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When Blade woke the next day, he found himself wrapped tightly in Akir's arms, their naked bodies entwined as their legs tangled together. It took him a moment to realize what they did last night, and his thoughts were beginning to pester him before he shooed them away and snuggled in closer with Akir.

This is what I want, he told himself, silencing any undesired uncertainties that still remained within him.

For a long while he lay there with his eyes closed, simply relaxing and enjoying the feeling of Akir's warm body. His soft hands stroked up and down his smooth scales, exploring him as he slept.

Blade loved Akir more than anyone else in the world. He couldn't explain these conflicting feelings he had, but he quickly found that they didn't matter. Sure, it wasn't normal for two guys to have sex, but nothing in their lives was normal. After all the hardship they experienced together, their lives were unified in a way no one else could ever understand. Their souls longed for one another, and the closer they were the happier they would be.

That was what Blade finally realized and understood, and in knowing that it helped calm his nerves.

Of course we were meant to be together.

Akir stirred and let out a deep purr as his hands sifted through Blade's soft feathers. They touched Blade differently from before, following his curves and muscles sensually down the length of his body. It wasn't a brotherly love they felt now; it was an intimate desire that both of them had kept hidden from the other, something tender blending with lust.

And Blade loved how Akir felt his thighs and pulled him closer so his orbs and sheath squished against his lower belly. He was careful to not touch Blade's scabbed wound that had a dull ache to it. Blade caressed him back and returned the same intimacy Akir gave him.

"Do you feel better?" Akir asked softly.

"Yeah... A lot better."

"Mmm, good," he said and gave Blade a firm squeeze. "I really enjoyed last night."

Blade blushed and nuzzled into Akir's neck, somewhat hiding under his chin. "I did too..."

Akir rumbled and chuckled, his voice deep and groggy from waking up. "Did you still want to go to a brothel today?"

Blade shook his head and smiled. "No, I think I have everything I need here."

"I think I do too," he responded and lovingly embraced Blade as much as he could.

There came a wonderful freedom to the way they could express their love for another now that they had sex. No longer was there an invisible barrier of 'what-ifs' between them. No longer was there anything blocking them out. The only thing between them now was a loving bond that had been building since their childhood, from over a decade of spending their lives together. It was stronger than steel, and Blade could finally feel it. He knew it was there all along, but now he was free to delve into it and experience a whole new perspective of their relationship.

And Akir had been waiting for that all along.

"When did you... How long have you wanted that?" Blade asked and brought a hand up to rub Akir's broad chest.

Akir thought for a moment as he held Blade. It seemed that neither of them wanted to move from this position. "A long time, I guess... I didn't know what I wanted either when I first started thinking about it. I was just like you, which is why I knew I needed to make the first move. I was just hoping you were ready."

Blade smiled warmly. "You could have said something..."

Akir giggled and nuzzled Blade's snout. "I wanted you to be ready on your own time. I'm several years older than you, so I knew all I had to do was wait for you. I'm glad I did."

Nodding, Blade felt butterflies in his stomach and up in his chest where his heart fluttered. Maybe he was never worried about finding a mate because his soul-mate was right here all along?

"I was... I was going to wait for you so our first times would have been together..." His hands noticeably gripped Blade's feathers tighter. "I was too eager, I guess."

Blade's expression softened. "I'm glad my first time was with you... But if you hadn't have done that with Callum, I don't think we'd be here right now like this. You probably would have had to wait a while longer, and by then I could have lost my virginity to someone else."

Akir smiled and nodded as he looked adoringly at Blade. "I'm glad I got to you before you lost it to a whore," he teased.

Blade blushed and giggled. "Me too."

Footsteps walked down the stone hall and chatter could be heard from their bedroom, which meant their guildmates were awake.

Blade felt the blood drain from his face. He had been so focused on Akir all this time that he had forgotten about the others. Did they hear the two of them having sex? He had no idea how loud they actually were, but it wasn't difficult at all to hear a conversation anywhere in the jail. Sound carried too easily, and the underground part of the jail was small, so unless everyone was dead-asleep, they undoubtedly heard their intimate noises last night.

"Relax," Akir said and hugged him. "They're our family... I'd rather keep us a secret until we figure out an appropriate way to tell them, but they know us. We've been together for so long that I'm sure they expect it. I bet even Deji would encourage us."

Blade nodded but couldn't help his embarrassment. "Do you think they heard us?"

Akir purred softly. "I'm sure someone did, but I doubt they know who was doing it. It's not like we were moaning very loud. Just a lot of gasping and whimpers," he teased, whispering into Blade's ears, "and the sound of me pounding that tight rump of yours."

Blade shuddered as Akir groped his hind end, sliding his digits between his cheeks and tugging them apart. "A-Akir..."

"Mmmm... Can't wait to explore you more." He ever so softly caressed Blade's entrance, tantalizing it with a single claw. It made Blade's toes curl and his feathers quiver. Slowly, Akir relinquished Blade and untangled their limbs to sit up on the bed.

Blade's cheeks were warm--and so was his thick sheath. He sat up next to Akir and admired his naked body in the dimness of their cell, his eyes trailing down to his puffy slit. Lights flickered from the guild hall around the curtain. Peeking through the cracks, Blade saw several of their guildmates wandering around and sitting at the table, most of them just waking up for the day.

Typically, their days started much earlier, just before the sun began its ascent. But without their guild leader or anything to do, everyone woke up much later. Vespera was the only one that stuck to her schedule, but she mostly went out on her own while Deji wasn't around.

"I want to take watch for Deji's return. I'm sure he'll be in need of some help when he gets back," Akir said and stood up to get dressed. Blade followed him and gingerly used his hurt leg while slipping into his clothes.

"Should we tell him... about us?" Deji was like their father: old, wise, and a leader. It felt right for him to know.

Akir shrugged. "I don't see a reason for him to know yet. I'm sure he'll find out eventually," Akir answered and grinned at Blade. "Don't think about it so much. Nothing's really changed anyway, right?"

Blade nodded but couldn't help to think about all of the complications involved in their new relationship. What about children? They couldn't conceive together--but did Blade even want a hatchling? How would Akir feel about that? Were they mates or just the same as they were before? Why did they feel sexual attraction toward each other to begin with?

Once they finished dressing, Akir turned to Blade and tucked him close. With his hands at Blade's hips, he leaned in slowly and invited Blade for a kiss, which he gladly returned. As he held and kissed Akir, he let go of all his worries for now and simply enjoyed it. It was shorter than what Blade wanted, but with the sensations stirring in his loins, he was glad they ended it before he had an erection.

Their guildmates heartily greeted them both like nothing had changed. Before Blade knew it, he was back to his normal self, laughing and joking around with his family. None of them suspected a thing--or they never brought it up. Blade held a completely different persona about him when he was with his friends, one that was more confident and not so confused about his emotions all the time.

There was Orik and Joji who were identical, forest-colored twins that acted very similar to Blade and Akir. They did everything together and never left one another's side. Then there was Leo, the bright, golden-scaled kin who was much less cheerful in the mornings. He sipped on an alcoholic drink and mostly remained quiet.

Tyrion was the red-scaled kin that sat on the floor beside Falia; the two of them were talking together and giggling quite often. Falia had earthen-colored scales that blended well with the desert. Though it wasn't official yet, Blade was certain that they would become mates.

Saxan had scales of a dark-green and was rather confident in his body because he usually wore very little around the guild hall. Today, he at least had on his underwear. No one cared otherwise, but most preferred to at least cover themselves while he sometimes did not. He sat next to the twins. Opposite of them on the table was Polo, another red-scaled kin darker than Tyrion. He was an expert at crafting explosives, though the guild rarely saw them used aside from distractions.

Blade and Akir sat down at the table next to Dreia, the newest member of their guild before them. She had scales as dark as Deji's and was quickly becoming an expert thief. She was as beautiful as she was cunning. Blade wasn't necessarily fond of her _skills_in seduction but they did the trick.

For most of the morning, they stayed around the guild hall and made conversation with their friends. It wasn't often that everyone was together like this, and Vespera eventually returned from her daily routine to chat too. It seemed that everyone was enjoying their time off and had plenty of stories to tell.

I wonder what they would think if we told them about us...

Blade often came to that topic in his head when he thought about Akir. To have someone he loved made him want to shout it to the world and share his happiness, but for now he had to contain it--for both of their sakes.

Later in the day, Blade and Akir wandered away from their den in search of a suitable location to spot Deji's arrival. Toward the outskirts of the slums, there were less people, and it soon became quiet. The large, rumbling river could be heard from nearby, and the wind gusted through the town. At the very end was a wooden, two-story building that looked abandoned. Boards covered the windows and it leaned heavily on one side. Holes were scattered throughout the house.

After a quick inspection, they found nothing but rats and insects crawling around.

There was an opening on a broken balcony where they could climb in, and there they entered the building. Dust and sand scattered across the rotten, wooden floorboards and coated everything in a layer. It smelled of decay, but there were holes and drafts everywhere so the odor didn't stay. A warm breeze blew through the creaking house and out the other side. Overhead, beams of hot sunlight pierced through the broken roof. One of the rooms was missing a ceiling.

"Well... It's not the greatest place ever," Blade said and toppled over a table with a small shove. "But we've lived in worse."

Akir chuckled at that and wandered out to the eastern balcony, where they could watch for Deji's return. The main road that led to the front gates of Hato was in sight between scarcely placed trees. Many caravans and horsemen rode along it, though not very many people dared to walk it. Those who did only had a short distance to go or were mad to walk through the desert.

"Do you even know if he'll come this way? What if he took a boat or something."

"It's not like we have anything better to do. We'll check back at the guild later," Akir said and carefully sat down with his legs hanging off the edge. It wasn't a far drop, but the wood could easily break at any moment. "I doubt we'll see him coming from here, anyway."

Blade decided to join him, finding the balcony to be sturdier than he thought. "So why are we all the way out here?"

Akir turned his head with a warm smile, his blue eyes looking into Blade's golden spheres. "I thought it'd be nice to have some time to ourselves..."

Their eyes locked for a long moment. It was just the two of them under the warmth of the descending sun. Ahead of them the desert sky blazed with jubilant fire, a radiating, orange, red, and gold glow filling the horizon. Behind them on the shrouded balcony cloaked by tattered curtains was the seclusion of an abandoned home on the outskirts of town, keeping them away from any prying eyes.

