Ryland shivered in the dampness. The water trickling from the stream drowned out any sounds Garian was making as he set up booby-traps to alert him if anyone came looking for them. Not being able to hear kept him on edge, for every few minutes Garian would come up behind him and run a blade along his arm or whisper some of the things he was going to do to Ryland in his ear. He couldn't help but jump each time Garian came around. He was terrified. What if Draco didn’t find him in time?

Deep down he knew Draco was looking for him. He couldn't explain how he knew, but that knowledge gave him hope. He just wasn't sure if he should grab on to that hope or shove it as far down inside of him as possible. The odds of Draco finding him in this remote location weren’t good and even if he did, it probably wouldn't be in time. Ryland feared he would die here. But it wasn't actually his death that bothered him as much as the torture he would have to endure before Garian did kill him.

His only regret was not mating with Draco when he had the chance. Now he may never get that opportunity to know what it would feel like to have that hard body against his, those firm lips against his skin, or even to just wake up wrapped in his mate’s strong arms. Ryland may not know much about shifters and mating, but he did know, now that it was about to be taken away, he wanted it more than anything else. He just wished Draco were here for him to tell. It killed him to know that he would die and Draco would never know just how much Ryland was falling in love with him. His mate would never know if he could do it all over again Ryland would jump at the chance to be with him.

A sinister chuckle in his ear had Ryland jumping once more in terror. "I think we’re ready pet. I bet you've missed me."

"Like a dog misses fleas." Even though over the years Ryland had learned to keep his snarky comments to himself, this was one time he just couldn't. If he was going to die he wasn't going to do so quietly. The breath was knocked out of him from the impact of Garian’s fist to his gut.

Garian snarled in his face. "It looks like my pet needs to be retrained." He grabbed a fistful of Ryland's hair and yanked hard so that Ryland was staring right up at Garian. "It shouldn't take me long to remind you where your place is." Then he grinned.  A shiver of fear raced down Ryland’s spine when he saw the malice in Garian's face. "I admit, this will be fun, putting you in your place at my feet, sniveling for mercy."

Maybe standing up to Garian wasn't such a good idea. But Ryland knew this could only end one way. Draco and the others would be looking for them. Sooner or later Garian would have to run and it would be so much easier without Ryland being dragged along. Garian wasn't known for his mercy, which meant, in the end, Ryland would suffer – a lot. It may not be the greatest plan but if he pissed Garian off enough, maybe, just maybe, Garian would kill him before the true torture began.

In the past, as much as he hated Garian fucking him, it was better than death. But now that he met Draco, Ryland would prefer death over being violated by Garian.

Pain sliced into his shoulder as Garian sank his teeth into Ryland's flesh. Ryland cried out. He didn't want this. He didn't want any man but Draco touching him in this way. Yet, once more, what he wanted didn't matter. He had to stop Garian.  Nothing was more important than not allowing this monster to leave his stain upon Ryland’s body.

He tried to push against Garian with his body since his hands were tied, but he might as well have been a gnat considering how ineffectual that had been. How was he supposed to stop a shifter? Ryland didn't have an answer to that, he just knew he had to keep trying. "Let me go," he shouted. "Draco will kill you for touching me."

The teeth were ripped out of his flesh just moments before Garian backhanded him across the cheek. Ryland fell to the stone floor, his skin getting scraped up even more than it already was. "You think anyone would come for you, pet?" Garian's lips twisted into a snarl. "No one will care what happens to you. You are nothing but a mangy human. No good for anything."

Garian got right into his face and let out a rumble of displeasure. "No one is coming for you, pet. So I suggest you start begging me for mercy. Not that I would give you any."

There was no way Ryland would ever beg this madman. He might die here, but he would do so with dignity,

When he hadn't started begging as Garian thought he would, Garian punched him in the face, then threw him across the cavern, slamming him into the rock wall. The breath knocked out of him in a whoosh as he dropped to the ground in a heap. But Garian wasn't done. He stalked toward Ryland. His hands reached out as if to grab Ryland once more, but before he could do it, Garian was suddenly flying through the air in the opposite direction.

Ryland blinked, sure he was hallucinating. Maybe he was unconscious and dreaming as he saw Garian slam against the wall so hard a crater was created from the impact. His body limply fell onto the floor. A sound so menacing rumbled around him, echoing off the walls. Yet, instead of being afraid, Ryland felt a sense of peace flow through him.

For all he knew, Garian was still beating him to a bloody pulp. None of that mattered though, for he couldn't feel a thing. This might be how he was going to die, but at least God had granted him a few moments of serenity. He may not want to leave Draco, in fact, he would do just about anything for one more chance to tell his mate how he felt, but at least he wouldn't have to keep suffering in agony as Garian killed him.

"Gràdh, it's okay, I've got you." Ryland could have sworn he heard Draco's voice. It really was a gift from God. It may not be real but in his mind Draco was right there holding him. He could even feel those strong arms as they cradled him to the warmth of his mate's body.

But if this was him dying, should he hurt so much, as if every cell in his body were in agony? Ryland no longer knew what was happening.  It was all just too much for him. But if somehow Draco were there he needed to tell him the truth. "Draco, I want to be your mate in every way possible. I want to be with you for the rest of my life."

