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He brushed it off with a wave of his hand, afraid to dwell on it and think about getting his ass beat by more than ten vampires. "So, let me get this straight: I'm going to have to wear suits all the time, meet some old-fashioned fae witch king, of a sort, and I'm the fated lord of a vampire who doesn't want one. Gee, where do I start first?"
Yesenia's lips twitched at his tone. "I think the suits would be easiest."
He scrunched his nose. "I'd literally rather do anything else."
She snorted. "Oh, come on, River. Males look hot in the three-piece suits they wear these days. Just be glad it's not like breeches and stockings, or those decorative things they used to wear over their dick and balls. Although maybe I could have them find some for you…"
He took a pillow and tossed it at his sister. "Don't even fucking think about it."
Yesenia laughed and River couldn't help but smile. His older sister had shouldered most of the burdens growing up, always doing her best to take care of him and Meadow. It was good to see her a little less serious and more relaxed. "So does this vampire Dark Lord dude make you happy then?"
Her radiant smile told him everything. "So much so, River. He's a bit gruff to strangers, but he's everything I never knew I wanted. And he'll be a fantastic brother-in-law, too, just wait and see."
River raised an eyebrow. "Even if I'm supposed to let his sister claim me at some point? Somehow I don't think he'll want to be all buddy-buddy with the guy who fucks his sister."
Yesenia frowned. "Yeah, about that…be gentle with Nora, okay? Her story isn't mine to tell, but she's gone through some rough crap over the years, to the point she never wanted to find her fated lord. But now that she has…"
"She has no choice but to go through the claiming at least once."
Or she'd go crazy and eventually lose her mind. That much he remembered from his vampire studies in school, and the little bits of gossip he'd heard from other MC members talking shit about their relatives over the years.
His sister bit her lip and then said, "Although if anyone could help her be more whole than she's been in a long, long time, I'd think it would be you, River."
Considering Yesenia had only seen him a handful of times over the years, along with a few short phone calls from burner phones, her words surprised him. "Thanks, Senia. Not wanting to hurt others is how I ended up looking like roadkill, as you put it before."
"Will you tell me—"
He shook his head. "No. I'm not ready to open that can of worms right now."
Not that he could remember any of the painful or traumatic parts yet. However, he wasn't about to spring that shitty tidbit on his sister. Yesenia would only worry more.
His sister sighed. "Fine. But whenever you're ready, I'm here."
"I know, Senia. You always have been. And it's why, despite how annoying you can be at times, I still love you."
She stuck out her tongue. "Be nice. Anyway, once I finally get Meadow here, we're going to have to celebrate being free of our asshole, dickhead father."
"No shit. If it weren't for Derrick and his mob lackeys, I'd almost risk going back just to see the bastard finally face consequences for once in his damn life."
"Yeah, I don't think Leo would like me jumping to the future to see that for a long, long time, until I have a better grasp on my powers. There's so much to learn and not a lot of time to do it in."
River was about to ask how much more training Yesenia had to do before their sister could finally join them when someone knocked on the door. Yesenia shouted, "Come in."
A pale-skinned, red-haired male River didn't know walked in, carrying a pile of clothing. "Dark Lord Yates sent me to bathe and dress Dr. Vale, if that's amenable."
Yesenia stood from the bed and nodded. "That'd be great, Bates. Especially since River might be strong enough to join us for dinner in the small dining room on this floor today." She looked at him. "Are you?"
He shrugged. "With crutches or a wheelchair, I should be. I'm going to need to do some physical therapy to walk on my own, though."
"Don't worry. I'm taking care of that. I know exactly who to ask to help with your PT."
He didn't like the devious glint in his sister's eyes. "It'd better not be who I think it is."
Yesenia turned back toward the vampire male. "He's all yours, Bates. Let me know when he's cleaned up and ready." She glanced at River. "Bates is Leo's valet, which is a fancy word that means he helps with clothes, grooming, and stuff like that."
He eyed the slightly older vampire male. "Nice to meet you."
The valet nodded slightly. And with that, his sister left.