"Yeah? I... I like that." Blade felt anticipation rising in his chest as he realized Akir's true plan. After his blissful night with him, he couldn't stop thinking about it. Not only did he want more, but he couldn't help but to feel almost... _different_around him. He scooted closer until their hips touched, and he twined his fluffy tail around Akir's, squeezing it lovingly. Placing a hand on Akir's thigh, he nuzzled his shoulder and blushed warmly at his cheeks.

This is a romantic moment... right? Is he thinking the same?

"I really enjoyed last night," Blade said. He shifted shyly as he recalled all of those wonderful feelings he felt with Akir. Those same feelings rumbled deep in his loins now, beginning to stir with his emotions. "It wasn't like anything I've felt before."

Akir purred and took Blade's hand into his to give it a tender squeeze, reassuring his doubts. Although Blade felt shy and embarrassed, he had the courage to meet Akir's eyes again, and those sapphire spheres stared back into his with a joyful, radiant glow.

"I enjoyed it too, Blade. I... want to do more with you... right now."

Blade's heart pounded in his chest, amplifying that queasy but good feeling in his stomach. "Y-You do?" Their snouts were only inches apart while they shared an intimate, mental connection. He saw Akir's soul laid open for him, like arms waiting to welcome him into a warm embrace. "Me too..."

A bright smile spread Akir's lips. Akir twisted his body and laid his hand on Blade's farthest thigh, moving his upper-half slightly over him as he leaned in and pressed their lips together.

The warmth that rushed through Blade's entire body couldn't have felt any better. He wrapped his arms around Akir and melted, his mind a haze of passion and lust melding together as their lips mouthed at each other. He had been waiting for this all day.

Closing his eyes, he delved into his desire, instinct taking hold as he lost himself in their kiss. Tongues met and curled together as Akir leaned more into him while Blade's hands stroked up and down his muscular back and flanks. His hands rubbed against clothing, making him wish he could feel Akir's warm, naked scales again.

Without realizing it at first, Blade's cock was already hard and tenting at his groin. The more they kissed the more his length ached to stretch his clothes, and he finally realized how excited he was to kiss Akir. When they pulled away from each other, Blade's face was hot and his cheeks flushed with warmth. Akir's expression was soft and loving, different from anything Blade had ever seen on his muzzle before--it was impossible not to smile back.

Akir turned back to face the horizon, leaning back with his legs kicked out over the edge as he looked up at the beautiful sky. He let out a comfortable sigh through his nostrils. "Do you want to be mates, Blade?" he asked, grinning wider than Blade had ever seen him smile before. "Like the whole, 'till death do us part,' sort of deal?"

To Blade, it didn't look like Akir was staring at the sky. It looked like he was looking ahead to the future and how it would piece itself together with Blade in his life as his mate. Already, their past was woven together like the tails of lovers, their souls intertwined. Perhaps they would share the same fate until the end, too.

Blade's heart wanted to leap out of his chest as he stared at Akir's smile. He nodded his head before he could even speak. "Yes." At that moment, Blade didn't want to think of the complications of being mates. He wouldn't care that Akir was a male, and he wouldn't care what anyone else would think about him. If Akir wanted to be his mate, then he was happy living in the present--right here and now. He was following his heart.

Akir's expression didn't change. He nodded his head and leaned back a little more, spreading his legs wider and showing Blade the tent poking from under the sash of his loincloth as he lifted it away. His baggy leggings were loose and made it easy for his erection to show.

Blade swallowed and stared at it, feeling the excitement from last night returning to him, the anticipation making him feel a little nervous. He looked up at Akir and saw him staring at Blade's groin too, and his eyes were filled with lust; he wanted it just as much as Blade did, if not more so. Blade shifted his legs apart too and tried to mimic Akir's confidence.

"You don't care that we're both guys?" Akir asked as he tentatively moved his hand from Blade's thigh to feel his hard cock through his clothes. He watched Akir touch him, curling his golden toes with a soft groan.

"I think I like males more than females," he admitted and smiled softly at Akir. "I already know you like males."

Akir squeezed and kneaded into Blade's groin and made his length swell. His fingers danced up and down his spire and helped it grow under his clothes until it was entirely hard. Never before did Blade imagine Akir touching him like this, but he loved it.

He nodded. "I like you the most."

Blade moved his hand over to touch Akir too, rousing a quiet moan from Akir's lips. Now that they were alone with all the privacy in the world, Blade felt like he could freely express his pleasure and lust. It made him much more comfortable so he could relax and just spend intimate time with Akir--his mate.

"There's a bed in the room next to this one," Akir said and leaned in close to Blade's ear to whisper next to it. "Why don't we explore each other a little more?"

Blade shuddered as Akir kissed down his neck, his feathers puffing out and his golden crest perking along with his ears. He nodded just as eagerly as before, requiring no time to think before they were moving from the balcony to the indoors, finding a small room with an available bed just big enough for the both of them. With how deteriorated the rest of the house was, Blade wasn't sure if it would last when they mated on it.

In a flurry of clothes and limbs, they touched, groped, and undressed each other, pulling off one article of clothing at a time. The more clothes Blade felt leave his body, the more lust stirred in his loins. Between taking off their clothes and touching one another, they stole quick moments to kiss every so often, lips and tongues meeting. Instinctual desire muddled his thoughts. It felt like it all happened so fast as he slipped out of his clothes and into the nude, and he let Akir tug his underwear all the way down to his ankles before he stepped out of it. There was no time to think about what he was doing before it was already happening, but he knew this was what he wanted.

Akir's tangible gaze fell on Blade's gender, his two fluffy orbs and his aroused cock. It felt good to expose himself to Akir like this, and he liked how Akir looked at his nakedness. To know that his partner was physically attracted to him was a huge boost to his confidence in his own sexuality.

After another kiss, Blade sat down at the edge of the bed and smiled shyly at Akir. The bed was stiff and smelled, but they were entirely focused on each other and not their decrepit surroundings. He admired Akir's naked body once he pulled off the last of his clothes too. More strange feelings nagged at the back of Blade's mind, but unlike before when they made him feel queasy, those feelings made him feel excited, like butterflies fluttering in his stomach.

Sunlight peaked through the curtains at the window and in the holes of the roof so that Blade could see the beautiful blue and purple hues of Akir's scales. They were seamless and smooth all around, curving gracefully around the bulges of his muscles. Both of them were rather strong and muscular from a lifetime of hard work, but Akir's toned body showed it off better while Blade's hid under his black and gold feathers. A fancy, tattoo-like design of gold feathers swirled around Blade's back up to his shoulders and down to his thighs.

But what really caught his eye was Akir's glistening flesh bobbing around in front of him. It was entirely smooth from the triangular head to its thicker base at his expanded slit. Akir stepped in front of Blade and smiled down at him, his eyes glancing between Blade's thighs to look at his cock. Ridges lined the underside of Blade's flesh, and those came into view as Blade lay on his back. This was the first time they had ever looked at one another like this, with an entirely different perspective.

"I've never really been able to say it until now... but I really like your cock," Akir said.

Without thinking about it, Blade immediately submitted to Akir. His body knew what he wanted, and he wanted to feel Akir like he did last night. It felt very naughty to present himself so willingly, but that was what floored his lust. He lifted his legs and spread them apart as Akir moved between them and pushed their hips together. "Y-Yeah... I like yours too..."

Their cocks touched and rubbed against another, making Blade's face flush with heat as he watched. Akir's was slightly longer with a little more girth to it. Blade's was pinker than Akir's, but they were both fleshy and glistening with natural secretions.

"I guess I'm bigger than you are," Akir teased with a smile while he rubbed their lengths together so they could compare sizes.

Blade shyly nodded and flexed his toes as he stared down between his legs. "Yeah... Can't wait to feel it..."

Akir only grinned wider and smeared pre over their tips. They were about to have sex again, but this time they had complete privacy with enough light from the holes in the roof to see each other. A mixed feeling of emotions tingled at the back of his mind. He knew it was strange for two guys to be mates, but they already broke the ice the first time they had sex. Blade knew what it was like to feel pleasure together, and now he craved for more.

Akir leaned over Blade between his legs and placed a tender, intimate kiss on his lips. A deep blush warmed Blade's cheeks as he tilted his snout and delved into it, lips mouthing against Akir's while their tongues lashed at each other. He lost himself in their kiss and felt the most pleasurable sensations flowing throughout his entire body. To feel someone he loved pressed against his naked body like this was an experience all in its own. To kiss him, hold him, touch him... It was sensational.

Slowly, Akir pulled away, gazing down at Blade's glazed eyes. His loving smile never faded as he rubbed down Blade's golden underbelly and sifted through his feathers until he was standing upright again. There was something about the connection they shared that Blade knew was unique only to them. They were more than just lovers or mates... But Blade couldn't think of any word to describe it. Whatever it was, he knew that it was destiny that they were together.

"I love you," Akir said.

"I love you, too," Blade returned, his heart hammering heavily in his chest.

While Blade lay back, he lifted his head and watched Akir push his cock against his tailhole. Blade groaned and clenched as his tip slipped inside, beginning to stretch Blade's pucker apart. It was the same discomforting ache he felt last night, but unlike then he was prepared for it now. He relaxed and more of Akir's length squeezed inside.

"Mmmmm... So you like being the bottom?" Akir asked and smiled down at him. He steadily pushed his entire fleshy spire inside Blade's passage until his groin touched Blade's rump. It felt large and thick inside him as his soft, warm walls enveloped it entirely.

Blade groaned and nodded. "It f-felt amazing last night... I loved it."

"I knew you would." Akir let out a soft moan and a huff as he slid out and slowly pushed back in. Blade's flesh throbbed with the clenching of his muscles, a glob of pre oozing onto his golden belly-feathers. "You're so soft, Blade... You'll have to let me feel you sometime," he said. "Maybe later tonight."

More sex? Blade thought and grinned. He liked the sound of that!

"Oooh!" Blade felt Akir thrust back inside again, forcefully squishing against his insides and grinding right across that special spot deep inside him that ignited the warm pleasure deep in his loins. Akir made another thrust like that, and then another one, and another one, and each time Blade felt unimaginable pleasure trickling up his spine, causing him to moan out. "Oooh, Akir! Aaah!"

