43
“I’ll be heading to Louisville with Kimberley a bit later,” Brandon said as he sat on the couch in my office.
“That was fast,” I said and he smiled.
“She’s dragonkin so that helps and she feels what I feel, she’s eighteen and her father’s a warrior,” he said.
“I’m really happy for you,” I said as he leaned back and looked at me intently.
“What’s going on with you and your half?” he asked me.
“What do you mean?” I asked him.
“Please Lucas, you’d have to be a moron to miss the tension between you two,” he said.
“It’s complicated,” I said to him.
“Not really man, you two are bonded, sort out whatever the problem is,” he said.
“Did Kimberley tell you her story?” I asked him changing the subject.
“She did, they grabbed her in the parking lot of a mall, but she wasn’t harmed aside from a virginity test,” he said.
“You’re wasting no time in claiming her,” I said to him and he laughed.
“I’m not letting her go. I’ll escort her home, meet her parents, speak to the Sire and take her back with me,” he said.
“You’re very confident,” I said to him.
“Of course, nothing’s ever going to happen to her again,” he said.
“I wish you all of the best for the future, and I expect an invitation to the wedding ceremony,” I said.
“Of course, keep me up to date on our next adventure,” he said and we shook hands.
I spent the rest of the day in my office catching up on work and by the time Martha called out for us that dinner was ready I felt exhausted. Rylee was sitting on the other side of the table again, furthest from me but I didn’t say anything.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as I looked at Preston and Jennifer whispering to each other.
“We got a reply from the Elders and they’ve denied Jennifer’s turning,” Preston said.
“On what grounds?” I asked him.
“They say there’s no basis for her being turned and her wanting to turn is not sufficient grounds,” he said.
“I’m sorry guys, I think it’s because it’s me,” I said.
“Fuck them,” Rev said.
“I’ll phone them later,” I said.
As soon as Rylee finished eating she pushed her chair out and left the dining room. She didn’t even look at me and I didn’t know how to fix this problem between us. I had to fix it somehow because no matter what happens we couldn’t live apart from each other. The bond would push us closer even if we felt nothing for each other.
“Elder Gareth Wineston speaking,” he answered surprisingly on the fourth ring.
“Sire Lucas Grey,” I said already feeling annoyed.
“What can I do for you Lucas?” he asked me.
“I’ve just received word that Jennifer Halstead’s turning request has been denied,” I said.
“And?” he asked me.
“Why?” I asked.
“There is no crucial reason for this,” he said.
“And what qualifies as a crucial reason?” I asked him.
“We warned you Lucas, you’re rude behaviour will come back to haunt you, it’s time you faced the consequences of your many actions,” he said and put the phone down.
“Son of a bitch,” I said loudly and slammed the phone down on the table.
Baz was talking to me in my head and he had given me a very good idea. Preston knocked on the door and closed it quietly behind him as he took the chair in front of my desk.
“Don’t worry about it Lucas, I knew it was a long shot anyway,” he said to me.
“No, I’ll turn her myself without the Elders,” I said.
“Can you even do that?” he asked me.
“Baz says yes,” I said to him.
“When?” he asked me.
“Right now, meet me outside by the bonfire area,” I said to him and stood up.
Preston smiled happily and left my office quickly. I took a knife from my desk drawer and left my jacket hanging over my chair. I found Preston and Jennifer waiting for me outside and smiled as I reached them.
“Won’t you get into trouble with the Elders?” Jennifer asked me.
“I’m seriously beyond the point of caring,” I said to her.
“Lucas, I don’t want to put you in a bad light with them,” Preston said.
“Fuck them Preston, besides, I do that all by myself,” I said and he laughed.
“I’m so marking you tonight,” Preston said and I gave him a look.
“Jennifer, I need you to relax and do whatever I tell you to do. When our blood mingles we’ll be taken to a cave where you’ll see a dragon, don’t scream and don’t run away,” I said to her.
“I won’t,” she said.
Baz separated from me and he stretched his neck and wings and gave a big yawn as he looked at us. I rolled my sleeves up as his eyes started glowing.
