I parked behind Chase on the side of Max’s long driveway. His father was the mayor and he knew all about our kind but I doubted that Max knew. I could already hear that the party was underway and we normally arrived about two hours after the parties started.
“There you are!” Tia said loudly as she descended the stairs with her crew following behind her.
“Sorry we’re late, Chase had an appointment with the mirror,” I said and he nudged me in the ribs.
“And right now I have an appointment with Kenna,” he said as he started making his way across the room to where she was talking to Max.
“Hi Ryder,” Leana said as she brushed past me with her breasts practically rubbing over my chest.
“Hi,” I said feel uncomfortable with her proximity but Tia didn’t even notice and Leana winked at me.
I shuddered and let go of Tia’s hand and made my way over to the kitchen to get a drink. In the kitchen I found Chase with Max, Burke and Chester doing shots and they cheered loudly as I walked over to them.
“Where’s Ryan?” I asked.
“Upstairs somewhere with Jane,” Max said.
“Come on Ry, have a drink with us,” Chase said as he pushed the shot glass into my hand.
“You know I don’t drink,” I said to him.
“Come on take one for the team!” Chester yelled and I sighed and downed the shot.
Much later that night I found myself locked in a bedroom with Tia. We had gone further than ever before and as I pulled back from her she took her shirt off and pulled me towards the bed. I was still sober having ditched Chase and the guys after that first shot.
“Ryder, I want all of you tonight,” she whispered close to my ear.
She was pressing herself against me and I wasn’t about to say no thank you. I should but I wasn’t going to, not when she clearly wanted this. She produced a condom and put it on me as I watched her. It was kind of erotic and she straddled me quickly after that.
“I love you Tia,” I whispered in her ear as we lay on the bed afterwards trying to catch our breaths.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
I dropped Tia off at home at ten to twelve since her curfew was midnight. Her father was part of the specialized force and he worked at my father’s investment firm in Chicago. He stood on the porch as I parked my car at the curb and I walked to the door with her.
“Good evening Mr. Banks,” I said and shook his hand.
“Hello Ryder, did you kids have fun?” he asked.
“Plenty of fun Daddy,” Tia said and kissed my cheek goodnight. If only he knew just how much fun I’m sure he wouldn’t smile at me that way.
“Drive home safe,” he said and walked into the house.
I drove home and I saw that Chase wasn’t back yet. My father was still in his office as I walked past it to my room and he called me inside when he heard me.
“You’re home early,” he said as I sat down.
“Tia has a curfew, no reason for me to go back to the party alone,” I said to him.
“You two seem rather serious,” he remarked and I smiled.
“I’d think after almost two years we would be,” I said and he laughed.
“Just be careful, your birthday’s in a month and soon you’ll find your bonded mate,” he said to me.
“Without sounding cheesy Dad, I think Tia’s going to be my mate,” I said.
“I just want you to be happy,” he said to me.
“I’m happy,” I said to him.
“You smell different,” he remarked as I stood up and instantly my face was red as I looked away.
“Night Dad,” I said and headed for the door.
“Shit Ryder, did you finally get laid?” he asked me loudly as I stopped just outside his door.
“Nice Dad, tell the whole world,” I said and he started laughing.
I shook my head and walked to my room. Sometimes I wished my Dad was a bit more normal but I also liked that we had such an open relationship. I wouldn’t tell my mother how the party went and I knew he wouldn’t either.
The next month passed by swiftly and Tia and I just grew closer. We had sex a lot more, every chance we got in fact and I was careful to use protection. I didn’t want a surprise like Greg had gotten two months earlier.
Chase and I sat in the back of the SUV while Lucas drove and Rev accompanied him. We were headed to Chicago and according to Lucas this was a good sign. It was our birthday and a blood moon and tonight we’d be getting our dragons.
“Are you two excited?” Rev asked as he turned in his seat and looked back at us.
“Of course,” Chase said and I nodded.
“What happens if we don’t get a violet dragon?” I asked and Lucas laughed.
“Then I disown you,” he said and Rev laughed out loud.
“Seriously Dad,” I said.
“Then nothing, if neither of you get a violet dragon then you can’t take over as Sire one day, that’s all,” he said but I saw him gripping the steering wheel tighter.
“That won’t happen,” Chase said confidently.
Lucas parked the car and Chase climbed out of the car and stretched his arms. I followed him out and stood looking around at the dilapidated looking warehouse. The area looked dodgy but I didn’t say anything.
“Grey lair,” Lucas said to a man that had appeared at the door. The door opened and we filed inside to an open area that was brightly lit. Another man stood there and bowed his head at Lucas and barely acknowledged us.
“Sire Lucas, welcome, the Elders are expecting you,” the man said.
“Thank you Kevin,” Lucas said and the door was opened for us.
We entered a circular room where a fire was already raging in a stone circle and the room felt hot. The three Elders stood spread out and smiled when they saw Lucas. He walked over to them and slightly bowed his head as they shook hands and talked quietly for a few minutes before they all walked back over to us.