"That's it, Blade... Hhaaahhh, yes..." Akir leaned forward over Blade, grasping his thighs as he bent over Blade's exposed body. They shifted their position slightly with Blade's rump angling a little more upward as his thighs squeezed against Akir's flanks. His arms reached behind him and held onto Akir's broad shoulders as he felt his muscles flexing while he thrust repeatedly into Blade.

"Am I aahh... Am I better than Callum?" he asked between his deep breaths and short moans.

Akir chuckled and rolled his hips into Blade, squeezing his entire length inside him just to tug it back out again. "Yes, Blade... Of course you are."

More soft moans spilled from Blade's lips after short gasps and huffy exhales. Blade felt like and imagined he was a female as he lay back and submissively took his mate's cock. The discomfort faded away, drowned by the sea of pleasure crashing at Blade's loins. Every time Akir's flesh shoved deep inside him, it squished against his insides and made him feel full, his walls tight around his cock.

For the most part, Blade couldn't keep his eyes open. He moaned and winced with pleasure as it swelled rapidly in his loins, feeling that blissful warmth inside him increasing in sensitivity the more it was rubbed by Akir's cock. Pre occasionally spilled from his bouncing flesh between them. When his eyes did open, he saw Akir above him, his face scrunched with effort and pleasure. His body rocked into Blade continuously, their hips smacking together in a quick rhythm.

To have sex with someone was such an exhilarating feeling, and Blade was finally experiencing it first-hand. Last night was wonderful, but he didn't get to see and hear the pleasure that he brought his mate. He loved how they could express their love for each other physically and share in something so ecstatic and pleasurable. It was something only the two of them could share together, and that's what made it special.

Akir stopped thrusting for a moment, leaving Blade in a lustful haze as he watched Akir move his body. He brought his feet up over his head, putting the crooks of his legs directly against his shoulders so his calves folded over. That brought Blade's rump upward so Akir's hips pressed firmly against it and allowed him to bury his cock deeper. Now, Blade was scrunched over on his back as his mate's weight fell mostly on his legs, Akir's chest pressing at them and bending them toward Blade's. It made his muscles feel stretched further than normal, a tightness Blade wasn't used to. His injured leg ached in the new position, but with everything happening he hardly noticed it.

Blade looked down and watched Akir take his folded body. His hard flesh lightly bounced against his stomach, drizzling pre all over his sleek, golden feathers. Akir's belly squished against his soft orbs as he penetrated deep inside Blade's rump. The longer they went, the more relaxed Blade's muscles became and the easier it was for Akir's length to grind against his swollen prostate. Blade's toes curled over Akir's head, pleasure tingling throughout his body.

With a lusty, high-pitched moan, Blade lay back against the bed with his arms crossed above his head as Akir pinned his wrists down, giving his body to his mate. His face felt hotter than it ever had before while his body churned with desire. Each thrust brought him closer to the pinnacle of bliss and clouded his mind with ecstasy as he rocked back and forth with Akir.

Blade felt like he would cum at any second, and his moans grew louder and higher almost like a female's. Instinctual lust fogged his other senses; all he could focus on was that growing ball of pleasure building rapidly inside him. Every time Akir rocked into him it felt like it would burst, and all of his limbs were tingling as if to prepare for his orgasm, but it brimmed for what felt like forever, eliciting sultry gasps and moans from Blade's lips.

"Aaah! Yeeesss!"

"Ooh, that's it, Blade... Oooh..." Akir moaned back to him, deep and husky. He grabbed Blade's length and stroked it fast and hard as his thrusts slowed down. He purposefully grinded his cock deep inside Blade, firmly pressing against that warm ball inside him and making it swell further until Blade couldn't stop it from leaking out.

"Akir! I'm cumming!" Blade closed his eyes as Akir sent him over the edge. The stimulation to his flesh finally brought him teetering over. Warm, thick strands of cum spilled over his belly feathers as Akir stroked him off through his throbbing orgasm. His muscles pulsated rapidly around Akir's thick flesh, squeezing and milking it as Akir made his final push.

"Oohh!" His slit squished against Blade's cheeks as his flesh spewed his seed inside Blade's passage, oozing deep inside and filling him. Akir bucked and shuddered as he came, and his body then fell over Blade's so their chests touched and rubbed together. Blade's legs wrapped around his waist.

Blade's orgasm felt like it lasted forever, one blissful second passing after the other. As he came down from his sexual high, he wrapped his arms around Akir and caressed his back, smooth scales gliding against his hands. Akir rumbled deeply and finished inside Blade before pulling out and leaving a mess that oozed out of Blade's tailhole. He climbed further up the bed with Blade, intimately snuggling him as their naked bodies melded together.

"That... That was amazing..." Blade said and wrapped his arms around his mate.

Deep rumbles of satisfaction thrummed in Akir's chest. Although the bed was old, dusty, and rickety, they found comfort in each other. "It certainly was. I want to hear you moan like that every time," he said and chuckled.

Blade blushed and smiled. As he caressed Akir's muscular, scaled back, Akir stroked through his soft feathers and sifted his fingers through them. Some spots along his golden belly-feathers were soaked in his cum, but Akir didn't seem to mind and pressed intimately against him anyway, legs rubbing together.

"We should get our own place," Blade said. "The money we didn't spend on a brothel can go to it."

Akir nodded. "I like the idea of that, Blade. We can have all of the time we want together."

"Kind of like right now," he added and looked adoringly into Akir's blue eyes.

"Just like right now." Warmth filled Akir's gaze as he leaned in to kiss Blade. Their maws locked while their bodies twined together, limbs tangling around one another. Blade lost track of how long they kissed. They would take a small break every now and again, but only a few moments later would they press their lips together and delve into another passionate kiss, all while they cuddled together on the old bed.

For once in their lives they had the freedom to express themselves and to enjoy one another. It was unlike anything Blade had ever felt before: a sheer, joyful experience where he could relax and let go. All he wanted was to share his passion with his mate, and he received it right back. Every kiss, grope, and breath was a display of love for the other.

It didn't take long for them to feel arousal weaving its way through their naked bodies again. Soon enough, they were hard and eager for more sex. In spite of Akir's earlier comment about bottoming, Blade found himself on his hands and knees, rocking back into his mate's thrusts. Akir stood up on his knees behind him and grasped his waist while repeatedly thrusting his cock deep inside Blade's soft, warm passage. Once again, they felt a satisfaction only the two of them could fulfill, and it left them both feeling spent.

Later in the night, they bathed in the river when no one else was around. The moon was high and the air was growing colder by the minute, but they still found their desire for one another and decided to have sex one last time before they retired to their guild for the night. Again, Blade bent over and let Akir grab onto his haunches and take him. It was just as pleasurable as the last, though it felt naughtier since they were exposed to the outside air under a stone alcove. Their love-making session echoed through the night.

When they returned, they were laughing and smiling giddily, like children at play. Though most of their guildmates had retired, Vespera sat alone at the table, her hood pulled over her gray muzzle. Her head lifted as they stepped inside and her silvery-blue eyes narrowed down her snout. "What are you two up to?"

Silver scales lined the ridge of her snout up to her eyes, glinting in the crystal-lit light of the hall. Like Deji, she had a cunning aura about her, and every word she spoke was smooth like silk. But she was kinder and held more compassion than her mate--like Deji was their father she was more of their mother.

"We were just playing around in the river," Akir said to explain the dampness on their bodies. His scales dried much faster than Blade's feathers.

She lifted a brow. "_Playing_around, eh? Sounds like you had more fun than that."

Blade gulped. He wasn't sure if she knew or not; it sounded like she had an inkling of what went on, but she could just be joking and speculating. She did like to tease them about it, sometimes. Since they've always been so close, it was like they were already gay together.

Akir nodded with an equally smug grin. "Oh, we did. We even splashed water around at each other and held races to see who the faster swimmer was."

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Spare me the sordid details. I take it there was no sign of Deji?"

They shook their heads. Though the entire 'purpose' for them to go out was to look for Deji, Blade realized they hardly paid attention at all. All of their focus was turned toward each other, and they half-expected Deji to have arrived home without their noticing.

She nodded. "I'm sure it'll take longer than he thinks. That dragon has too much confidence in himself."

"We'll go again tomorrow," Akir added quickly. "We have nothing better to do all day."

Blade knew exactly why Akir was eager to volunteer.

She peered at them curiously before shrugging her shoulders. "I don't see why not. Just be careful; there seems to be more inquisitors poking their snouts where they don't belong. Been hearing lots of questions and whispers going on, and I don't like that."

"Do you think they're after us?" Blade asked worriedly.

"I don't know," she said. "They look different from the ones before... They're dragonkin instead of humans. They're probably just trying to get familiar with the gangs, but who knows for sure." She sighed and waved them off. "Go on--go cuddle and snuggle your night away."

Blade realized that it was just Vespera being Vespera, that she was just joking and had no idea about the truth to her words, but it still made him nervous that she might know.

"You'll have to join us sometime for our snuggling sessions," Akir teased as they walked to their private cell. "We can get pretty vicious."

She laughed and turned her attention away from them.

Akir closed their curtain behind them, and once again it was just the two of them. "No, she doesn't know, Blade," he said quietly to reassure his unspoken doubts. "Now shush and relax..."

Blade blushed and let Akir undress him. "What do you think about the inquisitors? The clan must've noticed their gem--crystal--missing."

Akir nodded. "But it's long gone now and there's no evidence of it."

"Callum knows us... Especially you," Blade added. He watched his mate pull down his underwear to his ankles, getting down on his knees before him. It was seductive and very sensual the way he stared forward at Blade's sheath, his blue eyes glued to it. But after spending all day having sex, even his strong libido was worn out.

Now it was Akir's turn to undress, and Blade gladly helped him with it. "He may be a noble, but I don't think he'd give us away like that, if we ever saw him. I doubt we'll see hide or scale of him ever again."

Blade nodded and smiled as Akir's nudity returned to his view. They set their clothes aside and joined one another in bed. After a long day of exploring each other, it felt relaxing and comforting to know that they could finally just rest and enjoy one another's company.

"I guess we'll just have to be careful. Deji will know what to do when he gets back," Blade said.

Akir kissed his lips and purred as they cuddled. "Mhm. For now, let's not worry about it."

So, Blade let the burdens of his active mind fall from him and delved into another tender night with his mate.

My mate...

