55
After dinner I followed Rylee up the stairs and she stopped on the third floor and turned to me. I didn’t really know what to expect because I had treated her like shit yet here she was and I didn’t know what to say other than sorry which wasn’t really good enough.
“Well this is me,” she said and turned to walk down the hall.
“You’re sleeping in the guest room?” I asked her.
“Well I am a guest here,” she said and my heart sank.
“Okay,” I said and turned towards the stairs again.
“We should make some time to talk,” she said.
“We should,” I said to her.
I lay in bed and thought about everything I wanted to say to her, everything I should say to her but knowing she wasn’t staying kind of ruined all that, not that I could blame her. I was surprised she was even here now.
I woke up as Rylee put a cup of coffee down on the bedside table. She was already dressed and she looked good, she was glowing and she looked happy.
“Morning,” she said with a smile.
“Hey,” I said as I sat upright and took the coffee.
“I answered your office phone earlier, the new Elders are on their way to meet with you,” she said and looked at me apprehensively. The last time I had been angry when she answered my phone and I could see she was nervous about my reaction.
“Thanks,” I said and she looked away for a moment.
“You’re welcome,” she said and stood up but I grabbed her hand and pulled her down to sit again.
“Why?” I asked her.
“Why what Lucas?”
“Why can’t you just stay with me?” I asked her and she looked immensely sad.
“I’m tired of fighting with you. We bring out the worst in each other and that’s not how I want to live my life, especially not now. We both deserve to be happy and too much has happened between us. Maybe this way we can remain civil for their sakes,” she said and her hand went to her stomach.
“I don’t want you to leave,” I said to her.
“Lucas…” she said and looked away again.
“I meant it when I said I loved you and I know I fucked up. I did everything wrong and I know I hurt you, but I want you here, I need you here with me,” I said gripping her hand tighter.
“You don’t need anybody Lucas and with us history just repeats itself the whole time. How long before I say or do something that irritates you and we go right back to how things were?” she said.
“Will we fight? Yes probably. Will I be an asshole? Most probably. Will I stop loving you? Never. I don’t want to lose you, I can just promise you to give my best every day. Yes it took me a while to realize what I had in you. I want to be in your life, in their lives and not as a weekend dad. I don’t know what else to say to convince you to stay Rylee but I am sorry about everything that’s happened,” I said to her.
“You should get ready,” she said and stood up and this time I let her go.
I showered and got dressed in a suit but my heart wasn’t really in meeting the new Elders today. They would have heard all about me and be prejudiced because I had basically killed the other Elders. Without their dragons, they were nothing and I would have to face those consequences as well. At least I had already healed from my previous punishment.
“The Elders are here,” Rev said as I stood staring out of my office window.
“I’ll be right down,” I said as I put my jacket back on.
I walked down the stairs and took a deep breath before entering the meeting room where I smelled the three new scents of the Elders as they waited inside for me. I opened the door and the three men turned simultaneously to look at me.
“Good morning Elders,” I said.
“Sire Lucas, good morning to you too, excuse our abrupt arrival at your home and thank you for accepting this meeting,” the first man said.
“It was bound to happen right,” I said.
“Straight to the point, you don’t like bullshit very much, do you?” another man asked me and I smiled.
“I don’t really see the point and forgive my bluntness but I don’t have the best history with Elders,” I said.
“We are well aware of the past, but it’s a new day so I suggest we start with a clean slate,” the third man said.
“I’m Elder Cliff Johnson, that’s Elder Michael Rose and Elder Victor Hugh,” he introduced them.
“Please make yourselves comfortable,” I said and sat down at the table.
“Is Carson McIntyre still alive?” Elder Cliff asked me.
“Yes, as per your instructions,” I said and he nodded.
“We’ve gone through the evidence and tapes, a few times actually. I have to commend you, it’s a very well put together case,” Elder Michael said.
“I had a lot of help,” I said.
“A decision should have been reached that same night,” Elder Victor said.
“So have you come to a decision?” I asked him.
“In fact we have,” Elder Cliff said.
“And?” I asked.
