Page 98 of Shiny Things

She frowned. “He didn’t tell you?”

“No! He’s never mentioned that. Your aunt will freak out if I show up to one of her parties. You heard her.”

“And circumstances have changed. She’s going to have to get over it. And you are going to rise above it all.”

“Why wouldn’t he tell me he was going to run for a Council seat?”

It hurt to find out something so huge and potentially lifechanging for the both of us from his sister.

“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him. But knowing him and knowing you, it’s probably because if he had before completing your bond then you would have run away and told him you couldn’t do it or bring him down and ruin his chances or some other bullshit like that. Am I right?”

“Of course you’re right. And it’s not bullshit.”

“Well, what’s done is done now. If you really don’t what him running for council, then talk to him and work it out. Because that’s what couples do.”

I huffed. I knew she was right. I just hated the thought that I could ruin Elias’s plans just for being me.

“Deal with that later, because I’ve been given orders to take you shopping today.”

“What? I don’t need anything.”

“I beg to differ. For starters, you could use some clothes that aren’t work clothes.”

I frowned and looked down at the jeans and T-shirt I was wearing. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”

“There’s nothing wrong with them, but you’re going to need a little nicer for some occasions, and so I am taking it uponmyself to update your wardrobe. And no complaints. I would have done it years ago, but I knew you wouldn’t let me.”

“What makes you think that’s changed?”

“Because my big brother loves me. And something you might not know about me, but I always get my way. Being the only girl in the family, until now of course, has had its perks, and I would like to share those perks with you. Right now, so get moving.”

“What exactly are those perks?”

She whipped out a black credit card and waved it in the air. “Today, it’s Elias’s unlimited credit card.”

“Gia! We can’t just spend his money like that. Unlimited doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to pay it back.”

“It’s fine. I promise you he can afford it.”

“No, I’m not comfortable with this.”

She pulled out her phone and put it on speaker as she called my mate.

“Gia, what’s up?”

“She’s being stubborn. Tell her she needs to relax and let me spoil her a little.”

“Kim?”

“Of course, Kim.”

“Put me on speaker.”

“She already did,” I told him.

“Babe, go, enjoy yourself. It’s fine. Trust me, we can afford it. I told you, what’s mine is yours.”

“Gah! You’re an idiot. She’d never spend her money.”