With his eyes closed, Blade rested his head on Akir's chest and drifted away.

The next day began like the last, with tender, morning snuggles, to enjoying the company of their friends, and to the walk to the edge of town together. As the old, abandoned home on the outskirts came into view, Blade felt giddy as his heart raced. Excitement welled within him since it would soon just be him and Akir, alone together again.

Akir was the first to climb up the backside, using the different levels of stone bricks to help pull himself to the second floor. He reached down and pulled Blade up before both of them climbed through an empty window. Though Blade's leg still had soreness to it, he could easily ignore the dull pain as he climbed around and used his leg. After spending last night here, Blade recognized the familiar, decaying, dusty smell, but it brought back warm, sensual memories.

Once they were completely enclosed in their privacy together, Akir turned and smiled warmly at Blade who joined him in his arms. Blade couldn't wait to kiss Akir again, so he leaned in and planted a soft, tender kiss right on his lips almost immediately. Their muzzles tilted to the side and locked together as their lips mouthed at one another's.

Warmth flushed Blade's cheeks and made his chest thrum with delight. His hands caressed Akir's back and sides while Akir held his hips and pulled their bodies together. Both of them delved into a passionate, loving kiss, sharing and expressing their love for one another physically. Blade had been thinking about this all day, and he knew Akir was too. Finally, they had a perfect moment just to be together as mates without any prying eyes to make them feel strange.

What was strange was that Blade felt hardly a difference in how he thought about Akir. Kissing him felt natural, even though in the back of his mind he knew he was kissing another male. But that male was someone he loved dearly and always had. For the majority of their adulthood, they had been only one step away from this.

When they pulled apart, warm, affectionate smiles curled their lips as their eyes met. "I hate that we have to keep this a secret," Blade said and kissed Akir's neck. There was a small, purple stripe beneath his jaw that Blade found was a sensitive spot for him.

Akir chuckled and tilted his head up at Blade's tender kissing and let out a deep breath. "I do too, Blade, but you don't want to hear all the ridicule, do you? You know how our guildmates are."

He grinned and softly mouthed over those smooth scales. "I know..."

"Mmmm..." Akir rumbled and rubbed along Blade's waist before lifting up his tunic and slipping his digits under his pants. Blade's feathers shuddered at the sensual attention as his mate slowly teased him, his body eagerly pushing into Akir.

"W-Wait, Blade..." Akir's hands tugged from out of his pants and held Blade protectively. A crack in the wooden house echoed below them. There was someone with them.

Something was wrong and the air thrummed with a sinister energy. Akir felt it too, and all of the blood drained from Blade's face as his heartbeat quickened. Their sensual moment together was cut short by an unfamiliar presence lurking in the shadows.

They went silent, listening. Blade's hand gripped around the dagger in his belt and slowly withdrew it with little sound. Stepping away from one another, they decided to search out this disturbance. Each step was just as quiet as the last, the only sound being their talons tapping against the wood.

Blade tilted and flicked his ears; there was another pair of talons below them. He looked down through the cracks of the floorboards, searching for their assailant. A dark, shadowy figure crept below them, covered in a black, hooded cloak with a tail poking out. Blade would have thought it was Deji if it wasn't for the fact that he knew they were in danger.

Whoever this was must have been one of the inquisitors Vespera warned them about. But how did he find them? Did he stalk them here? They were always so careful, but Blade had to admit they were rather distracted lately...

That figure suddenly darted forward and disappeared, his footfalls nearly silent. Blade warned Akir and they covered all entrances into their room. There was a staircase that led up to the second floor near the corner of the room, and there was where the shadowy figure emerged like a ghost.

He was a dragonkin darker than Deji, as black as the night. Pale eyes stared at them from under his hood, like twin moons in the darkness. An evil aura surrounded him and brought fear lurching inside Blade's chest. Blade's grip around his weapon tightened and he bared his fangs in distress.

_A Shadowscale..._Blade had no doubts. He feared for their lives.

Akir swiftly chucked a knife at him so he had to dodge back. That knife stuck firmly into the wall beside him and distracted him so they could run. Grabbing Blade's arm, he dragged him into the next room and sprinted out on the balcony. Blade caught his footing and leapt off the balcony with Akir, coming to an acrobatic landing as he dropped and rolled forward to his feet. They ran as fast as they could into town to elude him.

But the scariest part was that they didn't see him chasing behind. That troubled Blade to no end--a Shadowscale would never reveal themselves and let their victims live.

"Spirits, Akir... Seven Hells! What is he doing here?!"

"I don't know, Blade. I don't know..." Rarely did Akir ever sound panicked, and that made Blade's insides twist along with the fear he already felt. "We can't go back to the guild... We have to run."

"But we have to warn them!" Blade objected. "It's a Shadowscale. They may be in trouble if there are more of them."

Akir hissed and led Blade down an alley where they stopped to catch their breath. The midday sun hung overhead. It didn't make sense for an assassin of the darkness to strike during the day. And what was he doing there? Was he there to kill them? Scare them? That certainly worked...

"What are we going to do?" Blade asked, panting while glancing at every possible corner. He didn't know what Shadowscales were truly capable of, but with all of the rumors he heard, it was enough for him to picture them as powerful beings that could easily bring an entire clan to its knees.

"I don't know!" Akir shouted. "I don't know..."

They were both panicking and letting fear cloud their minds. Never had they encountered anything as terrifying as a real Shadowscale.

"M-Maybe he was there to recruit us?" Blade wondered aloud. "I mean, if he wanted to kill us, we'd be dead, right?"

"Spirits, Blade, we aren't assassins! We're just thieves... Maybe the nobles hired them to find us?"

"They aren't simple mercenaries. They would never work a job like this," Blade argued. "I... I think they're after that crystal."

"Well, it's not here!" Akir said. "And I'm sure they know that."

"If that's what they're after, then they're going to find the guild. They'll kill anyone there."

Akir looked at Blade with an expression of sheer terror. Unsettling was to put it lightly. Blade was going to be sick. "What are we going to do about it?"

"We have to warn them... We can all leave. If we stay together, we can put up a fight."

"Fighting Shadowscales..." Akir laughed to himself and shook his head dubiously. "Just when everything was finally falling into place..."

Blade felt his heart ache. He took the moment in the midst of their overwhelming fear to hug around his mate tightly. Akir wrapped around him and squeezed. "I love you," they said to another.

"Let's hurry... We may still have time," Akir said and took the lead. It felt like they were condemning themselves to their fate, an end to their lives. They had the chance to run and never return, but they couldn't leave their family behind when they were in danger.

If the Shadowscale knew where to find the two of them, then they were sure to already know where the guild was. But just in case they were being followed, they took several, alternate routes, going in circles to try and find their stalker. Having found not a single shred of evidence, they ducked corners and sprinted until they reached the outside of the jail. After looking at every possible angle, they spotted no one watching them, so they decided it was safe.

Crawling through the back, they found themselves carefully creeping down the stairs, listening for any disturbances. Akir took the key from his pouch and braced himself against the door. With a quick thrust, he flung the door open and they immediately prepared for danger, but it was quiet.

Dreia and Saxan were at the table, their conversation interrupted by Akir and Blade. They looked up curiously, and Leo poked his head from his cell. They were the only three here. The others must have been out doing something else, and there was no sign of any Shadowscales.

"Is everything okay?" Saxan asked worriedly. They must have looked just as terrified as they felt. Akir quickly locked the door and barred it behind them.

"There are Shadowscales in town," Blade quickly explained. "We think they're after the crystal Deji has."

"They're a lil' late," Leo said and stepped into view. "Ya' both are lookin' spooked."

"We... We need to leave," Akir said. "Now."

"Woah, hold on," Saxan started. "What's the danger? So what there are some Shadowscales around. I doubt they want anything to do with us. We're just a bunch of nobodies."

Blade shook his head. "One tried to kill us... or scare us, or something."

"Are you sure it was even a Shadowscale?" Dreia asked. "Deji looks like one too."

The lock jiggled before the door caught on the bar. Three loud, consecutive knocks pounded against the wood, and then a fourth one was added seconds later--an entry code. Akir was quick to unlatch the lock and let Vespera inside, who had the same look of fear as them, wild and crazed.

"Gather your things: we're leaving, now! I'm going to go find the others and keep them from coming back." And with that, she was gone.

Now, everyone had the same look of fear in their eyes, the gravity of the situation settling in. Akir and Blade ducked into their cell to take what they could, mostly the bare essentials as well as their gold they had saved up. It wasn't like they had much anyway, but the weight of it all would be too great for them to run with. A few changes of clothes, daggers, and gold was about all they could muster.

They tucked what they had over their backs and went to leave, but then they heard several footsteps overhead. Akir put a hand on Blade's chest to stop him and backed up, toward their cell.

"They're here..."

Everyone stopped and listened. It sounded like talons tapping overhead, searching through the upper, broken-down part of the jail. A clash, a clatter, and the footfalls went silent. Shivers echoed up and down Blade's spine as he trained himself to be deathly still. He consciously felt his veins pulsing throughout his body to the heavy thudding rhythm of his heart.

Akir grabbed Blade's wrist firmly and jerked him back into their cell. At that same moment, the door burst open with wooden splinters flying everywhere. The two of them dropped their belongings and ducked into safety, and Akir wrapped around Blade tightly and brought him under the bed.

A shrill scream pierced through the halls, and the slashing of flesh ended it. A body fell, and Saxan shouted. The clash of blades bounced back and forth across the stone walls before that, too, was silenced by another body falling.

Blade struggled against Akir's arms. How could he hide under a bed while his guildmates--his family--were being killed!? But Akir held tightly and told Blade to be quiet. He was crying. Blade was crying too.

Three different sets of quiet footfalls walked along their hall, sloshing in what was presumed to be blood. Blade clenched his hands together and held back a whimper as he shuddered. Disgust ripped his guts inside-out as he heard them find Leo. His fearful shout was cut short before two separate falls thudded against the stone floor.

They're going to find us... We're going to die...

Blade cried from fear and he sobbed from the idea of Akir dying with him. After they had finally found each other, this was how it ended. Two bloody, merciless murders along with their guildmembers. Akir couldn't have squeezed Blade any tighter. Warm tears seeped into his feathers at his neck.

