30

Lunch consisted of snack platters for over twenty Sires that were currently gathered in the downstairs meeting room. I had numerous business dealings with all of them and at one point I had bailed a few of them out of sticky situations so that they could retain their Sire status.
“Lucas, only you could pull off a gathering of opposing Sires in peace,” Roger said as we sat around the table.
“I find myself facing a dire situation, which is why I’ve asked all of you here. You are the closest Sires in Illinois and today I’m going to ask for your help,” I said as I looked at them.
“Lucas, whatever it is, you know I’ve got your back,” Jasper said and I smiled.
“Yesterday a McIntyre messenger arrived on my doorstep. They’ve lodged a claim forcing me to return one of their members that left their territory six years ago. I recently found her and she’s been living here for about six weeks now, under my protection,” I said.
“All this for one member?” Tod stated looking bored.
“Their claim is that she never formally resigned from the lair or sought approval to leave the territory, as some of you already know I’ve undergone a retribution session with them recently because of the assault in New York,” I said.
“I still say that was a bullshit claim,” Jasper said and I nodded my head.
“So why don’t you just send her on over there to resign?” Paul asked.
“She left because two of their members raped and attacked her, left her for dead in Oakhurst Forest where Rev and I found her,” I said.
“Bastards,” Kevin said and clenched his fists.
“What else are they threatening you with?” Rod asked me.
“Financial penalty, retribution or exile,” I said.
“They want to exile you? They don’t have the balls!” Jared said with a laugh.
“What’s your plan Lucas? I know you have one,” Sam said as he leaned over the table and pulled one of the platters closer to him.
“I need backup mainly. The Elders will arrive with a McIntyre representative in an hour to physically escort her to their territory. I’m refusing to let that happen no matter the consequences. If they give me the choice I’ll choose exile and I’ve already received thirty letters of Sires across the States that will go into exile with me, Jasper being one of them. If they force my hand, I’ll declare war on the Elders and we’ll start our own dragonkin community,” I said and I received more than a few shocked looks.
“They’ll never exile you Lucas, especially with Jasper in your corner, the two of you are in the top five group of strongest Sires around, they’ll never go for it. Their next step will be to kidnap her,” Kyle murmured.
“My position remains the same, if someone touches her, I’ll declare war on whoever I have to,” I said and folded my arms.
“Why is she so special?” Remy asked.
“Don’t be an idiot man, it’s obvious she’s his bonded half. No Sire will go to this amount of trouble for a member of the enemy clan,” Rick stated.
“Yes, she’s my bonded half,” I admitted.
“My lair’s prospered ever since I went into business with you, I’m not stupid enough to give that up, I’m with you,” Kyle said.
“Nobody’s being forced here and you’re welcome to leave without any retribution. I need people in here that’s going to have my back today, so those that want to leave, no judgement will be passed,” I said and sat back.
Some of the Sires spoke in groups as I took a phone call from Marcus. Everyone knows someone and somehow he had heard of my predicament and he called to show his support. I had to admit that I was surprised since we didn’t know each other that well.
“It’s bullshit Lucas and from what I’ve seen in our meetings you’re not the kind to go into something blind. I’m sending my support letter to you now even though your Elders have no say over my lair, I’m sending it anyway. It can’t hurt to have a Sire from another country in your corner,” Marcus said.
“Thanks Marcus, I really appreciate this but have you thought what it might do to your reputation if you do business with an exiled Sire?” I asked him.
“Like I care, my lair’s strong and I have many alliances, people that don’t always approve of the way Elders run things, so don’t worry about my reputation,” he said.
“Thanks I’ll let you know the outcome of today,” I said to him.
“I’d do the exact same thing for Cindy, she sends her regards by the way,” he said.
We spoke for a few more minutes and confirmed our meeting for the end of the month. I looked around the table and noted that nobody had left. I smiled inwardly to myself and I was glad that I had followed my father’s advice in making allies instead of showing power and taking them over.
“Lucas, the Elders are arriving,” Preston said as he opened the door to the meeting room.
“Please remain here while I welcome the Elders and the McIntyre trash,” I said as I stood up.
I made my way to the foyer with Rev and found Preston glaring at Carson and JD. They seriously had the nerve to show up in person and I looked at them in disgust. They had smirks on their faces and I knew they thought that they would leave with Rylee today.
“Elders,” I said not acknowledging Carson and JD.
“Sire Lucas, we were not surprised in the least that you have refused to comply with our instructions,” Elder James said.
