“Wylder can protect Theo,” Alek reminded his demon warrior. “We weren’t counting Dario as a soldier but his dragon was fierce.”
“And we were lucky that he wasn’t stuck in his other form,” Mitch pointed out. “Dario can’t always transform. It’s not safe for him. And in some realms, he will be the target. Dragon scales bring in big money.”
Alek huffed. Mitch was right. He’d also already stated all these facts, which was why Alek had agreed in the first place. But now that Mitch was returned from his home realm with a sword forged in the pits of hell, Alek couldn’t help his worry. They were about to hand Wylder a weapon from the depths of hell. Literally.
“But I was reading!” Theo’s whine traveled down the steps to them.
Alek shook his head. The entire time that Theo had been back, Dario was either shoving food in Theo’s mouth or the little shifter had his head buried in one of Tate’s journals. While Alek approved of the studying, he knew how easy it was to become obsessed.
There was a difference in spending his entire life learning and Theo trying to learn everything in one day. That was not going to work. But now was not the time for Alek to address that quite yet. He had to back Mitch in the plan for Wylder.
“You need to give your eyes and brain a break,” Wylder said. “And you like coming to the gym with us. Remember shirts come off down here.”
“Both your shirts,” Theo said. “And you better sweat too.”
“Kinky!” Wylder joked.
They reached the bottom of the steps and stopped when they spotted Alek and Mitch standing in the middle of the mats.
“What’s going on?” Wylder asked as he looked from Alek to Mitch and back again.
“Come on, little one.” Dario urged Theo across the room, leaving Wylder standing in front of them.
“Wait…what?” Theo tried to ask.
“Shh,” Dario told Theo before he started to whisper.
Theo gasped but it was Wylder’s moment. The ceremony of this mattered.
“Shoes off, please,” Alek ordered Wylder.
Wylder frowned bending to remove his shoes and socks. “If I have to go against both of you, I just have to say that is not very fair.”
“You did well in the fae realm fighting for us,” Alek praised.
Wylder straightened and pushed out his chest. “Thanks.”
“We underestimated you,” Mitch added. “That is not something that we will do again.”
“It’s fine.” Wylder shrugged. “I didn’t even know that I had it in me until it came down to it. Other than a few fists fights, I’m not a violent guy.”
Alek took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “I truly believed that our destiny would be during the times of peace that my fathers worked so hard for. Now my concern is to keep all of us safe before we even have to take over as the chosen.”
Wylder was beginning to look nervous. He wiped his palms against his sweatpants.
First the rules. “You will train every day. Either with Mitch or myself. And absolutely no joking around. You are to take this seriously.”
Wylder nodded.
Alek stepped to the side, revealing Mitch in his true form, kneeling with the gold sword in front of him.
“What the fuck?” Wylder yelled.
“Come, mate.” Alek held his hand out for Wylder.
“Uh, okay.” Wylder stepped onto the mat. He walked to Alek but his gaze was locked onto the sword.
Leaning forward, Alek kissed Wylder gently. “Congratulations.”
