Disclaimer: *see Prologue*

Author's note: Lots of angst in this part as well as a very vague implied non-con incident. His time with Lygoren draws to a very painful end and Eyadei feels himself fighting off total surrender.

Part Three: A Time for Letting Go

Somehow, the days passed in a blur of activity as Gaelrick begins to solidify the area as suitable for the Clan he ran. There was always some need for Eyadei's assistance and it annoyed the medic that it was cutting into his time with Lygoren but he couldn't refuse someone in need of attention. He stitches gashes and cuts, makes salves for burns and other skin conditions, splints and sets broken bones, and pieces together those unfortunate enough to either be injured during building or getting the brunt of the brunette's temper. It leaves him exhausted but not so much that he doesn't immediately head for Lygoren when the infant stirs wanting attention, fed, or changed. His son wasn't an imposition on his emotions, strength, or time. Gently lifting the tiny form, he nuzzles purring softly, reassuringly. "My Lyo," he whispers softly, "I'm so proud of you...and I love you so much. I wish...I wish you'd remember that." He feels that same pain fill him at the thought. He stares at the calendar swallowing at the big red X fast approaching. The feel of the others tail curling around his wrist brings tears. "Please...don't grow up anything like him, Lygoren. Please, son."

It was disheartening to think that was a possibility; that this sweet cub could become the same sort of devil his sire was. That was quite a disheartening thought and one he doesn't focus on long. There was no need to bring that sort of stress to the table. He walks a slow circle holding the male avoiding letting his gaze fall on the calendar refusing to stare at the three white squares that were left before that X.

Finally, he sets him down after kissing the top of his head. "Sleep, baby, and know that your mommy loves you," he whispers in a choked tone before slowly retreating from the room. He'd been doing everything he could to get Gaelrick to change his mind about him not being in Lygoren's life to no avail and it was devastating to him. However, he'd figured that any attempts would be refused. The other was quite set in his ways and very rarely changed his mind once it was made up which just made things difficult at points. He curls up on the small cot and tries to tell himself that he would be okay, that he could survive just watching his son from afar. It just wasn't working all that well as depression was starting to take it's toll on him. Closing his eyes, he sends up the millionth or so prayer to let Gaelrick change his mind before he slowly drifts off to sleep to whatever deaf divinities refused to listen to him.

The next day brings overcast skies and the threat of rain so all work is canceled giving Eyadei a chance to just spend the day with Lygoren which he is grateful for. Seated on the couch, he cradles the small form to him content to just relax while he slept. He was sure these were moments to treasure. He immediately halts the progression of any thoughts beyond that as he was pretty sure that it wouldn't help to make himself so upset about things. For the time being, he had his son with him and that had to be enough even though it could hardly be described as such.

Of course his time has to be interrupted by the unwanted appearance of Gaelrick. He was so sick of the others presence when he clearly just didn't want to be bothered. "Being lazy I see."

"Nothing is going on that requires my interference," he answers quietly, "and besides, I would think that you would be at least allowing of my time spent with my son considering your demands of no contact outside of my job."

"You're lucky that you haven't disappeared without a trace," the other points out, "so don't get testy with me, Eyadei. You live so long as you are useful. You push my patience and you'll be nothing more than a memory."

A retort occurs to him but he knows better than to voice it to the other considering how unbending Gaelrick was and how violent the male could be when provoked. "Is there something you needed or did you just come to harass me?"

The others mouth curves into a smile that the other really just hated seeing. "But harassing you is so much fun, dear medic," he comments leaning close. Eyadei struggles to keep from pressing back further into the couch.

"Gaelrick...don't..." The other could not be planning on doing what he thought he was because not only was Eyadei not in the mood to handle it, there was Lygoren who slept fitfully as it was. Unfortunately, he watches the other lift the sleeping cub from his lap before walking out of the room with him. He'd return a few seconds later, and Eyadei finds himself gagged. Squeezing his eyes shut, he prays that this is over quickly though something tells him that the other would draw it out as long as he could knowing how hard the other was trying to spend time with Lygoren.

Watching the water swirl down the drain hours later, Eyadei finds his eyes closing as his forehead is pressed against the shower wall. 'You...fucking bastard,' he thinks as he struggles to calm down and get himself centered again. Anger was useless when dealing with Gaelrick and all it did was leave him in a position of bringing only more pain in its wake. It takes him a little while before he can manage to get cleaned and out of the shower that has long since gone cold. Drying off, he redresses and heads immediately to check on Lygoren who is still fast asleep. Reaching down, he brushes an errant bang out of his face and tries to keep from letting this break his heart but it was becoming far too hard to avoid the pain.

