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Chapter 10

Theo couldn't wrap his head around the fact that Kilyan had actually kissed that big, long-fanged prisoner. And Yuri choked him! If Kilyan had not talked her down, Theo knew the prisoner would be dead right now. It was more than obvious that both of them knew the stranger, but neither of them seemed eager to explain how or why. Yuri and Kilyan moved grim and silent and did not acknowledge Theo's nonplussed stares.

Theo decided to push his confusion aside and focus on finding Roan. The prisoner told them Roan was in the captain's office, which would have been the biggest cabin at the end of the hall. They moved toward it without delay, and Theo pushed the door open, running inside before Kilyan could stop him. He halted at what he saw: Roan was lying in a bed, in the arms of a big handsome male. The two of them were sleeping peacefully. Roan's arm was in a sling, and the male was holding him tightly. His mouth was nuzzled in Roan's neck . . . and Roan was smiling in his sleep.

Theo about lost his senses. He heard Kilyan shout his name and ignored him: he lunged at the bed and grabbed the male by his mane. The male came awake but had no time to react: Theo punched him. They went down to the floor together as behind them, Kilyan and Yuri shouted. Theo could hear Roan begging him to stop, but he didn't pause for a second. He struck the male and saw his lip burst like a grape, struck again and again until blood flew. The male growled and suddenly swung. Theo tasted blood and the world spun a moment. The male made to grab him, Theo resisted, and they went down together, tumbling through the room.

"You motherfucker! Keep your paws off him!" Theo roared.

"Raa - you lunatic! Let go of me!"

Theo didn't let go: he yanked the male around by the mane and slammed his face in the floor. The male reached back and grabbed him. They tumbled again. As they went, Theo caught a flash of Roan's horrified face.

"Theo!" Kilyan barked. He made a snatch for Theo's arm but missed as the two males went rolling into the wall.

They slammed the wall in a heap. Theo recovered quickly and swung, but the male glared at him and blocked. They strained against each other and growled. The male told Theo to stop. Theo kept coming. Snarling and enraged, he locked his paws around the male's throat and snatched him close in a head-butt. An explosion of stars. Theo's head cleared in time to see the male's eyes roll back.

"Theo!" Yuri begged. "Theo - stop it!"

"Someone is coming!" Kilyan hissed, and Theo heard him close the door.

"Theo!" Roan's voice this time. "Let him go - please!"

Still holding the male by the throat, Theo slammed him hard into the wall and choked him. The male was still dazed and his eyes rolled weakly. Theo's dark pretty eyes narrowed viciously as he slowly cut off his air.

"Theo . . ." whispered Roan's sad voice.

Theo tensed when he felt Roan's gentle paw on his shoulder. Breathless and panting, his ears flattened and he slowly looked at Roan. His young lover was frightened and earnest. His green eyes were wide.

"Let him go! He didn't hurt me! He didn't!" Roan begged.

Theo's face darkened, but he let the male go and got to his feet. "No," he snarled, dusting himself off, "it looked like he was doing the exact opposite!"

Roan drew back, stung.

Theo looked away. He hated to see the hurt in Roan's eyes, but it was more than obvious he and this _captain_had been intimate! He was glaring at Roan when someone banged through the door.

"What in the hell," shouted a male, storming inside, "is going on here!" He was short and brown, with small beady eyes and a sneering mouth. Theo thought he looked like an uglier version of Kuza. He looked directly at Theo. "Kuza, you little shit," he snarled. "What the hell have you done now?"

Theo glanced at the dazed captain and hesitated, wishing he knew what Kuza would say. Before he could respond, more males crowded in the doorway.

Yuri stepped forward. "Kuza caught the slave trying to escape," she said, gesturing at Roan.

The newcomer's beady eyes darted to Theo, then to Roan, then to the captain on the floor. "I knew we should have locked him up like Tyne," he said, shaking his head. He helped the captain to his feet. "But you had to have the pretty little boy in your bed."

Theo's chest heaved and he glared at Roan. Roan avoided his eye.

