Page 99 of Mates: Posy

His face was blank for a second, then he smirked.

"Oh, you're asking for it, cupcake."

"Lilah, I'm glad we'll be able to continueourprank war," Luke spoke up suddenly. "Since we'll be going to the same pack and all. I was so worried that we’d be separated after we found our mates."

Lilah's eyes were filled with love as she looked at her older brother, who had one arm draped over the back of Gisela's chair.

"Did you have a role in mind for Luke, King Julian?" Cole asked.

"Well," the king laid his fork down and wiped his mouth with his napkin, "I figure Gisela will act as the kingdom's beta and Luke will act as the pack's beta. A beautiful arrangement, if you ask me."

"Isn't the pack and the kingdom basically the same thing?" Lilah asked.

"For kingdom events, Gisela will act as your guard. For pack events, Luke will."

"That's fine with me. I'm always happy to guard my baby sister." Luke smiled at her, then turned to meet Gisela's gaze. "Especially since it means I'll be on duty with my Ela."

Lilah continued to look confused, and Wyatt took it upon himself to explain what I myself had just realized.

"You'll basically have two beta guards at all times."

"My queen deserves the best, and that's what she will get."

King Julian picked up her hand and kissed the back of it, and Lilah's delicate skin flushed red.

"So, Julian," Ranger interrupted their starstruck staring, "what did you break in the living room? I heard a crash."

"A clock." The king shrugged. "Sorry. I'll replace it or repay the cost."

"I owe them money, too," Lilah said to him, then turned to me, "for all the clothes and things you bought me today. I thought I was using pack funds for emergencies or something. I didn't realize it was the alphas' personal money."

"I can pay for that," Luke offered right as King Julian said, "Start a tab for us and I’ll pay it before we leave."

"No." I held up one hand. "It’s a gift, Lilah. A small token for our new queen. Please accept this from us."

She hesitated for a second, then nodded.

We chatted for a little longer, lingering over our drinks, and I sighed as I stared at all the dishes piled on the table. I was tired, despite my two-hour "nap" after hitting my head. The last few days had worn me out, and now I had a mountain of dishes to tackle.

"What is it, honey?" Cole's eyebrows drew together. "You seemed sad for a second."

"Just dreading doing the dishes." I summoned a smile. "But the sooner I start, the sooner I'll get done."

"Huh-uh." Mason wrapped an arm around my waist and held me in place when I went to stand up. "You cooked. You don't do the dishes. We'll handle that."

"Yeah, Posy. We have a kitchen routine," Ash explained. "We have a rota of who cooks when and who's on dish duty. Mom and Mama do the grocery shopping from lists we give them, even though they always add other stuff."

"Well, that's going to change," I said and smothered a yawn.

"Oh, really?" Ash threw my words back at me.

I blamed my tiredness for the mini rant I went on next.

"Really. I like to cook and I want to do it, although I would still like and appreciate your help sometimes. Also, I'd like to do my own grocery shopping. If one of you doesn't want to come with me, I can take one of the betas. The only thing I do not want any part of is washing the dishes. I mean, like ever. I hate doing the dishes!"

Cole shot to his feet and came around the table toward me with a strange light in his fern-green eyes. A little scared because I didn't know what he intended, I huddled against Mason's side and felt his arm tighten around me.

"He's not going to hurt you," he whispered into my ear and dropped a kiss on my head. "You've made him happy and he wants to hug you."

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