15. Chapter Fifteen: Theo

Chapter Fifteen – Theo

T his isn't the first dream Theo has had of Luka since his imprisonment, but it's certainly the best.

The feast has been laid before them on a massive oak table. Steaming plates of pork, lamb, and rabbit glisten beneath the candlelight. The smell alone has Theo weak, and if it weren't for the soft chair beneath him, he would have had to crawl to his meal.

As it is, he finds himself pressed sidelong against Luka's soft, warm body, the food splayed out before them.

Theo glances at Luka, to find the Siacchian has been watching him.

"Are you ready?" Luka says, shifting. His robes are practically translucent, doing little to hide his ivory skin and the soft ripples of muscle on his arms and back. His lips glisten as he sips a glass of clear wine. Luka's eyes flicker, trailing over Theo's body.

It is then that Theo realizes he is naked as well. Naked – and hard. He looks between the food and his lover, unsure which he wants to devour first –

"Theo!"

Theo's eyes flutter. He grunts. Cathalan has been visiting what felt like every hour over the past day, intent on drawing out as much information as he could in regards to Akull and how difficult it would be to reach the Kiteran capital considering the ongoing winter. But the newly made king can wait. This dream is far more important.

"Theo, I know you're awake."

That voice doesn't sound anything like the Snake of the South.

Theo's eyes fly open, his heart shooting to his throat as he jumps to his feet. Delicate hope blossoms as he stares through the bars of his cell –

Only to find Luka's wide blue eyes gazing back at him.

"Is this another dream?" Theo murmurs, afraid to look away.

Luka's hair is a bit longer, his locks now almost brushing his chest in soft, dark waves. Bags hang beneath his eyes, and shallow lines bracket his lips. But Theo has never seen a more beautiful person in all his life.

"Not a dream," Luka whispers. He sinks to his knees as he reaches out to Theo, his hands shaking. "This is real. Oh, Theo."

Theo reaches back, only realizing as his eyes fall to his wrists how he must look. Almost a full month of restricted food and water has left his body wasted and weak. His arms likely resemble a withered old man's.

But Luka looks upon him with nothing but worry. Worry, and something lighter and brighter. Something that makes it easy for Theo to force his exhausted and worn body to his feet, collapsing at the end of his cell.

Their hands meet, fingers interlacing, and Theo has never felt happier.

"I found you," Theo rasps.

Luka shakes his head. "No, you idiot. I found you. "

Theo presses against the bars of his cell, his cheek wet. How could I have been so foolish? Just a tool? Just someone I could use and discard? How could I have ever allowed such thoughts to roam?

He is my everything.

"Let me get rid of these – these bars." Luka fumbles with his free hand, withdrawing a key from his belt. He awkwardly unlocks the cell door.

Together, they stumble into each other's arms. Luka's body is impossibly warm. Theo shudders as he holds him close, his tears dampening the fine silks of Luka's white robes. He wants nothing more than to bury his face into Luka's neck, to never have to face life without this man again.

Luka draws Theo's face away, and for a terrible minute, the Siacchian's face darkens. Luka's lips part, but instead of speaking, he pulls Theo into a kiss.

The world seems to pause as Theo falls into Luka. As their lips brush, and everything is right again. As their tongues meet, Theo groans, pulling Luka closer. Theo grabs Luka's hands, and Luka gasps. Theo devours the noise, his body hardening, and Luka becomes pliant beneath him.

Finally.

Theo isn't sure if the thought is his wolf's or his own, for they are both in agreement. They have waited for this moment for far too long.

Luka's skin is impossibly soft beneath Theo's hands. Theo shoves aside the collar of Luka's fine robes to nip at his jaw, his neck, his collarbone. Luka unfurls beneath him, groaning.

"You taste of roses," Theo says as his lips travel to Luka's chest.

"Theo –" Luka starts to say, eyelids fluttering, but then Theo cups Luka's growing erection and Luka's eyes shut as he groans.

"Yes?" Theo says as he strokes Luka's erection. When Luka is unable to reply, only thrusting against Theo's hand with low murmurs, Theo smiles, observing the man undone, all at his hand. The silk robes are easy enough to undo, whispering as they fall from Luka's chest to reveal his pale skin, and Theo eagerly kisses his way down Luka's front –

But then Luka pulls away, chest flushed and heaving. "Theo," he says again, eyes glazed. He blinks, shaking himself. "We need to talk."

