Blood Mates (15 page)

Ava was nervous as hell and Rhage felt it. They waited in Lucien’s study. Rhage could hear everything that had been said in the dining room and he knew Darius was coming for them in just a few minutes. He had watched Ava pace enough. He left the chair he had been sitting in and stopped her mid stride.

‘Calm down, baby…’ he pulled her to him and tilted her face up so he could kiss her. ‘Everything is fine. Lucien is laying the law down to them. It is almost over.’ They had been talking silently so the council members nor their men could hear them.

‘I can’t help it…’ Ava admitted leaning against him. Her hands slid her hands up his arms. She loved running her fingers over the tribal tattoos that covered his biceps. There was a slight knock on the door become it opened. Rhage didn’t take his hands from her. Darius chuckled.

“You two are just like rabbits….”

“Shut up old man…” Rhage teased with a smirk. Ava giggled laying her cheek on Rhage’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her even more tangling his fingers in her hair.

“Lucien is ready…” they nodded.

Before they entered the dining room Ava took a deep breath and Darius opened the door. Rhage led her inside holding her hand. Ava saw the twelve intimidating men at the table. They quickly stood when she entered. Lucien was already standing and he turned toward her. Rhage escorted her across the room to Lucien who held out his hand to her. Ava took his hand as Rhage stood next to her.

“Gentlemen, this is ava lane mated to Rhage from the house of davenport. I also have taken a vow to Ava. She is my chosen family.” Ava saw the shock on the men’s faces. Lucien chuckled at their reaction. “If I don’t ever find a mate or bear an heir ava will inherit my holdings and even my seat on the council upon my death.”

“You can’t do that!”

“That’s outrageous!”

“A human as head of the council! That’s ridiculous!”

Those were only a few of what Ava heard when Lucien made his announcement. She was just as shocked as the men at the table and everyone else. She forgot they were there and snapped her head around to look at Lucien.

“Have you lost your mind?” she demanded. “I don’t want anything to do with these jerks!”

Lucien laughed at her. “It’s done, ava….” He then glared at the council members who were still voicing their obvious outrage over it. “ENOUGH!” he roared and it echoed throughout the room. Ava jumped at his side and the council member went silent.

“Apparently I need to remind you, I AM KING! There is NO law preventing me from doing it! I decreed Ava my family in front of witnesses. She may not be my blood, but it doesn’t change it. She is now a Devereau.” Lucien stiffened when he felt all the disapproval and outrage over his decision. Every man there at the table was stunned and yet out raged. Lucien hadn’t told anyone of his decision to make Ava his heir. He had thought of it only while he was sleeping early that morning. He wanted to secure her safety and future in any way he could. He believed more than anything that Ava was indeed a part of their future. Not the way the council thought though. “It is done…”

              Not one of the council said a word. Each one of them slowly lowered their heads in acceptance. Lucien noticed Vincent was the last one to do so. Ava watched it too and she also saw the man at the end of the table glare at her when he lowered his head. Ava knew he had to be Vincent and she didn’t like the way he glared at her. If looks could kill she would be dead several times over. She could feel it. She knew every member of the council would see her dead before Lucien’s wishes were carried out. She prayed Lucien didn’t die any time soon. She didn’t want anything to do with the council. And later when they were alone she planned to give him an earful for this.

“Is there any more questions about ava or any other business you need to discuss tonight?” Lucien questioned. When no one said anything Lucien nodded. “Good… then you are welcome to the food Alfred has set out for you.”

Ava had her hand on Lucien’s arm and she squeezed slightly getting his attention. He seemed to know what she was asking. She didn’t want to stay in the dining room. She didn’t feel comfortable with the other men around. When he nodded and winked at her she smiled. She couldn’t help it. She turned and closed the small distance to Rhage who slipped his arm around her. He pulled her to his side when a member of the council approached them. Ava tensed up.

“I wanted to introduce myself…I’m Abram Langston.” He didn’t offer his hand, but lowered his head in show of respect. Abram then looked at Rhage. “It is good to see you again, Rhage…I saw your father a couple of months ago in London. He was looking well.”

