Chapter 13
Thirteen
Ronan knew removing the sappy, dopey grin from his lips was physically impossible, so he didn’t even try as he followed Aiden from the bedroom into the library, where they’d had their sparring match not so long ago.
It had been just two nights, but now it felt like a lifetime had passed.
He’d come into the house full of fear, hope, and determination.
He hadn’t known if Aiden still cared for him after so much time, if there was any chance of them being together, but there would have been no living with himself if he didn’t at least try.
What made it better was that he was standing there with his fingers entwined with Aiden’s. His man was wordlessly announcing to his slice of the world that they were together, that Ronan meant something to him. And everyone in the room noticed it immediately.
While holding his hand, Aiden took Ronan around, personally introducing him to every member of the clan.
He quickly learned that Lola was Rafe’s oldest friend, who also helped to run his nightclubs.
Ryder was a silent, darkly brooding man who took great care to watch over the effervescent and skittish Gideon.
Jullien was Philippe’s oldest friend, but he stuck close to the trio.
Aiden then moved on to his sons and their mates, though it wasn’t necessary. All the same, there was an official feeling to it all. As if the act meant Aiden was offering his stamp of approval. They were all perfectly polite if a little wary.
As they finished, a short, dark-haired woman entered with an incredibly tall man who resembled Wyatt. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Oh, Aiden! He’s adorable. You’ve got to keep him even if you have to lock him up!”
“Oh, yes. Father can finally build his sex dungeon just for Ronan,” Rafe said, and Ronan nearly choked on the laughter he was trying hold back.
“Ethan?” Aiden called out.
“Fifteen minutes and forty-seven seconds. Definitely a new record,” Ethan immediately stated.
“What?”
Aiden looked over at him, his face bland, but Ronan could tell he was fighting a smile. “How long before someone said something inappropriate.”
Rafe snorted. “It’s Sofia’s fault. She just tossed that out there like anyone could possibly ignore it.”
“You can’t argue with that logic,” Ronan smirked.
Aiden pointed a finger at him. “No. No enabling already. I want at least a six-month reprieve.”
Ronan playfully shook his head. “Without a sex dungeon, the best I can offer is three.”
“Nooooo!” Winter wailed. “The mental images! Rafe, this is all your fault!”
With his usual decorum, Aiden turned to Sofia and smiled warmly. “Sofia Montgomery, may I introduce you to Ronan Svendson? Ronan, this is Sofia Montgomery, head of the Montgomery clan.”
Ronan took her offered hand and bowed low over it. “It is an honor to meet the powerful leader of such a respected clan.”
“I am happy to make the acquaintance of anyone who puts such a wonderful smile on Aiden’s face,” she greeted as he straightened and released her hand. “This is my mate, David Montgomery. He also happens to be the older brother of Wyatt Varik.”
There was no hiding his surprise as he looked at the man again. That would explain the resemblance. “Two clans with shifters,” he murmured as he shook David’s hand.
“Yet another reason for the European Ministry to not like me,” Aiden grumbled. “We are already planning to abolish the old law in the Americas banning vampires and shifters from associating. Sofia, Marcus, and I are still working on the wording of the new regulations.”
“We want shifters to be permitted to join clans, but they have to be regarded as full members with full rights. None of this pet nonsense. The shifter must offer full consent,” Sofia explained.
“The leader of the local wolf pack, Jake Tambor, is also offering input for us. We are struggling with the wording needed to keep vampires and shifters out of clan and pack affairs unless specifically invited. Or maybe I should be giving my approval. We don’t know.”
Ronan couldn’t stop his grin. He was so damn proud of Aiden. The man had such a sensible head on his shoulders, and he didn’t hesitate to reach out for help so that he had the proper expertise on a matter.
“What’s that look for?” Aiden asked.
“I’ve waited centuries to say this. I told you so.”
“What—”
“I always said you’d make a better king than me. I just knew it. You denied it at every turn, but you’re simply proving me right today.” Still holding Aiden’s hand, he lifted it to his lips and kissed his knuckles. “I’m just so proud of you.”
“Wait! Does that mean Ronan was a king when he was human?” Someone demanded—possibly Ethan or maybe River, he was still learning voices—from behind them.
“A prince,” Ronan murmured, still staring into Aiden’s soft gaze.
