Sage agreed that Owen was a better choice. He was an eagle shifter and would be able to see better than Garridan and Bennett combined when they were flying.
“We’ll go at night, when it’s dark.” Garridan kissed the top of Sage’s head when he stiffened against him.
Bennett nodded and started out of the garage. Lucas stopped walking and turned to Garridan. “No one blames you for getting captured, but you. Bennett doesn’t.”
“Wait. What?” Bennett let go of Lucas’ hand and closed the distance between them. “You blame yourself for that?”
“I failed you.”
Sage had never seen Garridan like that. He had a look in his eyes that Sage wanted to soothe away, but he wasn’t sure if he even could. That look had nothing to do with him, so all he could do was what he was already doing. Hold on to his mate to let him know he wasn’t alone anymore.
Sage had never thought about it, but it must have been lonely locked in a cell for years. Garridan didn’t talk to very many people and he hadn’t had anyone there to hold his hand and tell him he was loved.
Sage was going to tell him, every day, that he wasn’t alone anymore if that was what it took.
“That’s bullshit and not something I need from you.”
“Then what do you need?”
“I don’t know.”
Bennett went to say something else, but Sage held up a hand. “He needs you to know that you’re loved. That you’re not alone anymore.”
“Yeah, that about covers it, Uncle Garridan.” Bennett reached out.
Garridan pulled Bennett into a hug. “I’ll try to remember that.”
Chapter Thirteen
Sage held on to Garridan’s hand as if he were going to disappear forever. He just might. He had once before, although that was before Sage knew him. Still, there was nothing to say things would be any different. Everything in Sage told him to shift and wrap himself around Garridan as if he were a second skin.
Sage played with Garridan’s fingers absently and tried not to think about the fact that he’d be gone in a few minutes. They sat in the dining room, waiting for Bennett and Owen. Sage was secretly glad they weren’t there. The longer they took the more time he would have with his mate before he went away forever. The longer they sat there waiting, the more Sage was convinced that he wouldn’t ever see Garridan again after he left. The thought welled up in his chest just a little with each passing moment and it burned like fire as it pumped through his heart.
Garridan let Sage’s hands go and wrapped an arm around his waist. “Come here.”
Sage stood and let Garridan guide him to his lap. Sage’s arm came around him and he laid his head on Garridan’s shoulder.
“What if you never come back?” Sage whispered.
“I’ll have Bennett with me. Someone reminded me that I’m not alone anymore. I plan on taking advantage of that.” Garridan pulled him closer. His hand worked up under Sage’s shirt and moved across the span of his back.
“I can’t be without you, Garridan.”
“Good.”
Sage scowled at Garridan. “Good? That’s what you have to say about it.”
“No.” A smile played around the corners of Garridan’s mouth.
“You’re teasing me.” To say Sage was shocked would have been an understatement. Garridan had always been so serious all the time, up until then. “I’m having a crisis here. You could go away from me forever and you’re joking around about it.”
“I promise to come back. I can’t be without you either.”
“You can’t make a promise like that.”
“I can and I did.”
Sage started to open his mouth to say something, but Garridan put a hand over it. “Stop it. I told you I’d come back, and you have to trust me on that.”
