110
Marlo blinded the people in the foyer of the hotel as we walked inside, Tank carried Carlson and I carried Albert. Basil and Elio walked behind us as Marlo led our little group down the hallway to the ballroom where we could hear the music and voices.
“Are you sure you want to do it this way?” Basil asked me.
“The most influential Sires and dragonkin are in that room together with the Elders of our region, what better setting is there?” I asked him.
“You have blood on your face,” he said to me.
“Just adds to my flair for the dramatic,” I said as Tank laughed.
“Little Ryder, you always know how to make an entrance,” he said to me.
“Let’s make an entrance then,” Marlo said as she rubbed her hands together and stood facing the double doors.
“I feel like we need a theme song,” Elio said suddenly and Marlo started laughing.
“Piss off Elio, just open the doors Marlo,” I said with a sigh and adjusted Albert over my shoulder.
Marlo’s eyes glowed white as the doors flew open and hit the walls on either side as every head in the room turned towards us and the lights flickered as the music suddenly stopped. I stepped forward and started walking down the aisle between the tables.
The three Elders stood on the stage and our timing had been perfect as they were about to start the formalities. My eye caught Lucas and he nodded at me as he looked at Albert thrown over my shoulder. My team followed behind me and I could almost hear the whispers and murmurs but I was bowled over by Megan’s scent and I had to keep my legs moving forward instead of going to her.
“Sire Grey, what is the meaning of this?” Elder Cliff asked me.
“I apologize for interrupting your gala,” I said as I let Albert fall to the floor with a thud. Carlson joined him as Tank set him down gently.
“Is that Sire Albert who’s been missing for three days now?” Elder Michael asked.
“It certainly is. All the evidence will be handed over to you in the coming week so that they can stand trial for their atrocities against the supernatural world and be executed,” I said.
Tank stepped forward and took a memory stick from his shirt pocket and handed it over to Elder Victor who looked apprehensively at him.
“That’s some of the evidence we’ve found,” I said and turned around as we started walking back to the open doors where Marlo still stood.
“Wait! Sire Ryder, where are you going?” Elder Victor asked me.
“I’m going home Elder, I need to assess the damage of my lair,” I said to him.
“Will we find you there tomorrow?” Elder Michael asked me.
“Of course, I don’t run away from things and I don’t lie, I brought you these two to deal with and I will supply all the necessary evidence, you are more than welcome to appear at my house at any time,” I said to him.
People were staring at us as we walked out of the hotel to our cars. I turned towards my team and looked at each one of them.
“I can never thank you guys enough for what you did for me, our task is complete and I will request the Elders to have you all present when Carlson is executed so we can all find closure. Go home, drink some wine, we’ve done what we set out to do,” I said to them.
“Will you be okay?” Tank asked me as he placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Of course Tank, I’m always okay,” I said to him.
We stood in a group and hugged each other with our heads lowered as Marlo spoke blessings over us and I could feel her magic in the air around us. For some reason I was feeling very emotional and tired and I just wanted to go home.
I walked towards the truck as Elio finally took Marlo’s hand and led her to the second car. Tank was smiling broadly as he looked at them with his big hands clutched over his heart. Basil seemed confused and I turned back towards them.
“Marlo!” I called out.
“Yes?”
“Will Megan come back?” I asked her.
“I don’t know Ryder, I haven’t been able to see a vision about the two of you,” she said as she looked at me sadly.
“See you guys for our reunion,” I said and lifted my hand in a wave.
“Can we go to the Bahamas?” Elio asked loudly.
“So you can look at other women in bikinis?” Marlo asked him.
“No, I would never dare to! I just thought Ryder might like the sun and the beach,” he said as Marlo narrowed her eyes at him.
I drove off with a chuckle and headed back to Princeton. I had no idea what awaited me there but I had faith that between Link and Linda they would’ve kept the lair intact. I was exhausted by the time I parked the truck in front of the house.
“Ryder!” I heard Link yell my name as he ran from the front door to where I had just climbed out of the truck.
He grabbed me in a tight hug and for the first time I could feel his emotions too. It went from worry to relief to anger to happiness and I hugged him back.
