Page 93 of Mates: Posy

I struggled not to react as delicate sparks flared up everywhere his skin touched mine. It was the most amazing sensation, and I wanted to feel themallover me.

"My love," he said through clenched teeth, "I know those bruises did not come from today. Who hurt you? And why can't your wolf heal you?"

His body was as taut as a piano wire, and his heart beat furiously under my ear. His wolf yowled for Kestrel, making my head throb.

"Could you ask your wolf to calm down, please?" I pleaded softly. "I swear, Kestrel will be so happy to meet him. She’s dreamed of this forever, but right now she’s exhausted from healing previous injuries."

Before I even finished the words, his wolf settled into silence.

"I’m sorry," I whispered into his shirt.

"No need to be. We are the ones who are sorry. Onyx wants to meet her very much, and he’s as concerned for her health as I am for yours."

"I'll be fine. I've had worse."

He growled at that, and I lifted my head to stare into his irate blue eyes.

"I will tell you everything, but can I know your name first? Mine is Lilah MacGregor."

"You don’t know who I am?" His eyes widened as a tiny smile pulled up his lips.

"Should—ShouldI know you?" I faltered.

"I'm Julian Hemming."

The name rang a bell. Several bells. Several warning bells.

"NotAlphaJulian Hemming?" I gasped. "Not the werewolf king?"

"Only the king of North America."

My mouth dropped open.

Only. Only, he says.

"Should I bow or curtsy, alpha?" I whispered. "Oh! Am I supposed to call you your majesty?"

"Just Julian for you, darling." He grinned down at me. "There will never be formalities between us. You are my queen. My equal. My partner in all things. You are my lovely and precious mate."

"But you're theking," I insisted.

"You know something more important than being king?" He continued when I shook my head. "Finally finding my queen. Six years of traveling the world, visiting every tiny village and world capital, and here you are, in the home of my best friends and closest advisors."

With a smile, he moved his arms to my waist and hugged me, and I fought to hold back a scream as my broken ribs protested. I put my hands on his arms and pushed them away with a whimper.

"What is it? Lilah, what’s wrong?"

"Ribs," I gasped. "Broken ribs."

"If you will allow me to mark you, Onyx can heal you through the mate bond."

"But that will tie you to me permanently," I felt compelled to point out.

"Uh, I already am?" He said it slowly, like a question, and his eyebrows scrunched up. "Do you have a concussion, too?"

I chuckled, then winced at the pain it caused.

"Probably, but I just want you to be sure that thismess," I drew an air circle around my face, "is what you want to wake up with for the rest of your life."

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