21
“I’ve called this meeting to inform you all that as from today the McIntyre lair is public enemy number one,” I said. The cheers to my statement were deafening and I had to hold my hands up to silence them.
“Any member of their lair will be captured and brought here for questioning. As per our customs no child under the age of fourteen will be touched,” I added.
“Why the sudden change of heart?” Joe asked me. I had a very open system with my dragonkin and I disclosed all relevant information to them.
“Six years ago my bonded half was attacked and left Aurora. I’ve recently discovered that the culprits responsible is Carson McIntyre and JD Hill,” I said with venom in my voice.
“Kill on sight?” Andre asked me.
“No. I’ve prepared the documents and will send them to the Elders requesting retribution. Joseph McIntyre will never hand Carson over to us but he might give us JD. It’s a start, from there on I will declare war on them, disband their lair and take over the whole of Aurora,” I said.
“I assume you want them taken alive if they enter our territory?” Max asked.
“Of course, nothing in our laws stipulate that we can’t take them if they breach enemy lines,” I said with a smile.
“Joseph McIntyre will retaliate with a vengeance once he gets the retribution letter,” Jax mused.
“Of course he will, I’m hoping he will. Nobody is to set foot in lower Aurora, let’s keep our side clean and watch our borders. I want extra patrols and vigilance, not a farewell to any of my members. I’ve also made a public announcement at the ball this weekend that we are now hostile towards them so keep your eyes and ears open, work your spies for information on what they’re planning,” I said and ended the meeting.
We sat at the bar counter and Becca brought us coffee. I had a slight headache since I didn’t really sleep and I worried about Rylee’s reaction once I told her that she would have to testify to her attack in front of the Elders.
“I need to go,” I said and stood up with my car keys in my hand.
“Where are you off to and why are you so secretive?” Jax asked me.
“It’s a personal matter, I might tell you later,” I said with a smile.
“I was meaning to ask you, did you break it off with Cindy?” Preston asked and gave me a mischievous grin.
“Shit, no, I forgot,” I said and sighed.
“That’ll be fun when she arrives back from London and finds Rylee in your bed,” Jax laughed.
“I’ll handle it,” I said and walked outside to the alleyway where I still parked my car. Old habits die hard, I guess.
I drove the one hour to Chicago and made my way to Van Buren Street. I had another few minutes to kill so I decided to call the Elders personally and discuss the documents I had sent them. As was their custom it took a while for them to answer the phone.
“Gareth Winestone speaking,” he answered the phone.
“Good afternoon Elder, it’s Sire Lucas Grey,” I said.
“What can I do for you Sire Lucas?” he asked me.
“I wanted to confirm that you received my request for retribution,” I said.
“Ah yes, you want the future Sire and second in command of the McIntyre lair,” he stated.
“Within seven days or I declare war,” I replied.
“Declaring war is a nasty affair,” he said.
“So is having your bonded half raped,” I said.
“Excuse me?” he said and I heard disbelief in his voice.
“You heard me. They raped Rylee Christianson six years ago and that’s why she left. She couldn’t stand to be here and now you’ve forced her back. We’ve already had an altercation in New York when they made some comments but she only admitted the truth to me last night,” I said to him.
“I see, this changes things,” he said, “will she be willing to testify to these allegations?”
“I don’t know, I haven’t told her yet,” I said to him.
“Please inform me when you have an answer before I send the retribution letter to them, it will simplify matters,” he said.
“Thank you,” I said and he ended the call.
My phone pinged and I looked at the time. I got out of my car and walked across the parking lot to the large gate and waited. Another ten minutes passed and I heard the loud clicking of the side gate being unlocked and he halted in his steps when he saw me.
“What are you doing here?” he asked me looking slightly uncomfortable. His hair was shaved military style and he had a scar running from his right eyebrow across his eye stopping just above his cheekbone. It made him look dangerous and mean.
“Did you really think I’d let you take the bus?” I asked him and he smiled.
“You’re kind of ruining my plans here,” he said.
“Your plans to not return?” I asked him and his eyes betrayed him.
“I’m ruined goods Lucas, not good enough for her,” he said.
“She’s waited six years for you Rev, nothing’s changed except that she sleeps in your bed every night. It’s time we repaid you for what you did, you’re my family and you’re coming home,” I said as he reached me.
“She waited?” he asked me in disbelief.