"That's enough, Wakiza," the captain said. He massaged his throat where Theo had choked him, and his pale eyes looked from Kilyan to Yuri to Theo again. Theo got the feeling he understood perfectly who they were and what was going on. He looked at the apparent Wakiza and inclined his head at the door. "Please leave us for the moment. I need to speak to Kuza and his friends."

Wakiza sneered and shook his head. "You stupid boy!" he said to Theo. "Out all night drunk, then you return here and you think you're going to win my forgiveness by --!"

"I asked you to leave," the captain said firmly. "Now, Wakiza."

Wakiza's chest heaved. "Yes, sir!" He turned with a flash of his tail and stomped out, slamming the door behind him.

Theo watched angrily as the captain went to his desk and heavily sat. The male was still massaging his aching throat and looked very tired, perhaps even sad. He rested his paw on his thigh and regarded the strangers calmly. His gray eyes searched Theo and he smiled: could he see through the Glamour?

"I am Hukida," the captain said, "and you . . . are Theo."

Theo's lips tightened. As furious as he was at Roan, he went to him and put his arm around him. "That's right: I'm Theo! And if you ever touch him again, I'll make sure you have nothing to touch him with!"

"Theo . . ." Roan said miserably. Trapped in Theo's hard arm as he was, he looked slender and small. He probably felt that way too.

Theo was surprised when Hukida laughed softly. "Of that I'm sure," he said, looking at Theo with amused eyes. He looked at Roan and licked the blood from his lip. "So this is the one? A fierce protector you have, Roan." He laughed again, touching a ginger paw to his busted mouth. "Don't know why I didn't shit down my tail . . ." He winced and rubbed the back of his head.

Kilyan stepped forward. "I don't care who you are, I'm taking my son and we're leaving."

"Ha. And you would be Kilyan then." The captain inclined his head. "The door is right there. It was my intention to set him free."

Kilyan's brows shot up. He glanced at Roan, and Theo knew what he was thinking: had Roan seduced the captain into letting him go? But Roan made no move to explain. He bowed his head, looking miserable and embarrassed as Theo held him tight in his arm.

"You won't come back," Yuri told the captain and her staff glowed sinisterly.

The captain smiled to see the fire in her eyes. "No," he agreed, "we will not come back. Please . . . take him and go." He clutched his side where Theo had kneed him.

Kilyan nodded darkly and everyone went for the door.

Theo was surprised when Roan broke from his arm. He went to Hukida, and after hesitating, he leaned down and pecked him on the cheek. Theo set his teeth. Hukida blushed a little, cleared his throat, and turned to his desk, where he took up a quill and refused to look at anyone as he began to write. Roan didn't look at anyone either. He went to stand beside Theo with his head bowed. Theo took his paw, and they left.

They walked off the ship, and no one stopped them. It took Theo a while to realize Yuri had placed an illusion over Roan. Because Theo loved Roan, it was hard to see the illusion, but he caught flickering hints of it whenever Roan stood still.

There were a few times when slavers stopped them to talk, believing they were fellow slavers and that Theo was actually Kuza. Kilyan would announce that they were heading into the village on strict orders, and the conversations were always cut short.

By the time they made it to Zaldon's house, Yuri's Glamour spell had worn off. Everyone was gathered inside: Lea and Ohana had returned with LiAnh from their shopping trip and Wynn and Inden were playing a game with wooden figures on the floor. Theo was surprised to see Enya sitting with Aliona and Zalia around the fire. Apparently, Zaldon had brought over the rest of the family: Loryn and Keeno were talking by the window while Kira and Idella gasped over the pretty items Lea and Ohana had purchased at the market. Zane stood with Zaldon, a tiny pup in each of his big arms, as his wives giggled with Enya beside the fire.

Kel was sitting between Lynny and Julyan on the couch, watching his family with a small smile of content as Lynny teased Julyan about his purple mane-feathers.

"They're lavender!" Julyan insisted happily.

Lynny chuckled. "They're purple, I tell you. Back me up here, Kel."

Kel had LiAnh on his lap and was hardly listening. He lifted little LiAnh into the air and the pup giggled.

Also standing with Loryn and Keeno were Keeno's parents Yzlo and Hye . . . and two males Theo did not recognize.