“Who are you presenting Sire Lucas?” Elder Michael asked him.
“I present Chase and Ryder Grey,” Lucas said as we stepped forward.
“Welcome young men, I’m Elder Michael and that’s Elder Cliff and Elder Victor,” he introduced them.
“Nice to meet you,” Chase and I said simultaneously.
“You may now take off your shirts,” Elder Victor said and we handed our shirts to Lucas.
We stood in front of the Elders and their eyes seemed to glaze over for a minute before returning to normal.
“Chase Grey, you are the first born son of Lucas Grey, Sire of the Grey lair,” Elder Cliff said.
“Yes Elder,” Chase answered him.
“Ryder Grey, you are the second born son of Lucas Grey, Sire of the Grey lair,” Elder Victor said.
“Yes Elder,” I confirmed.
“Do you swear to treat your beast with the respect and honour it deserves?” Elder Michael asked us.
“Yes Elder,” we answered.
“Do you swear to rule with a just heart, a swift fist and make every decision with your lair’s prosperity in mind?” Elder Cliff asked.
“Yes Elder.”
“Do you swear to protect the bonded half that fate gives you and to not reject the one that is your match?” Elder Victor asked.
“Yes Elder,” we answered in unison.
“Do you swear to be a father to your people, a warrior to your fighters and a leader that can be trusted?” Elder Michael asked.
“Yes Elder,” we answered.
“Lastly do you swear to keep the secrets of our kind from those that wish us harm and to annihilate our enemies whether they be supernatural or human?” Elder Cliff asked.
“Yes Elder,” we said.
“Chase and Ryder Grey, deposit your blood into the cup,” Elder Victor said.
He handed the knife first to Chase where he slit open his wrist and his blood dropped down into the golden cup. Chase handed me the knife and I did the same. I moved my wrist once it started to heal and half of the cup was filled. The Elders nodded in approval and they each opened two vials and mixed the contents with our blood.
“Drink and open both your minds to all the possibilities,” Elder Michael said with a smile.
Chase took the cup and swallowed first, he left more than a third in the cup and I drank the rest. It was bitter and then slightly sweet. I could feel something stirring inside me and my mind felt foggy, I felt drunk and off balance.
“Step into the fire and meet your beast,” Elder Cliff said and I took the first step forward as I saw a ring of fire emerge as if out of thin air. Chase was right next to me and together we stepped over the threshold.
I looked around at the dank cave and I could hear the faint dripping of water. I heard a rustling up ahead and I went through the narrow tunnel first. I was on my stomach pulling myself forward as I had the intense urge to find whatever had made that noise.
“Whoa,” Chase said as he came to stand next to me. I heard a loud roar that reverberated around the cave’s walls and I looked around. I thought I saw a tail slithering in the darkness and I blinked again to try and clear my mind.
I watched as the echoes made it hard to distinguish where the sounds were coming from and I could swear I heard something whisper Chase’s name. He had heard it too and he peered into the darkness.
“Show yourself beast,” Chase commanded sounding a bit like Lucas.
“Are you afraid boy?” the dragon hissed.
“I’m not afraid of you beast,” Chase said and I almost laughed.
“Your wish is my command,” the beast said.
I saw the movement from behind the throne as the dragon lunged and merged with him. Chase’s eyes widened and then he screamed clawing at his skin. He went down to his knees and he kept screaming as I looked at him.
“Don’t,” a voice hissed at me as I took a step forward.
Chase stopped screaming and took a few deep breaths and then he stood up and I saw the dragon tattoo covering his back. It was a shade lighter than Lucas’s dragon and I felt immensely proud of him.
