by Shea Balik
All that changed when the laptop had come out of the box. Then it was as if Ryland had realized there was no taking it back so he might as well enjoy it. And enjoy it, he did. Draco had hardly been able to pull him away from it ever since.
“You ready for your first class?” he asked his mate, who was staring at the screen before him as if he had never seen a computer before instead of him having been playing with it for the last six weeks.
“Huh?” Ryland didn’t move his gaze from the screen before him. Draco wasn’t sure his mate even knew he was in the room, much less comprehend the question asked.
His poor, sweet mate was terrified of starting school and Draco couldn’t exactly blame him. For eight years he’d been forced into slavery. Even though Ryland wouldn’t have to be in an actual classroom, it still had to be daunting to go back to school after all that time.
Draco went to his mate’s side. For now, while their house was being built, Ryland would do his schoolwork in Saber and Chadwick’s home. Really, he could do it anywhere. Ryland could take the laptop wherever he wanted.
He pulled out a chair and set it next to Ryland. “Are you just going to keep staring at the screen or are you going to log in and start class?”
Ryland didn’t move, didn’t speak, he just continued to keep his eyes glued to that blank screen. So Draco reached over and took his mate’s chin in his hand, forcing Ryland to look at him.
Those sweet amber eyes blinked at him, fear stark in their depths. “You have this, my precious gràdh. You survived eight years as Refugio’s slave. You stood up to the man who raped and tortured you.” Draco leaned over and rested his forehead against Ryland’s. “And you stole the heart of a dragon. There is nothing you cannot do.”
A tear tumbled down Ryland’s cheek as his mate gently kissed Draco’s lips. “Thank you, my love. I needed that.”
Draco smiled. “Anything for you, gràdh.”
After one more kiss, Ryland turned back to his computer and logged in. When Draco left him, Ryland was busy typing away with the others in the class, as well as the professor.
“Did Ryland get signed into the class?” Chadwick asked when Draco returned to his and Ryland’s home, or what would be theirs when they were finished.
It had taken Ryland a long time to decide on a floor plan as they wanted to keep as much of their living outdoors as possible, yet still have an indoors to go to when they needed. With some recommendations from Chadwick, they had decided on a smaller indoor home and an outdoor area that matched the indoors in square footage, including an outdoor kitchen.
Draco was grinning from ear to ear at how proud he was of his mate. “He did. Now we just need to finish this house so he can have his own space to study.”
The roar of motorcycles came up the driveway. Too many not to mean something was going on, considering it was the middle of the day. Chadwick narrowed his gaze. “None of those are Saber.”
Saber was in town working on the new town hall. The building itself was complete but the interior still had quite a bit of work to be done.
“Never mind,” Chadwick said after another moment. “Edrick is leading them. He wouldn’t bring trouble without warning us.”
But even as he finished saying that, more motorcycles joined Edrick’s group. Draco recognized several of those hogs, especially the one in front. “That’s Saber. If there are that many coming, it can’t be a good thing, can it?”
Chadwick gave a shrug. “Maybe they came to help get your house done.” Although, Chadwick didn’t sound like he believed his words.
Neither did Draco. The people of Miracle were some of the most generous he’d ever known, but there was a lot to do in order to provide homes for all who had chosen to live there. There was just too much to do for everyone drop what they’d been working on to come help Draco.
But when they bypassed Saber’s house and headed for where Draco and Chadwick were working on his home, he started to wonder if maybe they were here to help. But as they stopped in front of Draco’s newly built front porch, their grim faces told him they weren’t there to help. Something was wrong. Something Draco wouldn’t like.
It wasn’t until Saber and Edrick swung their legs over their bikes that Draco noticed a man sitting behind Edrick, looking as if were about to pee his pants. There was something about the guy that was familiar, but for the life of Draco, he couldn’t recall who the man was.
“Draco,” the man whispered in obvious relief. Draco might not have remembered who the man was, but he didn’t seem to have the same trouble. “I was afraid I wouldn’t find you in time.”
When Draco didn’t say anything, it was Edrick who took a step to block the man from seeing Draco. “This man said you knew him.”
Draco shook his head. “I’m not sure.”
Edrick stepped to the side once more so Draco could see the stranger. “I know it’s been a long time,” the guy said. “At least a thousand years.”
That’s when it clicked. “Caius? Is that really you?” He couldn’t believe it. After being banished from his home, Draco never thought he’d see any of his clan again. He stepped down from the porch and went over to Caius. “What are you doing here?”
