Page 2 of Cuddles for the Bear
It's probably all fake. He’s probably just having a laugh with his friends even now, while I’m sitting here worried sick.Yeah, Devon didn’t believe that, and neither did his bear, and his bear was usually a good judge of character.
The only issue Devon could see was that without knowing where BlueKnight64 was, or even what his legal name was, the most effective way to track the man down was to admit to Cyrus what he’d done and ask for help. The man had resources. It wouldprobably only take a second to find out who BlueKnight64 was and where they were.
Cyrus is a decent bloke… I mean, I know I broke the rules, but if I can save someone…Devon tapped his nails against the side of his half-empty can.
It’s not like I told BlueKnight64 where I was, or any of the others. I haven’t put them in danger. He doesn’t know where I am – where any of us are. Surely there’s something the people we work for could do – trace an IP address or something? Just give me some idea of where he is? What’s the worst that could happen?
Letting out a long huff, Devon’s mind let him know how bad things could go wrong. Cyrus could get the computer connection checked and find out BlueKnight64 was on the other side of the world. Or Cyrus would get a message letting him know Devon had to be stood down or something equally ridiculous because he’d let himself get scammed by some radical person who wanted to out him and his friends.
What would even happen if that were true?Devon had no idea. It’s not like he’d ever heard of anything similar happening to any of his friends. But as he sat there, his mind churning, Devon already knew what he would do. Even if he got outed as the most stupid bear-shifting assassin in existence, he couldn’t let the matter of BlueKnight64 rest.
Knowingly or not, there had been times when that anonymous person on the other side of the screen was the only person who could make Devon laugh. There were days when his job weighed heavily on him, and yet he genuinely felt his heart lift every time he saw he had an unread message.
I could go to bed.Devon downed the rest of his beer, setting his can down carefully on the table.Wait and see if there’s amessage in the morning. Maybe there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation, and it will be waiting for me when I wake up. We’ll both laugh and get on with our day.
That wasn’t going to happen. There were words from BlueKnight64’s last message that couldn’t be ignored.
He locks me in.
…no way out…
…doesn’t like my friends…
He gets cross…
He said he’ll never let me go…
Calls me “mine” …
“See, that right there is shifter behavior.” Devon pointed at his can. “There’s never been any indication in the messages we’ve exchanged that he’s mated and happy about it. Never. Nope. I’m going to have to talk to Cyrus.”
Getting up from his chair, Devon wasn’t sure if he was making the biggest mistake of his life or not.I just hope Python’s worked his dick magic and put Cyrus in a good mood,he thought as he made his way out of the house and down the track to Cyrus’s workshop.
Chapter Two
“Wren, you ridiculous wretch. Why isn’t my bed turned down? Where’s my chocolate? There’re dishes still draining on the damn rack. Where the fuck are you?”
Shit. Shit. Shit.Wren had learned to move fast because he had to. The moment his laptop was stashed under his mattress, Wren ran into the bathroom, tugged off his shirt, and grabbed a plunger. Straining his butt muscles, he managed a solid fart –damn, I hope I didn’t shit my pants –all before Michael smashed open his bathroom door.
Head over the toilet bowl, bum up, Wren flinched as the door hit the wall. “Sir, you’re home. I’m so sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.” He looked over his shoulder, the pitiful look Michael preferred on his face. “There was an…incident…with the plumbing.” He pulled the dripping plunger out of the toilet, silently crowing as Michael moved back, disgust twisting his features. “Something got blocked. I didn’t want you to have to call a plumber. I think I’ve got it fixed.”
“Gods, you’re disgusting. It absolutely stinks in here.” Michael waved his hand in front of his nose. “To think I came home early just so I could take you out, seeing as that’s all you keep whining about. But eww…not now. You’ve spoiled your chance because you didn’t care for me the way you’re supposed to.”
Wren’s heart dropped as if someone had punched it. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been allowed out of the house. To be able to breathe fresh air, feel the breeze on his face…
Michael always does this. He never intended taking you out in the first place.Wren nodded, turning his head away. It was easier looking in the toilet bowl than it was looking at the manwho ruled every aspect of his life. “I am so sorry, sir,” he said, using his most plaintive tone. “I didn’t know this would happen.”
“Something always happens with you,” Michael sneered from the doorway. “You’re just useless. Pathetic. Gods, you can never do anything right, and you’re always messing with my plans. No wonder I can’t do anything nice for you. You always fuck things up.”
Tears dropped down Wren’s face and into the pristine toilet. No matter how hard he tried to tell himself words couldn’t hurt him, hearing them night after night, repeated day after day – they just did. A little piece of Wren broke every time, and Michael knew it.
“Look at you.” The sneering tone intensified. “I don’t know why I bother keeping you around. You’re completely useless. I should just kill you. Wipe your miserable existence off the face of the earth once and for all.”
“Please, no.” Wren didn’t know what he was pleading for. He didn’t want to die. But he already knew Michael would never let him go.
“Oh, that would be too easy.” Michael laughed. “Face it, little worm, the only way you’re getting out of here is when I’m dead, and we both know that’s not going to happen. You’re mine. Bought and paid for. Your parents never loved you – they proved that when they handed you over for a fistful of cash - and no one else ever will either. So you’d better make sure you keep me happy, because I can replace you at the drop of a hat.”
“I’ll do better, sir. I promise I’ll do better.” Wren stifled his sobs. “I have to… I’ll fix this toilet.”
