“Just…” Dario sighed. “He’s going through a lot.”
“He needs to accept this new change.” Alek wished he could give Theo more time but with the unseelie king still out there, they didn’t know what was headed in their direction.
“I know.” Dario looked even more upset.
Leaving Wylder and Mitch on the mat, Alek crossed to his golden dragon. He pulled Dario into his arms, loving how the man felt against him. Dario spent so much time worrying over Theo and Wylder that he didn’t take the time to worry about himself.
“How about you get ready for bed. I’ll talk to Theo and we’ll join you shortly,” Alek offered.
“I could use a nice soak in the tub,” Dario admitted.
Alek kissed him. He’d witnessed his fathers work a relationship with five mates. They made it seem so simple but Alek was learning there was nothing simple about loving four men. Each one of his mates was special in their own way. They also came with unique insecurities and worries. Navigating that was hard.
He drew back and cupped Dario’s face. “You’ve been consumed with worry for Theo. I’ve watched you work all day and cater to his every need. I understand why. But you need time for yourself too. Go soak and rest for a few minutes. I’ll take care of Theo. He’s going to be fine. We both know that he’s scared. Him running off is not anything new. We should be thankful that he just went to his room instead of going back to campus or something.”
Dario nodded. “Okay, thanks.”
“Go.” Alek urged Dario away. Turning, he smiled at Mitch already giving Wylder instructions on caring for his new weapon.
Now Alek had a little cat to track down.
At least the mate bond alerted Alek that Theo was in his bedroom. The room that Dario had set up for him, and not the master bedroom. Which meant that Theo was hiding.
That was not going to do at all.
Alek strode up the stairs from the gym and through the rest of the house. Aurelia had already done her work for the nightand the entire apartment gleamed clean and dust free. It had been a long time since Alek had lived in a house with a brownie. They’d had a family of brownies for a few decades before Alek had left home. They were the sweetest little creatures and Alek loved that Theo had rescued Aurelia from the unseelie king.
Ahead of him, Dario entered the master suite. Alek had to give his golden dragon credit. It must have been torture for Dario to pass Theo’s room and not stop to check on him.
Alek knocked twice on Theo’s door before pushing it open. Peeking around the corner, Alek searched the room for his feline.
He spotted Aurelia first on one of the top shelves that ran along the top of the walls. The brownie was petting the top of Theo’s head while cooing to him.
The shelves had been placed to cater to Theo’s shifter side where he could jump or climb from one to another. Theo had gone as high as he could. Alek doubted that even Mitch would be able to reach Theo in his natural form.
“Are you okay, Theo?” Alek asked as he sat on the edge of the bed. His little shifter could try to hide behind Aurelia but he was still bigger than her.
‘Mer.’
Alek still didn’t talk cat although Theo always spoke to him in that form. “Can you come down for me?”
‘Mer. Mer mer meow.’
“Honey. I don’t know what you’re saying.”
‘Meow. Meow. Mer. Mer.’
Okay, well if Theo wouldn’t come down or shift, then Alek would just talk. Hopefully his feline would at least listen to him.
“I know you’re scared. So much has happened so fast. You barely learned about being chosen then were attacked by the dark elves. Then we mated and instead of getting to spend time getting to know each other or even move in together, you were stolen away from us. And I’m so sorry about your mother and father. You haven’t had time to process that either.”
Stating everything out loud reminded Alek just how much Theo had been through.
The poor boy had thought this would be a simple start to his first year in college and it was anything but.
There were no fraternity parties and study dates for Theo. He had to deal with destiny and unknown creatures coming for him.
‘Meow.’
