Draco was relieved when Ryland actually signed up for classes on his brand new computer.  Since classes weren’t actually starting for two months, he’d been afraid Ryland would change his mind.  Thankfully, the deadline to sign up had only been half that.

In order to encourage his mate, Draco had taken him into the nearest decent sized town with a computer store and helped him to pick out something that would help him with his classes.  Ryland had practically fainted when the salesperson had given them the total.

When they had taken the computer home, Ryland had refused to take it out of the box.  When his mate had debated returning it, Draco had opened the box himself.  For a moment, Ryland had just stared at the opened box in shock.

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 to 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.