by Annie Buff
“Aye daddy, how ye feeling over there?” Lachlan watched his friend holding his daughter, knowing the pure joy he was feeling.
“Quite good, I’m just not sure what I should be doing with her.” He had no idea what to do with a baby, but all he did know was how much love he already had for her, his daughter.
“How ‘bout letting Mak hold his baby sister.” Lachlan told him.
That floored the wolf; he had never held a baby before and certainly wasn’t expecting to be accepted this deeply. Vlad stepped over and Mak took the precious infant in his arms, cradling her to his chest. The tears were threatening to fall again. “Annalese, she is perfect, and so tiny. Never have I held a babe, she’s amazing Princess! Just like her mother.”
Lyla was passed around until she finally made her way back to her mother to be fed. While Annalese nursed, Vlad watched in awe. The three other men were involved in conversation that Vlad could care less about. He was a father. When she finished nursing, Lachlan took her to see Michael, but before he left he asked about calling Mehmet, Vlad had all but forgotten.
“Yes we do. We will need a few days to organize the gala though.” Vlad spoke as if being brought back from a blissful dream.
“I can do it,” Mak spoke up. “If Lachlan will help me I can handle it. It would be my privilege… Pops.” Everyone in the room lost it, laughing out loud, Vlad was the loudest.
“Fucking Pops again, see what you have started my love!” He just kept grinning, and gave Mak the ok to take care of it. The wolf left the new parents alone. Vlad wanted to take extra care of his love after seeing what her body went through to give him a child.
“Oh my dear Annalese you are the strongest creature I have ever known. Seeing Lyla come into the world was the most incredible thing I have ever been a part of. Thank you my love. Now would you like to sleep or be bathed?” She chose a bath and he obliged her, pampering her even more than his usual.
“Vlad, I want to ask you something about her name, I have a thought.” She told him what she had been thinking and just from the sparkle in his eye she knew he liked the idea. Although they may need to pick him up off the floor, the additional name would be perfect.
WHATS IN A NAME
The evening of the gala had arrived. Mak and Lachlan did an amazing job with decorating and organizing everything. Everywhere you looked there was purple and silver. Stunning was a greatly understated term. Vlad was dressed in his normal black from head to toe. Annalese had a violet gown and Lyla was dressed in lavender. Lachlan being a Scot wore his dress kilt and Vlad had turned Mak into the wolf version of himself; also dressed from head to toe in glistening black leather. Mehmet had come in the day before to help set up. The old Turk could be quite helpful when he wanted to be.
They entered the ball room together, greeting guests. Servers in tuxedos had trays of hors devours, winding through the crowd. Vlad stepped into the middle of the room and everyone fell silent. A pin drop could have been heard in the vast expanse as they all waited to see what the Prince would say.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us on such short notice. We have a wonderful list of events for tonight. Makhi, please step up here.”
Mak stepped into the middle of the room next to Vlad, feeling very odd and very much stared at.
“This is my newest family member and will rightfully be named so at midnight. I have handled all the legalities in our world to make Makhi my son, and brother to Lachlan. He may not be a vampire, but make no mistake, he is more than deserving of his name.
“And the next order would be naming the Princess, born three days ago. Her mother and I will speak of it after Mak’s naming.” Vlad heard someone in the crowd ask why Lachlan wasn’t standing up with his mate to name their daughter.
“Ah yes,” The Dark Prince continued, “He is not her father, I am!” That drew more silence from the guests. “It is a long story, but to make it brief, we have all been living together as mates would for close to two years now. There is an old law that permits her to take a second mate so expect an invitation close to Yule. Please enjoy until we start the ceremonies.”
Lachlan and Annalese danced, her gown twirling and making her laugh. “Ye look incredible,” he told her as he kissed behind her ear, knowing it would send shivers down her spine.
“You behave Lachlan McCain Tepes, we are not having any more babies for quite a while.” Annalese told him as he laughed, knowing how well she knew him.
“Look at T, he’s captivated by that child, she has him wrapped already lass, and Michael just loves her, she’s a real beauty, just like her mother” They danced a few more songs before Annalese realized Mak was missing. She found him on the balcony.
“What are you doing hiding out here?” He was sipping of his drink, watching the clouds roll across the moon.
“Exactly that, hiding. I do not do well in crowds, and if someone asked me to dance I’m simply done for. I cannot dance Annalese.”
She couldn’t believe it, Mak couldn’t dance? “Seriously! Mak you’re kidding right?”
He wasn’t kidding, he explained that he never needed to learn and he didn’t want to embarrass his new family so he decided hiding was the best option.
