Author Note: It took me a while to get this chapter right so I apologuise for the delay, but here it is. I hope you enjoy!

xXx

Rhett watched the fight feeling his heart spasm each time a blade made contact with Leto's flesh; barely able to restrain the whimper as crimson laced the steel. The violent clashing of weapons filled his ears as Leto fought for his life, pitted against three of the most deadly opponents the arena had to offer, Danarius of course using Leto's life as stakes for a wager. Oh how Rhett hated the Magister; it was a seed that had taken root and seemed to fill every waking moment, as well as those in the Fade. He gave a quick side glance to Danarius feeling a little thrill at the slight look of unease in his eyes, before remembering what that meant. He glanced back to Leto; fear pulsing in his throat. Steel sank into flesh and the crowd roared in delight; all they cared about was death, they didn't care whose. Screams of pain and battle roars fell silent, only one remained standing. Rhett closed his eyes; his throat constricted tears of relief in his eyes. Leto was victorious once more.

It had been a week since their kiss and they had not spoken since. Leto had kept his distance and when they had trained together it had been in silence. Their passionate embrace and heated words had replayed itself in Rhett's mind almost every moment since. He had no idea what to say and so said nothing and to his continuing distress he had never felt so alone. Rhett followed behind Danarius and Hadriana as they moved towards the fighter's room, barely paying attention. He hated Tevinter, he hated the Magisters and he wanted out. He would need to leave soon if he was to avoid Rascal returning for him, he did not want to put her in further danger. He shuddered; his ache for Rascal and Regior, especially now, threatened to undo him. He glanced up and realised he was being scrutinised by several Magisters. I should have left with you, Maker I'm a fool.

Magister Nelson moved over to Danarius as they entered the fighter's room, nodding towards Rhett. "How much to part with him?"

"More than you can afford." Danarius chuckled.

Rhett felt tears burn his eyes and bile tear at his throat. He ignored the exchange and moved to Leto, silently healing his wounds careful not to touch him.

Leto had meant to keep his gaze on the floor, but he could feel Rhett's distress and glanced up startled to see the pain in those hazel depths. "I will always protect you." He whispered.

Rhett looked at him startled, his heart pounding painfully.

Leto unconsciously worried at his lower lip. "It was not my intention to distress you. I … I am sorry for my behaviour Rhett."

Desperate to respond Rhett opened his mouth, but words fled.

Leto sighed and lowered his gaze. "I deserve your anger, my timing … my actions were …"

"Were wanted." Rhett gasped painfully, trembling at Leto's startled look. "I just … Leto I …" He turned sharply as Danarius moved towards them.

"Be swift I have business elsewhere."

Rhett nodded, his fingers trembling as he healed the final wound. He met Leto's gaze feeling the pain of his heart escalate. Rascal was right; Leto would break his heart, but he was bound as surely as if magic held them in its grip. He moved back trying to steady himself. "We should go."

Leto nodded; terrified by the thrill that Rhett was speaking to him, that he had in fact wanted his attentions. His mind raced; next time he would do it right, next time Rhett would have no need to be afraid, or angry.

Rhett was glad when they left the arena; though it was short lived as they met Magister Mettre just beyond the gates. Rhett kept his head down hoping to remain unnoticed. He did not know this Magister and so had no idea what danger he may pose.

Mettre glanced over Rhett. "Danarius; just the fellow. My knee is badly damaged; I was hoping you would lend me the service of your young apprentice." He smirked as he noticed Rhett unconsciously shrink closer to Leto. "Be a dear and send him to me this evening."

Danarius glanced to Rhett and then nodded. "As you wish."

Mettre noted Rhett tense and the alarm flare momentarily in both Leto and Hadriana's eyes. So the boy meant something to them both that would be useful.

Rhett said not one word as they returned to the estate; nor did he look at anyone, his heart sickened.

Danarius directed Rhett to his study sending Hadriana and Leto to other duties and closed the door. "I need Mettre for the moment. He has incredible influence in the Imperium."

Rhett met his gaze. "He doesn't want me to heal his knee."

"No he does not."

"What is it you expect me to do?"

"Whatever he asks."

"No! Absolutely not!" He tensed as Danarius approached him.

"Understand Rhett you are mine. You will obey me."

"I would rather be lashed a thousand times than subject myself to whatever he wants."

"There are worse punishments." Danarius hissed.

"Worse than what he plans, I doubt it."

