Page 124 of Home: Posy 5

No, you're not.Cole rolled his eyes.

I'm at peace with it,I corrected myself. I'm not over the hurt yet and I may never be, but I'm not going to pretend I am or that everything is okay between us. It isn'tmyresponsibility to repair a bond I didn't break.

Dude! One hundred percent!Ash yipped.

I'm glad you understand that, Jay said.

We will never let him hurt you again, Wyatt growled.We're all mature enough now to realize that staying out of it was the dumbest, cruelest thing we could do.

None of you is at fault for any of this—

We're your brothers, Mase,Ash cut me off.We're sorry we weren't very good at it before, but now we're going to protect you and support you just like you've always done for us.

That's right. You are never going to stand alone again,Cole said.

Thanks, I whispered and meant it with all my heart.

I had to blink a few times as I approached the king and his queen, and I knew my face wasn't as blank as usual when Luke gave me a sharp look. I ignored it and held out my hand to King Julian.

"It's good to see you, your majesty," I said.

"Always a pleasure to come home to Five Fangs." He grinned and shook my hand.

Then he stepped aside so I could greet Queen Lilah.

"Your majesty." I inclined my head in a mini bow. "I'm delighted you're here with us."

"We surprised you, didn't we?" she giggled. "I wondered if Posy would manage to keep it a secret. She's been so excited, I thought she'd let it slip out! Where is she, anyway?"

"Here! I'm here!" My little mate rushed up to us with flushed cheeks and a little wisp of hair escaping her fancy up-do. "Welcome! I'm so happy you could come!"

"We wouldn't have missed this for the world," King Julian said as the queen and Posy hugged like they hadn't seen each other in years.

"Will you show me around?" the queen asked and, when my little flower nodded eagerly, looked at Gisela. "Come with us, Ela. Luke,youcan stay with Julian."

"As you wish, my queen." And how Luke managed to make a head bow look like a sarcastic retort was a talent I needed to learn.

"Julian?" Queen Lilah ignored him and looked over her shoulder at her mate. "If I see any art I like, may I buy it?"

"My darling, I'd empty the kingdom's treasure room to satisfy your heart's every desire." The king laid his hand on his chest.

"Do youhavea treasure room at the palace?" Posy's eyes grew round with curiosity. "I mean, an actual room full of gold and jewels?"

"Well, no," King Julian said, nonplussed for a second, before he grinned brightly. "But I have a credit card with no limit! That's the same thing, right?"

"No," Posy and the queen said at the same time.

They looked at each other and giggled, then scurried off arm-in-arm with Gisela guarding them.

The king chuckled and clapped a hand on my shoulder.

"Oh, how the Goddess has blessed us, my friend."

"More than we deserved," I murmured, "and far beyond our dreams."

25: Full Moon Run

Cole

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