Page 138 of Family: Posy 4

"I regret making you mad and hurting your feelings," I said. "I regret what I said. I didn't mean any of it. You're not a sissy, and Lark loves you just the way you are."

He bared his fangs at me, and a low snarl rippled through the air between us. Slowly, he got to his feet, shifted fully back to human form, and came toward me. I knew I deserved whatever he was about to do, so I simply stood and waited for it without lifting a hand to defend myself.

"You were a meanie, Q," he said as he towered over me.

"Yeah, I was."

"You not call Sid that again." He leaned down until his nose almost touched mine. "Never, ever again."

"I swear by the moon I won't," I vowed.

"And Sid knows Lark loves him." He gave me a smug smile. "You may be Daddy, but Sid is her big boy."

I do not need to be hearing this, Pumice muttered and used his teeth to pick up the cloth bag to take with him.If you two are all right now, I'll be going.

"Thank you for your help, sire," I told the former king with a curt nod.

"And for popcorn!" Sid crowed, which was all the proof I needed that he was back to normal.

Once Pumice disappeared into the night, we looked at each other.

"So, ah," I rubbed the back of my neck, "you want to punch me or...?"

"No, but you owe me popcorn. I dropped it when you made me mad."

"You said you ate my bag," I pointed out, "so technically,youowemepopcorn."

He blinked a few times, then he shook his head slowly.

"No, Q. I am right and you are wrong. You will get me more popcorn to say sorry."

"Sure. So you forgive me, right? I didn't mean to hurt you. I was so mad, I only saw you as a way to get what I wanted."

"I forgive you, Q." He lifted his arm and patted me on top of my head with his dinner-plate-sized hand. "But your words hurt my heart."

Dammit! Nowmyheart hurt. Felt like a freaking meat grinder going to town in my chest.

You have only yourself to blame, Jayden grunted.

Take your ass to sleep,I told him.

I'll see you both home safe and sound first. Well, just Sid really, because Ash is knocked out again and you're ... you.

Rolling my eyes, I brushed Sid's hand off my head and looked up at him.

"Thank you for forgiving me," I said.

"Welcome." He gave me a very serious nod, then raised his eyebrows hopefully. "My tummy saying, 'Munchie time!' We get popcorn now?"

"Sure." Knowing he wasn't allowed to use the microwave, I offered to make it for him when we got back to the house.

"Yes, yes, yes!" He did a little happy dance, and I shook my head.

"Why did Pumice get you popcorn, anyway?"

"I told him little wolves get hungry before sleepy time." With a devious cackle, he rubbed his hands together.

"I thought you were Lark's big boy," I teased. "You can't be a little wolf and a big boy at the same time."

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