Taliyah’s P.O.V. Right now I am not really fond of my Mate, my panties are soaking wet and there is no way I’ll get comfortable any time soon. The smirk on his face becomes bigger as he sees that I am trying to get comfortable and Eamon and Malachay look rather pleased at the predicament I am in. Ivory knows that Ward is to blame for this and she flashes him images from early this morning, when I had some alone time with Eamon. I try to stop her, because I can feel the heat building and I press my thighs together in the hope to get some relief. I beg Ivory to stop, because she is not only punishing Ward. She reluctantly does as I ask, but I know that it will take some time before the heat in my body subsides. I need a distraction, so I ask Eamon to tell me about Bahari’s children. He tells us that they had been adults already, but none of them had found their Mate yet. About six years after their parents had died, the youngest Daughter had found her Mate and they have three grown children now. The oldest Daughter found her Mate a decade after her Sister did and the youngest Son found his Mate almost four decades ago. The oldest Son still hadn’t found his Mate, but hadn’t given up hope. He tells us about where they live, what they do for a living and that he has seen their children grow up. As he is telling his story, I see awareness on Malachay’s face and I know he has gotten a few more answers. “Every time you disappeared, you were with them. Weren’t you?” He asks and Eamon just nods his head. Ivory flashes me an image of Eamon holding a baby with a huge grin on his face and I smile knowing that my Mate will be an amazing Father one day. Eamon tells us more about them and time flies by. Ward is the one to point out that it is close to dinnertime and wants to know if we are going to join the Family for dinner or if we will stay in our Quarters. A knock on the door interrupts our discussion and I get up from my seat to open the door. “Hello, Princess. I came to pick you up for dinner.” Grandfather says. I put my arms around his waist and press my face in to his chest, just enjoying the warmth and love I feel as I am wrapped up in his arms. He lifts me up as if I am a little girl and I nuzzle my face in to the crook of his neck. “Boys, we are having dinner in the King’s Quarters, so let’s get moving.” He says while he is still holding me in his arms. With my face pressed in to his neck, I cannot see what is happening, I just feel him shaking his head as his grip around me tightens a little. I hear my Mates growl, but I am enjoying this embrace too much to pay it any attention. Grandfather turns around and I can hear my Mates following him and instead of taking the elevator, he carries me up the stairs to Alaric’s Quarters. I hear doors open and close, but I am to focused on the hold I have of my Grandfather to fully register where I am going. With my Mates near and my Grandfather holding me I don’t care where he takes me, I know that I am safe. I know that all four of them will protect me if that is necessary. Suddenly I hear voices and they become more clear the closer we get, but the second the door opens they quiet down. “That is a sight I haven’t seen in a very long time.” I hear Grandmother whisper under her breath. I feel her arm moving around my waist as Grandfather pulls her closer to us and he just holds us like that for a while. I feel Grandfather pulling back and another pair of arms wrap themselves around my waist. Ward is pulling me out of my embrace with Grandfather and I feel a little sad at the loss of contact until I am fully in Ward’s arms. “Are you okay, Princess?”Eamon asks and I tell him that I am fine, that I am happy. I get surrounded by my Mates and I press my nose in to Ward’s chest. I just want to hold on and never let go. I have everything I ever want or need right here in this room with me, I feel tears slide down my cheeks and I don’t stop them from falling. These are happy tears and I am not ashamed of them. During dinner we talk about everything, except for the upcoming trials and I am grateful that everyone is avoiding that topic. Xandros is having a heated discussion with Nyomi, my Mates’ Grandmother, about his future and I chuckle at the expression on his face. Xandros’ P.O.V. Nyomi is suggesting the most awful jobs she can think of and the horrified look on my face must be hilarious to say the least. Barin tries to get his Mother to drop the subject, but Aurora is actually making it worse by putting in her two cents on the matter. I look around the table and see that all eyes are on me and Nyomi as she suggest yet another job that sends horror running across my face. Rainer is doubling over from laughter and Ethan is holding his stomach. Suddenly I hear my Sister ask “Alaric, when I take over from you, will I need to find myself a new Gamma and Beta or do you have a suggestion?” Alaric’s brows lift up, but the surprised look on his face fades quickly. “Well, it is custom that a new leader picks his or her own Beta and Gamma. In most cases there is a bond between the new leader and the second and third in command. I have known my Betas and Gammas most of my life, they are my best friends and I know that I can trust them with my life.” He says, everyone is staring at Taliyah because we don’t understand why she asked that question. “So, you suggest that I chose someone as my Beta or Gamma that I know I can trust with my life. Someone that will have my back no matter what happens.” Alaric nods his head at her words and a huge grin appears on Aurora’s face as if she figured out why my Sister asked this question. “I need to ask Boaz if any leader has ever had one person for both positions.” She says absentmindedly and I can feel the question-marks popping in everyone’s head. “Princess, what do you mean?” Grandfather asks and I look at Taliyah as she says “There are not many people in my life that fit that bill. I can’t take Alaric’s Gammas, after all they will become Kings someday.” I chuckle as I hear Ward grumble in her neck. “When it comes to his Betas, I am not sure if I want to keep them around.” And I am surprised that they don’t look the least bit insulted by her words. “Princess, I will protect you with my life, but I am not sure if I could handle dealing with your sense of humor on a daily bases.” Conroy mumbles, I hear her giggle at his words and her Mates chuckle. “So if I go down the list of all the people I trust with my life, there are not that many left for the position of my Beta or Gamma.” I ask her who are left on her list and apparently I took the bait; hook, line and sinker. She stares at her plate as she is thinking on how to answer that question and I can tell by the smirk on his face that Malachay figured it out as well. “Well, actually there is only one name left.” She looks up at me with a smirk on her face and says “You.”