Chapter Two

Ava and Selma had ended up spending the weekend, they hadn’t checked into their hotel by the time we had met and their bags were still in their rental car. The weekend turned into the next week and before we knew it, our holiday was coming to an end.

“This was the best reunion ever,” Basil said as he stretched out on the lounger next to the house’s pool.

“Bermuda has left its mark on us,” Marlo said as she intertwined her fingers with Elio’s.

“Sadly though real life waits for all of us,” Ava said.

“And real life is where exactly?” Jack asked her.

“Back to Los Angeles,” Selma answered.

“Talking about real life, I’m moving in with Jack,” Tank said.

“What did your dad say?” I asked him.

“His daddy ain’t telling us a thing, since Tank’s not taking over the family business, he can’t say anything,” Jack said and I had to smile at the code he was using.

“I’m actually surprised Link hasn’t called me yet,” I said.

“Who’s Link?” Ava asked.

“My business manager,” I said as Marlo smiled secretly.

“Ooh a business man,” Selma said.

“Ryder has all sorts of businesses in Princeton,” Elio said as he kissed Marlo’s hand.

Our last night together was spectacular. Ava and I had walked down to the beach, hand in hand, gone skinny dipping in a private cove and then spent the night exploring each other for the last time. We had both agreed that this would stay in Bermuda. A hot two week fling, that’s all it could be, she was human, I wasn’t and I had responsibilities back home.

I had taken the lair’s private jet back home with Basil and we had hugged the rest of our group as Jack and Tank headed back to Oklahoma City while Marlo and Elio headed to New York. Basil had settled down with his coven close to Springfield.

“I’ll call you to set up that meeting with Johnathan,” Basil said as we walked to our respective cars.

“At least give me a few days to catch up with work,” I said.

I drove back to Princeton feeling lighter than I had two weeks earlier. When I parked the truck in front of my house Abeloth separated from me and flapped his wings eagerly. His frustration levels were high, not just with being cooped up for two weeks, but also because I was sleeping around.

“Don’t wait up halfling,” Abeloth mumbled.

“I’ll meet you on the balcony when you’re ready to merge,” I said as he flapped his wings and took off into the dark night.

I unlocked the front door and then averted my eyes as I walked past the living room where Emily straddled Link and I witnessed something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Emily had gasped and Link had turned them around to cover her with his body.

“Don’t mind me, I’ll just head upstairs,” I said with a chuckle.

I heard an ‘ow’ from the living room as Emily smacked Link, probably against his head. Upstairs I unpacked and fell down on my bed and sighed with contentment. Being back home felt surreal and I took a deep breath and dug my ringing phone out of my pocket.

“Hey Dad.”

“Are you back in Princeton?” Lucas asked me.

“I just got back,” I said.

“How was Bermuda?” he asked.

“It was … interesting,” I said.

“How much fun did you have?” he asked me and I started to laugh.

“Enough fun, although coming home to find a naked Emily on top of Link wasn’t so nice,” I said.

“Geez Ryder, now I’ve got that image in my mind,” he said.

“Good, I had to actually witness it,” I said.

“Have you spoken to Megan?” he asked.

“No.”

“Ry …”

“I’m not interested Dad, she made her choice,” I said with irritation.

“Mary hasn’t heard from her either, they’re worried,” he said.

“Her welfare isn’t my problem anymore.” The words tasted bitter in my mouth and I hated saying them, because it was a lie.

“I’m sorry I bothered you then,” he said curtly.

“Dad ..” The call ended in my ear and I sighed loudly. I knew he was pissed off with me but I was pissed off too.

My mother wasn’t even talking to me. She had come to see me a week after the wedding and found me passed out in bed, a naked girl next to me. One who’s name I couldn’t even remember. She had lost her shit, slapping me awake and throwing the girl out of my house.

She’d waited while I showered and handed me a cup of black coffee. Her lecture lasted more than half an hour, about how I would never meet someone else if I kept doing what I was doing. I wasn’t interested in meeting someone else, I was obviously destined to remain as I was.

“I did not raise you to be like this!” Rylee said angrily as she paced in front of me.

“Like what Mom?”

“To be this cold,” she said sadly.

“How should I be? Do you want me to go find Megan and beg her to come back? That’s not who I am, I’ll never be someone’s second choice! I gave her everything of me, my heart and my soul, she didn’t want it, so give it a fucking rest!”

“I love you Ryder and seeing you so hurt breaks my heart,” she said gently.

“I thought we were okay. I thought she wanted this,” I said and lowered my head into my hands.

“That’s why you have to talk to her. This could be another misunderstanding like the time you were kidnapped,” she said.

“It’s not the same Mom, I talked to her the night before. She just didn’t want to marry me,” I replied bitterly.

“I’m sorry you’re hurting,” she said and hugged me.

“I’m fine,” I said to her, the lie coming so easily.

“I believe there’s someone out there for you, don’t shut yourself off from the world, you will find happiness,” she said as she let go of me.

“I’m not,” I assured her.

I felt like an asshole for lying to my mother. I had no intention of getting into a relationship again. There was no way I was opening myself up for this again. My life had been perfect, but Megan had taken a part of me with her when she left.

I was woken up the next morning as Linda opened the curtains and I could smell the fresh brew in the cup next to my bed.

“Morning Sire,” Linda said with a smile.

“At least someone missed me,” I said with a smile.

“We have a lot of work to do. Apparently you’re the newest most eligible bachelor around,” she said as I snorted.

“I don’t even want to know,” I answered her.

“Breakfast will be ready in half an hour and then you have a few hours set aside so Link can report on everything,” she said and walked out of my room.

I smiled slightly, getting back into routine would be good and a lot of things can happen in two weeks. Link couldn’t look me in the eye when I walked into the dining room and Emily wasn’t there. I started chuckling as his cheeks reddened.

“I bet it’s a good morning,” I said and he started to laugh.

“That was not the welcome I had planned,” he said.

“Naked women works when they’re not related to me,” I said.

“I’m sorry. How was your trip?” he asked me.

“It was good,” I said with a smile.

“Which means you got laid every night,” he said.

“Eat up, we have a long day ahead of us,” I said instead.

Link and I spent hours in the office, poring over financial statements, business proposals, lair requests and documents. Link had already summarized everything and most of the documents only needed my signature.

“Nice work Link,” I said as I read through a lair transfer request.

“Someone has to keep the pot cooking,” he said and I smiled.

“You’re the best cook for the job,” I said as he laughed.

“That last request, I don’t know why, but something doesn’t sit right with me,” he said.

“Jackson O’Leary, aged twenty-four, works as a lab technician, requesting transfer because of a work promotion in Princeton,” I read out loud from the file. “What’s the problem?”

“I don’t know Ryder, call it a gut feeling?”

“Then we don’t approve his transfer,” I said and put the folder down.

“Who moves to Princeton for a promotion? There’s no mention of a bonded half or a girlfriend,” he said.

“What’s wrong with Princeton?”

“Nothing, I love this town. I was born here. It just seems so random,” Link said.

“Investigate it then, you know we rarely approve transfers to our lair,” I said.

“Yeah they all just want the hunter as a Sire,” he said and smirked as I fished my phone out of my pocket, relieved to be taking a break.

“Hey Dad,” I answered my phone.

“Where are you?” he asked me. His voice had an edge to it that I couldn’t pinpoint.

“At home,” I said.

“Better get your ass over to Aurora,” he said.

“Why?” I asked him closing my eyes.

“Trust me, just get here,” he said and ended the call. His voice had an urgency to it that had me running down the stairs and racing to my truck down the road to Aurora.