The older male wore a bow and quiver on his back. The arrows had red and green feathers, as did the talisman on his upper arm. He was also dyed with red tattoos and looked somewhat like an older version of Keeno.

The younger male made Theo do a double take: he was gorgeous. His fur was pale blue and covered in white tattoos, and his mane was curly and wild around slanted eyes that swirled green and blue. He stood tall and slender beside Keeno with an exquisitely carved white staff in his paw, and he seemed to be the first one to notice the others enter.

"Father," the young male said in a hushed voice, "who is that?" His pretty eyes were fixed on Yuri.

The boy's apparent father looked up. "Hey, hey - Kilyan's back, everyone!"

The room erupted with greetings and laughter as everyone got to their feet. Theo sighed in relief: apparently, Julyan had held out with his lie.

Kilyan laughed as Wynn bounced up to him, braids flapping, and hugged his middle. Lea and Ohana also greeted their husband, and Kel came forward with little LiAnh on his hip.

Theo felt Roan hiding a little behind him, and he knew Roan was trying to hide his injury for as long as he could.

"Where have you been, my son?" Kel asked Kilyan, instantly suspicious.

Theo moaned inside: there was never any fooling Kel.

Kel looked at Theo, ignoring it when little LiAnh grabbed a fistful of his mane. "And did you pick up the rings?"

Theo clapped a paw to his forehead: crap.

"It's alright," Aliona said, coming up. She took LiAnh from Kel. "There is plenty of time to pick up the rings." She looked at Kilyan. "But what you were out doing then?" She gasped. "Roan!"

Lea noticed Roan hiding sheepishly behind Theo as well. "What happened!" she cried, coming forward. "My baby - my baby!"

"Mom . . ." Roan moaned when Lea grabbed him and pulled him forward.

"What happened to his arm?" Ohana demanded. She glared at Kilyan suspiciously. "Were you out roughhousing and getting drunk? Let me smell your breath!"

"Ohana," Kilyan moaned, holding up his paws. "It's wasn't --"

"Over here on the couch!" Lea cried, marching Roan away.

"What happened to him!" Wynn squeaked, terrified. "What happened, Daddy?"

Theo watched as Roan was led to the couch by his mother and made to sit. There was murmuring as Zaldon looked over Roan's injured arm. Theo could tell Zaldon wanted to say something to Yuri: he kept glancing at her while he was examining Roan, and Theo saw her sheepishly fiddle with her staff. Ah . . . had Yuri taken Zaldon's staff?

"I can heal it," Zaldon announced, "but it shouldn't be rushed. I should precede slowly . . . Yuri, please go upstairs and prepare a space for Roan . . . Julyan, if you would help her?"

"Of course," Julyan said, rising.

Yuri flattened her ears and followed the others upstairs, and given the worried look she passed Enya, Theo could only guess that she was in trouble for taking the staff. Zaldon did not need her to help with Roan. More than likely, he wanted her upstairs so he could lecture her.

"Now start talking," Ohana said to Kilyan.

Lea folded her arms and lifted her brows. "It's just like when he was little. I leave him with you for five seconds and he gets hurt!"

Kilyan held up his paws. "It wasn't like that! He . . . got in a fight on patrol," he said, glancing at Theo for help.

Theo nodded and stepped forward. "We tried to find a sorcerer that could heal him so no one would know. Yuri couldn't do it . . . so we wound up going around town. We're sorry . . ."

Still standing at the window with Loryn, Keeno shook his head. "Kilyan, you should know better," he said, laughing. "Sneaking around behind our backs --"

Kilyan shrugged. "We didn't want anyone to worry. Look what happened when you all found out!"

Ohana relented and Lea unfolded her arms.

"I'm sorry, honey," Lea said, taking Kilyan's arm. "You frightened me! I didn't know what happened!"

"Well, at least the scare has passed," Kira said, coming up and rubbing Lea's shoulder. She jerked her head and her long white mane tumbled. "Come on, Aliona. We should start supper - Lea, go tell Julyan so he can help us."

Lea nodded. She pecked Kilyan on the cheek and went up the stairs with swishing hips and tail.