There was a second when Draco nearly told Caius not to answer, for it couldn’t be good. No one came looking for someone after a thousand years just to catch up on old times.
“It’s Severus, he escaped his caverns.” Caius tried to get off Edrick’s motorcycle but he’d clearly never been on one before, because he started to tilt, causing the entire bike to tilt. With the reflexes of shifters, Edrick grabbed his bike and Saber grabbed Caius before either one hit the ground.
But with Caius now in Saber’s arms, Chadwick growled a warning. Caius’ eyes widened in alarm and Saber grinned at his mate. Before Chadwick could tear Caius to pieces, Saber put him on his feet. “You know you’re the only one for me, Kitten.” Saber placed a kiss against Chadwick’s temple, while his mate wouldn’t stop glaring at Caius.
“I better be, or you’ll find yourself without balls by morning, mate.” Chadwick raised his head and grinned back at Saber. Then he pressed a kiss to his lips. “So, who is this Severus and why do we care that he escaped?”
Draco could guess why, but not having any contact with his clan since he fought with Severus, he wasn’t sure. Still, it wasn’t like there would be a lot of reasons for Caius to come looking for him. “I would imagine it would have to do with me beating Severus so badly he couldn’t shift back to his human form and that he has been stuck as a dragon for the last thousand years.”
Caius nodded his agreement. “He blames you for his having to stay hidden all these years so humans didn’t find out dragons exist.”
“Wait a minute.” Chadwick held his hand up in the air. “Are you telling me, you’re a dragon?” The sheer disbelief in Chadwick’s voice wasn’t unusual. Caius didn’t exactly look like a dragon shifter.
The man stood at a mere five-foot-three and yet had to weigh nearly two hundred pounds. Shifters didn’t tend to have a lot of excess weight, some sure, but not that much. It was one of the reasons Severus had loved picking on Caius. He was as wide as he was tall and very self-conscious of his appearance.
Severus used to make a game of making Caius cry when they had been kids. As they’d gotten older, that callousness had turned physical and Caius often ended up being bruised and bloodied by Severus. Instead of defending Caius, as the Clan should have, they turned their back on him because he was...well, different.
Just went to show it wasn’t only humans who treated those who weren’t like everyone else with dignity. That was one of the reasons Draco had gone after Severus like he had. He’d been tired of him picking on those weaker than him. Draco had just wanted to show him what being weaker felt like.
A blush spread across Caius’ face. “Yes.”
Chadwick nodded and then turned to his mate. “So, now that Draco isn’t the “only” one,” he said adding air quotes. Do I still have t
o keep quiet about him being a dragon?”
Caius blinked at Chadwick. Draco couldn’t blame him. Caius was used to others treating him like there was something wrong with him. But if anyone could help him feel more...well, normal, it was Chadwick. The guy didn’t have a bigoted bone in his body. Plus, there was nothing “normal” about Chadwick making it easier for others to feel comfortable with who they were when they were with him.
Saber chuckled and kissed Chadwick’s temple once more. “Yes, Kitten, you still have to keep your pretty mouth shut about him being a dragon.”
“No fair,” he pouted. “Plus, if Caius is right, Severus will show up sooner or later and then it will be impossible to keep it a secret since he apparently is stuck in his dragon form.”
Chadwick had a point. A good one. If Severus showed up, there would be no way for Draco to keep what he was a secret. Although, with the Council’s guard knowing, along with both Edrick’s inner circle and Saber’s inner circle, it wasn’t as if he’d have been able to keep it quiet much longer.
“How did you find me?” It reasoned if Caius could find him, Severus would be able to also.
Caius cheeks went beet red. “You never changed your name and I have a passion for computers.”
Maybe that would mean they had a chance of Severus not finding him. Draco doubted it, but now that he’d found his mate, he hoped Severus stayed away.
“Look, I don’t know if Severus will ever find you, but I had to at least warn you after you saved me.” There was something in Caius’ gaze that tripped all of Draco’s warning bells. Caius rushed forward and hugged Draco. “I don’t know if Severus would have killed me that day or not, but if it hadn’t of been for you, sooner or later he would have. So, thank you,” Caius whispered fervently.
“Mind telling me why some man has his arms around you like he’s worshipping you?” Draco silently cursed when he heard Ryland’s voice.
Not that he wouldn’t have had to tell his mate about Caius and Severus, but he definitely would have left out the part about Caius hugging him like he was some sort of hero. With how Ryland was staring at Caius, like he could see his head mounted on their wall, Draco might have found a way not to have mentioned anything about Caius.