“Carson McIntyre is to be executed for his crimes against dragonkin,” Elder Michael answered me.
“And Joseph?” I asked them.
“Joseph McIntyre is the current Sire of a lair, what do you propose we do with his members should we grant you this execution order,” Elder Victor asked me.
“Okay listen, we killed everyone that was part of his operation. I don’t know if anyone else from his lair was involved or not. I would disband the lair and integrate them into other lairs, I have the means to take over Aurora, I never acted on it because I never had the evidence to prove what scum they really are,” I said to them.
“We appreciate your honesty Lucas and I happen to agree with you. The things that happened were atrocious and we were very surprised at the lack of response from the previous Elders,” Elder Michael said.
“Unfortunately, Joseph McIntyre has disappeared but we’ve already issued a warrant for his capture,” Elder Cliff said.
“That’s just fucking great,” I said and rubbed a hand over my face.
“There is another matter we have to discuss as well,” Elder Victor said.
“My punishment, I was waiting for you to bring it up,” I said.
“Punishment for what?” Elder Cliff asked me looking confused.
“For disbanding the Elders and killing their dragons,” I said frowning.
“We were under the impression that your beast killed those three dragons,” Elder Michael said.
“Yes he did, but I’m his host, we’re one,” I said to him.
“There is no punishment Lucas, you’re not being charged with anything here,” Elder Victor said with a smile.
“Why not?” I asked and they laughed at me.
“Did you want to be punished?” Elder Cliff asked me.
“Well no, but…”
“But nothing, they were horrible Elders, our society is better off without them in it,” Elder Michael said and I smiled slightly.
“The matter we need to discuss is your Drakaina,” Elder Victor said.
“I see,” I said starting to feel uncomfortable.
“We have heard many rumours that we need you to confirm or deny but unfortunately we have to settle the dispute as to her whereabouts and the future of your lair,” Elder Cliff said.
“Okay,” I said.
“We’ve heard that your Drakaina is currently pregnant with twins, which only tells us that she strayed and we assume that you have rejected her for that reason which is why she left your territory to move to Joliet where she is currently living in Sire Beckett Lawley’s apartment. Have you thought about what you want to do in the future? Rejection would be dangerous for her since she’s pregnant but you are well within your rights to ask for this and we will grant it to you,” Elder Michael said.
“The twins are mine, yes when I just found out I also accused her of straying and through my actions after that she decided to leave, but mainly because I treated her with rejection. She didn’t stray, she insisted we do a paternity test and I’m their father. I had no idea where she was living and I happen to know Beckett Lawley,” I answered him.
“Everything about you is an enigma Lucas, from your grey dragon now to fathering twins. I look forward to collaborating with you,” Elder Victor said to me.
“Am I correct in assuming then that you don’t want to ask for rejection of the bond?” Elder Cliff asked.
“No, I’ll never reject her no matter what. She on the other hand might want to reject me, you’d have to ask her. She’s currently here in my house, I don’t know for how long or what her intentions are, but I also won’t deny her position in my life or her status in this lair even if she doesn’t live here or perform those duties,” I said.
“Please notify us should that position change. We wish you all the best for the future Lucas and we hope that we can maintain a different type of relationship with each other. You’re the strongest Sire we’ve ever encountered and it would be beneficial to all dragonkin for us to keep good relations. We might need your help in future,” Elder Cliff said.
“I’d like that. I didn’t intend to have a troubled relationship with the previous Elders,” I said to them.
“We are aware of that and for that reason I want to share with you something that we found recently,” Elder Michael said.
“About?”
“Your father and mother,” Elder Victor said.
“Joseph McIntyre was responsible for your parents death. We found the evidence in a hidden folder in the Elders chambers. They were hiding it and we grant you the execution order for Joseph as you see fit. We would appreciate proof of death if you ever do find him,” Elder Michael said.
“I always knew it was him I just could never prove it,” I said feeling relieved.
“Take care of yourself Lucas,” Elder Cliff said and they stood up.
I shook their hands and I felt much better about these Elders. We had a good start and if I could keep things as they were then I’d have three more allies instead of enemies. I showed them to the front door and went back up to my office.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