Everyone seemed to settle down again. The family went back to talking and laughing as they stood and sat around the room. Enya was sitting on the deerskins beside the fire and Aliona had charged her with LiAnh. She held her youngest cousin in her lap as Theo took a weary seat beside her.

"Boy," Enya said, eying Theo's grim face, "what's got your nipples twisted?"

Theo laughed bitterly. "Nothing."

Enya rolled her eyes and her tan curls spilled to the side. "Come on, Theo. We were married for two seconds. You can tell me."

Theo looked at her fondly, but he glared at the fire. "I think Roan was . . . with someone else."

Enya shook her head. "No way."

"Way."

Enya studied Theo curiously, and he thought her sapphire blues were a little frightened. "Is that what the fight was about? You tried to kill some guy for touching Roan . . . and Roan got hurt instead?"

Theo swallowed hard and stared at the fire. He wasn't much of a liar anymore than Roan was. So he let Enya make her own conclusions. The fact remained that Roan had been with someone else. His face darkened.

"You're . . . still gonna marry him, aren't you?" Enya said slowly. LiAnh cooed in her lap, reaching pudgy paws to Theo.

Theo looked up and smiled: LiAnh was looking at him with the typical bright and eager innocence of a puppy. He reached over and let LiAnh's little white paw clamp tight on his finger. He wiggled his finger in LiAnh's fist and the pup giggled. Of course he was still going to marry Roan: he could not see himself severing from his family. He glanced at Loryn. A family that . . . in a way . . . he had always been a part of.

"I'm already married to him," Theo said with a snort. "I just . . ." He groaned.

Enya watched him worriedly a moment. "You'll sort it out, Theo. I promise. You think I never cheated on Yuri?"

Theo eyed her, startled.

"Why don't you talk to your father about it?"

Theo scowled. "He's not exactly here, En. As if he would understand anyway."

"He's right in the garden."

Theo looked at her quickly. "What?"

Enya smiled and jerked her head. "Go on, Theo. Your mother is upstairs too. Go see them."

Enya giggled when Theo leapt to his feet. He flew through the room, and Lynny laughed when he almost bumped into him. He hardly noticed. His father was here! He flew through the kitchen - causing Aliona to scold him when he almost upset a pot -- skidded into the garden, and halted.

It was afternoon, and the banana trees swayed against the cloudless blue sky. Flowers pressed in all around, and in neat sections under the trees, Julyan's vegetables sprouted from the rich dark soil. Theo peered down the cobbled walk and it took him a moment to notice his father sitting on a stone bench. He almost laughed: it was the same stone bench he and Roan had made out on any number of times.

Sade looked up and smiled as Theo came to him. He was an older replica of his son, with the same dark gray fur and dark, pretty eyes. He sat with his arms folded, but when Theo stood over him, he held them open.

"Dad!" Theo laughed, falling into those arms. He sank on the bench beside his father, still clinging to him and breathing in his harsh scent.

Sade laughed too and thumped Theo on the back happily. "My boy," he said, a little sadness in his voice. "To think my stubbornness kept us apart for a year."

Theo pulled back, and he and Sade studied each other in happy silence a moment. Suddenly embarrassed, they broke apart and sat on the bench side by side. Sade folded his arms again, and Theo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"So you're getting married to that boy," Sade said eventually. "I didn't realize you two were serious."

Theo rolled his eyes: Sade didn't think any tail chaser love was serious. "Yeah, Dad. I've always loved Roan."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Sade said, sounding hurt. "Do you know what it was like to find out through someone else that my boy was a tail chaser?"

Theo's face darkened. "Are you kidding, Dad? How could I tell you something like that? All you ever talked about how you wanted this and this and that from me - grandpups included. I . . . couldn't let you down."

"But your happiness is important, too, Theo," Sade said, a little gently. "Don't you think I understand that?"

"Then why the hell," Theo straightened up, "did you disown me, Dad! Why refuse to speak to me for a year! Why keep Mom from visiting!"

Sade looked at his son guiltily. He hesitated, then placed a paw on the back of Theo's long mane. "I didn't push you away because you're a tail chaser, son," he said softly. "I pushed you away because you disobeyed me. You didn't trust me! You ran away rather than come to your father!"