Danarius sighed and settled at his desk. "Very well, I will send him Leto. He may meet his tastes." He chuckled. "I will send Hadriana too, as an apology for not sending you."

Rhett paled. "Why would you do that?"

Danarius smiled. "Because I can."

Swallowing the lump in his throat Rhett blinked rapidly forcing back tears, his helplessness swallowing him. He gazed at the floor in defeat. "I'll go."

"I am glad we understand each other Rhett. It is one night and from this I will gain substantial power and status. It will benefit us all."

Rhett didn't dare look him in the eye for fear he would see how much he wanted to kill him.

"Now go and dress well, I will not have him disappointed."

Rhett almost ran to his room shaking with fury. He glanced up startled as Hadriana entered the room, pressing a small dagger into his hand.

"He will use magic to disorientate you and demons to confuse you. You will not know what is real or illusion. Kill him before he can do anything. Then run and never look back."

Rhett looked at her startled before pulling her into a hug, bringing his lips to her ear. "I won't leave you here in this life, when I leave we will leave together."

Shaking her head Hadriana pulled back. "Don't be a fool Rhett. If you kill him and stay it's a death sentence." She gently cupped his cheek pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "I will never leave Danarius; he is my Master, I am as bound to him as my own soul. You are not yet so bound. You have always sought freedom my friend, use this dagger and take it."

"Ria …"

"I am his Rhett, I always have been and will be until my last breath, but this is not the life I wish for you. Do as you will, but know that I can never go with you." She tilted her head slightly regarding the sadness in his eyes. "How have you survived this long?" She murmured, pressing a second kiss to his lips before leaving.

xXx

Rhett stuck to Leto's side as they moved quickly through the streets to Magister Mettre's estate. Neither spoke, but as they approached Rhett felt a soft brush of fingers against his own. He didn't dare look at Leto, fearing what he would see in his eyes. The estate was well lit, showing the number of guards the Magister had protecting himself and his possessions. Leto was forced to remain outside as Rhett was led through a maze of corridors to a richly furnished room.

Mettre lay on a chaise longue, feigning pain from his knee. "At last you arrive; I do not think I could have stood another moment of this agony."

Rhett held his tongue and moved over to him carefully healing the slight swelling that had probably been caused by banging it against something. As he stood Mettre gripped his wrist.

"I do not believe Danarius has had the pleasure of you, has he boy?"

Rhett pretended to look confused.

"He will you know. I'm rather astonished he has resisted you this long. Now sit."

Rhett did as he was commanded feeling the stirring of something tugging at the Fade. He took a deep breath, before sinking into his own magic.

Mettre's eyes widened as the wolf leapt at him; powerful jaws clamped around his throat, sharp teeth sinking into his flesh. He was dead before he took a breath.

Rhett jumped from the sofa and retook his human form. He backed away from the body, shaking violently horrified by what he had done. His mind span before he wiped the blood from his mouth and ran to the door. It was locked and no amount of pounding on the door, screaming or pleading induced anyone to open it. He felt a ripple and span around watching as the demons Mettre had summoned drifted around his corpse. "Andraste's knickers." He cursed pressing himself against the wall as the three desire demons looked right at him. He tugged furiously at the door handle before hitting the door with rock fist. He saw the ripple across the wood realising the room was still magically sealed. Rhett shuddered as the demon's advanced.

xXx

Leto could barely contain his agitation as time passed and Rhett was not brought back out. He could do nothing but remain where he was, Mettre's magic kept him from entering. He began to pace agitated at his helplessness. He couldn't bear to think of what Rhett would be subjected to, what he would be forced to do to indulge the whims of the Magister. He clenched his fists, once more he had failed him. He closed his eyes, he would give his life freely to save Rhett and yet he seemed incapable of protecting him. He glanced to the walls seeing a faint shimmer as the magic began to unravel. As he moved without resistance into the building he felt his alarm build at the cries of pain and fear; slaves cowering in corners as spells disintegrated around them, bound demons finally unleashed. Leto ignored their screams and made no attempt to aid them, his focus was for Rhett and he would not tolerate any further delays in going to his aid. He moved swiftly to what he hoped were Mettre's private chambers, forcing open the door, staring in astonishment. Mettre was on the floor in a bloody pool, the room was filled with a lightning storm that had killed two desire demons and Rhett was in a battle of wills with the third.

Rhett threw out a rock fist slamming the demon into a wall before hitting her with wintergrasp, before leaping over the chaise longue and driving Hadriana's dagger into her throat. The energy flared around him and the demon was vanquished. He span hearing noise; his eyes wild, fire flaring in his hands.

