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  Ryland tasted blood when he bit his tongue to stop himself from saying something that would most likely get him beaten. Instead he looked down at the chain on his foot. “Because I’m stuck here in the kitchen and the rest of the kitchen staff ran off the moment they found out Refugio had died. You can either unlock me, or send in some of the guards to bring the dishes out.”

  Ryland would have been long gone with his sister if anyone would have bothered to unchain him. He’d actually thought at one point he had Lowell, the head guard, convinced to let them leave, but then the call came that the new Chief Council would be arriving with the other Council members in tow and suddenly Lowell would no longer even entertain the idea of letting him or Keira go.

  Gerald stepped closer to Ryland, getting right in his face. The snarl Gerald wore told Ryland he had stepped a little too far over the line of something he shouldn’t say. Fortunately, Jose, another guard, came running in. “They’re here.”

  Gerald didn’t waste another breath on Ryland as he turned on his heel and headed out of the kitchen. When he came upon Jose, he pointed to the coyote shifter. “Get a couple of other guards and bring all this food to the main dining room and do it quickly.”

  Then he was gone, with Jose racing out after him, yelling as he went for two more guards. Seconds later Jose returned with Chip and Gil in tow. Ryland pointed to the various dishes and handed the three men pot holders. “Make sure to grab a spoon or fork for each dish,” he told them even as he placed several forks on the plates of meat dishes.

  The moment the guards left with the first trays of food, Ryland turned to his sister. "You need to go to your room and hide." Then he grabbed her and hugged her. "Actually, you should go to my room and hide."

  Keira nodded and rushed off.

  Ryland wasn't sure what was going to happen but he would do whatever it took to save his sister from having to endure any more pain or suffering.

  As the guards came running back into the kitchen for more food, Ryland turned back to the stove to finish the last of the dishes. He just hoped he wouldn't have to cut off his foot, because that would suck.

  CHAPTER 3

  Chadwick leaned closer to Draco and asked, "Are you going to be okay? Because I gotta say, you look like you're about to eat everyone in this car."

  He hated to admit it, but Chadwick wasn't far off. Draco was on edge and it was only getting worse. The effort it took to remain seated was becoming more and more difficult. Although part of that was because he had to sit there and listen to Lowell blather on and on about everything from the meal that they were preparing to the luxurious accommodations of the Council's manor. Draco was getting closer to ripping off the door and beating the man with it.

  "Because I have a suggestion for who you start with," Chadwick joked as he rolled his eyes at Lowell's constant fawning over Saber.

  Draco had to bite back the laughter that tried to work its way out. Chadwick might've been spot on with his comment, but it was inappropriate, especially since Lowell was there in the car with him and had shifter hearing just like they did. Sure, the man might have been annoying, but he was trying, and that went a long way in Draco's book. He just hoped the rest of the guards felt the same way.

  The car rolled to a stop in front of an enormous mansion. Apparently, the former council didn't worry about spending money. Then again, with the taxes they collected from the various packs, they could probably afford something this grand. Another example of how the old council was corrupt.

  Draco flung open the door before the car even came to a complete stop. The only reason he didn't fly off right then and there was because he had arrived at his destination. He couldn't explain it, but he knew whoever was calling to him was inside this monstrosity of a building. If only there weren’t another two dozen guards waiting at the door to greet them, Draco might've started his search.

  But the moment he stepped out of the car, he could sense an evil presence lurking nearby. There was someone in this group that planned on doing them harm and Draco wasn’t about to let that happen.

  “Shit,” Saber mumbled as he glanced Draco’s way as he also got out of the car. “I know that look. What’s going on?”

  Draco shook his head back and forth twice as he scanned those before him. The entire Council, with the exception of one, was also there, completely vulnerable. Not that they couldn’t hold their own - the fact that they’d fought for their positions on the Council attested to that – but Draco had a bad feeling they wouldn’t even know what was coming before it was too late.