Theo looked away: bullshit. "You mean I acted like a teenager? Fancy that."

Sade chuckled. "Alright, alright. I'm here now. You're an adult, you're free of my tyranny. I can't force you into overtime or drill you from sunup to sundown."

"That leaves us plenty of room to talk." Theo smiled at his father.

Sade smiled in return and shrugged. "So let's talk, let's make up for lost time. This son-in-law of mine . . . he treats you well?"

Theo scowled, thinking of Roan sleeping so happily in the captain's arms on the ship.

"Uh oh," Sade said, sighing. "I know that look. Trouble already?"

Theo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees again. Did he look that angry? He supposed to he was. He had never imagined Roan would_cheat_ on him. He wanted to punch something. He thought of the pantry back at their house, of the wine he had placed inside as a surprise for Roan. Maybe he would drink it alone now.

"Tell your father," Sade said, rubbing his thighs, "and he will offer his sage advice."

Theo laughed weakly. "You can't tell anyone, Dad. I mean anyone."

"Alright," Sade said, nodding deeply.

Theo bit his lip and looked at his loosely clasped paws. "Roan was taken by some slavers --"

"What!"

"Yeah. Me and Kilyan and Yuri, we went to rescue him. I spent the morning thinking he was hurt, dead, long gone. I get there and what do I find?" Theo shook his head darkly. "He's in bed with some - guy."

"Was he cuter than you?"

"No."

"Then what are you worried about?"

"Dad!"

Sade laughed. "Alright, I'll be serious now. Theo . . . they were in bed together. Does this mean you walked in on them - ass fucking?" he said awkwardly. He made a face.

Theo blinked thoughtfully. "Well . . . no. They were just asleep." He scowled. "But still . . ."

"What did you do?"

"I grabbed the bastard and beat the shit out of him."

Sade chuckled and clapped Theo on the shoulder. "Good boy. But did you even talk to Roan about it? Maybe you're mistaken."

Theo shook his head darkly. "I know Roan, Dad. He couldn't even look me in the eye! That means he's guilty. And he kissed the guy goodbye! Right on his cheek, right in front of me!"

"Which still means," Sade said, "that the male could have just made a friend of him. Who knows? Roan may have been reacting to your anger and simply came off as guilty. _Talk_to him about it, son. Because when you marry him this week, there can be no doubt in your heart."

Theo sighed heavily and nodded. "Thanks, Dad."

"It's what I do, boy."

Theo straightened up again and they were smiling at each other when Kilyan emerged from the house. LiAnh was riding his shoulders and Amrosa was with him. Theo stood when he saw his mother and embraced her.

Amrosa was a small, short female with gray fur and a long mane she kept pulled behind her shoulders, straight and smooth. Her eyes were often scolding and nagging, and when Theo pulled back to look down at his mother, they weren't any different.

"Have they been feeding you?" Amrosa demanded. "Look at you! All skin and bone!"

Theo laughed. "Hey, Mom."

"Skin and bone," snorted Sade as Kilyan took a seat beside him. "The boy is hardy and strong, all height and muscle!"

Amrosa waved a paw at Sade, ignoring him. "To think," she said happily, "I made you have a wedding back in the summer village . . . and now you're having another!"

Theo laughed. It was true: weddings were not a necessity. When a male claimed a female at the mating season, she was his wife. Simple as that. But some wolves wanted to celebrate the union, and so sometimes little weddings were held. One year before, Amrosa had wanted a wedding for Theo - it having been her dream that he would have one -- and Keeno had agreed to host the dismal celebration.

"This one will be better," Theo said, hugging his mother tight in his arm.

"Because this time, he'll say 'I do' and mean it," Kilyan added.

Sade chuckled guiltily: he had forced Theo into it. "And this time," he said, changing the subject, "we'll have better cake. That Julyan let me taste some of his cookies - by god. I can't stop thinking of them!"

"Cookie!" LiAnh shouted.

Everyone laughed.

Laughter. With his arm around his mother, Theo joined the laughter and knew he wanted such laughter the rest of his life. That was his dream.