“If pixies ran rampant, then they would tear through the realm,” Dario said. “The seelie king used to keep their dust in a vault but it was stolen about half a century ago.”
Wylder shook his head. “I really don’t like it here. And I fucking hate that Theo is here all alone.”
“He has Garrett,” Dario reminded him. “And someone who is leading them out of here.”
“But what if Theo is trusting the wrong person. Someone who wants to hurt him?” Wylder asked.
“I think you need to remember how Theo was when we all first met him. He didn’t even trust us. Yes, he is sweet and shy but with his experience, he also doesn’t trust blindly,” Dario suggested.
“But this world isn’t what Theo is used to,” Wylder argued.
“Which will make him even more suspicious.” Dario cupped Wylder’s face. “He is a survivor. You know that.”
Wylder sighed. “I promised to protect him.”
And Wylder was blaming himself since Theo disappeared right in front of his eyes. It wasn’t fair. “This isn’t your fault.”
“Feels like it is,” Wylder grumbled.
“It is not your fault,” Dario repeated again, this time firmer.
“But—”
Dario pressed his lips hard to Wylder’s.
When his human melted into his arms, Dario pulled back. “We are going to get our mate back.”
“Okay.” Wylder fisted his hand in Dario’s shirt. “Okay.”
The little pep talk he’d given Wylder wasn’t enough to get rid of Dario’s own concerns. Wylder had every reason to be worried. They all did. Theo was a survivor but Dario was terrified that when they did get Theo back, he wouldn’t be the same sweet boy that Dario loved.
And the worst part was that Dario hadn’t even told Theo that he loved him. Hadn’t told any of his mates. Things had been moving so fast. Too fast. There had been no training yet. The plans that he and Alek put into place kept falling through.
They were supposed to be getting a house close to the university.
Dario didn’t even live with his mates yet. Theo and Wylder were still in the dorms. Mitch in hell. Alek at his own apartment. All he wanted was his mates and Dario was powerless to make that happen.
All the money in the world and it meant nothing when they were trespassing all over the fae realm trying to find the little shifter that had brought them all together.
Wylder turned and grabbed Alek’s arm, pulling him away. “You know if I had my own sword, I could help protect everyone.”
“You’re not getting a sword,” Alek told Wylder with a growl.
“You need to take your own advice,” Mitch whispered against Dario’s neck.
Dario shivered. And not from the chill in the dark forest. He hadn’t had much alone time with Mitch. Another failing as a mate.
“Theo is a survivor,” Mitch said. “He will survive this.”
“What if—” Dario had to swallow the bile that wanted to rise into the back of his throat.
“Don’t even think it,” Mitch told him. “Don’t give those words space here.”
Dario nodded. “I know.” The dark forest was known to mess with the minds of wandering travelers. It wasn’t a safe place to be. They needed to get clear.
“Are you two coming?” Wylder called back as he continued to walk beside Alek.
Just as Dario went to tease back, low growls echoed around them.