Rhage didn’t say anything right away, but he nodded. “I’m glad he is doing well. Excuse us, Abram… It was good to see you, but I need to see to my mate…”

“Of course.” Abram smiled at Ava. “You are very lucky, Rhage, to have found a mate. I hope to get to know you at a later date, Ava, when you are more

Comfortable with us.”

“Thank you…” ava nodded. “I hope you have a safe trip back home.”

“You’re very kind…” he nodded again before Rhage led her out of the room. As they walked down the hall toward the kitchen Rhage kept her close to him. They weren’t alone either, four of the brothers were with them.

‘You’ve never mentioned your father to me before…’ Ava told Rhage silently.

‘He isn’t worth mentioning…’

‘Why not?’

‘I haven’t seen either of them in maybe seventy-five years or more. I prefer it that way.’

‘Why?’ she felt him tense up. She had a feeling this wasn’t going to be good. She could feel him try to keep her from feeling his emotions.

She stopped walking so he had to stop and look down at her. Rhage couldn’t help the anger he felt when his parents were mentioned. He knew he couldn’t hide it or stop Ava from feeling it from him. He had been dealing with it for more years than he wanted to think about. He met her wide sea blue eyes. He knew she had no idea what he had dealt with and he never wanted her to be exposed to their venom. She was everything good and pure. They were evil and sucked the life out of everything around them. When he walked away from them many centuries ago he never looked back. Their paths did cross on occasion, but he never once sought them out. He never would. Ava was all he needed. She was where he belonged.

He reached up and caressed her cheek. ‘They would never win any parental awards. Hell! They wouldn’t even register. They aren’t good people, Ava. I don’t mention them because I prefer to forget them all together.’ As he spoke Ava felt his pain before he hid it from her.  They hadn’t been good parents to him. She had been abandoned as a baby--- left for dead, but she had been lucky to have been adopted by loving wonderful people. She knew he hadn’t been so lucky with his biological parents. She moved closer to him and placed her hand along his jaw slowly running her thumb across his bottom lip.

‘Then the only thing that matters now is I have you…’ she told him. Rhage nodded before nipping at her thumb playfully. He was about to kiss her when they heard Talon chuckle. “The whole talking between you two is creepy…”

“Shut up Talon.” Rhage kissed her forehead quickly and they continued walking.

“Ava he is being mean to me…” Talon laughed.

“You deserve it! He missed kissing my mouth all together ‘cause you interrupted!” Ava snapped giving him a dirty look. Rhage chuckled.

“She is on my side, Talon!”

Have you lost your mind?” ava demanded later after all the council members had left.  Lucien had called her, Rhage, Darius, Talon and Sloane into his study to discuss things, but Ava didn’t waste a minute in saying what she thought.

“I mean you have totally lost your mind, Lucien!”

“Just so you know, Ava… you are the only person who has ever questioned my decisions…” he told her trying not to smile. He had glared at the others when they chuckled at her comments.

“Well….I’m sure most of the decisions you make aren’t so stupid… I can’t believe you did that!” Lucien sat on the corner of his desk and quirked an eyebrow at her. Ava shrugged a shoulder. “You like my honesty…”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m beginning to rethink that….”

“You need to rethink making me your heir! Lucien, I’m human!”

“I know that…and I do know what I’m doing…”

“I’d like to know the reasons. I’m sure I am the first human an immortal has claimed as an heir.”

“You know you don’t have a human’s life span any more right?” he asked her.

“And when you’re turned you will be immortal.”

“She isn’t ready for that, Lucien…” Rhage told him. He knew that scared Ava without her even saying it.

“Even without turning, ava, your life span isn’t like a human’s any more. You are mated to an immortal which means you won’t grow old and die any time soon.”

“I get that, but I’m still human...” she shook her head.

“Not an ordinary one. We all know that now. So I think that makes you the exception.” He watched her roll her eyes. “This way no one dares to harm you. As my heir they would be committing treason against the royal family. That is punishable by death no question.”

“Did you think that the bastard creating the half breeds isn’t really gonna care about that? I mean he is siring half breeds and THAT will get him killed too so what would he worry about a little thing about me being your family...”