Aiden made a dismissive noise in the back of his throat. “Your father was on his deathbed. We were riding for home so you could take the throne. You were the king and you know it.”
“And now you’re together,” Sofia interjected. There was a dangerously speculative tone to her voice that finally drew Ronan’s gaze from Aiden’s. “Does that mean you’re his consort?”
He could hear Aiden drawing a breath to answer, but Ronan spoke first. “No. Never. I’m a bodyguard at best. Whether Aiden is king for a day or a hundred years, I will never be more for him. And if something should happen to him, I won’t survive it to take his place.”
“Ronan,” Aiden said sharply, fingers tightening around Ronan’s.
He shook his head, already lifting his free hand to touch Aiden’s face.
“It’s the way it’s always been between us.
You were always there to protect me. My vengeful shadow with the disapproving glare.
I always knew that if I was killed while wearing the crown, it would be because they’d already taken you from me. Let me be your shadow now.”
Aiden turned his face into Ronan’s palm, his eyes squeezed shut as if he were in pain. Ronan understood all too well. Just the thought of them losing each other right now was too much. They’d not had enough time to settle into simply seeing each other each night. To holding each other.
“But I’m not going anywhere for a long time. I figure that I need to hold you for at least twice as many years as we were separated and maybe then you’ll start to tire of me,” Ronan teased, trying to wipe away the pain.
“Not even then,” Aiden whispered in a rough voice.
“Yep,” Sofia said suddenly, causing Aiden to lift his head and blink a couple of times as if waking from a dream. “You’ve got to keep him. Sex dungeon or not.”
Aiden sighed loudly. “There will be no sex dungeon. I can’t believe I even have to say those words.”
“I think we’re getting off track, though,” Ronan offered when Aiden seemed to be struggling.
Aiden smiled up at him gratefully. “Yes, we’re all gathered to discuss the European Ministry and their current agenda.”
Ronan followed him over to one of the sofas and sat perched on the arm closest to Aiden while everyone else found seats around the room.
He rested his hand on Aiden’s shoulder because he couldn’t stop himself from touching him.
It was like some part of his brain wasn’t entirely convinced Aiden wouldn’t disappear before his eyes at any second.
If he just touched him, held his hand, Aiden would remain solid and not fade like a dream.
When everyone was ready, Aiden launched into a quick summary of the meeting he had with Mara earlier in the evening, along with the threats. No one seemed particularly surprised by the news, but they certainly weren’t pleased with it either.
“Why? What’s the point in having control over whoever is ruling the Americas?” Fox inquired, his arms folded over his chest while he leaned against Winter.
“It wasn’t such a huge concern a couple of hundred years ago because there was less communication back and forth across the ocean.
But with telephones, internet, and email, news spreads much faster.
What happens in the Americas has the potential to influence vampires in Europe and vice versa,” Marcus explained.
“And the European Ministry prefers to control what happens and changes in Europe,” Sofia added. “Or rather make sure nothing changes. Vampires are horrible about change in general, but the European vampires are like goddamn glaciers when it comes to movement.”
“Aiden has greatly complicated their lives,” Ronan said, his hand tightened just a bit on Aiden’s shoulder.
“With eleven American ministers, it meant there were eleven potential levers for them to pull to influence events and decisions in the Americas. Now there is only one, and he’s already shut them down.
They need to get Aiden to bend or remove him completely.
I’d say their overall goal is to set up a new ministry like the one that previously ruled the Americas. ”
“Or better yet, put a puppet on the throne,” Rafe murmured.
Aiden leaned forward, scratching the stubble on his chin. “I hadn’t considered that angle. It would give the European Ministry an expanded reach and more power to be able to bend vampires in the Americas to their whims.”
“There’s certainly no love for the vamps across the ocean,” Ronan added. All eyes in the room turned to him, and he frowned. “In general, you’re seen as runaways and outcasts. The reckless, lawless bloodsuckers who couldn’t cut it in civilized society.”
“We’re lawless? Isn’t the death rate of humans much higher in Europe than in the Americas?” Bel demanded, his voice trembling.
Ronan gently smiled at him. “It’s part of the old way. Civilized society. The old ones don’t value human life.”
Marcus got to his feet and paced, his frown deepening. “We haven’t been gone from Europe for that long. Barely more than a hundred years. I don’t remember it being that bad.”