Silent cries for their lost family brought them to the final chapter of their lives. Blade wanted to die fighting, not hiding like a coward... But he wanted to remain with Akir. If he was going to die... he wanted to be wrapped in Akir's embrace. He always thought he would die fighting, but he would rather spend every last moment with his mate.

Akir protected Blade with his back to their attackers. He held Blade against the wall as they scrunched under the bed together.

The assailants wandered through the halls, searching each and every cell. Ever so quietly, Blade heard them muttering.

"It has to be here. Keep looking."

"That damned thief thought he could trick us with a faulty crystal. We'll show 'im." The crash of splintering wood resounded in the hall.

"Breaking things isn't going to help," a third voice hissed. "He won't ever show his face here again."

When it finally came to their cell being searched, Blade's heart stopped. The tears ceased to run down his cheeks. He listened and felt every pulse driving needles through his limbs. He desperately wanted to get the jump on his attacker and at least take one of them out. It was his instinct to defend himself... But Akir held him back.

He saw the black footpaws of the Shadowscale stepping around, blood coated on his white talons. He looked through everything of theirs and even tore apart the sheets and pillows.

"Check everywhere."

The dragonkin sighed and bent down to check under the bed. Two crimson eyes peered at them, glowing with an evil like he was possessed by a demon. This wasn't an ordinary dragonkin. This was someone who was born and bred to kill without mercy, like a weapon. There wasn't a soul behind those eyes.

Blade froze. He couldn't explain what he felt, and it was rushing through him like a gust of wind. This was the moment that he would die. He was taking his last breaths. Yet, he couldn't move; all he could do was embrace his mate, the one he loved most in the world. Not only was it his last moments, but it was the last moments he could spend with Akir, his cherished soul-mate.

Blade never believed in any religion, but deep down he knew that they would find each other again. This wasn't the end for them...

He closed his eyes and nestled his snout into Akir's neck, giving him one last embrace. I love you with all of my heart. I'm sorry we didn't become mates sooner... But these were the happiest days of my life and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

Fear abated, and an unusual calmness settled his storms. The moment seemed to last forever, and he welcomed every second of it. This was it--his entire life led to this cruel fate.

But when Blade opened his eyes, that dragonkin was gone. They were alive.

"He must'a had it on 'is person, an' that's why he escaped so easily."

"There are other members around. We'll look for them."

"And interrogate them first," the voice grumbled. "What a waste. I'll keep pursuit of the couple. Those feathers on a dragon won't be hard to find."

"Ya already lost 'em?"

He growled, "I thought they'd come here."

"How'd they give you the slip in the first place, Crax? Were you playing with your prey again?"

An angry grunt was the only response.

Blade heard them searching and rummaging through everything else, but they were left alone. Blade didn't dare take a breath, and Akir never made a sound. It felt like forever that they were cramped up under their bed, but the Shadowscales eventually left, having not found what they were looking for.

Even so, Blade and Akir remained completely silent and still. Blade was caught up in his ravaging thoughts, unable to believe what had happened. He was sure Akir felt the same way.

Why didn't he kill us?

It was the question that would haunt Blade forever. How could they slaughter their guildmates but leave them untouched? Was it possible that he didn't see them?

"A-Akir..." Blade's throat was dry. He swallowed and it only hurt more. It was too tight.

Akir didn't respond, but Blade heard a soft whimper and sniffling. He clenched his teeth and squeezed his mate too tight, trying not to cry himself. A pain like he had never felt before sliced through his insides and made his limbs tremble. Akir was shivering.

"We... We need to go..."

"It's my fault, Blade," he sobbed. "All my fault..."

Blade rubbed their snouts together and caressed his back. He failed stopping his tears, and they spilled down his cheeks, soaking his feathers. "It's not your fault... How could it possibly be your fault?"

More quiet weeping filled the silence under their bed. Never had Akir hurt like this before... Blade had never seen him cry like this. He let Akir take his time in responding, but he felt the crushing weight of responsibility burdening him. Their guildmates were dead in the other room...

Something needed to be done.

"Akir, please... Don't blame yourself for this. Neither of us could have stopped them."

"I-I knew there was something wrong when I touched the crystal... I should have said something... I-I d-didn't know..."

Blade pulled away and looked at Akir questioningly. "What do you mean there was something wrong?"

Akir took in a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself down, but he buried his snout in Blade's soft chest. "I think I took its power," he replied, muffled.

"I don't understand..."

Akir sniffed and tugged at Blade. "I can't explain it... I just... This is all my fault. Deji has a powerless crystal..."

Blade sighed and held Akir closely. He wasn't speaking any sense, and they didn't have time for this. "We have to go. We can't stay here."

Akir nodded and slowly pulled away from Blade, crawling out from beneath the bed. The fresh scent of blood was strong; Blade could almost taste the metallic flavor of it in the air. Akir helped Blade stand to his feet, but then he let go and stood in front of Blade with a look of gloom.

Instantaneously, he disappeared from sight.

Blade took a step back and looked up and down where Akir used to be before reaching out and touching him. He felt Akir's body right where it was, and he reappeared, forlorn. "It's my fault..." he repeated.

Blade was speechless. He heard of magic before, but he had never seen it in action. Magic came from crystals infused with power. In order for someone to cast a spell, they needed a physical connection to a specific crystal. But Akir no longer had the crystal, and he was able to turn himself invisible at will.

That was what had saved them. That was why the Shadowscale didn't see them.

"Akir... How?"

He didn't meet Blade's eyes and looked away. Blade had never seen him so sad before. "I don't know... I took the power from the crystal. That's why it didn't glow anymore... That's why the Shadowscales are after us."

Blade finally understood why Akir was so upset. "It's not your fault... You didn't know."

Akir shook his head and put their belongings back into their sacks. Blade knelt down to help him and tried his best to comfort his mate, but Akir shied away. Painful silence crept into the cell.

Blade sighed and squeezed his shoulder on his way out into the hall, where the stench of death and blood lingered thick in the air. Next to the destroyed table was Dreia's body. Saxan's was thrown off to the side with a sword in his hand. Each of them had stab wounds directly where their hearts were, and they lay in pools of crimson.

As Blade turned his head to the other cells, he vomited and retched. Leo's head had rolled closer to him than his body that was against the far wall. The look of fear was etched forever on his face.

Blade wiped his lips and shuddered, trying to ignore the sickness he felt and the awful taste in his mouth. They needed to leave and fast, but Akir was sulking and trying to collect himself. What they needed was a plan. Akir was usually the one to come up with those--not Blade.

What do we do?

Vespera was hopefully gathering the others and not already dead outside, but they were being hunted if anyone was still alive. It made sense to meet up with them so they could defend themselves, yet Blade and Akir were being hunted too. There wouldn't be an easy way to find them, either, so they would be on their own while three--or possibly more--Shadowscales searched for them. But, with Akir's magical power, they could easily evade them.

It would be best for them to leave on their own. It was what Deji would do, and most likely what Vespera had planned once she found the others.

But that doesn't feel right...They're our family.

Where would they go? The closest town was several miles down the river. If they crossed the river, the edge of the desert wouldn't be much further away, so they could escape into the lands of another clan.

"How are we going to do this..." he muttered to himself while covering his nose with his shawl.

Akir stepped out with a pack of their belongings. It reminded Blade of all the times before when they had to abandon their home. This one had lasted much longer, and they had friends... family... Now it was all gone. It was different this time, Blade knew, and he couldn't shake the feeling of despair that loomed over him like a mountain in his path.

"Let's go to Endoral," he said. "I... I can't take this city anymore."

Blade looked at him with disbelief. They had lived here their entire lives. They've endured hardship after hardship. Now Akir wants to abandon all that they had worked for?

"That's so far away... It will take weeks just to cut straight through the desert. It will be at least a month if we don't want to die."

"We have their colors and there are kin there... Not a bunch of humans." Akir only looked at Blade, unable to bring himself to even glance at their friends. Those blue eyes of his were dull and filled with fear.

"They can still find us there... And our family is here."

"We don't know that for sure," Akir said. "And... Anywhere is better than here. I don't want to leave them, but..." His thoughts trailed off into a dark corner of his mind. "We can make the journey... We're better prepared for it now," he said confidently. "We never could when we were younger because we didn't have the money or resources... I've thought about it. This is our best chance."

"What if we find Vespera and the others first? We can all go," Blade suggested with a shred of hope.

Akir stepped forward and hugged Blade tightly. "I don't like it either, Blade... I hate it... But I have to protect you. I need you to be safe. I won't risk your life for theirs."

Blade clenched his jaw. He knew of the lengths Akir would go to protect him. In the past he had guarded Blade with more than just his own life. He was willing to sacrifice others for Blade, and truthfully Blade would do the same for him. "They've done so much for us..."

"I know, Blade. I know," he said, sniffling.

"Can't we just stay invisible and find everyone?" Blade clung to that thread of hope.

"I don't know how this magic works. I don't think I can hold it for long. When we were hiding, I felt it draining my energy like I was sprinting... We have to be careful."

Blade nodded and stepped back from their embrace. Both of them had a look of despair bringing them down. They've had to abandon everything several times before, but never once had they abandoned their friends. It didn't feel right.

Akir reached forward and grabbed Blade's hand, squeezing it gently. Through the gloom shrouding his face like a veil, Blade saw his love and kindness piercing through. "No matter what happens, Blade, we will find each other again."

As if the words were stolen from Blade's thoughts, he understood exactly what Akir meant. He nodded. "I know."

A small smile stretched Akir's lips. "Let's go."

They held hands and walked out of their destroyed guild hall, never leaving each other's side. When Akir went invisible, so did Blade. It was strange not seeing Akir in front of him while he led Blade up the steps, and Blade couldn't see his outstretched arm either. He assumed it was because their bodies were touching in some way so that it affected him too.

Walking out from the jail, they wandered into the streets where nothing appeared to be amiss. Everyone was going about their day like normal, and no scary dragonkin were around. They walked down the street and avoided touching anyone else. Like ghosts, they traveled without being seen, hiding in plain view. Ducking into an alley, Akir brought them out of sight so they could return to being visible and not rouse suspicion.

When they were certain the coast was clear, Akir relinquished his magic with a deep breath and exhale. "That takes a lot," he said.

For the next while, they traversed through the darkest alleys and corners of the city, worried they may be found by a Shadowscale. Akir decided it would be best for them to travel straight through the city instead of following the outskirts so that they would be hidden by crowds and buildings. Chances were that they were watching all of the slums and checking to make sure no one escaped.

