19

I was busy with my tie when a knock on the door interrupted my thought process. Our lawyer had given the go-ahead to sign the contract in the morning and I felt pleased that at least one thing had gone according to plan this weekend. I opened the door and Colin stood there.

"Can I come in and talk to you?" he asked me.

"Sure. Drink?" I asked him and he nodded.

He followed me into the living room and stood in front of the big window looking out over the city. It was a pleasant view although I preferred to be back in Aurora where I could see the woods from every window in my house and experience the quiet of where I lived.

"Lucas, I'm just going to be very straight forward with you," Colin said as he took the glass from me.

"I expect nothing else," I said to him and sat down across from where he stood.

"I love Rylee," he began and I instantly glared at him to which he laughed, "I'm also gay."

"Your what?" I asked him not sure I heard correctly.

"I love Rylee like a sister. When I met her, she was a shell of a person, broken and hurt almost beyond repair. I took her in because I felt a connection to her, an urge to protect her and help her. In time she opened up because she had no threat of a romantic connection from me and she told me everything that happened to her. It took four years but she still opened up and now I really do feel like she's my sister. She told me about you too last night and she's really afraid to go back to Aurora with you," he said.

"So what's the point of this conversation Colin?" I asked him.

"I know your reputation, everybody does. You scare the shit out of most people but if Rylee is your bonded half and you feel anything for her, please take it slow. She needs someone to love her completely, protect her and build her up. She's just started being carefree and it took a lot of convincing for her to join me this weekend and now I have to send her back to hell," he said.

"I only ever asked one thing of her and that was to help her but she rejected me and she left without a word and for six years I've had to feel what she feels. I don't deserve this either," I said to him.

"No you don't, but you're a Sire, you're stronger than her. She's fragile and she's scared and I need your word that you'll treat her fairly and protect her while she's under your care. Whatever happens in the future between you two, she's still your bonded half now and she deserves it all," he said.

"That I can promise you. I'd never do something to purposefully hurt her. I've always cared about her but she's hurt me beyond words too. You have my word Colin, she'll be treated fairly and be under my protection," I said to him.

"That's all I can ask, she'll leave with you tomorrow and I'll send her belongings to your home once I arrive. I also think you should escort her to the ball tonight and show her that you're not the ruthless, unfeeling and dangerous Sire everybody says you are," he said and stood up.

"You're very demanding," I said to him as I stood up as well.

"For Rylee I'd do anything it takes to ensure her happiness," he said and left the living room.

I emptied my drink and I felt like an idiot. Is that what Rylee wanted to tell me last night? That Colin was gay and like a brother to her. I finished tying my tie and pulled my jacket on. Could I really not lose my temper for six months with her? I doubted it but this was who I was, we'd either accept each other or go through that ceremony where we could both die and suffer excruciating pain and be free.

"Lucas," Hannah whispered and my head snapped up. I'd forgotten she was still here.

"You look beautiful," I said and smiled at her.

"You clean up nice too," she said and looked at me.

"Ready?" I asked her.

"The sooner we attend this ball the sooner we can go home," she said.

"I thought you were looking forward to this," I said with a frown.

"I feel uneasy, watch your back brother, something's going to happen tonight," she said and I felt a cold chill run along my spine as Baz shifted and listened to Hannah.

"I'm always ready," I said to her and she smiled.

We exited the room and Colin smiled briefly as he opened the door to their suite as well. He walked out first and smiled at Hannah. Rylee followed him out and I stared at her. She looked beautiful and for a moment I just stared at her.

"Come on Hannah," Colin said and offered her his arm. She took it and they walked towards the elevators leaving Rylee and me in the hallway.

"You look beautiful," I said to her once I found my voice again.

"You look nice too," she said and averted her eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me about Colin?" I asked her.

"You didn't want to listen," she said.

"Shall we?" I asked her instead of apologizing. She took my arm and we waited for the elevator to come back up.

Several heads turned as we walked into the ballroom and I saw Jasper smile as he looked at me. Hannah had secured seating for Colin and Rylee at our table and we made our way over to them. I pulled Rylee's chair out for her to sit down.

"Would you like a drink?" I asked her. Colin and Hannah were laughing about something and Jasper's eyes widened at the mark on Rylee's neck. I never told him about Rylee, in fact I never spoke about her to anyone.