"Now?" Theo looks Luka over. The white robes do little to cover the man's peaked nipples and urgent erection. Lust hazes his thoughts, making it impossible to think of anything other than –

"I'm your mate," Luka says.

Theo nods without thinking. His lips meet Luka's throat again, kissing down the length of his pulse. "You are mine," he agrees.

Luka groans. He leans into Theo's touch, his skin pebbling. But then he shakes himself, shoving Theo away. "Theo – h-how long have you known? How long have you been keeping this from me?"

Theo yanks back, one hand still tangled in Luka's. His thumb rubs absent minded circles as his mind finally processes what Luka has said.

Mate.

Theo's eyes widen as the floor seems to shift beneath his feet. Luka is here, and Luka knows that Theo has been hiding from him.

"I'm sorry," Theo finally says in a soft voice. He squeezes Luka's hand, looking away. "I… I wasn't certain…" But no, that isn't true. And he's so tired of lying to Luka. "I realized it when we left Cesscounthe, but I suspected when… when I was still holding you prisoner."

Luka doesn't speak.

Theo stares at the ground, eyes tracing the path on the floor that he has paced every day for almost a month now. He imagined his reunion with Luka so many times, and never once had he thought it would end up like this.

"So that's why I could never leave you behind," Luka whispers. "Even after you were captured and it would have made sense to abandon you, even when other opportunities presented themselves…"

"Other opportunities?" Theo can't help the defensiveness that bleeds into the words. "Is that why you've been taking up the Demon Prince?"

Luka narrows his eyes, his gaze flying back to Theo. "Don't speak like that, Theo. You kept our true bond – the fact that we are mates – hidden from me this whole time. We almost – oh, Thought, we almost sealed the bond, didn't we? In that inn in Hessalar? That's why you left back then. That's what you were going to tell me."

"I… I know. I'm sorry. I didn't… I never wanted this. I didn't want to fall in love with someone –"

"And you think I did? Do you know how much easier things would be if this bond didn't exist between us?" Luka's cheeks flush. "Cathalan has everything I could possibly need. He could help me save Cassian and my unborn sibling. All I had to do was leave you behind –"

"Cathalan won't stop with just saving your siblings," Theo counters.

Luka's lips curl. "And what, are you saying that you're helping me out of the goodness of your heart with no intentions to resume your conquering of my country? You are a Kiteran , after all." He jerks his hand from Theo as he speaks, pointing – and a strange circular scar on his palm catches the light.

"What is this?" Theo seizes Luka's fingers, turning so he could examine the wound. "Have you somehow injured yourself, Luka?"

Luka's face grows only redder. "That's none of your business –"

"I'm supposed to keep you safe! It's always my business!"

"And a fine job of that you've done getting kidnapped! I had to come and save you – "

Between Luka's flushed cheeks, wild eyes, and the injury on his palm, Theo should be grateful that he sensed the attacker before they managed to lay a hand on his mate. His sharp ears warn him only just in time.

One moment, he stands there, attention focused wholly on Luka. He ignores the flicker of movement he sees out of the corner of his eye – the soft sigh of the prison door as it eases open and then closes.

But then something catches in the dim candlelight – the shine of a blade.

"Get down!" Theo cries, spinning Luka and himself aside as the robed assailant launches themselves at Luka's throat.

Luka grunts as Theo throws them both against the sandstone wall. Theo takes half a second to examine his mate – and after finding him uninjured beyond the new scar on his palm, Theo whirls on the attacker.

But there isn't just a single assailant.

There are three.

All robed in black with white masks, they move like water. The first, the one who attacked Luka, wields the double knives common to the South. The other two hold short swords. Their blades all gleam in the candlelight, dripping with what is likely poison.

"The Wolf's Teeth," Theo whispers. To Luka, he says, "Don't you dare let them hurt you."

"Why would I do that!"

The knife-wielder swings. Their movements are impossibly fast – or Theo is ridiculously slow. He manages to catch them at the wrist before they reach his throat. He won't be able to rely on speed to win this fight.