  “Someone’s planning to kill us.” Since he had no idea who it was, Draco didn’t bother saying any more as he continued to sniff out each person there.

  A soft groan spilled from his lips as his cock went rock hard, leaving him a little dizzy as the blood rushed south. How was he supposed to concentrate with that alluring scent driving him crazy? It was nearly all he could smell.

  “Uh-oh,” he vaguely heard Chadwick say as Draco started walking away. The pull to find the owner of that heavenly aroma was too strong to ignore, even if it meant his death.

  “Where the hell is he going?” Saber’s voice was too loud not to hear, but Draco didn’t bother to stop and explain.

  But Chadwick’s next words had warning bells going off in his head, not that it stopped him. “I think he’s found his mate.”

  If Saber responded, Draco didn’t hear him as he entered the house and followed his nose to the kitchen. The moment he crossed the threshold, some of his senses came back to him. Because, there washing pots and pans in a huge sink, was a human.

  In all his years, Draco could count on one hand the amount of times a shifter mated with a human. By the enticing scent that had his dick throbbing in his pants, ready to explode, not to mention the almost unstoppable urge to bend the cutie over and sink as deep into his body as possible, this man was most definitely his mate.

  The question? Was he okay with mating a human?

  The moment he’d thought the words, both he and his animal shouted, “YES,” in his head. It may not be normal, but Draco didn’t care. His entire being wanted nothing more than to drop to his knees and praise fate for giving him this man to love and cherish.

  His only problem was he wasn't quite sure how to say hello. It was obvious this human was being made to work for the Council. Unfortunately, that probably meant he was treated not very well, which would make Draco's job that much harder to woo his mate, especially since he was a shifter.

  For right now, in this moment, Draco was content to just stare at the beautiful man with long flowing chestnut hair, slim body, and determination to scrub each one of those pots until they shone. The only thing he wished was that the man would turn around so he could fully see his face and stare into his eyes. He’d actually cut off his right arm just for a glimpse of the color of his mate’s eyes.

  As if his mate could read his mind he suddenly whirled around to place a freshly scrubbed pot on the island behind him to dry. A soft gasp escaped from the man’s sweet lips. Draco had the sudden urge to wrap his mate up and hold him tight as he reassured him that everything would be fine. Except, Draco couldn't do that. In the shifter world there was no such thing as fine, especially for a human. Too many of their kind felt that humans were put on this earth to serve.

  "Who are you?" Even the man's voice was perfect. The melodic sound called to something deep within Draco.

  Golden eyes held Draco entranced. Without thought, he took a step closer. It wasn't until he saw fear cloud those beautiful orbs that he realized his mistake in approaching too fast without even introducing himself. Shaking his head just enough to clear it, he said, "My name is Draco Orah. I am your mate."

  The sheer terror that engulfed those golden eyes told Draco two things. One, his mate knew exactly what mates were. Two, whatever experience he had with mates, or shifters, hadn't been good. It would mean a harder time for Draco. Then again, he had never been one to back down from a challenge.

>   His mate backed up against the sink, his body somewhat bowing backward as if he was doing everything he could to get as far from Draco as possible. "Stay away for me," the man said, breaking Draco's heart in the process.

  Draco knew he couldn't exactly blame his mate for his reaction but it still hurt. He tried to slump his shoulders a bit and seem less intimidating. Draco wasn't sure it was working but it was all he could do. "I'm not sure what the old Council put you through, but I promise you that I will keep you safe."

  Admittedly, Draco hadn't exactly expected that to just work, not with the fear that was still shining from his mate's eyes, but he had hoped the man would stop looking at him as if he were the devil come to feast upon his body. "Can you try and give me a chance?"

  That seemed to jolt his mate from his fear. Because he suddenly stood up straight and glared at Draco. "Give you a chance? Give you a chance?" He said much slower the second time emphasizing each word. "To do what exactly?"

  Small hands clenched into fists and landed on slim hips. "The last time I gave a shifter a chance this happened." The rattle of chains was clearly heard echoing against the stone walls of the kitchen as his mate lifted his leg and placed it on top of the island.