“I, Bazzoit, will now allow you entry into the dragon realm, make your cut and press your hands together so that the magic of my dragon’s blood can transport you,” he said.
I cut my palm and then Jennifer’s and clasped our two hands together. I closed my eyes and I could feel that familiar pull. I heard the dripping water sound that echoed around the cave’s walls. I opened my eyes again and looked around.
Baz was standing in front of me and Jennifer was still holding my hand. I squeezed her hand as she looked at me with big eyes.
“We bow in your presence Typhon, father of all dragons and mightiest beast in all of the realms, we request the turning of this human so she may birth strong dragon children with her bonded half, her heart is pure and her intent is honorable,” Baz said.
I saw the flickering of a black tail and then the great dragon came forward from the shadows as we all bowed our heads. He had a magnificent aura of power, almost suffocating me and I knew that I stood in the presence of the oldest dragon to ever live.
“What is your name human female?” Typhon asked in a deep rumbling voice.
“Jennifer Halstead,” she answered in a clear voice.
“Who represents this female human?” he asked.
“Sire Lucas Grey, host of Bazzoit,” I said.
“Yes,” he said and turned his back on us.
I looked at Baz where he had kept his head bowed and suddenly Typhon’s long tail slithered around Jennifer’s body and pulled her into the shadows. Baz’s tail stopped me and I stood back and waited. The quiet was unnerving and broken only by Jennifer’s scream of pain.
Her body was limp as Typhon placed her gently on the ground and I rushed forward. Her eyes were closed and she was hot to the touch. Typhon’s head emerged and he hovered above Jennifer and closed his eyes. He let out a single breath and Jennifer sat up straight and gasped for air.
“It is done, she has been accepted by our realm,” he said and disappeared back into the shadows. I felt the bond snap into place as she became part of my lair. It was a warm tingling feeling that spread all over my body and settled deep in my heart.
“Thank you,” I said and he grunted.
The cave disappeared in front of my eyes and we stood under the open air once again. Preston was standing in front of Jennifer as she opened her eyes and she smiled at him.
“It worked,” she said and he grabbed her into a tight bear hug.
“Thank you Baz,” I said and he nodded his head.
“I told you halfling, we are stronger than you know,” he said and merged with me once again.
“Lucas, I don’t know how to thank you,” Preston said as he hugged me.
“It was the least I could do for taking so long,” I said and Jennifer laughed.
Preston scooped her up in his arms and for once I was glad I wasn’t on the same floor as they were. I had a new feeling of being content that surrounded me as I walked slowly back into the house and made myself a cup of coffee in the kitchen.
“You did good,” Rev said from behind me and I jumped slightly at the sound of his voice.
“Why do you always feel the need to sneak up on people,” I asked as he laughed.
“It’s fun,” he said as he turned around and left the kitchen.
“Fun my ass,” I said loudly and he laughed again.
I took my coffee upstairs to my room and changed into pajamas. I was sitting upright in bed having just finished my coffee when the soft knock fell on my door. “Come in Rylee,” I said and the door opened. She looked tired and I opened the covers next to me.
“Thanks,” she said and climbed in next to me. We both needed a good night’s sleep and we wouldn’t get that apart. She pulled the cover up to her chin and I put the lamp off next to me. I sat quietly for a few seconds and then I turned towards her and pulled her closer.
“I don’t hate you Rylee,” I said softly.
“You don’t love me either,” she said.
“Neither do you,” I said and closed my eyes.
“Is this how it’s going to be between us?” she asked me.
“I need time to come to terms with what happened,” I said.
“I’m sorry this happened, I just…” she began to say and then stopped.
“I know, you wanted to make me jealous and hurt me because you thought I’d slept with Tessa,” I said against her ear.
“Yes,” she said after a while.
“You succeeded,” I said and I could smell her tears.
We fell asleep like that and I slept straight through for eight hours. Rylee was gone when I woke up but I felt like a new person, rested and ready for action.
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