“You’re back!” Emily said when I opened the front door and caught her coming down the hall with a bowl of popcorn.“Is that Ryder?” Link yelled from the living room.“Hey Ems,” I said and kissed her cheek as we hugged trying not to spill the popcorn.“Who’s this?” Emily asked as Link joined her. Ava stood slightly behind me, a nervous smile on her face.“This is Ava, that’s Emily, my cousin, and Link, my second,” I said.“Nice to meet you,” Ava said as both of them stared at her.“Come on,” I said to Ava and headed upstairs with the first two suitcases.I stopped on the second floor and led Ava to the guest room. I placed her suitcases in front of the dressing room and switched the bathroom light on for her.“For the time being this will be your room until we’ve figured everything out,” I said as she looked around the room.“You mean until you have proof that you’re the father,” she said.“I don’t mean it like that,” I said feeling awkward just standing there.“Thank you,” she said no

“Look what the cat dragged in!” he said loudly as he walked towards me.“Yeah and I’m still better looking than you,” I said as we hugged.“And who’s this?” Chase asked as Ava stared at him. I hadn’t told her that we were identical.“This is Ava, this is Chase, my brother,” I introduced them.“Mom’s ready to castrate you,” he said as he shook hands with Ava.“At least I’m already pregnant,” Ava said and Chase started laughing.“She’ll fit right in,” he said as he placed his arm around my shoulder and his other arm around Ava. “I always love it when you’re the culprit.”“Aww is Melissa mad at you again, not getting any?” I asked him.“Piss off little brother,” he said and smiled.Melissa walked inside with Lucas and Rylee and Ava suddenly gripped my hand. Rylee didn’t look at me and I made the introductions as everyone stood around awkwardly. “We’re set up outside,” I said and led the way to where Chase had already downed a beer.“So how did you two meet?” Rylee asked.“We met Mom, end

Felix was in the fourth cell, strapped to the bed, a bucket in the corner, the bare mattrass was stained with his blood and sweat. He was alone and I quickly popped the vent covering off and dropped down to the floor.“Felix,” I whispered as I held his head in my hands.I pulled out the knife that was strapped to my ankle and flicked it open. I cut the bonds on his arms and legs and then I cut my wrist open and held it against Felix’s mouth. It was exactly five seconds later when his hands gripped my arm and he started drinking greedily.The colour returned to his face and I could feel his grip tighten as he regained his strength. I pried my wrist away from his mouth and his lips were stained red with my blood. The wound healed and Felix opened his eyes.“Took your bloody time brother,” he murmured as he wiped his mouth.“I came as soon as I got your message,” I said and put the knife back in its holster.“I’ve been sending you messages for months fearing that you were dead,” he said

“Gentlemen, I must say I’m surprised that you’re all here,” I said.“Sire Ryder, you did claim that there will be no bonding session between yourself and Miss Ava,” Elder Cliff said.“Which is total bullshit,” Anthony said.“Ryder’s right, there can be no bonding session,” Felix said.I had told him everything that had happened, he was my brother after all and we used to share everything. Even Abeloth was calmer and his bloodlust wasn’t as active since we’d found Felix.“Who the hell is he? This is a private matter,” Anthony said.“This is Felix Sherwood,” I introduced him.“That still doesn’t explain his presence,” Anthony said rudely.“I studied supernatural law,” Felix said and sat down on a chair making himself comfortable.“As I was saying, the bonding can’t proceed because Ava’s human, a fact you omitted from the Elders,” I said to Anthony.“Is this true?” Elder Victor asked him.“What does that matter? He impregnated her, she’s carrying his heir,” Anthony said.“This isn’t real

“You know that legally you can have sex with your wife,” Abeloth said.“Piss off.”“Sex is sex halfling, you heard what Typhon said, fulfill your needs,” he said with a laughI ignored Abeloth as I parked the SUV across the street from the warehouse. It looked deserted but I knew better. Inside people would be training, Wentworth would be in his office, working on gathering intelligence for whatever assignment they were busy with.“Time for the big reveal,” Felix said as we climbed out.We took the back entrance and I punched in my code as Felix just grinned. I could hear the grunts from the training floor and the yelling of their new trainer. I hadn’t met him yet but I knew Wentworth wouldn’t just choose anyone.“Come in,” Wentworth said when I knocked on his office door.“You look old Wentworth,” I said and stopped in front of his desk.“And you look flabby,” he said without looking up.“I brought you a gift,” I said and he looked up.“How?” he asked as his chair fell over backwards