Page 111 of Family: Posy 4

"Uh uh uh, my darling." King Julian waggled his index finger back and forth. "You have to leave that on until the reception."

"I know," she grumbled, then leaned down to murmur in my ear. "It weighs a ton! I think some of my neck vertebrae herniated when that priest plunked it on my head!"

"Hehurtyou?" the king growled with Onyx underscoring his voice.

"I'm teasing, my love." She rolled her two-colored eyes, then winked at me with the blue one before turning toward her mate and kissing his cheek. "You can't hurt a moon priest even if hedidhurt me."

"The hell I can't," he grumbled.

"Julian!" she scolded him.

"Good to see you again, your majesty." Knowing the line was backing up behind us, I decided to hurry this along.

Dropping a small curtsy in front of him like Emerson had taught me, I smiled as I remembered Thoreau practicing it, too. Even though Emerson told him he would bow as a male, Thoreau still curtsied with me. He said it was for moral support, and I gave him good boy patsanda good boy kiss while Emerson rolled his eyes.

"You as well, luna. The boys told you about tea tomorrow, right?" He took my hand in his and bowed over it.

"Yes. I am looking forward to it!" I grinned at him, and he pecked my knuckles, making me turn bright red.

Five throats clearing behind me made him smirk as he stood up and released my hand. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw my mates bow briefly, then they crowded around my back close enough for me to feel their body heat, their mate scents coating me like perfume.

"Congratulations, my queen," Mason said, his business face and voice out in full force as he spoke for the group. "May your reign be long and prosperous."

"Thank you, alphas." Queen Lilah's eyes twinkled with good humor as she slowly dipped her head in a very queen-like way. "I look forward to visiting with you all later."

"Your majesties," my other boys rumbled.

Then Ash's hand was in the crook of my arm, and the rest followed close behind as he tugged me along a little too fast. I frowned. Had it upset them that much for the king to kiss my hand?

My heels weren't very high, but I wasn't used to walking in them, and my ankle turned suddenly. I yipped at the tiny flash of pain, but mainly in surprise, and quickly righted myself.

"Posy!" Ash came to an instant halt and grabbed my shoulders. "Are you okay?"

"Boy, if you don't stop dragging me!" I griped with an unusual flash of temper.

As I scowled up at him, Cole slapped the back of his head, and he grimaced. Then Wyatt scooped me up in his arms before I could blink or finish telling Ash off.

"What were you thinking, Ash?" he scowled. "She turned her ankle!"

"Sorry! I forgot not to walk so fast with our shortcake! I just want to get outside. I'm suffocating in here, and I can't be still any longer."

Jayden came over and fixed my skirt, fluffing it over my knees, then nodded at Wyatt, who carried me through the front doors and down the stairs.

"I can walk, you know. Lark already took away the sting, and it didn't even hurt that much."

"Cutie, how many times do we have to tell you? Weliketo carry you. It makes the caveman in us happy, okay?"

"Okay, caveman," I giggled, which made him smile.

"Posy, I really am sorry." My waffle sounded so sad, and I couldn't stand it.

I held out my arms and made grabby hands at him. His face lit up, but before he could take me, Wyatt set off at a fast clip, his chest bouncing me up and down with silent chuckles.

"Two strikes, waffle!" he called over his shoulder as he started to run. "One for hurting her ankle and one for being too slow!"

"What happens when he gets three strikes?" I looped my arms around Wyatt's neck as he trotted along.

"Well, that's for you to decide, cutie." He dropped a kiss on my nose. "Punish him however you see fit."

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