The moment Ryland turned the corner and disappeared from sight, Draco started after him.  He didn’t know if he sensed something was wrong, or it was the mating heat, but he couldn’t stop himself from following his mate.

Not even Chadwick’s snarky comment about a panting dog after a bone fazed him as he went after Ryland.  He became concerned when he noticed his mate had started running at some point.  Not that it was difficult to keep up with him, but Draco feared the reason Ryland felt it necessary to run.

Then again, he could just be overreacting.  Just as he was having a difficult time being separated from Ryland, his mate would be feeling the same effects and might be rushing to get back to him.  But Draco didn’t think so.  At least, not this time.

He had just turned another corner when he saw the guard, Gerald, punch Ryland.  Rage burned through Draco unbidden.  There was no stopping his animal from punching through its restraints and forcing him to shift.

The manor shook with each step he took toward Gerald, who was frozen in place as he took in Draco’s animal charging toward him.  The sharp ammonia scent of urine filled Draco’s nostrils as he reached for Gerald when the man pissed himself.

“Holy fuck, he’s a dragon,” Chadwick said from somewhere nearby.

But it was Saber’s words that stopped Draco from ripping Gerald’s head from his body.  “Draco, stop.  Your mate needs you.”

Draco glanced over at where his mate lay unconscious on the floor, a bruise already forming along his jaw where Gerald had hit him.  As much as he wanted nothing more than to shred the guard to pieces, Saber was right, Ryland needed him.

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed Gerald down the hall to land in a heap at the other end, right in front of Saber and Chadwick, who, much to Draco’s pleasure, kicked the guard.

Draco had picked up his mate and cradled him close even as Draco shifted back to his human form.  He sat on the floor with his back against the wall just in time to see Saber give Chadwick a look of disapproval for what he’d done to Gerald.

But Chadwick didn’t look at all contrite as he shrugged and said, “What?  I was just checking to see if he was dead.”

Saber shook his head.  “Yeah, right.  And I’m the Pope.”

But Chadwick being Chadwick didn’t stop there.  “Really?  Then maybe you could tell me if Jesus was a man of peace, why there are so many wars being fought in his name?”

“Is he going to be okay?” a soft voice asked from the door Gerald had busted open.

Draco looked over to find Keira standing there wringing her hands with tears in her eyes as she stared at her brother.  “He’ll be fine,” Draco reassured her.

At least Draco prayed he was right about that.  Ryland’s pulse was strong and steady, so he assumed his mate had just been knocked out.  If it was more than that, no one, not even Saber, was going to stop him from tearing Gerald apart piece by piece.

“This was all my fault,” Keira whispered as those tears started to fall down her face.  “Ryland wanted me to hide in his room to be safe from the guards, but I knew Gerald wouldn’t be deterred.”  Fearful eyes darted to where Gerald was moaning but still curled up in a ball on the floor.  Of course, it probably didn’t help that Chadwick kicked the man every once in a while.

“Wait a minute,” Chadwick said, from where he stood above Gerald.  “Are you saying this piece of shit was here because he was going to force you to have sex with him?”

Keira froze for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Chadwick’s next kick had Gerald screaming in pain and Draco was sure he heard a bone or two snap.  “Kitten,” Saber said as he dragged Chadwick away from Gerald.  “As much as this piece of shit deserves everything that happens to him, we need to have him face the Council for his crimes.”

“Crimes?” Keira tilted her head to the side as her brows furrowed together.  “Don’t get me wrong, I hated that Gerald and a few of the other guards forced me to have sex with them, but Refugio gave me to them when he grew tired of me.”

“Son of a bitch,” Saber swore quietly.  “I swear, killing that man once wasn’t enough.”

A soft moan from Ryland made Draco’s heart beat faster.  His gràdh was waking up.  He sent up a silent prayer.  Long thick lashes fluttered open to revel amber eyes and Draco knew he’d never seen a more beautiful sight.  “What?” Ryland’s brows drew together as if he were trying to remember what had happened.

Then he suddenly sat up, panic in his eyes until they landed on his sister.  “Keira, are you okay?”

His sister rushed to Ryland’s open arms, even though he was still sitting on Draco’s lap.  Thankfully, that didn’t seem to matter to Keira because Draco wasn’t sure he’d be able to let Ryland go anytime soon.

Clearly uncomfortable watching brother and sister crying, Saber cleared his throat.  “Why don’t Chadwick and I go find a cell for Gerald until we can have a trial tomorrow.”

Chadwick forced Gerald to his feet, making sure to kick him once more when he reached down to grab him.  The grunt of pain wasn’t exactly enough to satisfy the rage that still burned within Draco, but it didn’t hurt either.

“Chadwick,” Saber sighed.  “Stop kicking the guy.”

“What?” Chadwick widened his eyes in innocence.  “I tripped.”

Saber planted a light kiss against his mate’s lips.  “What am I going to do with you?” he teased.

Chadwick grinned and winked at Saber.  “I have a few things in mind but they are going to have to wait until after dinner.”  He patted Saber’s chest.  “You’re going to need the strength.”

Saber chuckled, but it was Ryland’s gasp that had Draco’s attention.  “Dinner?” Ryland squeaked out.  “I didn’t make dinner.”

Saber waved off Ryland’s concern.  “We don’t expect you to cook for us.  Some of the guards volunteered.”

Ryland gulped audibly.  “Which guards?”

Draco frowned at the question.  “What difference does it make?”

His mate’s amber eyes blinked at him.  “Because some of the guards have a plan to murder all of you.  I wasn’t sure how they thought they could beat you in a fight but…”

“Poison would be far easier,” Saber finished.  Cocking his arm back, Saber punched Gerald, knocking him out cold to ensure he didn’t go anywhere. “We’ll have to deal with him later,” he said, even as he raced down the hall toward the main part of the house.

Draco should have left Ryland behind as there was no telling what would happen when they confronted the guards who had planned to kill them, but he just couldn’t put him down.  Ryland could have died if Gerald had hit him any harder.  Plus, they were going to need Ryland to tell them who the culprits were.  At least, that’s what he told himself so he didn’t feel quite so guilty for taking him into danger.

They burst into the dining room to find the entire Council sitting there with plates of food in front of them.  “It’s about time,” Marlow Dunn said.  “The food is getting cold and I, for, one, am hungry.”  Marlow picked up his fork and stabbed a piece of meat, bringing it to his lips.

“Stop,” Saber yelled.  “We think the food has been poisoned.”

Just then, all hell broke loose.  Four guards suddenly had guns in their hands, pointed right at the heads of the nearest Council members.  But these men and women hadn’t won their seats on the Council by being stupid or inept.

Quick as lightening, they moved, the bullets meant to kill not even touching them.