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“Gentlemen, I must say I’m surprised that you’re all here,” I said.
“Sire Ryder, you did claim that there will be no bonding session between yourself and Miss Ava,” Elder Cliff said.
“Which is total bullshit,” Anthony said.
“Ryder’s right, there can be no bonding session,” Felix said.
I had told him everything that had happened, he was my brother after all and we used to share everything. Even Abeloth was calmer and his bloodlust wasn’t as active since we’d found Felix.
“Who the hell is he? This is a private matter,” Anthony said.
“This is Felix Sherwood,” I introduced him.
“That still doesn’t explain his presence,” Anthony said rudely.
“I studied supernatural law,” Felix said and sat down on a chair making himself comfortable.
“As I was saying, the bonding can’t proceed because Ava’s human, a fact you omitted from the Elders,” I said to Anthony.
“Is this true?” Elder Victor asked him.
“What does that matter? He impregnated her, she’s carrying his heir,” Anthony said.
“This isn’t really common knowledge because the rate of bonds between humans and supernaturals are so rare. They cannot bond with us, we develop the bond, a human doesn’t feel it back, they feel infatuation but no bond,” Felix said.
“Go on,” Elder Michael said to Felix.
“That’s true, I had to turn a human member so she could bear her mate’s mark,” Lucas said.
“So turn her,” Anthony said.
“She’s pregnant, that ceremony will kill her,” Felix said.
“So, my proposition is a legal wedding for now,” I said.
“But she won’t be the official Drakaina of this lair until she has your mark,” Anthony said.
“True, there’s not much we can do about that, but all the other rules will apply. Alliance papers will be drawn up and sent to you,” I said and I saw his features relax just a little bit.
“She will still be looked after,” Felix said.
“Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ve had a long day. You can see yourself out,” I said and nodded to Felix.
Felix followed me upstairs to the second floor and I found Link in the guest bedroom, changing the sheets. I saw fresh towels on the chair by the bathroom door and cleared my throat.
“Sire Ryder,” Link said bowing his head as he glanced at Felix.
“Nice to meet you mate, I’m Felix,” he said with a grin and grabbed Link’s hand.
“The Felix?” Link asked as I smiled. “I get it now.”
“I take it this one talks about me all the time,” Felix said.
“Yeah I told him how you snore like a pig,” I said.
“Everything go okay downstairs?” Link asked me.
“Why are you doing this? Where’s Emily?” I asked him.
“I’m being punished for not stopping you from riding off into the night,” Link said.
“As if you could,” Felix added.
“I think we have some baggies in the freezer downstairs,” Link said.
“A drink would be great, Ryder’s blood tastes like scotch,” he said and Link laughed.
“I’ll get you some clothes to sleep in, we’ll go shopping tomorrow,” I said.
“And a tattoo removal specialist,” he said.
I started to laugh and got some clothes for him from my closet. He was sipping on a blood bag when I entered the room again. I put the clothes down on the bed. “Here you go.”
“Thanks brother, I really mean it.”
“What’s mine is yours,” I said with a smile.
“Careful with that one, I might take it literally,” he said.
“No you won’t, besides brunettes aren’t your type,” I said.
“You don’t love her do you?” he asked me.
“No, I don’t. It’s complicated,” I said.
“No shit. I’m sorry you lost your true half,” he said.
“Shit happens right.”
“I can do this alone, you know,” he said.
“Piss off Felix,” I said and he laughed.
The following morning we had Ava’s first ultrasound. She was now almost fourteen weeks pregnant and Peter was going to see if the inconclusive gender reveal of the previous sonars would change today. Our wedding was a week away.
“Good morning Sire Ryder, Miss Ava,” Peter greeted us at the clinic in town.
“Morning Peter,” I said as Ava smiled at him.
“How are you feeling?” Peter asked her.
“I’m feeling really good, pregnancy’s agreeing with me,” she said cheerfully.
“That’s good, let’s see what’s going on in here,” he said and tapped the bed with his hand.
Ava slid onto the bed and lifted her shirt as she lay back. Peter applied the gel and I saw the baby’s head on the screen. It was clearly visible. Peter adjusted his positioning and I could see the spine and then two little legs. It was beautiful.
