Liam went over to Leo and sat by his side. He took his hand and sat there in silence with him as Leo absorbed the import of the last words that his father had left him. Through their link, Liam had heard the words as Leo had read them, they came through the link in a strong tenor which Liam knew immediately was Leo's recollection of his father's voice.

"He called me his little Lion because of my name. In Greek it means son of the Lion. But I can not understand why he referred to you as a lamb," Leo said, looking at Liam.

"My middle name is Arne which means lamb. It seems our meeting is much more than chance – it was foretold."Leo let out an amused laugh. 

"I knew that Genevieve sometimes had glimpses of events that had not happened. In fact, she had foreseen that Don Fernando would choose me, but she never spoke about seeing this moment."

"Well, these are mysteries for another time - right now we need to concentrate on getting through this Yule celebration without causing an international vampire incident," Liam reminded him, squeezing Leo's hand reassuringly.

"Yes, very true." Tristan said, leaning forward. "Firstly, how do we deal with this connection between you two?"

"Well, since you can feel Liam almost as strongly as you feel me, I suggest you begin to do your best to adjust and recognize the differences between us. It will give us an additional advantage if you have the ability to know where each of us is, in case anything goes wrong. Do we know if the Pierce siblings are coming?"

"Alexi says that his agents observed the Pierce siblings board a jet in Sydney. Based on their registered flight plan they should be on their way here with a refueling stop in Dubai. They should arrive just in time to piss in your proverbial pool," Tristan said, with a sarcastic grin.

"There will be no pissing in any pool," Liam said, fiercely. "This Yule celebration is going to be flawless and anyone who thinks differently is in for a rude awakening."

"Damn Liam, where did that come from," Tristan said, with a short laugh.

"Perhaps I'm getting more than just Leo's thoughts. I could sense a strong anger and I suddenly felt very territorial. I've never experienced that before."

"The thought of someone ruining this celebration enrages me; you're probably sensing that." Leo reached over and took Liam's hand. The mere touch calmed him and he could see as he relaxed, Liam relaxed as well. 

"Tristan, tonight's reception will be hosted by Liam. Inform Alexi that I want two Coronados assigned to him—each no less than 450 years old and chosen from his finest fighters. Most of the coven leaders are of similar age or older, so their presence will blend in seamlessly, unnoticed by most... except the Pierce siblings. And that's the point. I want the message to be clear: fuck with Liam at your peril."

Tristan gave a curt nod, rising from his seat without another word.

"Leo, are you absolutely certain?" Liam asked.Leo's lips curved into a confident smirk. 

"Yes, Liam. Trust me, this will actually be fun. Stay connected to me through the link. I'll be nearby, feeding you everything you need to handle this. They'll see you as an equal—and more importantly, they'll know how much you matter to me."

******

The rest of the day flew by. Tristan immersed himself in sharpening his ability to distinguish between the distinct emotional signatures of Liam and Leo. What began as a focused exercise quickly turned into an impromptu game of hide-and-seek throughout the manor.Leo, naturally, had the upper hand. A vampire with centuries of practice in stealth, he moved through the shadows without a single creak from the floorboards. 

You're going to have to try harder than that, Tristan.

The sensation of the thought floated from somewhere, but Tristan was unable to pinpoint whether it was Liam or Leo and where it actually emanated from.

Liam, by contrast, opted for sheer cheekiness. While Tristan wandered the library, trying to attune himself to the subtle differences in their energy, Liam perched cross-legged on a windowsill in the dining room, eating an apple. His vibrant, teasing presence flitted on the edge of Tristan's awareness, just enough to mislead him without giving his location away. Again the sensation of thought floated into Tristan's awareness.

You might want to check behind the curtains

Liam cast the impulse casually, grinning as Tristan yanked them back to reveal nothing but an empty alcove.Leo added his own touch of mischief, deliberately letting Tristan catch fleeting impressions of humor or false intentions. 

Tristan's brow furrowed as he sensed a brief flash of Leo's amusement mixed with a faint image of the wine cellar. 

Maybe I'm there.

The sensation echoed, though he was very much upstairs, quietly admiring an art piece. 

Or perhaps I'm in the east wing. Better hurry—it's drafty here. 

A flash of sensation winked in Tristan's mind. Liam joined in, his energy playfully buzzing with misdirection. Sensations and emotions floating across Tristan's awareness. 

One of us could be in the pantry. The chocolate truffles won't last much longer, Tristan. You might want to hurry.

Tristan groaned, turning down yet another empty hallway. 

