Keelan shook his head. "No, it plays that sound when you press the green button and launches a stun spell when you press the white button. Each spell is set to knock out a full-grown vampire, the paranormal race least susceptible to electric shock. I think it has a hundred charges stored. When you run out, Ryuu should be able to charge it for you."

Meryn covertly began eyeing her mate, her finger twitching over the button.

"No," Aiden said.

"But..."

"No, Meryn, you cannot test it on me." Aiden gave her a stern look and kissed her forehead.

Amelia could tell that her baby sister-cousin was dying to see it in action.

Meryn turned and stared at Colton.

"No," Rheia said.

"Y'all are no fun." Meryn set her screwdriver down next to her plate, but kept looking at it longingly.

"Breakfast is served," Ryuu announced as he wheeled the cart in. One by one, everyone picked what they wanted. Amelia was stuck. She wanted a bagel but also wanted something sweet.

Darian leaned in. "Get both."

She kissed his cheek and did as he advised. She selected an asiago cheese bagel and a raspberry and cream cheese danish.

"Look who is all kissy-face this morning," Meryn teased.

Amelia looked up and Meryn winked. She grinned back and gave Meryn a thumbs up. The men chuckled.

Darian turned to her. "Speaking of last night, you said you had three brothers and three half-brothers. As far as I know Caiden, Kyran and Tristan are the only Ironwoods I know."

"Well, technically, Caiden, Kyran, and Tristan are my half-brothers. Thane, Justice, and Law aren't related to me at all; they are Caiden, Kyran, and Tristan's half-brothers. But growing up, we never made the distinctions, and they all looked after me."

She heard a fork drop and looked over at Colton who was staring at her.

"What?"

"You can't mean Thane, Justice, and Law Ashleigh?" he choked out.

"Yeah, why?" she looked around in confusion; even Darian looked impressed.

"Because they are like ghosts. They work completely outside the system and don't report to anyone. Frankly, they are fucking badass." Colton's voice was full of reverence.

Meryn glared at Aiden. "More people you forgot to mention?"

Aiden shook his head. "Baby, no one tells them what to do. Even the council can't order them to do anything; they live by their own code. Every fifty years or so, I extend the offer for them to join a unit, but they always decline."

"So how are they related to your brothers?" Gavriel asked.

Amelia spread cream cheese on her bagel. "The Ironwood brothers and the Ashleigh brothers have the same mother. The Ashleigh brothers were born about fifteen hundred years before Caiden, but unlike the Ironwood brothers, the Ashleigh brothers are triplets."

"Rumors are true then," Gavriel said, rubbing his chin.

"It explains their strength," Aiden added.

"How is that special?" Meryn asked. Rheia was the only other one who looked confused.

Amelia realized that they didn't know because they were human. "Meryn, multiple births are really rare amongst paranormals. The essence of what we are tends to demand all of the mother's resources in the womb. Shifters have their animal, vampires their strength, fae their light and witches their magic. Usually, in instances of multiple births, one baby becomes dominant and tragically kills their sibling by taking all the nutrients. Twins are rare and triplets are considered divine gifts."

"We have a set of twins serving in the units don't we?" Meryn asked.

Aiden nodded. "Yes, Nigel and Neil Morninglory, they are twin witches from Storm Keep."

"What was it like growing up with legends for older brothers?" Colton asked, his face alight with hero worship.

Amelia laughed out loud. "Difficult. I used to call Thane all the time to complain that Caiden hated me and didn't want me to have any fun. Thane would let me cry and vent then explain how much Caiden loved me because he wouldn't let me jump from the castle battlements like the boys did. Even though we're not related by blood, they spoiled me terribly."

"Do you think they'll like me?" Meryn asked in an unusually quiet voice.

Amelia stared and then she remembered Meryn was now family. She had forgotten such an important fact after being with Darian. "They are going to freaking love you! Especially Thane. He's like you and Kendrick; they don't like people either."

Aiden choked on his danish. "Oh Gods! She is related to them now."

"Ha ha! Wait until I tell them you locked me in your trunk." Meryn grinned.

Aiden turned milk-white. "Now, baby..."

Amelia heard a roaring in her ears, and it felt like ice covered her heart. "You did what?" she asked through clenched teeth. It felt like the floor had shifted under their feet.

One moment she was glaring at Aiden, the next, Darian turned her and took full possession of her lips. His tongue teased hers, and she felt her anger drain away. When he pulled back, the concern on his face was clear to see. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, thank you for the help." Amelia couldn't believe what she had almost done.

"What just happened?" Beth asked, gripping the table.

Embarrassed, Amelia covered her face. She had almost lost control of her magic like an untrained child. "I'm so sorry! I haven't lost control like that in a while. I normally don't get angry like that. It's just the idea of poor Meryn locked away..."