"White wine please," she said and I made my way over to the bar.

I ordered our drinks and I watched as Hannah moved to the chair next to her feeling that unease creep back up my spine. Charles Maxwell joined our table and I felt a pang of jealousy as he kissed Rylee's hand and then Hannah's.

"Don't you have your own friends Charles?" I asked him as I sat down in my seat and placed Rylee's wine in front of her.

"Same old Lucas," he said with a smile, "I'm just welcoming all my guests but I had to stop at your table since the two most beautiful women in the room are seated here."

"Both of them bonded," I said to him.

"She's unmarked," he said and looked at Hannah.

"She's my sister," I said to him and he held his hands up.

"I wasn't going to push my luck," he said.

"Good I didn't feel like killing you before we sign the contract tomorrow," I said to him.

"What contract?" Colin asked him.

"Lucas and Jasper is buying the hotel from me," Charles said as the lights dimmed and I saw figures walking onto the makeshift stage.

"Congratulations," Colin said and I only nodded.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, tonight marks our first annual prestige ball for Sires and lairs," the man began his speech. Rylee sat back and her shoulder touched mine, it was calming and I frowned at that.

"Tonight we announce the strongest Sires and lairs, we will vote on our alliances with each other and Sires in their respective districts can also change their political views from neutral to ally or to enemy," he continued.

"I welcome you all to New York, dinner will be served as I see the waiters are making their way towards the tables, please enjoy the evening and we will continue with the awards after dinner."

The waiters arrived at our table and started placing plates from the trolleys in front of us. Colin and Hannah were making small talk and I looked at Rylee as she thanked the waiter. My eyes found his and I glared at him as he quickly walked away. Baz laughed in my head and I tried to ignore him as he called me a wimp.

"I need a lot more alcohol to get through this shit," I said and stood up. I returned from the bar with the bottle of wine for Rylee and a bottle of scotch for me.

"Are you trying to get me drunk?" Rylee asked as I filled her glass and put the bottle down in front of her.

"Will you take your own clothes off if I do?" I asked her.

"You really are an asshole," she said.

"True but for the time being I'm your asshole," I said to her and to my surprise she laughed at that.

We ate dinner and made small talk. She told me more about Colin and his lair and I even laughed as she told me how happy his parents were when he brought her home thinking that he had finally seen the light.

"You should extend an open invitation to Colin to come and visit you," I said to her and she looked at me intently.

"Thank you, I'd really like that," she said and I nodded.

The man walked back onto the stage ten minutes after the tables were cleared and people had gone back to their seats from the bar. My bottle was half and Rylee was still busy with her second glass of wine.

"According to our annual reviews from all the Elders the lair in fifth place belongs to Sire Malcolm Whittaker from Louisiana," he announced and a man stood up and we all clapped. I had no idea why we had to announce this but I guess it also served a purpose for other Sires on who to ally with.

"In fourth place we have Sire Brandon Johnson from Wisconsin." We all clapped again and I smiled at Brandon. We knew each other well and he beamed when he saw me.

"In third place we have Sire Colin Maxwell from West Virginia," he announced. Colin stood up and we clapped a bit louder since he was seated at our table.

"In second place we have Sire Jasper O'Connell from Illinois," he said and I slapped Jasper's shoulder before he stood up right next to me.

"In first place and currently the strongest lair in all of the United States, Sire Lucas Grey also from Illinois," he said. I saw Rylee's eyes widen as she stared at me and I stood up. Hannah stood up as well and hugged me from the side.

"Before we continue with the voting ballots, refill your glasses, take a breather and make sure to enjoy the party. The speeches are now concluded and voting papers can be placed in the boxes at the back."

"How the hell did you beat me?" Jasper asked and I grinned at him.

"Trade secrets Jasper," I said to him and emptied my glass.

"That's exactly what your father used to say," he said and I smiled at him.

"Come on let's go dance," Hannah said as she pulled Colin up by his hand and she gave me a look. I sighed and stood up as well as Jasper tried to hide his laughter from me.

"Rylee, would you like to dance?" I asked her.

"Sure," she said and took my hand and I led us to the dancefloor.

It was a slow dance and she was close to me, probably too close to me. I could smell her perfume mingled with her scent and Baz closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. 'What an idiot,' I thought as he grumbled something and ignored me.