“What the fuck you think? Of course she waited, we all waited for you,” I said and grabbed him into a hug.
“And how do you feel about that?” he asked me as I unlocked the car and we climbed in.
“I think she’s lucky to have you, she knows it too. I’ve made peace with your bond a long time ago Rev. I know you’ll never let anything happen to her,” I said to him and he gave me a rare smile that lit up his eyes.
“Let’s go home then,” he said as I pulled away from the prison and headed back to Aurora.
I told Rev everything that had happened in his absence and then I yelled at him for refusing to let us see him to which he just smiled. He had a lot to say, two words exactly, about the situation with Carson and JD and he was mildly surprised that Rylee was back home and really happy that Chris and Jax was married. He was excited about their baby and laughed when I told him what a pussy Preston had become.
I could tell he was nervous as we entered Aurora and he looked around. It hadn’t changed that much in six years but for him it was all new. He didn’t want to talk about his time in prison or how he had gotten the scar on his face and I didn’t want to push him. He’d tell me if and when he wanted to.
“This is yours,” I said and handed him a bank card.
“What’s this?” he asked me.
“Your salary for the past six years,” I said and he shook his head.
“I didn’t earn it,” he said as he looked out of the window.
“Rev, you went to prison because you saved my sister. Don’t irritate me with semantics now, of course you fucking earned it, even more than that, I owe you my life for what you did,” I said to him.
“You know I’d do anything for her,” he said and I smiled.
“Exactly, so take the damn card,” I said to him. He shrugged and took the card as I pulled into the driveway.
“Home sweet home,” he said as I switched the engine off.
“Oh, nobody knows you’re coming home today. I wanted to surprise them, obviously Martha knows so I’m sure she’s made all your favourites,” I said and he shook his head.
The front door opened and I saw Hannah on her cell phone. Rev stiffened next to me in his seat as he watched her and I could see all those hidden emotions in his eyes. Nobody would ever love her as much as he did and I couldn’t be happier about who her bonded half was.
I climbed out of the car and Hannah looked up when she heard the car door. Her eyes immediately went to the passenger side as Rev climbed out and the phone fell from her hands. He remained standing next to the car and then she screamed.
“Rev!” she yelled and started running, her handbag flying to one side.
He strode forwards and caught her in the air as she launched herself at him. She was crying and I saw his own tears as they held on to each other. I made my way to the front door to give them some privacy and also to block the others.
“Did Hannah just yell Rev?” Jax asked me confused.
“Yes,” I said with a smile.
“That was your secret thing?” he asked me.
“Leave them for a bit, six years is a long time,” I said and he nodded.
“Chris! Preston! Rev’s home!” he yelled up the stairs and within ten seconds I could hear Preston running down the stairs.
“The fuck? Rev’s back? Really?” he asked with a huge grin as he went for the front door.
“Yeah, give him some time with Hannah,” I said as I stood in front of the door.
“Oh shit, yeah, of course,” he said and looked towards the stairs, “is that Chris moaning?”
Jax and I both went for the stairs at the same time and Preston dodged around me and yanked the front door open, “get a room you two!” he shouted as he ran to Rev and picked him up in a hug with Hannah still firmly pressed against him.
“Fucking idiot,” I muttered and Jax laughed as Chris finally made her way downstairs joined by Rylee.
Preston had finally let go of Rev but he had his arm around his shoulder as they made their way into the house. Chris stepped forward first and Rev hugged her gently and then rubbed her stomach as he gave Jax a high-five.
“I missed you so much,” Chris said and I saw how emotional she was. Hannah was wiping her face but her smile remained intact.
“Congratulations, at least Jax did one thing right,” Rev said and we all laughed as Jax pretended to look hurt. They hugged and slapped each other on the back.
“Welcome home Rev,” Rylee said and he surprised her by hugging her.
“I could say the same to you,” he said and Rylee smiled sadly.
“Oh Rev, is that really you? Oh look how thin you are! I made all your favourites!” Martha said through tears as Rev picked her up in his hug.
“I missed your cooking Martha,” he said as she dabbed at her eyes.
“Okay all of you back off, I missed him the most,” Hannah said and glared at everyone.
“Rev Harris, I hereby grant you permission to bond with your other half and mark Hannah Grey as yours,” I said to him and his eyes widened.
“She’s not even seventeen yet,” Rev said.
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