"You're both impossible. I can't even tell who is who, let alone where you are." Tristan muttered as he continued to search.Finally, after what felt like hours, Tristan came to a stop at the grand staircase and closed his eyes. Breathing deeply, he tuned out the noise and honed in on the subtle contrasts between Leo's ancient, predatory aura and Liam's brighter, livelier presence.

 The sensations danced at the edge of his consciousness until they finally aligned. 

"Gotcha," he muttered, striding purposefully toward the study."Impossible," Leo said, emerging from his hiding place with an arched brow. 

"How—"

"Shhh," Tristan said with a grin, holding up a finger. "Trade secret."

A few minutes later, Tristan zeroed in on Liam with the same ease, catching him casually turning the page of a book. 

"How?" Liam demanded, eyes wide. "Come on, spill."

"Never," Tristan replied smugly.

Leo and Liam exchanged a glance, then in unison, "We'll get it out of him eventually."

When Alexi finally found them, they were gathered in the kitchen. Liam was focused on cooking steak and potatoes for Tristan, who had just finished feeding Leo to ensure he was at his peak for the Coven reception.

Alexi wasn't alone. Behind him were two gentlemen dressed in finely tailored navy-blue suits trimmed with red piping and silver buttons, resembling military uniforms in their polished formality.

"Leo, may I introduce Gustavo and Aurelio," Alexi announced. "They'll serve as Liam's attachés for the Yule festivities. Gustavo is 475, and Aurelio will celebrate his 500th birthday next year."

Liam turned his attention to the two men. At first glance, they seemed to be in their early thirties, but as Liam studied them through his photographer's eye, he began to notice something deeper. Their eyes reflected the weight of centuries, the silent testament of lives lived far beyond a single mortal span. A subtle, oscillating aura of power surrounded them, almost like waves of energy in the air. 

Leo, is this you? Am I seeing them how you would? 

Liam thought, glancing over at Leo.

No, sunshine, 

Leo's voice came through their link, calm but curious. 

It's you. Somehow, you've tapped into another kind of sight. What you're seeing is what vampires sense when they meet: the power that comes with age. It's how we gauge dominance. Were you thinking or feeling anything unusual before this started?

I switched into my photographer mindset, Liam replied. It's how I determine how to frame potential shots—studying my subjects, noticing details. As soon as I did that, it felt like... something clicked, like I started seeing more.

Don't let on, act natural. I would rather not let anyone know about this until we have a chance to figure it out.

"Alexi, thank you. They'll do nicely. Gustavo, Aurelio, it's a pleasure to meet you. Liam's safety will be your sole priority for the duration of your assignment,"

Leo said, looking at the two vampires standing with Alexi. The two vampires knelt simultaneously, saluting with fists to their hearts. In unison, they said, "We are the throne's to command. The Crown of Fire has served and will serve again."

Leo returned the salute, then gestured for them to rise. 

"Alexi, I trust you and Tristan have finalized the placement of your Coronados for tonight's reception?"

"Yes, Leo. We'll be present but unobtrusive," Alexi assured him.

"Good. Thank you. Tristan, go with Alexi and ensure any last-minute arrangements are seen to. Make sure Maria and Joseph are briefed on the security plan. Gustavo, Aurelio, report to my suite at 7:45 to escort Liam to the dining hall to greet the Coven leaders."

"As you command, Divina," they replied in perfect synchrony before following Alexi and Tristan out.

"Come on sunshine, we've got about three hours before we need to get ready. I think you should lay down and get some rest; it's going to be a long night," Leo said, wrapping his arms around Liam.

******

Liam rested comfortably in Leo's arms, he felt more at peace than he had ever felt before. Liam could feel Leo, what he felt, what he thought, who he was, and he knew that Leo could feel the same about him. It was as if the link between them grew stronger the more time they spent together. A final piece settling into place making them both whole.

"Leo," Liam murmured, tilting his head to look up at him. "Do you think this is what Genevieve and Fernando felt before they realized they were blood-matched?"

Leo's gaze softened, thoughtful. 

"I don't know," he admitted. "Fernando never spoke in detail about that moment. All he ever said was that when it happened, I'd know—because everything would change."

"Maybe it's time we find out," Liam said, sitting up with determination. "If you take my blood, we'll know for certain."

Leo swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his expression serious as he turned to face Liam.

 "Liam, this isn't a decision to make lightly. Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes," Liam replied firmly, his resolve unwavering. "We need to know if what we're feeling is the blood match—or something else entirely."

Leo studied him for a long moment before nodding, a slow smile touching his lips. "Alright," he said at last, pulling Liam into his arms once more. "On the Longest Night, as part of the celebration, I'll take your blood as the offering. And then we'll know—one way or the other."

Their embrace deepened, the unspoken promise between them as powerful as the bond they shared.