right. I was so scared, Sev. He died in front of me.”
“Tell me what happened.”
“We were talking, and I told him that I was confused. That I wished I could talk with Mama and Papa again, because I didn’t know if I was doing the right things. He said he could help me. He touched my face and it burned. His eyes opened wide and they were black, Sev. Darker than yours even. And he screamed. I yanked away and covered my ears. I thought it was going to go on forever. I forced myself to look at him and there was something all over him. He just kept screaming. I killed him.”
“Shh. No, you didn’t. I don’t know what happened, but you didn’t have anything to do with it. The Alpha said there was something not right, and I know it’s not your fault.”
Mikhail burrowed his face into Sev’s chest, seeking comfort as he had before their parents died. It was a heartbreaking reminder that for all his bluster, Mikhail was still a kid. Sev kissed him on the head and spoke quiet, comforting words. They stood there, arms around each other for several minutes, until Mikhail drew back.
“Is he your mate, Sev?”
Sev doubted he could have been any more shocked. “What? Why do you say that?”
“You challenged the Protector. You were very impressive, by the way.” Mikhail gave a cheeky grin, then added, “He would have killed you, but at least you would have put up a struggle.”
“I could have taken him,” Sev said, then laughed.
“But I could see it in your eyes. It was the way Papa used to look at Mama. Like he’s your whole world, and your beginning and end.”
“You’re a smart boy, Mikky.”
Mikhail’s smile blossomed. “You stopped calling me that so long ago.”
“You threatened me if I didn’t. You said you were a big boy and that your name was Mikhail.”
“It would be okay if you wanted me to be Mikky tonight.”
“Yes, little one. Just for tonight. We should get you home.”
“I want to stay here. Please? Casey’s become a friend to me, and if he’s your mate, he’ll be more. I want to help protect him.”
“You can help him the most by going home and sleeping. Mikky, there is nothing to be done tonight. He’s resting comfortably. If you really want to help, rest this evening, then come by tomorrow and offer your services.”
Mikhail frowned, then brightened. “Yes! I can do that. I want to help him out. Thank you, Sev.”
He threw his arms about Sev’s waist for a moment, then hurried out the door. Sev watched until he couldn’t see anymore, then he blew out the lamp and went back to Casey’s room. He intended to keep a vigil all evening. No harm would come to his mate ever again.
***
Aches and pains from toiling in the garden weren’t uncommon, but today Casey’s joints hurt, his knees throbbed, and even his bruises had bruises of their own. A soft buzzing noise caught his attention and he opened his eyes. It was still dark, but Casey was aware that someone was in the room with him. He reached over and picked up a charm from the small table at the side of the bed. He’d warded it to prevent evil from coming into his house, but that didn’t stop beasts or other villagers from entering.
He sat up cautiously, the silhouette near his bed appeared to be…asleep. A whispered word and the lantern fire blazed. Sev sat next to his bed, his dark eyes closed. Deep even breaths told Casey the man was asleep. He used this opportunity to examine him. Casey was secure enough to say when a man looked good, and Sev was absolutely stunning. In lamplight his features were ethereal. It took Casey’s breath away to be near such a beautiful creature. He reached out with trembling fingers, desperate to touch, to prove to himself that it wasn’t a fevered dream. He hesitated, knowing instinctively he shouldn’t be doing this, but he wasn’t able to stop himself.
“I’m glad you’re awake, Casey. I think we need to talk."
CHAPTER FIVE
Casey jerked his hand back. Sev opened his
“Tell me what happened.”
“We were talking, and I told him that I was confused. That I wished I could talk with Mama and Papa again, because I didn’t know if I was doing the right things. He said he could help me. He touched my face and it burned. His eyes opened wide and they were black, Sev. Darker than yours even. And he screamed. I yanked away and covered my ears. I thought it was going to go on forever. I forced myself to look at him and there was something all over him. He just kept screaming. I killed him.”
“Shh. No, you didn’t. I don’t know what happened, but you didn’t have anything to do with it. The Alpha said there was something not right, and I know it’s not your fault.”
Mikhail burrowed his face into Sev’s chest, seeking comfort as he had before their parents died. It was a heartbreaking reminder that for all his bluster, Mikhail was still a kid. Sev kissed him on the head and spoke quiet, comforting words. They stood there, arms around each other for several minutes, until Mikhail drew back.
“Is he your mate, Sev?”
Sev doubted he could have been any more shocked. “What? Why do you say that?”
“You challenged the Protector. You were very impressive, by the way.” Mikhail gave a cheeky grin, then added, “He would have killed you, but at least you would have put up a struggle.”
“I could have taken him,” Sev said, then laughed.
“But I could see it in your eyes. It was the way Papa used to look at Mama. Like he’s your whole world, and your beginning and end.”
“You’re a smart boy, Mikky.”
Mikhail’s smile blossomed. “You stopped calling me that so long ago.”
“You threatened me if I didn’t. You said you were a big boy and that your name was Mikhail.”
“It would be okay if you wanted me to be Mikky tonight.”
“Yes, little one. Just for tonight. We should get you home.”
“I want to stay here. Please? Casey’s become a friend to me, and if he’s your mate, he’ll be more. I want to help protect him.”
“You can help him the most by going home and sleeping. Mikky, there is nothing to be done tonight. He’s resting comfortably. If you really want to help, rest this evening, then come by tomorrow and offer your services.”
Mikhail frowned, then brightened. “Yes! I can do that. I want to help him out. Thank you, Sev.”
He threw his arms about Sev’s waist for a moment, then hurried out the door. Sev watched until he couldn’t see anymore, then he blew out the lamp and went back to Casey’s room. He intended to keep a vigil all evening. No harm would come to his mate ever again.
***
Aches and pains from toiling in the garden weren’t uncommon, but today Casey’s joints hurt, his knees throbbed, and even his bruises had bruises of their own. A soft buzzing noise caught his attention and he opened his eyes. It was still dark, but Casey was aware that someone was in the room with him. He reached over and picked up a charm from the small table at the side of the bed. He’d warded it to prevent evil from coming into his house, but that didn’t stop beasts or other villagers from entering.
He sat up cautiously, the silhouette near his bed appeared to be…asleep. A whispered word and the lantern fire blazed. Sev sat next to his bed, his dark eyes closed. Deep even breaths told Casey the man was asleep. He used this opportunity to examine him. Casey was secure enough to say when a man looked good, and Sev was absolutely stunning. In lamplight his features were ethereal. It took Casey’s breath away to be near such a beautiful creature. He reached out with trembling fingers, desperate to touch, to prove to himself that it wasn’t a fevered dream. He hesitated, knowing instinctively he shouldn’t be doing this, but he wasn’t able to stop himself.
“I’m glad you’re awake, Casey. I think we need to talk."
CHAPTER FIVE
Casey jerked his hand back. Sev opened his
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