Page 40 of Sanctuary After Dark

Looking up when Raven set the snack tray down in front of me, I found them smiling as well.

"Master is right, sir. You and Lincoln can really help Elias more than you think right now. Speaking from a sub's perspective here, my mental health has never been better ever since I became Master's property. He has helped guide me and give me the structure I needed in my life. Through the tasks he's given me, like my journal entries and meditation, I've learned so much, and it's helped me more than I can say. Even just having someone that I know I can lean on and who is a pillar of strength gives me the courage to live authentically, and if I need help, I know I can always go to him. Elias, I think, needs yours and Lincoln's strength right now and your guiding hands in helping him navigate this. The fact that you're hesitant about this shows just how much you care about his mental health and how I know that you won't screw this up."

Feeling Gar squeeze my shoulder, I looked over at him and just smiled before looking back at Raven. They were both right about this, and it gave me the confidence that I needed and the clarity to realize that Linc and I wanting to claim him wasn't a bad thing.

Getting up, I grabbed the tray with the snacks and drinks.

"Thanks. Both of you. I needed to hear all of this."

"Anytime, brother. Now, go get your boy."

Gar grinned and picked up his tablet again to start back in on his tattoo design. Raven smiled and winked at me before they stepped over to the croissant dough they were making. I was lucky to have them in my life to kick me in the ass when I needed it.

By the time I was walking back into Elias's room, I was determined to make him ours, no matter what. He was the perfect addition to us. The little that we had been looking for for years. He was finally within our grasp, and I wasn't going to let him slip away.

Looking up and seeing Elias cuddled up in bed with Lincoln, my heart squeezed in my chest at how perfect they looked together like that.

One look at my brother and I knew he felt the same. I could see in his eyes that he was on the exact same page as me. But right now, we needed to tend to Elias and make sure he knew he was safe after his panic attack.

From the giggle that slipped from his mouth and how he hid his face, I could tell that he was dipping into his little space. That he felt safe enough with us to do that spoke volumes to me and it warmed my heart as he took the snacks straight from my hand.

We would talk to him, but right now I just settled in to watch Toy Story with them.

Once the movie finished and we had eaten all the snacks, I knew it was time to talk to Elias. To lay everything out on the table and tell him our intentions.

We also wanted to address the misunderstanding after our kiss. He needed to know that we hadn't put a stop to things because we didn't want him or didn't find him attractive; it was the complete opposite.

I needed to apologize as well for calling him fragile. Because, like he had said when he was yelling at us, he wasn't fragile, and I felt horrible for saying that he was. He was the strongest person I think I knew.

Grabbing the tray, I turned to set it on the bedside table while Lincoln turned the television off and sat up a little from where he had been slouching.

Elias tensed next to me because he knew it was time to talk. I didn't want him to think this was bad, though, so I squeezed his knee through the blankets.

"It's nothing bad, little bun. I promise."

Elias nodded and just looked down at his stuffed bunny in his lap and played with its ears while he waited for us to get situated. Lincoln nudged him with his shoulder as he looked at him.

"Do you want to talk about what your nightmare was about first?"

I watched as Elias almost flinched before sucking in a breath.

"Um… it was… my ex. He was angry with me about something. I can't remember what though, but it was a memory that I've relived a few times before..."

"Thank you for telling us, little one. That must have been hard to relive. You know you can come to us whenever you're feeling bad, right? I know you were upset after our kiss, but we're still here for you. We sat in the hallway just to be close in case you needed us, and I'm glad that we did."

Elias looked at Lincoln with his eyes widened in surprise when he said we had sat in the hallway.

"You did? Why?"

I reached forward and ran my fingers through his hair, getting him to turn his gorgeous eyes back to me. They were so unique, and I knew I could get lost in them if I wanted to.

"Because we care about you, Elias. We never meant to upset you, and I need to apologize for what I said. You are far from fragile, bunny. You are the strongest person I know, and you're a survivor." I watched him smile a little at my words and nod. Warmth filled my chest as he leaned into my touch on his hair. "But we won't apologize for putting a stop to anything further than kissing."

The pout that graced his lips was adorable and had me leaning forward to kiss his nose, which made him scrunch it in reaction.

"But I wanted to, Sir. I trust you. Both of you."

Massaging his scalp for a moment before sliding my hand down to cup his cheek, I smiled.