Theo shoves against the attacker's arms and seizes their face, head butting their nose. Wetness smears his forehead. Blood.

Dazed, the attacker groans. Theo spins them, wraps his arms around their neck –

Snap. The assailant falls to the ground, dead.

Theo's body shakes with effort as he turns –

"Look out!" Luka cries, shoving Theo clear of the blade. Theo's heart slams against his chest as he staggers, narrowly avoiding the attack. Luka picks up one of the fallen knives and attempts to block, but the attacker easily disarms him.

Luka's face pales as he stares down the remaining two of the Wolf's Teeth, his throat bobbing with a swallow.

Theo staggers to his feet. His body feels too light – weak from starvation and dehydration.

But his wolf? His wolf is strong.

And so, so angry.

How dare you attack my mate?

Theo throws back his head and roars . He charges, knocking one attacker to the ground.

"Theo!" Luka shouts.

Theo looks up just in time to see Luka throw his knife. Theo snatches the blade from the air and slices the attacker's throat.

Hot blood soaks his hands and his face as Theo turns on the remaining assailant. The Kiteran looks between Luka and Theo, scarred hands tightening on their blade – before diving toward Luka.

Theo darts forward, but he is so much slower than he should be.

"Don't kill them!" Luka shouts. His words choke off as he tries to dodge the attack – but the blade still slices a neat, clean line on his shoulder.

Theo swings for the attacker's head, reversing the blow to use the flat of his blade. They fall, unconscious. But Theo doesn't even look at them.

Luka's eyes flutter as he looks up at Theo, his cheeks pale, his fingers shaking.

"Luka," Theo says hesitantly, but Luka shakes his head. He touches the cut on his arm, the color draining from his face when his fingers come away bloody.

"It doesn't hurt," he says faintly. He takes a weak step back, falling against the wall.

"Calm yourself, Luka," Theo says as he tries to force himself to follow the command of his own words. His heart roars in his ears. "The slower your pulse beats, the longer it takes before the poison kicks in."

"Poison!" Luka gasps.

Theo curses. He looks about frantically, but his thoughts are impossible to hear over the roar of his heart and his own rising panic. Think, Theo, think. What kind of poison do the Wolf's Teeth carry?

Luka whimpers. "Is the room – is the room getting darker?" His fingers crawl across the sandstone, before reaching out. Theo takes his hand, pressing it to his cheek.

"Yes," Theo lies, but Luka sees right through him.

"Am I going to die? Oh, oh, Thought." Luka closes his eyes. "I-I'm scared," he whispers, touching the cut on his shoulder.

Theo's head spins as he gathers his mate in his arms, gently guiding him to the ground. "You'll be alright," he realizes he is saying as he strokes Luka's hair. He halts his hand upon seeing the streak of blood he left on Luka's face. "I can fix this. I can fix this."

I have to fix this.

He presses his lips to the wound on Luka's shoulder, a cold feeling of unreality gripping him. What if this is still just a dream? Soon, I'll wake up in my cell, alone, imprisoned, and Luka will be safe and happy.

But Luka is far too warm and real in his arms. Would his dreams be so vivid? Would they paint such a terrible picture of near death for the man he loves so dearly?

Tears gather in Luka's closed eyes. A slight purple tinges the wound at his shoulder –

I can save him, Theo realizes.

I know this poison.

The Midnight Kiss.

Octavian's signature poison. What did he always say? It blinds his victims first so they're easier for him to defeat.

Theo presses his lips to the wound and sucks. The poison tastes bitter on his tongue as he tries to draw it from Luka's body. He turns to spit out the blood and repeats the action.

"You'll be fine, Luka, do you hear me?" Theo says as he works. "This poison – it's quick acting, but I should be able to remove most of it from your body."

"I'm sorry, Theo, there was so much more that I wanted to tell you," Luka rasps.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Theo says as he works. "You can't talk like that because you're going to be just fine. You hear me? You're going to be fine. Because – because –"

Octavian's voice returns to Theo, the memory faded and distant as if years have passed, instead of months, since Theo had heard him say, Our people always carry an antidote on them in case of emergencies. We mustn't have the wrong person die at the wrong time, after all.