Leto held up his hands. "It is me Rhett."

"Prove it!" The young mage snarled, taking a step back.

"How?"

Rhett hesitated seeing panic in Leto's eyes; he had never seen him like that. "Leto." He sobbed pressing against him, clutching at Leto's armour. "I … I killed him. Maker I …

"He was killed by his own demons." Leto soothed.

Rhett shook his head. "No, you don't understand, I killed him."

"Have you made an alliance with a demon?"

Rhett looked to him startled. "No, I would never do that!"

"Then you did not kill him. His throat was torn out, his own demons turned on him."

Rhett shivered, he couldn't explain as that would mean confessing his secret magic and freedom would be forever denied him.

"Come, we must leave this place."

Rhett gazed back at the body on the floor and feared the monster he had become.

xXx

Danarius pondered the events of the night. Rhett was exhausted and clearly traumatised, but when Leto relayed what he had seen Danarius could not help but be impressed. For a mage so young to have fought off not one, but three demons that had slain an experienced and very powerful Magister was extraordinary. However several things did not add up, why would the demons turn on Mattre? His fingers drummed repeatedly on his desk. Perhaps he had underestimated his apprentice. Perhaps it was not demons that had killed him after all. He smirked, such an innocent face hiding steel beneath. He relaxed into his chair; with Mettre gone the path to overall power was almost clear. He held no remorse for his brother knowing he would have killed him eventually anyway. He took a sip of fine brandy and smiled, Rhett was almost ready.

xXx

For the next week Rhett rarely left his room let alone the mansion. He had no inclination to transform or continue his nightly explorations, instead spending his time looking out of the window consumed by his chaos of thoughts.

Danarius let him be and instead encouraged Leto to watch over him. He knew being harsh with Rhett would not work, he needed to be coaxed from his current state of mind and Danarius needed him strong not broken and he wanted them bound to each other.

Hadriana also tried to bring Rhett from his self-imposed isolation, but he was struggling with his conscience and would not be budged.

At night he dreamt of wolves, blood and demons unable to come to terms with taking the Magisters life, despite that having been his intention. He glanced to himself in the mirror, searching his own eyes, expecting to somehow look different.

"Your reflection cannot have changed that much since yesterday." Leto stated softly.

Rhett continued to stare into the mirror. "Just because you cannot see the stone beneath the water, does not mean the ripples are not there!"

"You did not kill that Magister." Leto hissed impatiently. "And if you did it is no great loss."

Rhett glanced up as Leto approached. "I heal, I … I don't want to kill."

"Consider it an act of self-defence then if you must take responsibility for his death." He knelt beside the young mage. "If he had hurt you I would have killed him myself and felt no remorse."

Eyes wide Rhett swallowed nervously.

Leto gently took his hand, moving closer. "I have never known anyone with such determination, such kindness and unwavering belief in the ideal of freedom." He cupped Rhett's jaw, his thumb gently caressing his cheek. "Ask what you will of me and if I can, it will be done."

Rhett pressed a soft kiss to Leto's palm, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Kiss me."

Leto smiled. "That I can do."

Rhett yielded to the soft lips pressing against his own; tentatively running his tongue against Leto's, his soft moan swallowed as their lips meshed together in an explosion of need and desire.

Leto ran his fingers down Rhett's arm, smiling into their kiss as Rhett locked their fingers. "So you are a hand holder." He purred, startled by how thrilled he was by such simple and innocent contact.

Rhett rolled his eyes.

"I should go. Sleep my little Anders and be well when you wake."

Rhett managed a scowl. "Stop bloody calling me that!" He huffed.

"It is meant as a term of affection." Leto muttered feeling his cheeks flush.

"I am not little!" Rhett growled.

Leto almost choked. "That is the part you object to?"

"I am also not yours!" Rhett muttered grumpily. "It is a term of ownership not affection! Why can't you just call me by my name?"

Leto cast his eyes to the floor. "I wanted something that was just ours. The others think you from Ferelden. Knowing you are an Anders … that was … ours."

Rhett regarded the embarrassed elf cautiously. "Really?"

Leto forced himself to meet his gaze. "I am my Masters, I cannot change that, but I cannot lie to myself. You have worked your way into my heart and nothing I do will banish you."

Rhett gazed at him in wonder. "I guess I don't mind the Anders part." He smiled as Leto chuckled, thinking it the most wonderful sound in the world.