  Draco couldn't stop the roar of agony that burst from him at seeing his mate chained up. The beast within him wanted nothing more than to tear those chains right off of him. He had actually taken a step closer to do just that but, thankfully, his human half stopped him. There was no way he would be able to rip the cuff off his mate’s ankle without doing severe damage to his appendage. Instead, he demanded, "Where is the key?"

  But instead of cringing back as his mate had done in the beginning, he seemed to find his inner strength. He waved a hand at the chain that still surrounded his ankle and with sarcasm dripping from every word he said, "If I knew where the key was, don't you think I would have already taken it off?"

  Draco was taken back a bit. Other than a few of his friends and maybe Chadwick, no one dared talk to him like that. That it was a human made it all that more unusual. It actually gave Draco hope that his mate would be able to make it in Draco's world. Shifters were a harsh lot and any weakness was often exploited to the fullest. "What is your name?"

  His mate cocked his head to the side as if he were making up his mind on whether or not to answer. Then, as if deciding there was no harm in Draco knowing his name, he said, "Ryland Knox." He took his leg off the island and turned back to the sink. "Now, if you don't mind, I have work to be done. After all, I wouldn't want the new Chief of the Paranormal Council to have a reason to beat me on his first day here."

  Draco roared his outrage at the thought of anyone touching a hair on Ryland’s body. He hadn't missed his mate stiffening as if waiting for a blow and that just pissed him off even more. It meant Ryland had not been treated well and he would tear apart anyone still alive who had dared to harm his mate. With how mad he was, Draco was tempted to bring Refugio back from the dead just so he could kill him all over again.

  "No one is allowed to touch you. Do you understand me?" He demanded of Ryland.

  But instead of being relieved as Draco had thought Ryland would be, his mate turned around with fire in his eyes. "You don't get a say in who touches me. You don't get a say in anything that happens to me. And you don't get a say in what occurs in my life, got it?"

  Each of them stared the other down. Draco wasn't sure if he should be proud or frustrated at his mate’s attitude. With Ryland having nowhere else to go, Draco cautiously strode over to where he was standing until he could feel the heat of his mate’s body. He looked down at his much shorter mate and gave him a small smile. "I just mean I won't allow anyone to hurt you ever again."

  Then he leaned down and he brushed the gentlest of kisses against Ryland's forehead. "I'm going to go find something to get those chains off you. I'll be right back." Draco's heart actually hurt having to leave his mate, especially when he was chained up with nowhere to go. But he also refused to allow his mate to be nothing more than a captive for a moment longer.

  He just hoped whatever Refugio had done to him wouldn't turn Ryland against Draco forever. For he may have only met the man a few moments ago but already he was falling for him. How could he not? Ryland’s strength, perseverance, and sassy attitude were a testament to just how strong he really was.

  CHAPTER 4

  Ryland didn't bother waiting for Draco to leave the room before he started scrubbing his pots again. It wasn't so much that he didn't believe Draco would try to get him free… actually, that was exactly what he thought. Men had promised in the past to help him escape his chains, yet they never did. They just wanted to get into his pants.

  He paused while scrubbing an especially dirty pan. He went over the conversation in this head twice before he realized one important thing. Draco never attempted to get into his pants. He even claimed he was his mate and he didn't do anything more than give him a kiss on the forehead.

  There had been a few in the past who had claimed being mates. Ryland had never believed them, nor had any of the men actually even seemed sincere. The fact that they would just fuck Ryland whether he said yes or no, which was usually the latter, and then left him, only to be seen again when they needed a hole to fuck, proved how easily it was for shifters to lie.

  Yet, with Draco, there had not only been sincerity, but for some unknown reason, Ryland actually wanted to believe him. No longer sure what to think, he returned to scrubbing the pots and pans hoping to lose himself in the task.