“I knew you’d never just leave us but I had nothing to go on,” he said to me once we were inside the living room.
“You didn’t find my truck?” I asked him.
“No, I drove the route you took to Albert’s lair but there was nothing, when you didn’t answer your phone after two hours I got worried and then the next day you sent that text saying you were done with everything and I couldn’t believe it,” he said.
“Albert played me as much as I played him, his guys were waiting for me, shot out my tyre and drugged me, when I finally escaped I was in Roswell,” I said to him.
“Everything’s just as you left it, Linda took care of the office stuff and I’ve been checking on the businesses, a lot of members came looking for you and after a week we didn’t know what to say anymore,” he said.
“I owe you two a lot, we’ll call a lair meeting tomorrow where I’ll explain everything that happened to them and take their questions, you should take some time off Link, I don’t know what I would have done without you,” I said to him as I stood up.
“I’m not going anywhere Ryder, this is my lair too and you’re stuck with me, go shower and sleep and tomorrow we’ll deal with whatever happens,” he said to me.
“For once Link I’m going to follow your advice,” I said as I headed for the stairs and Link laughed softly behind me.
My room held a faint smell of Megan’s scent that only saddened me more because I knew she wasn’t there. In the bathroom I took a very long, very hot shower and I noticed the empty spots of where her stuff used to be.
In the dressing room her half of the cupboard was empty and I felt my throat tighten as emotions washed over me. There was nothing more that I could do if she didn’t even want to listen to what I had to say and I would be fighting a losing battle in trying to win her back.
“You’re an idiot,” Abeloth said to me.
“Maybe. I tried Abeloth, I’m not going to beg, you know that,” I said to him.
“I know, she’s too stubborn because she will suffer just like us,” he said.
“Let’s just get some sleep, I’m beyond exhausted,” I said to him.
I sent a text to Jack to thank him once again and to let him know that I had made it home safely and that Felix’s killer had been handed over to my Elders. I sent a text to both Lucas and Chase to tell them I was at home and going to sleep and not to come bother me for at least two days. Lucas replied with ‘you don’t fucking tell me what to do.’
I switched my phone off and went to sleep instantly as I heard Link close his door as well. Tomorrow I would worry about everything else but right now I just slept like the dead. I didn’t dream anything and for once I wasn’t haunted with the images of the people I had killed.
I woke up as sunlight streamed into my room and the smell of coffee filled my senses. I stretched my arms out and turned on my side and saw steam coming from the cup. I smiled as I realized Linda must have already checked in on me.
“I’ve missed waking up like this,” Abeloth said.
“Me too,” I said to him as I sat upright and drank my coffee.
“Try not to get abducted again,” he said to me with a chuckle.
“Piss off, it’s not like I did that shit intentionally,” I said and stood up.
I showered again and got dressed and made my way downstairs to the dining room where I could hear Link talking to Linda. Link hugged me again tightly as I joined them and Linda started crying as she hugged me.
“I hope those are tears of joy,” I said to her as she laughed and wiped her eyes.
“We’re all just glad that you’re back,” she said as I took my seat at the head of the table.
“Did you send out the notices for the lair meeting tonight?” I asked Link.
“Yes, everyone’s eager to see you,” he said and I nodded.
“Extend the invitation to the Elders as well, they’ll want to hear what I have to say tonight,” I said.
“About where you were and what happened?” Linda asked me.
“Yes, I’m not going to be telling this story over and over, I’d rather do it in front of everyone and face the consequences as they arise,” I said.
“What consequences?” Link asked me with a shocked expression.
“There are always consequences Link, everything I did was off the books, nobody knew and that’s what you’re going to say too,” I said to him.
“If there are any consequences I won’t leave you to face them on your own,” he said to me.
“I gave you orders, and that’s all you’ll say if they ask you,” I said to him sternly.
“Why don’t we first see what happens tonight, the Elders should be thankful for what you did,” Linda said.
“We have laws for a reason,” I said.
“Just know that we support you, whatever happens, we’ll be here,” Linda said.
“Thank you, I appreciate it, can I eat now?” I asked with a smile.
“Of course,” she said as she laughed.
“Maybe we should drink instead,” Link said.
“I feel sorry for your liver,” Linda said.
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