“I know.” Lucien sighed. “But this way EVERY one knows your position now and they know what that entails. The council can’t demand you be given to their custody.” Ava nodded and Lucien reached out to caress her cheek.  Lucien would do any and every thing to protect her. He had lost Lissette, but he wouldn’t lose Ava. She had become his family. “I know what I’m doing.” He watched her nod again.

When everyone left Rhage pulled Ava down on his lap. She leaned against him enjoying his arms around her. She felt safe with all of them. They had indeed become her family, but Rhage… where ever he was, was where she belonged. She loved him. It was fast, but it was right. She knew this was completely and utterly right.

“You’re thinking too much….” He whispered against her hair.

“I don’t want him putting his throne on the line for me…”

Rhage cupped her chin and made her look at him. “You are my mate… mine. I’d do anything to protect you. Lucien wants to protect you in ways I can’t.  I can’t fault him for that. I won’t argue with him either.” He ran his thumb across her lips. “You’re mine. I can’t lose you. I won’t lose you. So I don’t give a damn what has to be done to keep you with me. I will do it.” he watched her sea blue eyes mist with tears…and her sweet lips slowly and softly smiled.

“I love you, Rhage…” she told him softly placing her palm on his cheek. She watched him close his eyes and heard a low deep groan come from him. He tilted his head and claimed her mouth in a rough deep kiss. Ava felt him then…he was completely open to her at that moment. And everything she felt from him was overwhelming and thrilling. Rhage wasn’t a man who used all the pretty words or flattery some men used.  He didn’t know how to tell her what he was feeling, but she knew. He was possessive and overbearing, but he wanted her safe. He truly loved her, but just didn’t know how to say the words. And that was ok with her. She could feel it. She knew without the words.

When she told him she loved him Rhage didn’t know what to say. It had floored him. Those three little words held so much power. He had heard those words from Talon’s mother. He believed her when she said them. She had been the first person to tell him she loved him when he was a young lonely boy and needed it. His own mother never said them. For Ava to tell him she loved him meant everything to him. He wrapped his arms around her holding her close and tight against him. Ava slid her arms around him, she knew he liked it. He liked feeling her wrapped around him. He was such a badass and yet he needed to feel secure and she would always do that. She ran her fingers over his bald head holding him as close to her as she could when he nuzzled her neck.

“Ava…” he groaned against her neck. He wished he had the words. He wished he was like Talon right now. Talon always knew what to say. She deserved that. She deserved every sweet flowery word, but he didn’t know them and that pissed him off. Ava turned her head whispered in his ear. “Take me to bed, Rhage…. Show me.” She told him. “I’m yours. Always yours, Rhage…” he groaned. He could and would do that! He scooped her up and left the room. Ava nuzzled his neck as he walked.  She nipped his earlobe. “You’re walking too slow…” he smiled.

Ava….” Rhage whispered in her ear. He lowered his head and kissed her bare shoulder. He smiled when she sighed in her sleep and murmured his name. He propped himself up on one arm and leaned back so he could trail his fingertips down her back, slowly across her spine. Her body arched closer toward his touch. He followed the path of her spine to the curve of her sweet ass and over her hip.

Talon and Sloane had been right. He was one lucky son of a bitch. He had been an idiot, but now…. The last few days had changed him. He had never known such peace before. She had changed everything and it was all good. He was still devoted to the legion and to Lucien, but now---- Ava was his first priority. He had been hunting the last few nights. There was still a threat to Ava that needed to be stopped and they still had to find whoever was behind all the half breeds. It was different now though. He was hunting to protect his mate now and THAT was his priority. He also knew Ava was waiting for him when he returned. He never had that before. Knowing she loved him and was waiting for him made him be more careful and more determined to secure their future. He had no idea how he had become so lucky or what he did to deserve Ava, but he wouldn’t be an idiot again.  She was the reason he breathed now. Everything he did was for her. He had never been happy before and he wasn’t sure how to handle it.

Rhage leaned forward and teased her arm with the tip of his tongue and then grazed her sweet skin with his fangs.  He would never hurt her, but she liked it when he did it. He did it all the way up her arm and over her shoulder until he was kissing his marks on her neck.