“Beast!” I called upon my own dragon.“Ryder,” he hissed at me.“Merge with me so that from this day forward we may claim each other and together accomplish our predestined fate,” I said loudly. The words had just come to me and I wasn’t even sure from where.“As you command halfling although I won’t be commanded like a lowly house lizard,” he hissed again and I laughed suddenly.“You a house lizard? And here I thought you were magnificent but now I’m not so sure beast,” I said and I could hear him chuckle.“You’ll suit me fine halfling,” he said sounding amused. He came out of the shadows and I held my breath in awe. He circled me and sniffed me tentatively as I folded my arms across my chest. He roared slightly and then merged himself into and onto me.I felt the burning sensation and I swear if I could strip off my own skin I would. I screamed out in pain as the tattoo of his likeness formed on my skin, burning and etching itself deep inside me. I felt like I would lose my mind as
For the rest of the Sunday we celebrated with our family and lazed around in the living room watching movies and napping in between. That night at dinner I felt more like myself and Martha had outdone herself making our favourites to celebrate us getting our dragons.“My boys are all grown up now,” our mother said as she looked at us.“In more ways than one,” Lucas said and Chase started laughing out loud.“What do you mean in more ways than one?” Rylee asked him.“Oh my gosh! Are you two banging girls?” Emily asked loudly and Rev almost choked and Hannah looked at her in horror.“Banging girls? Emily!” Hannah said as Rev just shook his head.“I think I hear my phone ringing in my office,” Lucas said as my mother glared at him.“Not so fast wise guy, is that true, are you two sexually active?” Rylee asked us and I didn’t know where to hide my face.“Mom seriously, do you want to discuss this at the dinner table?” Chase asked her.“That means yes Aunt Rylee,” Emily said as I pretended
Chase had to swallow his pride and he presented a clean bill of health to Melissa two weeks later on her birthday. She looked at the results of the blood test and then smiled as she kissed him. He had humiliated himself but in the end it paid off as Melissa finally accepted him.We had two months of school left and then we would also attend the Illinois Dragonkin Ball to present our bonded halves to the Elders for acceptance of that bond. Our parents would attend as well to witness the forming of the bond and after that night we’d be seen as an official couple within the lair.I had been looking at a promise ring for Tia, a promise that I wanted to make to her on our bonding night, that she’d always be the only one for me. Rylee was helping me with it and she was just as excited as I was. She didn’t know Tia personally but she was happy for me.Lucas didn’t say much since he had messed up his own bonding with our mother a few times but in the end he pulled his head out of his ass, as
There were ten more successful bondings that took place before it was our turn and I extended my arm again for Tia as we waited to be announced.“And now for our final couple, Tia Malone and Ryder Grey,” Elder Cliff said and applause broke out. Chase and Melissa were now seated close together at our table and I swear Chase was clapping the loudest.We made our way onto the stage and Tia beamed as everyone looked at us. I felt slightly nervous and Abeloth was restless to be let out but I couldn’t do it yet. He had to be patient until we eventually got home before he could separate from me.“Do you Tia Malone accept Ryder Grey as your bonded half? Do you vow to remain faithful to him and to your bond? Do you accept the placing of his mark on your neck tonight?” Elder Michael asked her.“I, Tia, accept you Ryder as my bonded half and I vow to remain honest and faithful and I accept your mark on my neck,” Tia said.
I still wasn’t ready to go home but I knew that I had to so I drove behind Chase since he stayed at the Lake house while I showered and got dressed. Abeloth was snorting in my head that we didn’t need a babysitter or an escort home.“Shit is going to hit the fan,” Abeloth said.“I get that feeling too,” I said to him.“Guess we’ll know soon enough,” he mused as we entered lower Aurora and headed to the house.I wasn’t looking forward to this. Lucas had a quick temper and when he was pissed off like I knew he was then you were in for the ride of your life. I had embarrassed him and the lair. As a Sire’s son I was one of the lead examples and the only one to reject my bonded half.“Good luck brother,” Chase said as we climbed out of our cars.“Did he send you to the lake house to look for me?” I asked him.“No, I figured that one out all by m
I spent the next six months in Chicago and underwent rigorous training under Wentworth and his men. The groups were small and once you failed your mind was wiped by a witch and you went back to your old life. I felt at home even though I was the youngest by three years and I quickly became close friends with the other guys I was training with.Most of them had green or blue dragons and one or two had a violet one. There were no yellow dragons in our unit and these were the best of the best. Training started at five am and we stopped at ten pm every day. It was hard and brutal and we even underwent torture training where we were tortured.If I had been a boy when I walked into that building I was definitely a man after those first six months. We were taught how to fight with weapons, without weapons, with your dragon and without your dragon. There were vampires and wolves training with us and we would go head to head with each other.We were taught how to read people and situations, ho
I spent the rest of that Sunday shopping and settling in. I had gone for a jog since I was still in the training routine and I couldn’t just sit idly at home and do nothing. I had cleaned the house, jogged, washed the truck, gone shopping and packed everything away and I had already checked in.I felt better after talking to Chase and slightly worried that Lucas was looking for me so I drove to another store and bought a new cellphone. I drove to the forest behind the school and sat in the truck and called him.“This is Lucas,” he answered.“Hi Dad,” I said.“Ryder, are you okay?” he asked me.“I’m fine,” I answered him.“Where are you?” he asked me.“It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing, stop looking for me,” I said.“I’ll never stop looking for you, you’re my son,” he said.“I’m working, taking responsibility, standing on my own two feet, you should be proud instead of trying to treat me like a little kid,” I said to him.“You have responsibilities at home,” he said to me.
It took another two weeks for Coach to organize the fight and he wanted me to be first up. I had started spending time with the other ten guys at school. They weren’t professional fighters but the fear of juvie kept them fighting even when most of them didn’t want to.The fights usually consisted of them being beaten up by adults which was hardly fair and I could see some of them were sick of it. They got paid just enough to keep them wanting more but not enough to stop or say anything.“It’s basically a blood sport where people bet on how fast our asses will be kicked in that ring,” Michael said as we sat at one of the outside tables.“Grown ass men, ex boxers, fighters or just plain crazy guys looking to vent kicking our asses all over the place, no fear of being arrested and they pay to hit us,” Denver remarked.“That’s bullshit actually,” I said as they looked at me.“There&rsquo