Mihai and Sean stayed behind in his guest room to pack while Pyt rounded up the best of his guards to go with them.

“I don’t want you to go,” Sean told him honestly. “You’re still wounded. I haven’t had enough experience with healing magic to make you entirely well.”

“I won’t be alone,” Mihai said. Sean gave him a small, conceding smile, although he looked sad. “I’ll have you guys to watch out for me.”

“Then I’m glad I’m coming with you,” Sean said, his tone turning fierce. “I may not be able to do much with my magic yet, but I’m glad to be able to help at all.”

Mihai and Sean were both dressed in baggy pants and old, loose-fitting tunics. It was the best Pyt could do for them on such short notice.

Combined with the intensity on Mihai’s face and his tousled hair, Sean thought Mihai was at his most beautiful at that very moment.

Mihai caught his mouth in a desperate kiss, sweeping his omega’s mouth with his tongue.

Pressing his forehead to the werewolf’s, Sean whispered, “Don’t go, Mihai. Let’s run off together and live happily ever after.”

Sean knew it was cowardly. He knew that they really had no choice but to go along. But he still wished there were another way.

The werewolf kissed him back, playfully biting his lip. Sean pulled back and searched his face, coming to terms with the simple truth. Mihai wasn’t going to change his mind.

A great, desperate need filled him, feeding the magic inside him as well. He grabbed his hands and walked them over to the dresser where he sat on the edge. A surprised growl escaped Mihai’s throat, which just made Sean want him even more. He kissed Mihai again, and this time, the alpha responded, grabbing the warlock around his neck and pulling Sean towards him.

Mihai gave another low growl and ripped his t-shirt off. He untied his pants and they slid silently to the floor. Sean pulled off his own pants, exposing his erect cock to his lover. Briefly, he wondered about taking off his own shirt, but Mihai grabbed him in another kiss and Sean was lost to him.

Sean’s body once again tenderly accepted him as Mihai slid into him. Sean gave a little moan which he covered with a kiss. Mihai picked him up, so that he held him aloft. Sean clung to him while Mihai moved inside him, panting with the exertion. They both focused on making it last as long as they could.

Nonetheless, the movement was fast, quick, and they both loved every minute of it. Sean covered his face in kisses, while Mihai bit the omega’s neck softly. They were silent, save for the sounds of their heavy breathing, bordering on panting.

The sensations between their bodies were delicious. Sean closed his eyes, unsure how much longer he would last.

“Oh, Sean,” Mihai cried out, digging his nails into his back. He pumped into Sean, half crying out, half moaning.

Sean came himself, his own orgasm ripping through his entire being like an animal all on its own. It left him exhausted and panting for breath, slumped against Mihai. The werewolf backpedaled over to the bed, and collapsed on it, bringing Sean down on top of him.

Sean was breathing heavily himself, but he managed to prop himself up, and looked down on Mihai, then kissed his lips. They lay in a lovers' embrace, enjoying a moment of tenderness and intimacy, neither of them voicing their concerns about what was to come.

“I love you, Mihai,” he whispered, although the resignation in his voice said everything he didn't want Mihai to hear.

Those were the last words they said in private to each other. They got dressed in silence and headed out to save Mihai’s pack.

***

THE JOURNEY TO THE mountains was long and slow going, especially for their small band of Drelos guards and free wolves who had volunteered for the dangerous task of going into enemy territory. Sean had traveled all over Pristat, but this was the first time he was going with a group. They always stopped long before he felt too tired, but he welcomed having that much longer to spend with Mihai.

With his mate.

The thought was still fresh and still new to Sean that he felt a thrill every time it entered his mind. They shared a tent every time they made camp, sometimes making love, sometimes just falling asleep in each other’s arms.

Sean had to admit, these were the happiest moments of his life. Hopefully they wouldn’t be too short-lived.

He couldn’t help thinking about Mihai running this trail in the opposite direction, hungry, haggard, and scared. It made him hold the werewolf closer at night, to try to do anything to wipe away the bad memories.

Mihai, for his part, slept soundly, except for the occasional whimpering when he mentioned the name Nathalie. Sean knew that his sister was still under Phaeron’s control, still up in the mountains, and very much in danger.

It was a reminder of what was at stake.

Whether or not it was because they were going slowly, or maybe Sean had grown soft in his time at Pyt’s mansion, he started feeling a little nauseous. It must have been the Drelos food that he was starting to get sick from.

Surely.

The best part of the trip was when they stopped by the castle where Martin lived with his twins and mate. It was the only time during the trip when their group slept in beds, and Sean was delighted to have a little bit of time with the only other omega warlock he’d ever met. Broden, Martin’s husband, hung around the two and was a little rough around the edges, but Sean could see that he loved Martin and their children.

Sean could almost see himself like that with Mihai.

Unfortunately, Martin and Broden couldn’t join their group as the twins had to be looked after, and there was too much happening in the realm. They just couldn’t leave their duties to go on a dangerous rescue mission.

“But give him hell,” Martin told Sean with a wink as they departed.

Sean would be sure of it.

It was a few weeks later when they emerged from a valley to see Phaeron’s castle in the distance, nestled between towering mountains. If Sean had thought that Lord Cormac’s castle was foreboding on his trip to Pyt’s, Phaeron’s abode was downright terrifying. Despite the beauty of the mountains, it felt like the castle sucked every vestige of life from the area around it.

Sean shivered as the entire group stopped to look at their destination.

“That’s where we’re headed?” Pyt asked grimly.

Mihai nodded, and that pit in Sean’s stomach seemed to grow heavier. “That’s where Phaeron rules,” the werewolf said, and he pressed his lips into a firm line. “I have many, many memories there. And none of them good.”

Sean reached out and took his mate’s hand in his own, giving it an encouraging squeeze. He had to let Mihai know that he was there to help.

“Let’s go save them,” he whispered.

Mihai nodded again, distracted.

The group moved through the valley, weaving their way up through the mountains. Pyt and Mary were always considering ways to sneak up on Phaeron, but Mihai told them that they were on Phaeron’s lands—the vampire knew they were here.

They just had to be prepared for anything.

And, of course, they weren’t prepared when they had to be.

“Mihai?”

The voice was young, female. Sean had never heard it before, but when Mihai stopped dead in his tracks, he knew exactly who it was. His voice came out ragged, barely a whisper.

“Nathalie?”