"I'm still here," Theo says, hurriedly, "but I need to search the bodies."

"Please, please don't leave me again."

"I'm right here," Theo says, squeezing Luka's hand. His Siacchian's skin is growing cold. He tries to remember how long Octavian said it took for a lethal dose of the poison to take hold as he shoves himself to his feet. He continues to speak to Luka, croning reassurances as he rolls the unconscious attacker onto their back, patting down their pockets. Nothing.

"Talk to me, Theo, please," Luka whispers.

Moisture drips in little plink, plink, plinks in the barred, breadbox sized-window. The torch flickers, casting long shadows over Luka's too-pale face. Theo inhales deeply – the scent of his own waste, his body, the rancid humidity of the prison fills him with rage. Luka can't die here. Not here .

Desperation is like a cold knife to Theo's throat as he searches the next body. "You know," Theo says. "I always admired your strength, Luka. You have always been so infallible to me. When you were captured, you stood before me with your head held high, no fear in your eyes. When you went before that horrid prince, you had the same look on your face: like you were marching into war."

"You saw me?"

"Yes. I was there." Theo's heart pounds in his ears as he moves on to the next body. "You looked so beautiful, Luka."

There.

In the pocket of the last attacker is a small vial. Theo smells it – and hope blossoms in his chest.

"You're going to be fine, Luka," Theo says. He sinks to the ground at his mate's side, gathering Luka in his arms. He presses the vial to Luka's lips. "Drink."

Luka swallows the liquid down, his nose wrinkling. Theo smooths Luka's hair, whispering to him softly, "You are so beautiful. So smart, so strong. You're going to be fine, and I'm not going anywhere, ever again."

Luka turns, rolling into Theo. Theo helps the Siacchian curl around him, his heart warming as Luka rests his head on Theo's lap. Theo continues to murmur soft compliments, lacing his fingers through Luka's hair, down his cheek, as he holds the man close. He keeps an eye on the unconscious attacker, but they do not move as he consoles his mate.

After a long time of pressing close, Luka says, quietly, "I can feel my fingers again."

"Good." Theo closes his eyes as he sags with relief. "Both the antidote and the poison work quickly."

Theo slumps against the wall as any remaining tension drains from his body. His heart starts to slow as Luka pulls him tight, his eyes slowly opening.

"I can see you," Luka says, still quiet. His blue eyes are watery. As he stares up at Theo, his chin starts to quiver, a strange array of emotions playing out over his face. His hands tighten on Theo's loose robes, and he moves even closer.

"I didn't know if I would ever see you again," Luka whispers. "I didn't think I could do this all on my own, Theo. Oh, I am so angry at you for hiding this from me, but I thought – I thought you might be gone forever, and I –"

"Shh." Theo strokes his hair. "You did it. You found me. Thank you, Luka."

"I didn't understand why. All this time, I just needed you. I needed you back. I needed you safe, but I never understood why I couldn't control myself or my emotions –"

"I should have told you from the beginning, Luka. I'm so sorry."

Luka sniffs. He buries his head into Theo's lap.

For a perfect moment, Theo closes his eyes and imagines they are elsewhere. Somewhere safe, somewhere no one would ever hurt them or separate them again.

"You stink," Luka says.

Theo laughs and opens his eyes. "Come on, Luka. We need to get to work."

They put the remaining unconscious attacker in Theo's cell.

"Should we be running right now?" Theo asks as Luka locks the door.

Luka shakes his head. "Cathalan said he'd borrow us a few hours of time – er, alone. Together. He probably expected we'd have some things we would need to… discuss. We'll leave for the north shortly."

"Good." Theo cracks his knuckles as he turns his attention to the man in the cell. They have stripped Luka's would-be assassin down to his small clothes, and Theo has swapped out his prisoner's rags for the Wolf's Teeth's black robes. Undressed, their attacker looks almost small, the only defining feature on his body the brand of a fang on the back of his neck that marks him as one of the Wolf's Teeth mercenaries.

"My mother sent him," Luka says, eyes going flat.

"Your mother and Octavian," Theo agrees. Anger stirs in his chest at the thought, but Luka isn't looking for that right now. No, Luka is staring at the man they have put behind bars, his face blank.

"Wake him," Luka says.