His body was pulled tighter to the solid form that held him. Lips brushed against his temple. "I prayed to hear those words from your lips. I love you, my gràdh."

Ryland blinked to stare into the most beautiful pair of blue eyes he'd ever seen. "Are you really here?" Although he was beginning to suspect it was real, he had to know for sure.

His mate’s lips lifted into a small smile even though concern still filled his gaze. "Yes, Ryland. I'm here. You don't ever have to worry about that man again."

"Considering there aren't enough pieces to identify, I don't think anybody has to worry about him ever again," Chadwick quipped nearby.

Hope flooded through Ryland's body at hearing Chadwick's voice. It was one thing to hallucinate that Draco was there but he doubted he would ever hallucinate the snarky voice of Chadwick. "You really are here,” he whispered to Draco. "Kiss me,” he begged.

He needed the connection more than anything else. He craved physical proof that Draco was really there holding him, protecting him, loving him. Draco leaned down and oh so gently did as Ryland asked. Ryland winced the moment their lips touched. He had forgotten just how badly Garian had beat him.

Draco pulled back and kissed his forehead instead. "I think what you need is to heal a little bit before I can give you a proper kiss.”

So long as he got one, Ryland could wait. Well, maybe not long, but he could give it an hour or so. "Just don't let me go." There was no place Ryland would rather be than tucked securely in his mate’s arms.

"Just remember you said that," Draco teased. "Because I have to be honest, it could be years before your feet ever touch the ground again."

It might be a little dramatic but Ryland didn't care, just so long as he got to be close to his mate, Ryland would endure being carried around wherever they went, at least for now.  In a day or two, he would have to put his foot down – pun intended.

That thought helped him to smile through the pain.  How could he not?  He was safe in Draco’s arms, right where he had wanted to be.  Now, if only he could stop the fire that seemed to be engulfing him in the most intense agony he’d ever endured.  Then all would be right in his world.

 

***

 

One moment Ryland seemed to be almost smiling.  In the next he was whimpering in pain. It killed Draco to not be able to do anything about the cuts and bruises that seemed to be covering Ryland's body. He wasn't even sure how his mate had survived being thrown against the wall but he was grateful that he had.

"You need to start the mating by biting him," Chadwick whispered from nearby. “It will help him heal."

Draco was horrified at the idea of causing Ryland any more pain even if it did mean sealing them together for the rest of eternity. "I can't do that." He looked from Ryland to Chadwick back to Ryland again. "He's already in so much pain. How can I possibly be the cause of more?"

"Chadwick's right," Saber told him. "According to Nole, it helps to speed up the healing."  Nole was the doctor back in Miracle and had recommended that very same thing to another couple when one of them had been badly injured.

Draco just didn't think he could stand it if one of those whimpers that Ryland was making was because of something he did. It would be too devastating. But before he could tell them no, it was Ryland himself who changed his mind.

His mate reached up and cupped his face. "If there's any chance of it helping, I think you should do it." Then Ryland gave him a pained smile. "I promise you won't hurt me. How could you? You're my mate."

Draco wasn't stupid enough to honestly believe it wouldn't hurt but he also knew it would be momentary and, if Chadwick and Saber were right, it might actually provide some relief. He just hoped he was doing this for the right reason and not because he wanted to start the mating bond with Ryland.

Then, as if sensing his hesitation, Ryland tilted his head back as if offering himself. It was too much to deny and Draco leaned in and licked the spot where Ryland's neck and shoulder came together. He could feel his mate's pulse beneath his tongue.

The soft moan Ryland gave in pleasure was all Draco needed for his canines to come out and sink deep into his mate’s supple flesh. Ryland shuddered in his embrace and then the enticing aroma of his seed filled the cavern. Pride surged through Draco that he had been able to give his mate an orgasm even while he was in pain. But then that sweet little body went limp in his arms.

Reluctantly, he backed his teeth out of Ryland's body and licked the wound clean. Once more that pride came back in full force as he looked at the mark that he had left on his mate’s body, the one that claimed Ryland as his.

The mating may not be complete until they’d had sex, but he felt the ties that now bound them together fall into place.  How Draco had gotten so lucky as to be mating to this amazing man was something he would most likely wonder about for the rest of his life.  Draco hadn’t been the best person he could have been most of his life.  Actually, he’d been kind of an ass for most of it.

It wasn’t until he’d come face to face with death that Draco had finally understood how his choices had gotten him to that point.  When Saber had come along and helped save him, Draco realized he either needed to change his ways, or he would end up dead sooner rather than later.

The thing with change, it was uncomfortable and hard.  Sometimes too hard.  Several times, especially in the beginning, he’d slipped back into his old ways.  If it hadn’t of been for Saber and the others in their group believing in him, Draco wouldn’t have continued to try and be a better person.

He still wasn’t good enough for someone like Ryland.  Of that he was sure.  But he would forever be grateful to have found him.  “I swear, I will find a way to be good enough for you,” he whispered to his mate even though he was unconscious.

A hand gripped his shoulder and Draco looked up to find Saber standing there.  “You already are, my friend.”

He appreciated Saber trying to reassure him, but Draco knew better.  But that was okay.  He was getting there.