good side to avoid retribution."

"So Daphane is the one to watch out for?"

"Yup. Rumor has it she practically had a meltdown when she heard that Adelaide convinced the council to do that spell to call the warrior's mates to them. She felt like Adelaide was upstaging her daughter-in-law who just popped pregnant."

"I heard that's like a real important thing." Meryn murmured.

"Girl you don't know the half of it. In our society, it's a huge deal when a woman gets pregnant. They see each pregnancy as a blessing from the Gods, like literally. There's no proof, but I would bet money that Daphane was the one that spread the rumors about Adelaide using black magic to get pregnant seven hundred years ago when she got pregnant with Aiden. Daphane's husband had just petitioned the council to say that Byron had held his council seat for too long and that they needed fresh ideas. They were leaning in his favor when Adelaide got pregnant. Everyone took that as a sign that the Gods were favoring House McKenzie and Byron was able to keep his council seat. Of course that was reinforced later when Adelaide got pregnant again with Ben."

"Wow. Womb Wars."

"No lie. Makes me glad to be a gay man."

"So my being there is going to seem like Adelaide is trying to one up Daphane?"

"Absolutely."

"They'll probably be really passive aggressive and cruel to me, huh?" Meryn asked feeling depressed.

"You can count on that."

"So why am I going again?" She asked.

"Because if you don't it will look bad for Adelaide." Sydney's voice sounded sympathetic.

"This is gonna suck."

"Sorry hun, if you survive swing by the café and I'll make you something special." Sydney offered.

"You're sweet. Thanks."

"Anytime. Listen I gotta run, Justice is giving me bedroom eyes if you know what I mean. Good luck tomorrow."

"Thanks again Sydney, goodnight."

"Night." Sydney hung up and Meryn stared at her phone. A knock on the door had her jumping.

"Little miss, I've brought you some chamomile tea to help ease your cramps." Marius set the tea cup down on the nightstand. She stared up at him.

"How did you know?"

"I'm much older than Lady Adelaide and have a mate of my own. Plus ..." He cleared his throat.

"A female smells different when she's begun her cycle." Marius's eyes twinkled.

"Just how old are you anyway?" Meryn sipped the tea and sighed. It was sweet, just how she liked it. She was starting to understand what Adelaide meant by needing a squire. Marius was comforting to have around.

"Older than I look. What did you tell Master Aiden? He ran out of here a bit wild eyed." Marius raised a silver brow.

"I didn't lie." Meryn said quickly.

"Of course not. I think it will do him some good to think about the more practical things in life. He's a mated man now, these things come with that responsibility."

Meryn felt her eyes grow heavy.

"You rock, did you know that?"

He smiled."Yes."

When a yawn caught her off guard she became suspicious.

"Did you put something in my tea?"

He nodded. "Yes little miss. You've had a very exciting past couple of days, plus your cycle started today. You need a good night's rest." He pulled the covers up to her ears.

"Sneaky squire." Meryn yawned again.

"Of course. Goodnight, sweet Meryn."

"Goodnight Marius, thank you." Meryn felt his warm hand push back her hair in a fatherly gesture before she surrendered to the darkness.