Theo rattles the cell bars with the short sword. The sound rings through the prison, loud enough that even a human's insensitive ears would hurt hearing it, and the assassin's eyes fly open.

The man jerks into consciousness, clumsily standing. His gaze lands on Luka and Theo, and he braces his shoulders. The Wolf's Teeth are known for their ruthlessness, but a muscle still jumps in the man's jaw as he takes in his situation.

"How many has your employer sent after Luka?" Theo says.

The man shakes his head.

"I think you misunderstand your situation," Luka says quietly. "We want you to live."

The man blinks.

Luka continues, "We understand this is your line of work. And I'm sure you understand that every person who has made an attempt on my life has either been killed or failed. The Wolf's Teeth are able to reject jobs should the body count become too high. We can either add your life to the list of those already dead, or you can return to my mother and her people with this message. What say you to this deal?"

The man lifts his chin, pressing his lips together. Theo allows him a beat before he rattles the bars of the prison again. "Answer him."

"I cannot betray my employer," the man replies. "My life is not worth my people's reputation."

"But your reputation doesn't have to factor in," Luka says. "This isn't a matter of how others view you; it's a matter of math. How much did my mother pay you and was it worth the lives you have lost thus far and the people you will continue to lose?"

The man's eyes dart from Luka to Theo. He isn't much older than either of them, likely in his late twenties. He runs a hand across the dark beard on his chin. Finally, he says, "What is the message you would have me deliver?"

Luka smiles. "Tell her that we appreciate her efforts, but she will have to do better. If not, she can expect us to return upon spring's beginning."

"Is that it?"

Luka glances at Theo. Theo nods.

Luka reaches into the coin purse hidden inside his robes and withdraws a handful of jewels. "These are from the royal coffers. I would like you to deliver a message to two others."

The man's eyes snag on the glittering rubies and sapphires. He nods.

"Tell the Toula, the old female impyassus of the Gamgy district, that things are about to change again in Cesscounthe. Luka Lockehart and Theodori Hunter Wolf-Born are not who people claim they are. If she and her people can trust us, we can help bring about the change she desires."

"That's a lot of names."

"And this is a lot of jewels." Luka pulls the coin purse from his robes and shows the small fortune to the assassin. "This will surely be more than what my mother offered for me."

Not for the first time since Luka explained this plan to Theo, did Theo wonder how much Cathalan's royal coffers might suffer after learning that Luka has lifted a small fortune. But the Snake of the South deserves it after all his trickery.

The assassin looks between the two of them again. "I'll deliver your messages. Will you release me now?"

Before either could reply, a knock sounds at the door. Theo's eyes dart to Luka, brows raised, as the entrance cracks, a familiar face peering through.

"It's nearly nightfall," Darri says. "I've been sent to fetch you, First Consort. Are you finished yet?"

"You could have come a bit earlier to help with the assassins," Luka replies.

"Assassins? I thought Marlacyn was joking when he said –" The door swings a bit wider. "Can I look or are you naked?" Darri says, hands covering his eyes. Before Luka can reply, he removes his fingers and takes in the two dead bodies and the nearly naked, newly imprisoned, assassin. His eyes glide past Luka, whose white silk robes have been shoved aside to reveal his chest and most of his thighs. "Seems like you have it handled."

"Can you order for someone to come and release this man before sunset tomorrow? He'll need supplies and a horse," Luka says.

"Of course, First Consort," Darri replies. "That's what we do with all of our assassins. Now, are you prepared? We'll need to head to Akull as soon as we have the cover of nightfall. And we'll need to get this one," he nods at Theo, "some soap and snakeskin so he better blends in with the guards."

Luka swallows as he turns to Theo. Despite the self-assured lift to his chin, there is a hint of hesitation as he says, "Are you ready?"

Theo takes Luka's hand. "Let's go."

Time to go back to Akull.

Theo squeezes Luka's fingers. Theo is still weak and starved. But he isn't alone. He has Luka at his side and soon, if he plays this game correctly, he will have an army at his back. They went to the South together and they survived.

And maybe, maybe Luka will accept him, and they can complete this bond.

But first, they will need to go back to where Theo began.

It's time to return to the bitter North.

It's time to go home.