SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR WARNINGS AND NECESSARY DISCLAIMERS.


Context : After ol' Voldysnort is taken care of, occasionally the other Nevermore realms have a squabble or two. Sometimes, Nevareans have to fight and prominent Circles will join in a Common War Council of sorts, hashing out plans and resources that they are willing to try or agree with. The suggestions and approved actions are then escalated all the way up to the Royals' and handled accordingly. This snippet features Harry trying his 'saving people' thing again...


PRIDE II

It's four days before Harry realizes that Quinn hasn't spoken to him.

Granted, his Bonded are usually chattering so much, it's kind of hard to keep track of all of them.

And he still hasn't opened the bonds back.

He can't.

Not yet.

His Bonded rally around him, showing that they still care and being appropriately considerate in the wake of losing face so publicly.

It still bothers him. Burning and twisting inside, because he'd meant it for all the right reasons and somehow, it'd gone terribly wrong.

"Harry?" Theo stands in the doorway, looking adorably irritated—one of his best contradicting expressions. He's returned, but he isn't staying long. There's too much to be done."I have to take care of some things—I'm taking the twins with me and probably Hadrian, if he's back."

"What's wrong?" Harry asks, because he has to. Because Theo won't tell him unless he wants to know—and sometimes, he doesn't.

"There's some trouble in Mount Valeraine—Ebony has asked us to come."

"You should take Charlie," Harry begins. He tries and fails to remember if he's seen his Beta in the past hour or so.

"He's already there," Theo says. "Ethan," there's a slight sharpness to his tone, but the Pareya only nods. He knows what Theo wants to say and gives his word, easily.

Hadrian picks that moment to shuffle in, fresh from the bath, a towel slung low around his hips and another draped around his neck. His dragel tattoos are swirling and moving, as if agitated by some unseen force. He doesn't look the least bit rested, in spite of a healing sleep of over twenty-two hours.

"Hadrian," Theo's voice is a near growl, but his eyes are rapidly shifting from pure gold to pitch black. "We need to leave now."

Their ACE looks up, a weary gaze on his shadowed face. He knows what Theo is asking of him—also, unspoken. Thin lips twitch, as if almost to give a wry smile. The prospect of physical engagement is very likely. At least it will help to wake up his body.

Harry's muffled sound in his throat, draws their attention anyway. His face says it all, he's sure, but there is a smidgen of understanding reflected in Theo's golden eyes.

"We'll be back as soon as we can possibly manage it," Hadrian murmurs. He draws closer to Harry. His clothes and armor pour onto him, with a shimmer of magic, as his weapons materialize on his person. Shadows ruffle and fade around him. They are answering a call that is as old as time itself.

Harry slumps. The feeling of being left behind is not one that he likes, but he also knows that he will not be helpful if he accompanies them.

At least, not right now.

Whatever Theo has in mind, he doesn't have time to explain. If Charlie's already gone, then it must be serious. Especially if the Twins are joining them.

Granted, George's rare fire gift is one that ought to be used with extreme caution, but Fred's gift nullifies it and they'd be useful, Harry thinks. But deadly. Maybe that's what's needed.

But then Hadrian is there in front of him and he's talking, so Harry tries to pull himself back to the present. He doesn't want to miss anything, even though he knows he will miss them.

"Open one of them, at least," Hadrian whispers, pulling him into his arms—because he is closer than Theo. "Open Theo's." He breathes against Harry's right ear.

Harry makes a sound of disagreement, to which Hadrian bites his ear, sharply.

The reprimand is clear.

Harry has kept those bonds sealed. Has tried and failed to deal with the maelstrom of emotions that accompanied his 'failure' at the summit, but for now, perhaps he can do as Hadrian asks.

Maybe.

It'll hurt to open it and he's been on his own these past four days and it's been terrible. Still, he can't bring himself to—and ow!

Hadrian's bite is sharper this time. His fangs linger a fraction of a second later, to make his point.

This time, Harry can't shrug that off.

A second later, he can feel Theo's starting magic as his Alpha begins to anchor a long-distance portal.

Hadrian laves the bites with his tongue, sucking lightly on the spot. His hands, though large, are warm and firm, holding Harry to him.

Harry squirms, unwilling to be held, but not wanting to open those bonds yet. He has a feeling Hadrian won't let him go until he does. They need cheerfulness, clarity and hope—emotions that he's in no state to channel to them.

"Harry." Hadrian whispers, shifting his attentions to the other ear.

Harry braces himself for the bite that doesn't come. When the arms fall away, he stares up into dark eyes that are filled with so much compassion.

It makes his heart stutter a beat.

"Be safe," Hadrian says, simply. "Listen to Ethan." He presses dry lips to Harry's forehead, before he turns away—allowing himself to be caught with an arm around the waist, as Ethan steps forward for his own farewell greeting.

"Take care of yourself," Ethan growls, teasingly. His clawed hands dig into Hadrian's armored limbs for a hug that is well-received. "Happy hunting, you big hulk."

Hadrian smirks.

They kiss then, half-teeth and half-fang.

"I'll call as soon as I can," Hadrian murmurs. "Keep the escape medallions prepped."

Ethan nods, reaching up to tug on Hadrian's still damp hair. A flicker of a spell at his fingertips, has it dried and set in Hadrian's preferred style.

Hadrian captures the inquisitive hand and gifts it with a playful nibble—before drawing Ethan back for another kiss. When they part, Ethan's eyes are blazing gold and Hadrian's are pitch black.

He's growing darker with each step he takes away and by the time he reaches Theo, their expressions are nearly identical.

Harry shivers. He doesn't need his empathy to know that someone is going to pay for something today. He musters up a single half-smile as the portal springs to life and swallows them whole.

And then it is quiet and empty again.

Too quiet.

Too empty.


Again, this is NOT TBDH-canon. Mount Valeraine is that fire place that Ilsa asks Harry about, that day when they are about to enter the Hunt. :P Chapters are approximately 1000~ish words and yes, prompts will vary in length. This one is probably about four parts? It depends on how much I fiddle with it tomorrow. Did ya like the lil snippet of Ethan? It's just a small glimpse, but this is his first "official" snippet. :)

Harry is delighted with the reviews and hugs from the last chapter. Quinn is relieved that you don't think too badly of him. :P

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! ~Scion