“Congratulations Sire, it’s a very healthy little girl,” Peter said.
“A girl?” I asked him surprise on my face.
“A little girl,” Ava said with a big smile.
“Don’t worry Sire, it will be many years before you have to deal with boys,” Peter said and I swallowed nervously.
He wiped the gel from Ava’s stomach and they were talking about cramps, spotting and what she could expect until her next check-up. I wasn’t listening to them, my mind was in a haze and Abeloth was snorting as vicious images of killing boys flashed through my mind.
I tore one of the sonar pictures off the sheet and tucked it into my jacket pocket. I felt at peace suddenly, at peace with everything. I was suddenly excited to marry Ava, to get a room ready, to become a father, I felt … happy.
The rest of the week passed swiftly as Ava and I found our own rhythm and balance to our relationship. We had a routine now and there was nothing about Ava that I could complain about. She was sweet and nice, good to me and good to the lair. She had enlisted Linda’s help and was doing as much as she could without the Drakaina title.
The day before our ceremony I had slept in a guest room on the first floor after having spent half the night drinking with Felix, Basil and Elio. Tank had retired earlier with Jack after they both kissed me on the cheek while Tank tried to crush my ribs. The reunion between Felix, Tank and Jack had been a funny one as Tank covered Felix’s face with kisses and actually cracked a few ribs.
The ceremony was being held in our meeting hall, it was big enough for the lair to attend as well as my personal guests. The hall had been transformed for the celebrations. The rows of chairs had been moved out and in its stead were tables draped with teal and gray linen.
I wore a black suit with a teal tie and I stood alone on the dais with the Elders just behind me. They would conduct the ceremony as was our custom. My parents sat at a table in the front with Ava’s parents.
Soft violin music filtered through the speakers and I had sent Link out to make sure Ava was there before I made my way to the hall. I wasn’t going to be stood up again. I had six warriors that had watched Ava last night because I also wasn’t going to go through another abduction.
The lights dimmed slightly and my eyes flashed yellow as Abeloth pushed forward to share the moment with me. The doors creaked open and a hush fell over the crowd as Ava stepped into view. She looked breathtakingly beautiful.
Her dress clung to her body and the teal underneath the gray suited her perfectly. The dress flared out from her hips and I could make out the soft roundness of her belly. Time seemed to move in slow motion as she walked towards me and my heartbeat settled as she took my outstretched hand.
Our eyes locked for a few seconds and it all felt right. She was a good woman, carrying my child, she was raised by a Sire and a Drakaina, she knew how to be one. She never questioned my decisions but instead placed herself at my side, at my disposal and she never complained.
“Blessed be the Sire that graces our presence, blessed be the future Drakaina that joins his side,” Elder Michael started the ceremony.
“Do you Ava Jacobs take Ryder Grey as your chosen half and Sire?” Elder Victor asked.
“I do,” Ava replied. Her voice was clear and strong, no hint of nerves in sight.
“Do you solemnly vow to uphold the laws of his lair?” Elder Cliff asked.
“I do,” she answered.
“Do you solemnly vow to always put the needs of the lair before your own?” Elder Michael asked.
“I do,” she said.
“Do you vow to remain honest and faithful to your Sire, your bond and your lair?” Elder Victor asked her.
“I do,” she said.
“Sire Ryder Grey, do you vow to remain honest and faithful to Ava?” Elder Cliff asked me.
“I do,” I answered.
“Do you solemnly vow to protect and love this woman?” Elder Michael asked.
“I do,” I said.
“Do you take this woman as your lair’s Drakaina, promise to support her in times of need and to stand by her side so she may rule at yours?” Elder Victor asked me.
“I do.”
“You may now exchange rings as per human custom to signify the legality of this ceremony,” Elder Cliff said.
I slid her ring on her finger and she slid the plain black dragon stone band onto mine. I felt dizzy suddenly and I felt myself fall backwards and then Felix behind me as he caught my and lay me down on the floor. I was being pulled to the dragon realm.
“Leave him, he’s being pulled to Typhon.” I heard Lucas’s voice as my eyes closed.
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