Colton turned to Meryn and Beth. "We had planned on watching Penny again, but I don't think today is a good day for it. Is there any chance you two can watch her?"
Meryn and Beth eyed each other then turned to look at Penny. Meryn shrugged. "Why not?"
Colton stood. "Thank you ladies." He ruffled Penny's hair and walked around her chair to stand next to Rheia. He leaned down and kissed her gently. "Get my cell phone number from Meryn and text me later."
"I will. Have fun today."
Colton rolled his eyes. "Aiden always gets so grumpy when he realizes he's made a mistake, he'll be an absolute bear to be around." He wagged his eyebrows at her. Both she and Meryn laughed.
"Colton, get your mangy ass out here!" Aiden bellowed from the foyer.
"I am loved after all, he missed me." Colton laughed and waved goodbye.
"Goofball," Rheia said and resumed eating her pancakes.
"A lovable goofball," Beth said.
"Sexy even," Meryn chimed in.
"Will you two be okay watching Penny?" Rheia asked.
Meryn looked at Beth. "I had no younger siblings and never babysat. You?"
Beth grimaced. "I was the youngest person in Noctem Falls for close to twenty years."
"We can help," A light male voiced said from the doorway. Rheia looked up to see two young men come into the room. She was shocked to see one of them in a wheelchair.
"Jaxon, Noah! Perfect timing. Meet Rheia and Penny. Rheia is Colton's mate and Penny is her daughter," Meryn said introducing them. The men smiled at her and waved. "We have five other trainees you haven't met yet. They've been helping the construction crew with their barracks. They'll spend the day moving in after the meeting Aiden just called. These two are my minions. Noah is the cutie with blond hair and Jaxon is my hell on wheels!" Jaxon laughed and Beth shook her head.
"Keelan filled us in on about Penny yesterday, we'll be happy to help," Jaxon said, meeting Rheia's eyes. She could tell he knew about Penny's past, the sympathy was in his eyes.
Noah took Colton's empty seat next to Penny. "So what do you want to do today?"
Penny rummaged around her bag, pulled out a box of crayons and held them up.
"Perfect! We're going to be working in Aiden's office today tracking down some older files to get an accurate Vanguard count, we'll set you up," Noah promised.
"See, no problem. Once a kid can walk and communicate, it's smooth sailing. It's the tiny ones that cause trouble." Meryn said rubbing her belly.
Beth sighed. "At least you're not calling her 'Larvae' or 'Spawn' anymore."
Meryn laughed. "I only did it to irritate Aiden. He gets the cutest little eye tick when I say stuff like that. It's adorable."
Beth stood. "You may make him the first shifter in history to suffer from high blood pressure."
Meryn shrugged and stood. They walked around the table and Meryn held her hand out to Penny. Penny turned and got up on her knees in the chair to give Rheia a kiss. Rheia gave her a tight hug before letting her hop down to join Meryn. Meryn promptly picked up Penny and put her in Jaxon's lap for a ride.
"Be good," Rheia called after them.
Meryn turned scowling. "Why does everyone always say that to me?"
Rheia chuckled. "I was talking to Penny, but if it applies..."
Meryn blushed. "I knew that. Have fun doing your medical thing." She turned to leave and then spun back around. "What's your number? I told Colton I'd give you his number so you could text him later." Meryn pulled out her phone and waited.
Rheia rattled off her phone number.
Meryn typed, her tiny fingers moving quickly. "Okay, I just texted you Colton's number, Aiden's number and the house phone number. You're officially hooked up."
"Thanks, Meryn," Rheia said as her phone buzzed from her bag.
"Latta." Meryn wiggled her fingers at her and breezed out the door.
Rheia just stared at the open doorway; suddenly the room was much bigger and felt empty.
"She has a presence that seems to take over everything around her, doesn't she?" Ryuu asked walking in from the kitchen.
"Yeah, she does. How long have you been with her?"
"Just a few months, but it seems longer. In a good way." Ryuu started stacking plates.
Rheia ate her last bite and picked up her coffee cup. "Could I ask a favor?" She turned the cup in her hand nervously.
Ryuu gave a half bow. "Of course."
"Could you see if Penny has any relatives in Lycaonia? Her last name is Carmichael; her mother's name was Elena." Rheia was afraid to find out if Penny had family, but she owed it to the little girl to find out. Living outside of Lycaonia, it hadn't been safe to alert others that Penny had survived. But they lived in Lycaonia now; there was no reason to keep her from her family.
"I'll contact Marius Steward; he is the squire to Aiden's mother, Adelaide. He knows just about everyone in the city and if he needs further information he can easily ask Aiden's father, Byron. Byron is the shifter Elder here in Lycaonia," he explained.
"Thank you." She took one final sip and set her cup down.
"Was there anything else you needed? Adjusting to this world can be difficult, even for those who have known about paranormals their entire lives." His dark eyes were filled with warmth.