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JESSIE: Once lunch was cleaned up and there was a lull in the kitchen activity I go in and make another smoothie and salad for Keska’s dinner tonight, only I am going to incorporate the ginseng root powder, the maca root powder and the ashwagandha root powder into the smoothie as well as in the honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing, and I am going to increase the amount of fried oysters she will have on the salad, sprinkle it with the pumpkin seeds and the chopped walnuts. I think I will make enough of the salad for both of them and sit back and see what happens. Once I have everything done except for frying the oysters, I put everything in the back fridge with Trever and Keska’s names on it, and leave. When dinner comes, I notice that Star has pulled Keska into the marquee with her and the twins, but I see that the princes and their mates, Mackie and Liam, are also with them. I make my way over to the table where they were all sitting. “Hi, where were you all?” I asked in my nicest voice. “I took them to Nana’s and bet them to do the obstacle course.” Liam says. “Did you enjoy running it?” I asked them all at large. And I got a few grumbles from the princes, but the twins were all smiles. “I take it that you didn’t do as well as you thought you could?” I asked them. “No.” is all I get from the princes. “Don’t feel too bad about it, the twins have run it a few times before, and Kes and Mackie here have been running it since May.” I tell them. “Even I lost to her.” I say with a smile, even though I am seething, I hated losing to that little bitch, but I had to play nice. They all just nodded, and I moved on. I did notice that Prince Trever wasn’t sitting next to Kes, though. Oh well, even if he isn’t her mate, the aphrodisiac diet I have her on should still make her a bit miserable, I would say starting Monday, if I can keep her eating it, and upping the doses.
KESKA: Diner gets under way and again I get a salad with my meal, but this time I see that Trever also gets one. I look around and notice that there are a few others who have a salad, but it’s not the same. Oh well, I shrug and get handed another smoothie with dinner too. I link father. *“Are you busy?” “Just on my way down for dinner.” Are you going to call Jessie into your office and give her the good news, while I get away to the cabin? Or how am I going to get away?”* I asked him through the link. *“I will figure something out, but until then, be good.” “Yes, father.”* I close the link. *“That is the exact reason that the seating needed to be this way. If she thinks that you are my mate, she will target me even more; she wouldn’t target you, because she knows better than that, but she wouldn’t hesitate to go after me even more. I know your brothers are confused, so let them in on it.”* I send to Trever. He just looks at me like he wants to kill her, but then I watch as his eyes glaze over.
LIAM: “How about a game of pool?” I ask the table, “We can do a tournament style of play.” “That’s a good idea.” Barett says. “We’re in.” the Cold Moon Twins say, and Star nods. “We can collect $5.00 from every person joining, and the winner takes all.” I say, pleased with myself for coming up with it on the spur of the moment. I get up and go to the mic at the front of the marquee. “My, I have your attention please!” I say rather loudly and got high-pitched feedback. “Sorry.” I say a bit softer. “We are going to start a tournament-style pool game, the entry fee is $5.00, and it will be a winner-takes-all. I will be at the front table in 5 minutes to take names and collect the entry fee from those who are interested.” I put the mic back on the stand and head into the house to go get one of Sarah’s cookie jars to put the money in, and grab a notebook, then I head back out to the marquee and set up my spot. I was surprised to see how many were interested in playing. I link dad. “Umm, dad?” “Yes, Liam.” “Can we move the pool table to the marquee?” “Why?” “Welllll I umm set up a pool tournament and we won’t all fit in the gaming room.” “I don’t care, but you will be responsible for getting it moved both ways.” “Okay.” Once I have everyone signed up who wants to play and have their entry fee. “Now I need to have a couple of volunteers to help move the table out here.” I say. “And we will need to clear the center of the marquee for the table.” I watch as Kes and Mackie start to move the tables and chairs out of the way to make room for the pool table. Then the princes and the Cold Moon twins go bring out the table. “Now to keep things fair since we have a variety of ranks and genders, the alpha born and ranked may not use any special powers or abilities, skill alone. If anyone is caught cheating, they forfeit their money and their place in the rankings. This may take a good while to finish. The money collected will be put in the safe in my dad’s office. I will have three volunteers to come with me to watch and make sure that everything is kept fair.” I tell the participants. Check the list of names, and I count up the money. I have Alpha Camron and the alpha from Dark Forest Apollo. Double-check my numbers and put their initials on the tally sheet next to mine. “We have 40 contestants, and the total is $200.00” I make the announcement.
KESKA: I am happy that Liam is taking charge of something; it helps him learn leadership skills and gives him a sense of responsibility. I just smile. “What’s the smile for, beautiful?” I hear a whispered voice from behind me, it gives me shivers. I smile again as I know that it is Trever. “Liam, I like that he is taking charge; it lets him know that yes, he can do something and not be in James’s shadow.” I say softly. “Humm. What about you, want to get in on the tournament?” “Pool is not my game, but if you want to challenge me to something, darts, archery, or the obstacle course works.” I tell him. “Hmm, that might be a thought, do you think he would be able to manage 3 tournaments at once?” “I don’t know? But Lissa could help him. What did you have in mind?” “Running a tournament in all three, that way those that aren’t as skilled in pool might be better at darts or archery. The entry fee would stay low so that everyone who wants in can afford it, and the winner takes all.” He says. “You can propose it to him.” I say to him, “he will think that you have faith and trust in him if you bring it up to him.” “Then I will do just that, and when I come back, we will go have a game of darts.” He says as he starts walking towards Liam.