Meeting Destiny; Lachlan’s Story (Annalese and the Immortals) by Annie Buff Page A

name?”
    “Aye, we did. We’d like to be the ones to verbalize it for the first time during the ceremony, if that’s OK. It’s a surprise.”
    Mehmet nodded. “Two nights from now, the festivities will begin at sundown.” He left without another word.
    “God, he was odd,” Lese thought.
    Lachlan and Lese went hand-in-hand to the kitchen. Vlad jumped up. “Why are you up? Fuck, you should be in bed!” He was a mess.
    “Vlad, I’m fine. It’s been hours and my mate is taking very good care of me. So chill, big guy.” That brought laughter from everyone.
    “Okay, I’ll try to ‘chill’. Lach, may I borrow your mate for a few minutes? I need to talk to her, if that’s OK?”
    “Aye, she’s all yours. Sophie, I want me son. Give him up.”
    Vlad took Annalese to the gardens. May was so lovely. Everything was in bloom.
    “OK big guy, spill it. What’s wrong? Because I know something is.”
    “I need this to stay between us. Sophie and I are already having issues, and this will make it worse.”
    Lese was actually afraid of what he might say.
    “I’m having trouble sleeping. A lot of trouble sleeping. It’s why I held off killing Percy for so long. Without the torture I can’t sleep. It’s pathetic. I’ve come to this in my life. The torture and pain feed me. My body relaxes and I can sleep. Without Percy I wasn’t sleeping. I found a place I could go for it and I started sleeping again. And Lese, this time I’m the one who is getting cut and other things I will not mention. Can you tell me what the fuck is wrong with me? Without it, I can’t, um, perform my manly duties and I think Sophie is on the verge of leaving.”
    Oh, shit. Well, she loved Vlad so she’d try. “OK, let me read you. See what’s hiding. Maybe I can figure things out. Here’s a private question for you. Can you do it on your own…you know, masturbate?”
    “I don’t know. I haven’t tried, but I will tell you I get very aroused during my, ah, sessions. I feel like I could then.”
    She took his arm and closed her eyes. His emotions and thoughts filled her head. She felt enough. “OK, Vlad, send Sophie on a cruise or whatever. I have no idea what it is; I’m not gonna speculate yet. I need to share this with Lachlan. I know what you said, but you’re gonna need him too.”
    Vlad gave the nod. He took her hand and returned her to her mate.
    Lachlan smiled. “Angel, are ye OK?”
    “Of course. I’m good.” In her head she spoke. Lach, Vlad needs us. Don’t say anything. I’ll explain later, but he’s going to need both of us. And I have a feeling we’re all going to be very close.
    Lachlan got the hint. Sex. Something was wrong with his sire and it was about sex. He wasn’t sure if he could handle even Vlad touching his mate that way.
    “Angel, let’s take Michael up, change him, and let him sleep awhile.” They made it to their rooms, tended to Michael, and put the babe down to sleep. He fell out right away.
    “OK, angel, yer not fucking me sire. I canna handle that!”
    “Oh God, Lachlan, no; that’s not what it is. I mean, yeah sort of… just listen.”
    She explained it all, and then he understood.
    “Aye, help him like you did for me that day, remember? You were taking me blood. He really told you Sophie won’t feed from him like that? Like we do. I canna believe he opened to ye like that. He must really care for ye.”
    “So I am going to need to do for him what I’ve done for you. I want you there when it happens. I know I’ll have a blood bond to him, but he’s family. If Sophie leaves for good, it will end him. And you know what’s going to happen when I cut him. We need to let him handle his, um, business. Just be there with him, hold him. You know how difficult coming to me had to have been Lach.”
    Sophie came to see Lese, to tell her she was going to travel a bit. “Í love him, I really do, but I can’t deal and he is not talking. I know you know and I won’t ask, but Lese, help