“We can discuss this in the meeting room, unfortunately JD will have to wait in the foyer since this meeting is for Sires only. I’ll allow Carson since he’s a future Sire,” I said and started walking back to the meeting room.
“Agreed, JD has no place in a Sire meeting room,” Elder Gareth confirmed and JD looked pissed off.
They followed me to the meeting room and they halted briefly in their steps as they entered the meeting room and saw the other Sires already present. They stood near my seat in a show of alliance and I felt proud to know them all.
“What is this Sire Lucas?” Elder Peter asked as he looked at the men.
“These are my supporters Elder,” I said and took my seat at the head of the table.
“This is not a deliberation of whether you will comply, supporters or not,” Elder James said as they all sat down. Carson looked positively afraid since none of the men present had any sort of alliance with him.
“Oh but you see I have no intention of handing Rylee over today,” I said to him.
“And why is it that you think you can defy the orders of the Elders?” Elder Gareth asked.
“During my retribution night, Carson and JD showed me a video of how they attacked and raped Rylee, perhaps they thought that the amount of dragon venom would make me forget but I had suppressed my dragon before the time so he retained all the memories of that night,” I said and Carson’s eyes widened.
“Still Sire Lucas, without the testimony of Miss Christianson our hands are tied,” Elder James said.
“She won’t testify, I won’t put her through that, what they did to her was horrific, I saw it with my own eyes. Now you are more than capable to make their beasts submit and convey the truth to you, yet you’ve failed to even entertain that idea so my only conclusion is that the McIntyre lair is paying you off,” I said as I looked at them steadily.
“You’re unbelievable Lucas! A claim was lodged and it was approved. Now hand Rylee over and I might forget the hostile reception I’ve received here,” Carson said and my eyes flashed yellow.
“You have two options here today. One, you leave peacefully and forget that Rylee exists or two, I declare war against your lair,” I said. A few Sires nodded in agreement as I spoke.
“Rylee is still a member of our lair,” Carson stated.
“Then have your father contact me so she can sign the resignation forms, that’s as close as you’ll ever get to her,” I spat out.
“No way, we want Rylee,” Carson said. Baz pushed forward and took control of my body without separating and glared at Carson.
“You will submit to me, your stench bothers my senses and today the truth will be spoken by you,” Baz said in his deep voice.
“Please, you think your grey beast is stronger than my violet one. Fuck you Lucas!” he yelled.
Baz looked deep into Carson’s eyes and I saw him take control of Carson’s beast. Baz was immensely strong and not even the Elders could suppress him even though they tried to stop him from making Carson submit.
“Confess your sin,” Baz mused. Carson was fighting Baz but it was a losing battle.
“JD raped her okay!” he said finally.
“You were aware of his actions,” Baz said.
“Yes,” Carson admitted and Baz gave me control back. No matter what Carson did to her having JD’s part revealed was at least half the battle won. Carson had fought to admit his part in her attack but I knew the Elders wouldn’t want to execute a future Sire, no matter what his sins might be.
“I request to have JD detained and dealt with for his crimes against Rylee Christianson,” I said and looked at a sweating Carson.
“Future Sire Carson, we all heard you admit that your second in command did indeed rape this young woman as claimed by Sire Lucas,” Elder James said.
“He can have JD, I lodged this request because he wanted her as his chosen half,” Carson said.
“She carries Sire Lucas’s mark, she cannot be marked unless they reject each other,” Elder Peter said.
“That was her intention six years ago,” Carson said.
“And now she will be introduced as our Drakaina before the end of the month,” I said.
“She has agreed to this?” Elder Peter asked me.
“You can ask her yourself once Carson leaves my territory, he’s not worthy to breathe the same air as her,” I said.
“I demand to hear it from her,” Carson said and the Elders looked at me.
“You have no grounds for any demands, as you’ve so eloquently put it in the past, the Elders are not to be questioned, but that just counts when it’s for your lair right,” I said as I looked at him.
“Fine,” Carson said as he glared at me.
“If another claim arises from the McIntyre lair, I’ll have no other option than to declare war against them and anybody else that tries to oppose me. It’s clear that this is just vindictiveness on their part and I won’t stand for it. I welcome exile too since I have more than thirty letters of Sires around the States that are willing to go into exile with me as do all the Sires present here today,” I said.
“There is no need for dramatics Sire Lucas,” Elder Peter said.
“We will speak with the young lady now,” Elder James said.
“Fuck off now Carson,” I said and a few Sires chuckled behind me.
“This isn’t the end of it Lucas, I expect JD’s body to be returned to us for burial,” Carson said.
“I’ll send his parents the pieces,” I said.