He stands there for a while merely gazing at his sleeping infant as he feels the last vestiges of his strength and courage wane. He'd been dragged from his life, from his work, from a male who he was quite fond of to be used as a breeder and then not even allowed to raise the son he'd bore. Scarred, alone, and with very few options opened to him Eyadei was stuck in a perpetual hell. Sure he could try an attempt to return to where he'd come from but he was sure Gaelrick would vanish with Lygoren or worse would vanish and leave the body of his son for him to find. He couldn't risk his son's safety and the infant was far too young to survive such a dangerous journey If he attempted to take him. It was a lose-lose situation that he hated with everything in him. To retreat from such thoughts he starts singing softly again that same lullaby. Perhaps down the line, he'd remember it even if he never understood where it was from.

Placing the final X has Eyadei's eyes squeezing shut as he feels a grief so intense that it threatens to sap what strength he had and spill him to the floor. Every muscle goes tense and taut as he struggles with the emotions threatening to overwhelm him and all he could think was that he'd done something at some point to deserve this hell he was sentenced to. He had to have because why else would someone suffer in so many ways? He feels the item fall from his fingers as the tears form and spill. Why couldn't he catch a break? Why was it that everything that could possibly go wrong in his life had to all at once. He finally slumps to the floor before covering his face as a choked sound escapes him before it becomes sobbing as he can't fight back the all-encompassing feeling of despair that had built up over the months. Four months was not long enough when it came to not being a part of his son's life when it came to having to be a complete stranger.

Eyadei isn't sure when or how he ends up on the cot but that's where he wakes up to find the sun shining brightly. Fate really was a cruel mistress, he decides as he rises and goes to check on Lygoren. It had been difficult to get the other to take a bottle but he'd finally done so without a tantrum that Eyadei worried would earn him quick reprimanding from his father. He still wasn't comfortable in bringing him to that building and leaving him there but there was no arguing with the leader of this rag-tag group of victims that made up the clan. Lygoren is awake and feeding when he hears the door open. Eyadei watches Gaelrick step in and feels his heart sink lower hearing, "Let's go. It's early enough that no one will see you."

Spirits low, he does as commanded following the other close to the trees to the residence the other had made for himself. Dutifully, he follows the other into a room that was already set up with the basic necessities for an infant. Gently, he lowers Lygoren down after removing the bottle and settling him. "You'll have a medical facility in a few months time. I hope you make use of it, Eyadei."

"Yes, sir," he says quietly slowly withdrawing his hands from the crib. "Is there anything else you need of me?"

"No. You're dismissed."

Just like that. Eyadei merely nods before forcing himself from that room and that house as tears blur his vision, as his breathing gets ragged, and his chest restricts in pain. He manages to slid into the small residence and get the door close before slumping to the floor in anguish. Honestly, he wasn't sure how he was supposed to survive this with how crippling this pain was.

Pain soon gives way to rage, a rage that fills him to the core and has him trembling and sick of the fact that he was here on the floor sobbing like this. Fingers tighten into fists as his teeth grit. 'You're a poor excuse for an Elite, you know that,' he thinks, 'You're just going to roll over like this and take it? Your father would be ashamed of you...hell, he should be ashamed of you!' A growl escapes him as his tail lashes puffed out. He wasn't going to stand for this. Lygoren was his cub and no one had the right to take him from him.

The door opens making him look up and finding himself gazing at the cause of his emotional upheaval doesn't make his day though he watches the other's lips curve at his expression. "Oh please," he purrs, "Please, Eyadei, be that stupid. I'll snap your worthless neck right now and be done with it."

He draws himself to his feet. "You do that and no one here will survive," Eyadei replies coldly, "You have no one with my skills."

"It won't come to that," Gaelrick tells him in a conversational tone, "You know how I know that? Because there is a brunette infant that would be sentenced to death as well so cap the fangs and don't you ever show such an attitude towards me or I'll bring Lygoren to you and make you watch me kill him."

Eyadei goes still and stares at him. "You...wouldn't."

"Do you want to test that, Eyadei?"

He flinches at the others tone knowing that he was serious. "N-no, no, sir, I don't."

"Then I suggest that you remember just what it is that you stand to lose if you are that stupid in the future."

There were no words for how much he despised the other. How could anyone be such a cold, condescending, sadistic creature? He just couldn't understand and he didn't want to. He'd just do as he was told and hope that the other didn't kill Lygoren out of spite since he was apparently just as expendable. However, he realizes that the other was waiting for a response and whispers, "Yes, sir." Honestly, how did their race get stuck with him?!

Once the other leaves, he walks into the empty room that had housed Lygoren and just stands there staring at the empty make shift cradle before he just couldn't stand it and withdraws closing the door and leaning against it heavily. 'You cannot quit,' he thinks to himself, 'You have a purpose here. Lygoren is alive and needs you in whatever capacity that you can manage. One day...one day fate has to be kind enough to even the score in dealing with Gaelrick. All hope is not lost.' It was just excruciating to think that someone else would get to witness all his firsts and Eyadei never would. "Forgive me, Lyo," he whispers, "Please...forgive me for not being strong enough to keep you from this."