Victor's POV
I was standing in the hallway, my eyes glancing at the guest room door for probably the fifth time in an hour. I didn't go in. That would have looked weird, even for me. Instead, I paced, waiting, listening for any sound, any sign that he was awake. There was nothing.
Ash had been asleep now for twelve hours, and I was going out of my mind.
For anyone else, my behavior would have seemed seemed odd, out of character. For me though, it just appeared as though I were guarding a prisoner.
He wasn't a prisoner, obviously, but I was the head of security and he was a vampire taking refuge on our land so it made sense that I was on edge. It's just, I was on edge for an entirely different reason.
The more time I spent away from him, the jumpier I got. I wanted to be in that room, curled up on the bed beside him, holding him, keeping him safe. To the animal inside me, being kept from our mate was unacceptable.
No body else in the Pride knew he was my mate. They didn't need to. It was my secret to keep. At least for now.
I wasn't the only one who was worried though. Jai had been up to check on him twice in the last hour, each time stopping just outside the door, hand on the knob, ready to go in. Liam had talked him out of it though. Ash needed his rest and so did Jai for that matter. He hadn't slept all night. He acted as though he were holding vigil at someone's wake. I knew he wouldn't rest until he knew Ash was alright. I knew because I felt the same way. Liam did convince Jai to go lay down, eventually. Well, commanded really. Still, I doubted he'd actually fall asleep.
When I'd emerged from the forest with Ash cradled against my chest, Jai had nearly lost it. His first thought was that Ash had been attacked or that he'd purposely hurt himself. He rushed toward me in a panic, demanding answers.
"Relax." I told him. "He's not hurt, just exhausted. I found him while I was on patrol. He passed out, so I brought him back here."
I left out the part about following his scent or the conversation we'd had.
Jai thanked me profusely. I shrugged like it was nothing. "Just doing my job." Liam had been silently watching the exchange, his expression unreadable, then, without so much as a word, he stepped forward and took Ash from me.
It had taken every bit of will power I had not to growl at him, lash out, and take back what was mine. In my human mind I knew Liam wasn't a threat but the lion in me only saw another alpha walking off with our mate.
Liam carried Ash back into the house. Jai followed. I stayed behind a moment longer to collect myself and tame the beast raging inside me. When and only when it calmed, would it be safe to go inside.
***
The house was a boiling pot of tension. Everyone was on edge, worried about the coming night.
Liam had agreed to meet with Gerard, King of the North American Royal vampire coven and Ash's father. The agreed upon place to meet was the Palace Hotel in Lancaster, a place on neutral ground. Gerard had apparently rented a conference room for the occasion.
Liam was allowed to bring four attendees with him. Jai was allowed to come as well, but only to advise Liam on vampire laws and customs but he was forbidden from speaking directly to Gerard or any other member of the royal coven.
In preparation for the upcoming meeting, Liam had gathered his coalition--males in the Pride who help defend the Pride and territory, advise Liam, and work together to keep the Pride strong and thriving--to the north conference room of the mansion at noon. Everyone sat at the long oak table in the center of the room. The table that had been in our family longer than any of us had been alive. Despite being scuffed from decades of elbows and arguments, it was still as strong and sturdy as it was the day it was made.
Liam took his place at the head of the table. Jai sat to his left and Jonah at his right. Father sat beside Jonah and Marcus took the seat next to Jai. Carter, Sloan, Rick and Mac all sat around the table in no particular order and I chose to stand against the wall, separating myself from the others.
I hated these meetings, particularly because they didn't normally concern me. Tonight though, Liam insisted I be there because he had concerns about the safety of the Pride. I was still annoyed. Yeah, safety and security concerned me but Marcus could have filled me in after the meeting was over. I had other, more pressing matters on my mind. Like the little vampire sleeping in the guest room upstairs.
Liam cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention.
"I'll be meeting with the vampire King tonight, at nightfall." He told us. "Gerard has already secured a conference room at the Palace hotel. He's allowing me to bring four of my people with me. Ash will be there, of course, as will Jai, though neither of them are allowed to speak to their father directly or any of his attendees."
Mac scoffed. "Seriously? They're his kids and they aren't allowed to speak? That's BS."
"It's the law." Jai said, his expression emotionless. "Ash and I both are considered dead to the coven and therefore can not be acknowledged. The only reason Gerard is even allowing this meeting is because Ash hasn't stood trial yet."
"Okay, that makes sense." Carter said. "But why is he allowing you to be there in the first place, if you're not even allowed to speak? No offense."
Jai smiled. "None taken and, I'm only allowed there as an advisor to Liam, and Sloan. Kind of a bridge between our two species."
"Wouldn't it make more sense for Ash to be that bridge?" Carter asked. "He would be more knowledgeable about vampire laws."
Jai nodded. "It would, but as he stands accused, he has no voice. But don't worry, I remember a lot and what I don't remember, Ash will. The two of us should be able to give Liam and Sloan enough information to get us through the meeting."
Liam tensed, turning to Jai. "I still don't like the idea of you coming along. There's no reason why you can't brief us here and be done with it."
Jai frowned. "We already discussed this. If you or Sloan have questions, Ash won't be allowed to answer them. Besides, I'm not going to send Ash back to my father alone."
"He won't be alone." Liam told him. "I'll be there."
Jai raised an eyebrow and Liam sighed. The battle had been lost before Liam had even opened his mouth.
"Pussy whipped." Mac coughed into his hand, laughing.
Liam glared.
"Shut up." Jai hissed.