They were constantly alert and checking everywhere. If the Shadowscales were still around, most likely they would be hiding in the shadows just like them, but Akir was confident they would be better off here than out in the open. Even if they blended in with the crowd, to the trained eye it would be no problem to spot them. There just weren't enough seas of people to keep them hidden. And he never said it, but Blade's feathers were too conspicuous.

"What about the port?" Blade asked quietly. "If we can find a boat, we can take it to the coast. I'm sure there's a ship sailing to Endoral somewhere."

Akir shook his head. "They'll be watching it. If what they say is true, they have eyes and ears everywhere. It wouldn't be hard to find us if they can predict where we're going."

"So what's stopping them from tracking us?"

"Right now, it's because they don't know where we are. If we disappear and make it to Endoral without them hearing a word of it, chances are they won't ever find us. It's so far away that they wouldn't expect us to make the journey. Which is why when we get close to the gates, we're going to turn invisible and sneak out without being seen. I'm sure the guards are in their pockets."

Blade nodded. Akir always thought everything through, so Blade always put his trust in him. He was smart and quick-witted. For a minute, Akir grabbed Blade's hand and led him through the first gate to enter the city, keeping them both invisible.

This time, Akir was left panting and leaning heavily against the wall for support. Blade looked at him worriedly. "You're sure you'll be able to do this?"

Akir nodded and stood up. "I have to."

Blade followed along behind his mate, keeping a close eye out for anyone that would cause them harm. Vagrants and beggars wandered around these alleyways so the guards wouldn't beat them back to the slums. The paths were narrow and winding around the base of the hill that the city settled on. Akir's goal was to exit out of the southern gate so they could make their way into the gorge that the river spilled into. It wasn't far from the city, and there were many rocks and brush they could use to hide themselves.

Finally, the southern gate came into view as Blade peeked around the corner. "So... does walking while you're using the magic make it harder?" Blade asked curiously.

Akir nodded while taking the moment to rest up. He would have to expend most of his energy to make it past the gate. There were lots of citizens traveling in and out, so he would have to be careful of bumping into someone, too.

"What if I carry you, then?"

Akir shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe it would help... I don't know, Blade."

Blade smiled and kissed Akir's cheek before picking him up. He was just as heavy as Blade, but he managed to hold him in his arms like a rescued maiden in those scraps of fantasy stories he read to Blade when they were younger. They smiled at each other and made sure no one was around before they went invisible.

At first, Blade walked at a brisk pace out into the open. Though they were invisible, he could still feel the heat of the sun against his feathers and the harsh wind that kicked up sand and dirt. He stepped closer to the gates before merging with the crowd. It was admittedly a lot harder with Akir in his arms to avoid bumping into anyone, but he seemed to manage to squeeze through the gate and dash to the side out of the city's walls.

There were still buildings and people everywhere outside the walls, but that was the last checkpoint before they wandered off to the west in search of a way into the gorge.

"I think it's working, Blade," Akir said, strained. "Run if you can so we can find a spot to undo this."

Blade noticed that his paws left imprints in his wake, and when he jogged he could hear his footfalls in the sandy dirt. He assumed that anyone near them could hear him, so he kept as quiet as he could.

He found a collection of rocks to hide behind, and there wasn't anyone around, so Akir relinquished his magic as Blade put him down. Both of them were panting rather heavily, but big grins stretched their snouts. It reminded Blade of all their adventures they've had in the past, where they had to think of something creative to get them out of trouble. It brought the light of hope to their dark times.

"I think my energy still gets used up when you move, but it helps that both of us aren't moving," he said. "I don't really know... This is all so weird." He bumped snouts with Blade and checked their surroundings. "We have to keep moving."

Now that they were free of the city, they ran at a fast pace from cover to cover to escape any unwanted eyes watching their movements. It didn't take long for them to find the gorge outside of the city, but finding a safe way down was the next problem they faced. Luckily, many trees and bushes managed to grow along the edges of the cliffs, helping hide them from view.

There were others around, but mostly children out to play or adults picking through the plants to find anything edible. Most desert plants were tough and unhealthy to eat, but that never stopped those who were starving.

The first opportunity they found to travel lower they took, climbing down withered steps and rocks until they arrived at the bottom. Here, it felt safe, with giant walls surrounding them on all sides. The width of the gorge only stretched for a hundred feet or so before it opened up further down the way. A small river of water followed the gorge, coming from a waterfall north of them. They wanted to travel south, so they followed downstream and kept close to the walls.

Blade watched behind to make sure no one was following them. It was peaceful away from the city, so it was much easier to hear and see any disturbances. The sound of the wind whistling through the gorge and rustling the branches of small trees and bushes was heard above the bubbling creek. Not much wildlife lived in the desert, but there were lizards, snakes, and plenty of insects that called this place their home. A few birds flew overhead in the hot sun, their shadows often startling Blade.

But what startled Blade the most were the sudden movements above them on the edge of a smaller cliff. Dust kicked up and fell on them, and Akir immediately grabbed Blade and pushed him to the wall as he drew his weapon. Hearts raced and fear gripped them. Was it a Shadowscale that had tracked them after all?

Akir took a deep breath and kept his arm over Blade, and in an instant they disappeared from sight.

Seconds later, a figure dropped down and flung a few knives that impacted against the rocks beside and around them, clattering harmlessly into the ground as the shadow landed.

It was Vespera.

"Damnit, where did they go!? I know I saw someone following us..." she said to Tyrion and Falia who emerged from their flanks. They had an ambush prepared for any unwanted attention, but Blade was relieved to see them.

However, Akir didn't relinquish his magic and held Blade back; it was most likely because he didn't want them to know about his power. The less people that knew the better off they were.

"They were here," Tyrion said. His red scales blazed in the sunlight like a fire. "Two dragonkin. You can see their tracks further back, but they disappear here."

Vespera grabbed her weapons at their feet. Blade held his breath and scooted as far up the rock wall as he could. "Impossible. They can't hide in plain sight, can they?"

Falia shrugged her shoulders and kept a sharp eye scouring their surroundings. "The heat can make you see things, sometimes," she teased. "The footprints could be ours." Her tan and brown scales blended in well like a natural camouflage--Blade didn't see her hiding ahead of them.

Tyrion scoffed at that and cocked his shoulders back.

"Keep close," Vespera said. "We have to keep moving so we get there before nightfall. It'll be impossible to find the old hideout without any light. Let's just hope these were our footprints."

The three of them moved forward down the path Blade and Akir were following, heading further away from the city and deeper into the gorge. Above them, the cliffs seemed to be growing higher.

After they disappeared from sight, Akir let go of Blade and heaved, taking in deep breaths and exhaling them loudly through raspy gasps. He had held his magic for nearly four minutes while their guildmates searched for them. Blade held his shoulder and looked at him worriedly. It was like he had run a couple miles and just finished.

"I'm okay, Blade," he said. "Let's just hope I don't have to do that again..."

Blade nodded and kissed his cheek. "At least we found them... Some of them."

Akir smiled and looked ahead. "It's a start... Apparently the old hideout is over here. I had no idea."

"We should catch up with them."

They lightly jogged ahead and found their figures through the desert brush. To prevent having knives thrown at them again, Akir called out and had them stop so they could join up.

"So it was you two," Vespera said and eyed both of them up and down. There were curiosities left unsatisfied, but she let them slide for now. "I'm glad you made it... How did you know about the hideout?"

The five of them walked together and continued their journey. "We didn't," Akir answered. "We just happened to be coming this way."

"Did you see any of the others?" Falia asked hopefully.

Blade's guts twisted and he grimaced. He didn't want to be the one to break the news, so he let Akir continue.

"No... Saxan, Dreia, and Leo are dead."

Horror filled Falia's eyes. Tyrion snarled and clenched his claws together but stared ahoffead. Vespera remained silent.

It was a dissonant silence that crept between them. Blade wanted to say something comforting, but he couldn't find the words. There wasn't anything comforting about what happened...

"We lost Polo when we had to make a run for it. We had to leave him behind... They would have killed us all." Regret couldn't have been more obvious in her eyes. "Orik and Joji ran for the harbor even though I told them it was suicide. I guess that's everyone accounted for, and it's safe to assume everyone's dead except for us."

Blade clenched his teeth together and bit back tears. He relived the painful memories of hearing his guildmates' last cries, and then seeing their dead, bloodied bodies strewn about the guild hall. To know that there were others that met the same fate was heartbreaking. Now only five of the twelve remained.

"What about Deji?" he asked.

Vespera turned her head and shot him a venomous glare. "If he's not already dead, I doubt he'll make it back. Something tells me he's the reason that there are Shadowscales after us--I told him not to be making deals with them anymore."

Blade swallowed and avoided meeting her gaze. "So he's one of them?"

"Yes and no," she answered hesitantly. "He never told me the full story of it, but basically he was one of the Eyes. For the longest time, he went off their grid and never reported in. He'd only ever make his presence known when it was beneficial to him. I assume they had enough and sought to destroy him and everything he's worked for."

Maybe that's the reason why and it's not only because of you, Akir... Blade hoped Akir didn't still feel like this was his fault.

"I'm glad you both made it out," she added with a hint of sincerity.

They talked quietly for a while about their guildmates and memories they had to lift their spirits a little, but more often than not their hearts would sink as they were reminded of their crumbling guild.

The sun was nearing the horizon, and dark shadows were cast inside the gorge. It hid them well from sight, but it made it hard to search for the entrance to the old hideout. Vespera said there was a stone panel to press that would trigger a few mechanisms to slide a rock door open.

She eventually found it just before the sun disappeared, and the five of them stepped inside a cool, dry chamber with an old, wooden table, a board, and three beds. Everything was crowded together more so than their current guild hall. Dust cluttered the beds and table, but once they cleared it all off, it was almost like home.

Vespera looked around the tiny hovel and searched through her memories. "It used to only be Deji, Raven, and me against the world... I remember when we used to come back here after a long day out and drink to our hearts' content." Her expression dropped. "He was a lot happier then."

Blade and Akir sat down together in their bed, their legs sore from a long day of walking and running. Akir looked especially drained of energy. His eyes were heavy.

Falia and Tyrion relaxed on the same bed together, too, just as close as Blade and Akir were.