“Looks like I’m not the only jealous one,” Chadwick said to his mate smugly. Then he looked over at Ryland. “Not to worry,” he assured. “Caius is just thanking Draco for saving his life a thousand years ago.”
If Chadwick had left it there, maybe, just maybe, Draco wouldn’t have ended up in the doghouse. But, as was normal with Chadwick, he had to add, “Although, considering how long that hug has lasted, along with the scent of lust coming from Caius, I’m beginning to think he has a crush on Draco.”
Amber eyes flashed fire at Draco.
Yep.
Doghouse.
EPILOGUE
“I did it,” Ryland shouted as he stared at the last of his grades for the semester. It hadn’t been easy, but he’d not only passed all his classes, but he’d done it with a 4.0 grade point.
Strong arms lifted him off the ground and the next thing Ryland knew, lips came down on his and he was spinning around and around. When Draco finally broke the kiss, Ryland was breathless and more than just a little bit horny.
“I knew you could do it.” His mate had encouraged him from the moment Ryland mentioned going back to school. Even when Ryland had been terrified of actually having to do homework and studying, when he hadn’t done either in nearly a decade, Draco had believed in him.
It had meant everything to Ryland to have Draco by his side. “I love you,” he said as he kissed Draco again.
“When you asked us over for dinner, I wasn’t aware there was going to be a show.”
Ryland groaned in dismay as he broke the kiss. “You invited Chadwick and Saber for dinner?” He probably didn’t have to whine, but Ryland had been hoping for a little one on one time with Draco.
“I thought you’d want to celebrate.” Draco grimaced as he must have realized what a mistake that had been. “I can tell them to leave if you want.”
Ryland did, but there was no point since they were already there. “No. That was actually sweet.”
Draco sighed in relief. “Good, because I also invited a few others.”
The roar of motorcycles heading their way said it was more than a few. It may not have been what he’d wanted, but the thought of getting to relax with their friends, which he hadn’t been able to do in weeks as he’d prepared for his exams, sounded good. Of course, so did a night alone with his mate, but Ryland could have that after everyone left.
“Thank you,” he said and kissed his mate once more. “So, what are we having for dinner?” he asked.
Jari walked in with Lucca by his side and several bags in their arms. “Steaks,” Jari said as he held up one of the bags. They were followed by Edrick and Nole, who brought bags of their own. Krill and Harper came in next, carrying bakery boxes. Soon they were followed by at least twenty others, including his sister, who had found her own mate, although they were taking things slowly as she was still working at dealing with what happened with Refugio.
Ryland couldn’t help but get excited. “You planned a party?” he asked Draco in awe. No one had ever given him a party. Not even when he was a kid for his birthday, although that had a lot to do with the fact that his parents worked their asses off trying to make enough to keep a roof over their heads. There was never extra money to have a bunch of kids over for a birthday.
Draco gave a shrug. “I just wanted you to know how proud I am of you.”
His mate was so damn sweet. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I thank God every day for making it happen.”
Draco pulled him close and kissed him breathless. “Me too, gràdh. Me too.” Ryland wasn’t surprised that their friends had gone out to the porch to give them some privacy. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. He’d kind of expected a snarky comment from Chadwick, but obviously Saber had cut him off before he could.
If anyone had told him just six months ago that he’d no longer be a slave, would find his mate, and finished his first semester of college, Ryland would have assumed they were on something. They were still on the lookout for Severus but so far, there had been no sign of him.
But even with that possible threat hanging over them, Ryland couldn’t be happier.
“Come on, gràdh, let’s go out on the porch and join our friends.” Draco wrapped an arm around his waist and led him to the sliding glass door. “Since we aren’t going to have the entire night to ourselves, we could spend tomorrow in bed,” Draco whispered in his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.
“You do know we’re all shifters and can hear you through the glass,” Chadwick yelled.
Several of their friends groaned at Chadwick while Saber chuckled. “You didn’t need to point that out, Kitten,” Saber teased.
“I don’t see why not,” Chadwick said. “It’s true.”
Ryland grinned. “Because anyone with manners would have kept quiet,” he told Chadwick as he opened the sliding door.
Chadwick shook his head. “Manners are nothing more than society’s way of forcing us to lie. I prefer just telling it like it is.”
“You sure you don’t want me to kick them out?” Draco teased.
But Ryland shook his head. “Nope. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” And he meant it. He leaned into his mate’s body, luxuriating in his strength. From the first moment he’d met Draco, Ryland’s entire world had changed just like magic.
It was a heady feeling to know for a fact that dreams really do come true, even ones he never knew he wanted.
The End for Now!
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