Chapter 12 - Misunderstood

"Ray. You must come back!" a voice rumbled penetrating the fog of despair surrounding him.

He only curled up tighter and let the despair and grief wash over him again.

"Ray! Come back!" that voice pierced through him again.

Voices broke through the emotions – battered at him. He tried to push them away. Pain flowed through his body. He fled trying to escape it. He looked down and saw himself lying on the cave's floor. Kian slapped his face again. A jolt of pain coursed through his body. He saw him begging Kian to stop. The one who had betrayed him.

Kian was feeling his body for a pulse while he babbled at a grimfaced Lee, a crying Mariah and a silent Miah. He glared at the scene below him. His friends shouldn't be listening to the one who had betrayed him.

*ts*

"And Hiro told me that Ray had seen it all!' an emotionally exhausted Tyson explained sadly.

Troubled looks were shared by Kian and Lee. "Nothing happened?" Lee asked worried.

"Absolutely nothing. I don't love that guy anymore. I haven't for awhile. He betrayed me and I can't forgive him for that. Besides…I've found what I need. The one I love." Tyson said earnestly, looking down at Ray's prone form, eyes filling with tears.

"Love?" Miah squeaked, eyes open wide.

Kian looked up from checking Ray's breathing pattern.

"Love?" he echoed.

Mariah shared a triumphant smile with Miah.

"Love? You love him?" Lee prodded.

"Y-yes. Love." Tyson said firmly, cheeks a brilliant red.

*ts*

"L-l-love? He loves me?"Ray whispered disbelievingly.

"Yes. He loves you."A feminine voice confirmed from beside him.

Ray turned to look and fell into the ancient eyes of the storm dragon. Eyes that were a midnight blue.

"Dragoon."Drigger whispered to him.

"But…"

"A misunderstanding on your part."Dragoon interrupted tightly. "Tyson should have talked to you about this fool but is deeply ashamed and embarrassed. He hasn't even told anyone including Max and his grandfather about what happened. The only reason he talks to me about it is because I was there. And even then he talks about it rarely. It is a time in his life he'd rather forget about."

"He's been running scared about opening his heart to anyone ever since. It has taken Tyson a little while to become aware of his feelings for you and actually acknowledge them. It's up to you to let him know that you will be there for the goodandthe bad."

"How can he not know? I've told him before." Ray objected.

"Because he does not know what to believe. He wants to believe what you have said but he can't make himself believe it. He's afraid."Dragoon replied coolly.

"He doesn't trust me?"Ray asked bitterly, shoulders slumped.

"He doesn't trust himself. He believes he is the reason why everything goes wrong."Dragoon corrected. "That vile person you saw him with is the one who planted the idea in his head."

Ray started in surprise at the contempt in the bit beast's voice.

"You've helped him more than you know. You have respected him and do your best to understand him. If you work together you can achieve what you want. It's time for you to return or you will be lost to each other."Dragoon stated gently nudging him back towards his body.

*ts*

A hand gently stroked his hair. A tear hit his face. He gazed up into tear filled chocolate brown eyes. Despair overwhelmed the face above his.

Gently he reached up and stroked Tyson's face. "Tyson." He whispered hoarsely.

The hand on his hair froze in shock. Eyes overflowed.

Alarmed, Ray struggled to rise up into a sitting position. Kian helped him with a small smile.

Ray pulled his mate into his arms, rubbing the younger man's back soothingly as Tyson cried into his tunic. Everything was forgotten except for the distraught young man in his arms.

*ts*

Only a short chapter I am afraid my darlings. I'm sorry Tyson's been a bit girly these past few chapters. I am also sorry it took me so long to update. There was a huge upheaval and everything has just slowly fallen back into place. I hope to update this story again soon but I pre-warn you that we are very close to the end. Hope you liked it and please review. xox