"Raven?" Blade asked curiously. He knew of a few other guild members that died or left before he and Akir joined, but he never heard the name Raven.

Vespera sighed and hunched over the table with an elbow propping her tired head up. "She was this beautiful, black-feathered akro that he had fallen head over heels for. I don't think they were quite mates yet, but they were very close... Until she betrayed us and broke his heart."

Blade's ears pinned against his head. He cared for Deji, and he imagined what it would be like if Akir betrayed him. He knew Akir never would, but the thought of it hurt enough. "What did she do?"

"She didn't share the same giving heart that Deji had. She wanted the gold for herself. I remember them arguing one night, and the next day she disappeared with nearly all of our gold. I was there to pick up the pieces of his shattered heart, but he was never the same after that."

Falia noticeably shifted closer to Tyrion, nearly leaning against him. His arm then wrapped around her back. "That's terrible," she said.

Vespera let out a single chuckle in a huff of breath. "And I thought I was just being jealous when I thought she was faking it. Can't say I wasn't happy she was gone... But I never wished that upon Deji." The way her dark-blue eyes softened told Blade how much she missed him. She obviously didn't think they'd ever see each other again.

"He'll come back, Vespera," Blade comforted. "Deji would never abandon us. From what the Shadowscales sounded like, they haven't found him."

Vespera lifted her head. "If he isn't dead and if he comes back in one piece, he's in for a beating." With a smirk, she let the fire in her eyes die out before she returned to missing him. "And if he survives me, then I'll let him come back."

Silence left each of them to their thoughts. Blade worried about what happened next, the same as everyone else. Would they survive the Shadowscales? What if they were found again? What happened to Deji and would he ever make it back? Was Akir still planning on leaving now that they had found their friends again--or what remained of them?

With a soft sigh, Blade leaned against Akir and closed his eyes. Though his mind refused to relax, his body at least took solace in the closeness he shared with his mate. At least we're still together... I can't imagine what Vespera is feeling.

"We should take watch," Vespera said to break the silence. "I don't want these demons getting the upper-hand on us. If we see them coming, then we have a better chance of surviving them. I'll take the first watch." Everyone was in agreement, so she stood up and checked her weapons before stepping out.

Akir and Blade lay down together, as did Tyrion and Falia. They seemed much closer now than they did before, so Blade could assume that they were mates too. He didn't want to pester them about it now; he was too tired. Right now, all he wanted to do was fall asleep in Akir's arms as they embraced one another.

When the sun rose the next day, the five of them went out to find food and water separately. The sun was hot, and the sand blowing in the air made it twice as irritable. Without all the walls and buildings protecting them, the wind was much more vicious.

"This was all you could find?" Vespera complained as Tyrion returned with a few measly rodents for food. She, Blade, Akir, and Falia were nestled in a small alcove under a cliff with a small campfire. Their spitroast had a small lizard on it, which was hardly enough to feed one of them, but they at least managed to gather plenty of water from the small river.

"Seems that I've been more successful than you four," he grumbled and helped skewer more food for them.

"How did you guys find food before?" Falia asked.

"We usually took it back from the city," Vespera answered. "And we'd stockpile it when we knew we wouldn't make it back for a few days."

Tyrion sighed and plopped down beside Blade. "When do you think it'll be safe again?"

The scent of burning fur and flesh was pungent, but to the starving Blade, it meant food, so he didn't care. Smoke wafted up and caught on the stones before spilling out into the air. They tried their best to hide their fire so no one would see it, and soon someone would take the next watch after they had a meal.

"The plan is to disperse for a while--about a month or so--and return once this is all behind us," Vespera said. She poked at the fire and stirred swirls of embers into the dry air. "Hopefully that will be enough time to make them think we're gone."

Blade stared into the flames and watched them lap at one another with no discernable pattern. The thought of returning to his normal life was welcoming, but after speaking with Akir about their plans in Endoral, he felt that they would find better paths to travel there. In a way, he was excited about it, even if it meant leaving his old life behind--but that meant that he could begin anew with his mate.

"We won't be coming back," Akir said quietly.

Vespera tilted her head and glared at him with furrowed brows. "What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly that," he stated firmly. "Blade and I are going to Endoral."

Blade could tell that Vespera was hurt by that. No matter how hard she tried to be as stoical as her mate, she had a soft spot. "There's nothing there but fat, pompous lizards and their fanciful lifestyles. That's no way to live."

"This isn't living," Akir continued. "The Shadowscales aren't known for giving up... If you go back, you're running the risk of them finding you."

"According to all the myths and legends, anywhere you go they'll find you," she countered with a hiss. "You're not any safer being thousands of leagues away."

"And according to the myths and legends, Blade and I should already be dead. They aren't omniscient." Akir hugged tightly around his knees and stared at the fire. The reflection of the flames flickered in his determined, blue eyes.

Vespera grumbled to herself and tore into a cooked rat. Neither of them had the energy to argue further and both points had already been made. Vespera was just as stubborn as Deji was, and Akir wasn't far behind.

"Who's taking watch?" she asked.

Blade was going to answer so he could let Akir rest more, but Akir interrupted him and said, "I will." He wanted to object to that, but he knew that was an argument he wouldn't win. Blade hugged around his legs and sat beside the fire as Akir stepped away.

Endoral... It's about a week to the next port... Then probably another couple weeks of sailing after that. It's still faster and safer than walking through the desert.

"You don't have to go with him, Blade," Vespera said. "We can protect you just as well as him."

Blade felt his heart ache. To even think of leaving Akir was an impossibility in his mind, but Vespera didn't want him to go. She obviously didn't want either of them to go. "I do have to go with him," he said. "I love him." Those words had a different meaning in Blade's mind. No one knew they were mates yet, so they assumed he meant a brotherly or friendly sort of love, like he loved his guildmates, but there was a deeper understanding behind those words that only Blade knew.

Vespera didn't like that either; her disapproval was obviously painted all across her face. "So you're both just going to leave us?"

Blade sighed and buried his nose between his knees. Tyrion and Falia looked at him too, disappointed. "Akir... We think we'll be safer in Endoral. We don't want to leave either... This is our home." He wanted to tell them their reasoning, but that would reveal Akir's magic, and they might turn on him if they thought it was his fault that the Shadowscales were here. "We think it'll be safer for everyone if we do. One of them saw us... They know what we look like." The Shadowscales most likely knew what they all looked like, but Blade and Akir were the only two to see them.

Vespera didn't want to admit that Blade was right, so she didn't say anything and stared forward.

Except for the wind blowing through the gorge and the crackling of the fire, all was silent. Blade didn't like it, but he didn't know what else to say. When his meal was done cooking, he tore into it eagerly and nearly swallowed it whole. Once Akir's was finished, he took it up to him at the top of the cliff and sat beside him beneath a single, small tree for a little shade.

"What if Vespera agrees to come with us?" Blade asked hopefully.

"She won't. She wants to wait for Deji," Akir responded and picked at his cooked rodent. It certainly wasn't appetizing in any way, but Blade worried that Akir wasn't eating because he was upset.

Blade scoured the land around them. The city was far off in the distance, rising above the rocky, downhill land that led into the desert. There were a lot more rocks than trees and much more sand here than around the city. It was everywhere, littering every nook and cranny. The sun beat down upon them like a fire. "When do we leave, then?"

Akir let out a sigh and answered, "Tomorrow. The sooner we leave, the sooner we will get there and are out of danger."

Blade nodded and felt queasy. He still didn't like the idea of leaving their friends, and he was sure he never would. Akir reached over and squeezed his hand with a soft smile as their eyes met. Blade bared a small grin back and leaned in for a quick kiss. Now that they were away, they could give each other the affection they wanted, but without becoming distracted. It was their job to watch for any signs of a threat.

They sat together in comfortable silence for quite some time, simply relaxing and enjoying one another's company without doing anything. Akir said he should join the others and speak to Vespera some more, and maybe get some rest, so he left Blade to watch. About now, the sun was beginning to set, steadily descending over the western horizon and cooling off the arid air.

Blade scanned the horizon over and over again, checking for any signs of the Shadowscales. It was getting darker by the second and becoming more difficult to see far away. Shadows of a large, rocky ridge crawled from behind him and soon passed him until darkness settled over the land. Lights from the city faintly glowed in the distance, but out here there was nothing but the moon and stars.

For a moment, Blade stared up at the sky and felt the cool air brushing against him. It was peaceful--completely quiet and still. It had been a few years since Blade had spent the night outside the city. Even when it was late, there were always people around making noise. It was a stark difference that he was happy to experience.

He hoped whoever was next to watch would relieve him soon. Sitting up here with nothing to do was beginning to wear him out and make him drowsy. It was hard to keep his eyes open, but he dared not fall asleep. Every so often he would check behind him now, just to be sure there was nothing there.

Blade jerked his head around and stared behind him, perking his ears. He thought he heard something move, but he couldn't see anything... or anyone. A couple thousand feet from him was a ridge of rocks, and before that were more rocks with a few cacti and dry bushes. He figured it was a small lizard or snake and let out a sigh as he turned back around.

I'm just paranoid is all.

More clattering rocks sounded to his side, and Vespera wandered up to meet him. He was thankful to see her instead of someone that wanted to kill him.

"Nothing going on?" she asked as she stepped up under the tree.

Blade shook his head and stood up to meet her. "It couldn't get more boring."

"That's what we want," Vespera said and unsheathed a dagger from her belt. She sat down with her back to the tree where Blade was and kept it tucked against her body, ready to be used at a moment's notice.

Blade turned to leave, but she called after him. "Hey. I'm sorry about earlier. Akir talked to me and explained some of his reasoning, so I understand now. You're both doing what's best for everyone."

Turning his attention back to her, he nodded. "I wish we could stay... We've never had a place to call home until we found the Guild. For most of our lives, we've constantly scavenged for scraps. This was our first real chance at a better life."

A small smile of understanding inched across her lips. "It's the same for all of us. Just a shame it's come to this..."

Blade winced and inhaled slowly before letting out a soft sigh. "I hope you three can keep it going. I hope Deji comes back."

"And I hope you and Akir find what you're looking for in Endoral." Now, Vespera let a bigger smile curl her lips as she chuckled. "Akir told me about you two."

A blush immediately filled Blade's cheeks as he wondered what exactly she knew about them. "Y-Yeah?"