“Come here Mak, we’re having your first dance lesson.” He stepped up. She showed him hand placement and posture, explaining the steps. 30 minutes later and a couple of sore toes he was waltzing like he’d done it his whole life.
“You’re a natural Mak. Wanna try it to music?” His eyes were sparkling he was so proud of his accomplishments.
“Oh yes please! It’s close to midnight and I would like at least one dance.” And they did, perfectly.
Mehmet took the floor precisely at midnight to start the ceremonies. He lit the candles and set an antique wooden box on the altar. He motioned for Mak, who then stepped up next to Mehmet.
“Makhi, we welcome you with open arms into this family. You have proven your worth of this name you will now carry for the rest of your days.” Mehmet opened the box, taking out a platinum double dragon necklace. “This belonged to Vlad the third, passed down to Vlad the fourth, and now is being bestowed upon you. It is the Dracul crest, one to be worn with pride as well as the dragons that will be permanently inked on your chest before dawn. Honored guests, may I present to you Makhi Michael Dracul Tepes.”
Nico was the first to offer congratulations. “He really did steal you. It’s great Mak, this is one hell of a family. Take care of my doll, she means a lot to me.”
Mak took the hand Nico had extended and shook it. He completely understood, she meant a lot to him too. The one person he could tell anything to, and he had. He had told her his biggest secret during his dance lesson. She had promised to keep it to herself and he believed that she would.
Mehmet once again stepped to the altar, this time flanked by Vlad and Annalese. “We are gathered here tonight to welcome this babe into our world as our newest Princess, and will be named accordingly. Vlad, the first name please?”
“We have chosen Lyla after my mother who was Lillian.” Vlad spoke to the gathering from his heart.
Mehmet nodded towards Annalese, giving her the floor. “As her second name we have chosen Allison, the feminine version of Alistair after our dear friend Mehmet.” The ceremony stopped as Mehmet embraced them both, whispering something less than audible for the crowd.
“I understand there is a third name, may I do the honors?” Mehmet asked, and he received the famous Vlad nod he was so very used to.
“The parents,” Mehmet continued to the congregation, “Vlad and Annalese have chosen a third name for their daughter, one of strength and courage, we hope she will do justice to her namesake.” The couple joined hands, glancing at Mak and smiling.
“The child will be called Lyla Allison Makayla, Makayla after her newly adopted brother Makhi.”
Mak stood, his vodka slipping from his hand and shattering on the wooden floor below. He was utterly speechless. It was q
uite a number of seconds before he realized he had dropped his glass. Bending down to pick up the mess, Vlad knelt beside him.
“Makhi, leave it, I will have it dealt with… come.” He knew damn well it wasn’t a request. They walked side by side to the bar where Vlad poured a scotch for himself and a vodka tonic for Mak.
“Let’s take a walk.” They ended up in Vlad’s garden on his bench. Where many confessions had been made.
“Are you alright Makhi?” Vlad put a hand on his shoulder. Mak was definitely not alright but he had no idea how to explain it to his newly adopted father. He knew he had no choice so he opened his mouth to speak but no words came out, three attempts later he finally found his voice, shaky as it was.
“I am in utter shock, just to be accepted the way you all have. You gave her my name, I can’t believe it. Mehmet said strength and courage, but I don’t believe I have shown either of those two things.”
Vlad was silent for a moment. Then he answered, “Yes Makhi, I believe you have, more than once. Lachlan told me of your calm demeanor when my love had started labor in Turkey. Then again when you told Nico and myself of your decision. Hell, just making that decision showed strength and courage. Your strength is in your character son, it is partly why I knew you’d be a perfect fit for our family. As far as her name, that was all Annalese’s idea, and a perfect one at that. Oh the gala was splendid, you did well. I may let you plan the Yule ball too.” Vlad was smiling, the pride evident on his face.
“Do you see that? Over the valley, that is the oddest looking bird.” Mak said. Vlad looked to see what his son was talking about. He immediately knew things were about to get interesting, and probably dangerous.
“That my son is not a bird; I foresee a problem in the near future if Bayaan has come home.” Mak had no clue of what Vlad could possibly be talking about. Nothing but birds and bats flew.
“Vlad?”
“Bayaan is home, it has to be to provide protection to the homeland. Something has to be awry.”
“What the hell is Bayaan?” Mak was on his feet almost shouting, struggling to make sense of Vlad’s words.
“He is an ally son, the best kind to have. Bayaan is a shifter like you Makhi, just a little larger. Bayaan is the King of the dragons.”