  Just because he wanted to believe Draco and not be just some lowly human who, according to the others, didn’t deserve respect, didn’t make it so. Then again, what did it matter? There was no changing that he was a human, lower than even one of the shifters’ pets.

  Pushing all thoughts of Draco and the shifters from his head, Ryan attacked the dishes with even more vigor. It was best just to forget about the sexy shifter. Ryland immediately shook his head as if that would dispel his wayward thought. Thinking of the shifter as anything more than a bully would likely get him killed.

  Draco might be tall and built, with dark hair that curled at his shirt collar, and had the most amazing green eyes that looked just like emeralds. That didn't mean Ryland should be stupid enough to fantasize about him. Nor was he naïve enough to actually believe Draco's line about them being mates.

  There was no way a human like Ryland would ever be good enough for a shifter like Draco.

  "So, what were they like?" His sister whispered from the doorway that led to the servant’s quarters where Ryland's room was.

  Ryland scowled his sister. "You were supposed to stay hidden." Not that it helped to remind her. Kiera was too stubborn to stay put for long.

  She waved away his concern with her hand. “I waited until I knew everyone was out of the kitchen. I heard you talking to one of them." She came over and put her hand on his arm in concern. "Are you really his mate?"

  Not that he was about to admit this to her, but just hearing her say it had his heart pounding faster and his palms sweating. It made no sense after all his experiences with shifters, but Ryland actually wanted Draco to be telling the truth. He wanted to be the man's mate. "We both know shifters have no trouble lying," he told his sister. "You, out of everyone, should know that."

  When tears filled her eyes, Ryland instantly regretted being so harsh. Keira had been young and naïve when she’d believed Refugio's declaration they were mates. It wasn't until she was trapped within these walls that she learned the truth. She had been nothing more than another body for him to fuck whenever he wanted. "I'm sorry, Keira, I never should've said that."

  His sister shook her head. "Why not? It's truth. I was the one who got us into this mess when I stupidly thought someone as powerful as Refugio could actually love me." She blew out a harsh breath. "I really was an idiot."

  "If it makes you feel any better, you weren't the only one." Both Keira and Ryland whirled around to find Draco standing at the entrance of
the kitchen with a pair of bolt cutters in his hands. "He had thousands of people fooled into believing that he was doing right by the paranormals." Draco strode over to Ryland and knelt down at his feet.

  In seconds it cut through the chain that surrounded Ryland's ankle. Then Draco's piercing green eyes stared up at Keira and he gave her a small smile. "So you shouldn't feel bad. It may sting your pride a bit but Refugio was able to convince thousands that he actually had a soul."

  Ryland's heart melted at Draco's attempt to make his sister feel better. There hadn't been many who had bothered to consider either of their feelings in the past.

  "And just who the hell are you that you think you can butt into our conversation?" Keira asked with her arms crossed over her chest and her hip cocked to the side as if she were about to tell Draco exactly what she thought of him.

  Ryland couldn't explain it, but suddenly he desperately wanted his sister and Draco to get along. It didn't make a lot of sense, since he still didn't believe that he and Draco were mates, yet something deep within him yearned for a man like Draco to actually want him. He would be the first one to call his fantasy stupid, yet he still couldn't help wishing for it to come true.

  But before he could stop Draco from saying a word, the shifter told Keira, "I'm Ryland's mate." He stuck out his hand to her. "By your ability to stand up for yourself, I assume you are in some way related to Ryland, so I guess that makes us family. My name's Draco by the way.”

  "Oh, hell no," Keira said as her hands moved to her hips. Ryland couldn’t help but be proud of his sister. She’d been through a lot, yet she didn’t just cower in a corner like a scared little rabbit. Well, she had whenever Refugio and a few of the guards who had proven what they would do to her if she dared to talk to them that way, but not when it came to defending her Ryland.

  "I am not about to let some fast talking shifter convince my baby brother that having a human mate is real." She stuck one finger in his face and wagged it at him as she said, "We've been there, done that, and burned the T-shirt. So you can just turn around and walk right back from where you came."