She nodded and looked up at him. "I feel like I knew you two were gay all along, but I can't say that for certain. I think it's cute."

"Well, we didn't really know either... It was only a couple days ago when we found out." Blade scratched the back of his head and avoided meeting her eyes. He was embarrassed about it, even though he was prepared for people to find out.

"Enjoy it," she said, her smile slowly fading. "Take every chance to enjoy each other and cherish it. Deji and I never got to really do that... We were always so absorbed in our work, and any moment we had was fleeting. I hope you two will do better than us."

Vespera pulled her hood up and turned her head away from Blade. He thanked her and stepped away, feeling joy rising in his chest as he thought about Akir.

But just as he faced away, he heard a sudden rush of wind behind him. As he turned around, he caught the glowing, pale eyes of a killer staring deep into his soul. In that instant, he felt his heart lurch inside his chest, his stomach twisting, and his fear filling his face. The glint of a dagger glimmered at his side and thrust forward.

Blade cried out and closed his eyes as fear overwhelmed him. He leaned back to try and dodge the blade, but he knew it was too late. His mind raced with so many thoughts that shot through his head like lightning bolts, sparking from one thought to the next. He saw his life flash before his eyes, ending on the terrifying face of his nightmares, the Shadowscale that was meant to kill him.

He heard the rending of flesh as metal pierced it, and he expected to feel the cold pain of a dagger in his heart, but nothing happened.

He fell backwards to the ground, having tripped after he was startled. When he opened his eyes, he saw Akir standing before him and the black-scaled dragonkin behind him. Blood dripped on the ground, staining the sand in crimson.

Blade thought Akir had been stabbed and felt his fear reignited into despair. He jumped to his feet and went to help him, but then he watched the Shadowscale's body fall to the ground, a knife in his chest. Akir wasn't harmed, and he killed their assailant in one fatal, calculated stab. Akir took in deep, ragged breaths like he had ran several miles without stopping, but he was perfectly okay.

Vespera was on her feet rushing to them, and Akir quickly scanned the area for any more attackers as he caught his breath. He quickly knelt down and grabbed his weapon from the dead dragonkin's chest. The three of them stood their ground and watched their surroundings very closely. Blade's nerves were scattered and his mind was spinning, but he slowly calmed down once he realized they weren't in any danger for now.

"Where in the Seven Hells did you come from!?" Vespera hissed and pushed Akir's shoulder. She stared down at the dead Shadowscale.

Blade felt chills ruffle his feathers as he looked. "You killed one..." Though he was dead, he still looked terrifying, like a monster that would rise up and cut them down at any moment. His features were ridged, and the clothing he wore was just as dark as his scales. His lightweight clothes were tight against his body so he could move around freely and not make any sound. Upon inspection, they found many assassins' tools: a pouch filled with poisons and other liquids, throwing blades, twin daggers, and a pointy shortsword with a single, razor-sharp edge.

It was eerie to get this close of a look at a Shadowscale. Blade doubted that anyone ever had a chance like this. He never heard of anyone managing to kill one. They were myths, legends, fabrications, and yet one lay dead before them.

And Akir had saved Blade's life.

"I hope he came alone," Akir said.

"If he wasn't alone, they would have attacked us at the same time," Vespera said. "That's how I would eliminate my targets. He must have thought he could take us all out alone and didn't bring any help."

"How did he know we were here?" Blade asked worriedly. "If he found us, the others are sure to be close behind."

Akir shrugged his shoulders. "Could have seen the smoke when we were cooking. Or he got lucky. Either way, I don't think we should stay here."

Vespera narrowed her eyes at him. "Speaking of getting lucky... You appeared out of thin air," she stated. "He didn't see you. None of us saw you." The more she thought about it, the more suspicious she became. "And when you two were following us yesterday, you both disappeared entirely."

Blade swallowed and felt his blood drain from his face. Akir had no choice but to use his power while Vespera was around. Blade had no idea what he was doing up here to begin with; he guessed that Akir was watching over him like he always did--now he could do it in secret. Blade wished he would have known, but he was thankful nonetheless.

Akir met Vespera's glare. "You can't tell anyone."

Vespera's stare hardly abated, but she nodded her head.

Akir explained his ability to Vespera, leaving out the part about how he may have acquired it. The disbelief was shown in Vespera's expression, but he proved it to her to sate her curiosity. She was astounded.

"What were you doing up here?" Vespera pressed. "How did you know there would be a Shadowscale?"

"I... I worry a lot and wanted to make sure Blade was safe," Akir answered, his head lowering. He looked at Blade apologetically. "I was also... curious about what you would say to him."

Akir knew better than to use his power to eavesdrop. It was obvious he felt like he betrayed their trust in doing so, but Blade didn't feel that way. Anything he said he would say with Akir there or not. He was glad Akir was with him. He didn't care for the idea of Akir spying on him, and he would much rather him not be worrying at all, but this time it worked out.

"Did you think I would harass him or something?" Vespera wondered, still offended. "You know I would never do or say anything... I guess that's neither here nor there," she finished with a hefty sigh. "We need to do something about this and now."

Blade and Akir agreed to take the body and move it down the cliff, out of sight. They hid his body under the cliff and buried it in dusty rocks. The only way someone would be able to find it is if they unfortunately stumbled upon that section under the cliff.

They quickly returned to check on Falia and Tyrion to make sure they weren't harmed. Thankfully, the two of them were caught making out and not dead, which they were embarrassed about.

The three of them didn't mention anything of the Shadowscale to Falia or Tyrion, so they wouldn't expose Akir's magic, and Vespera returned to take her turn watching. Blade was more worried now that there was a higher potential of them being found, and he knew Akir would want to leave very soon. Vespera was sure to have her own plans for the three of them to leave before long.

Somehow, even though they were keeping constant watch, that Shadowscale had slipped past their sights and waited for the perfect moment to strike, when Blade and Vespera were distracted. Not only did it take patience, but his ability to sneak up on his prey was astonishing. Terrifyingly so. If one of them could do that, who was to say that all of them couldn't do that too?

As far as they knew, there were only three Shadowscales after them. It seemed like overkill to send any more, but none of them knew for certain how many there actually were. Blade liked to think there were only two left--that at least gave them a small chance to overpower them if they attacked directly.

They would just pick us off one by one, or two at a time like that one had planned.

Blade sat at the table with Akir and watched his face churn with thought. He was thinking about the best course of action and what to do next, like he always did. Blade didn't pester him; he knew Akir would tell him when he was ready. So, he sat beside his mate and secretly squeezed and rubbed his thigh while Falia and Tyrion cuddled on their bed.

Blade was jealous of them.

Akir had told Vespera, but he doubted he mentioned anything to the other two about their relationship. Now that Vespera knew, he was sure they would know soon enough, and he really didn't mind that. After all they had been through together, at this point it wouldn't matter what they thought.

Akir seemed to think the same thing because he smiled warmly at Blade and held his hand. It wasn't as open as Tyrion and Falia, but they didn't mind if they got caught.

"Are you ready, Blade?" Akir asked softly. "We should travel when the sun is down."

Blade's chest ached. So soon? He looked at their friends and thought about Vespera too. Would he ever see them again? He wanted to believe he would, somewhere in the distant future, but he doubted their paths would ever cross again. Hesitantly, he nodded.

Tyrion and Falia turned their heads to them. "You guys are leaving?" Tyrion asked, sitting up.

"Afraid so," Akir said and stood from the table. Blade joined him at his side. "It's a long way to Endoral. The sooner we start, the sooner we get there."

Tyrion nodded his head and stood up to meet both of them. With an outstretched hand, he took each of them into a firm handshake and wished them the best of luck. "We'll miss you. Stay strong and keep your eyes peeled."

Falia hugged them both tightly and smiled. "Take care of yourselves."

Blade had never been really close with either of them, but he still knew them as family, and it hurt to leave them. He hoped everything would turn out okay.

After their short goodbyes, Akir and Blade gathered what few belongings they had and supplies for their journey. They climbed up the cliff to meet Vespera for one last time.

Instead of being under the tree, they found her on top of a rock, scouring the area. When she spotted them, she didn't pay them much attention and stared ahead, squinting. A dagger was in her hand while she half-sat and half-squatted atop the rock.

"Leaving?" she asked without glancing their way.

"Yeah," Akir answered. "It's time."

Vespera didn't want them to go, but she wouldn't hold them back. "I hope you find what you're looking for there," she said. "I wish you both the best of luck." Slowly, she turned her head and bared a soft half-smile.

Blade gritted his teeth and clenched his hands to help keep a strong composure. Out of everyone in the guild, he had to admit that he cared for Vespera the most. She had always been there for him when Akir wasn't--very rare but treasured moments nonetheless.

"Can I at least get a hug?" Blade asked, his gold eyes meeting her silver.

Her small smile turned into a wide grin as she chuckled. She hopped down from the rock and embraced Blade tightly, squeezing him until he saw stars. Then she hugged Akir and pulled away from them both. "Take care of each other. I know you will."

"When you see Deji again, tell him we'll miss him," Akir said.

Her smile diminished as she looked thoughtfully ahead. "I will."

As she returned to her perch, Blade and Akir turned their backs to her and started their journey to the west, guided by the stars. A large, beautiful landscape lay in front of them, under a starry night sky filled with thousands upon thousands of silvery speckles. The half-moon was brighter in comparison and lit their way. Silhouettes of rocky spires rose from the earth and covered the western horizon. Large rocks were scattered about the dirt and sandy plain. The wilderness was barren save for a few tree and bushes here and there. When the Rinn River wound in their direction, some patches of grass spotted the earth.

Blade looked to Akir with a warm smile curling his lips. They were walking away from their past and into their future together. For the next few weeks, they would travel to Endoral to escape the threat of the Shadowscales. In a month's time, they would be safe... they hoped.

Akir looked back and grinned at Blade before reaching an arm around him and tucking him close so they walked hip-to-hip. Blade rested his head on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around his waist. "Do you think there are gay dragonkin in Endoral?"

Akir chuckled and kissed his snout. "We won't be the only ones, Blade. I'm sure of that."

Blade felt his heart calming down now that he was beginning to let go of his past. They held so many memories in Hato, but he looked forward to making new ones. Their friends would be left behind, but perhaps they would make new ones too. It was the perfect reset they needed on their lives, now that they understood one another. Instead of brothers they were mates.

Blade liked that.