Chapter 39
Grabbing the keys, Kieran freed the wolf shifter, then went to work on removing all of Fionn’s restraints including a muzzle and a contraption circling his neck that connected to a metal strap of pointed cones running down his back and ending at his ankles, where it was locked, keeping him from standing up.
Horrified at the torture a father could inflict on his son, Kieran quickly removed the ancient hardware imprisoning the young man.
While he worked on Fionn, Kieran sensed the wolf shifter going through a shift to help heal his silver burns before joining in.
Finally, Fionn was free but unconscious.
Lying there, not moving, barely breathing, he was close to death and if he was going to be saved, Kieran knew he had to get him to Ian.
Wetting his hands and placing them on Fionn’s lips, he gave hope and love to him, hoping it was enough to keep him alive.
Glancing at the wolf shifter, Kieran said, “Are you strong enough to carry Fionn out of here? I can lead the way but it’s about an hour’s walk.”
“Yes, move aside so I can lift him.”
When the wolf shifter was steady on his feet and had placed Fionn over his shoulders, he turned, following Kieran. It was slow going, with stops along the way to allow Kieran time to touch the young dragon and the wolf shifter who carried him, helping to save one and encourage the other.
Emerging from the cave into daylight, Kieran blinked several times before his eyes focused on the magnificent Gold Dragon standing guard. Hey babe, Fionn needs a doctor right away. I’m calling Ian to see if he’s ready for him.
Go ahead. Who’s the wolf?
I don’t know, I found him shackled up with the dragon…which was a lucky break because he carried Fionn out of there. Gimme a minute.
While calling Ian, Kieran looked at Fionn again, relieved to see a faint, pink color returning to his face.
“Hello?”
“Hi Doc, it’s Kieran.”
“Kieran, is Logan okay? My mate is going crazy about Logan not having backup.”
Kieran giggled, looking at the sixteen-foot-tall Gold Dragon in front of him. “I don’t think Colton has annyytthiinnnggg to worry about. Listen, we have the young dragon, but he needs help. Where are you?”
“After Brian told us what you two were doing, I called Steel and he arranged for us to use the facilities of a private medical clinic outside of Fort Williams, which is where you went, I believe?”
“Wow, you guys are good. We can be back there in about thirty minutes. Oh, and Doc, we have a wolf shifter with us who also might need your help.”
“We’ll be ready. Here’s the address. Let me know when you’re about five minutes out.”
Hanging up, Kieran called their driver and told him to meet them in twenty minutes at the spot where they’d been dropped off. Then turning to the wolf shifter, Kieran said, “I’m climbing up first and I’ll pull Fionn up while you push. Once you climb up, we’ll place him between us. Okay?”
“Got it,” the shifter replied.
It took several minutes but soon all three were sitting on Logan’s back. Ready macushla, still no sign of his father?
No, hold on. With one take-off under his belt, this one was smoother and easier on the passengers as Logan gained altitude before flying swiftly back to the other clearing.
After seeing Fionn, Logan was alarmed at how still the boy was, but if anyone could save him, Ian and his brother could—all he had to do was get the young dragon there as fast as he could.
Spotting the clearing, Logan gently descended, and touched down.
Kieran then led the wolf shifter who was carrying Fionn, through the forest, while Logan shifted back.
By the time they had emerged, Logan had joined them, taking Fionn from the wolf.
Less than a minute later, their car showed up and after everyone was inside, Kieran gave the address to their driver, sent a text to Ian, and then sat back, placing his hand back on Fionn.
When they arrived at the clinic, Ian and Colton met them with a stretcher and rushed Fionn inside. Following more slowly, Logan, Kieran and the wolf shifter, entered the waiting room where Theo and Norman were waiting.
Logan turned to the wolf shifter, “Hi, I’m Logan. Kieran tells me you were a prisoner too?”
“Yes. Do you know who’s taking care of Fionn?”
“Sure, the tall one is my brother Colton, who’s a nurse and his mate, Dr. Ian Wallace.”
Shaking his head, the wolf shifter started to laugh, finally collapsing on a chair, unable to stand anymore.
“Hey, babe, I think something’s wrong with the wolf shifter,” Logan said, confused at the reaction he’d gotten.
Huffing a few times before he was able to stop his laughing fit, the wolf shifter replied, “No, no, I’m fine. It just struck my funny bone when you told me who the doctor was.”
“Why?” asked Logan, now concerned about the safety of his brother, Ian and their unborn pup.
“I was with Fionn’s father when my office told me Dr. Ian Wallace wanted to talk to me about a possible job. Small world and all.”
“What job?” asked Logan.
“I don’t know. I told my office I’d handle it when I got back.”
“Macushla, stop giving him the fifth degree. Hi, I’m Kieran and thank you for helping rescue Fionn. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Thank you for rescuing me. I wasn’t sure we’d ever get out of there.” Extending his hand, the wolf shifter said, “Dr. Rom DiLupo.”
Smiling, Kieran shook his hand. “These are my friends, Theo and Norman, and you met my mate, Logan.”
Colton joined the group, updating them on Fionn. “He’s stable, dehydrated, but he’s getting fluids to help combat that. Does anyone know what happened to him?”
“He does,” Logan said, pointing to the wolf shifter.
“Dr. Rom DiLupo, at your service,” he said, giving a slight bow.
“Holy fuck, Ian was trying to find you,” exclaimed Colton. “Oops, sorry, I’m Colton. If you’d please come with me, I’d appreciate it.”
“I need to see Fionn also,” Kieran said, looking at Logan.
“I think we’ll all come with you Colton. Kieran found Fionn and might be able to offer some additional insights.”
“If Kieran’s going, we are too,” said Norman, pointing to Theo.
Sighing, Colton said, “C’mon. I know from the past, there’s no sense in arguing with any of you.” Turning and walking through a set of swinging doors, Colton wondered what Ian would think of meeting Rom here, of all places.
Everyone walked down the hall to the room Colton was standing near. When the entourage stopped, Logan said to Colton, “Please let Kieran touch Fionn. Trust me, he won’t harm him. Theo, Norman and I will wait here.”
Colton searched Logan’s face, then giving a short nod, he opened the door for Kieran and Dr. DiLupo.
Once inside, Colton watched as Kieran went over to Fionn, placed his hand on him, then bowed his head and closed his eyes.
Once he was sure it was all Kieran was going to do, Colton led Rom over to his mate.
“Did you find out anything?” Ian asked, busy entering his notes into a small tablet.
“I brought you someone who was with Fionn who might be able to shed some light on what happened. Babe, meet Dr. Rom DiLupo.”
Startled, Ian looked up at his mate before his eyes moved over to the man standing next to Colton. “Rom? What are you doing here? Last I heard you were in Canada.”
“Hi Ian, good to meet at last. I was there until I received an urgent message from Artur MacDùghlas. So, I hopped on a plane to Scotland.”
“I assume the father called you about his son.”
“Yes.”
“So, what happened? Why was Fionn locked in a cave with no food or water?”
“You do understand I’m bound by patient confidentiality?”
“Of course,” said Ian. “Let…”
“Hey Doc, ask him about what happened to him,” Kieran said, still standing next to Fionn, touching him.
Giving a nod of acknowledgement, Ian said, “Good idea. What happened to you Rom?”
“When Fionn’s father didn’t like my professional recommendation, he drugged my food and I assume Fionn’s also, and the next thing I knew I was shackled with silver bindings and chained to a wall.
Fionn was nearby with what might best be described as restraints from the Dark Ages including a muzzle and a contraption to prevent him from standing.
How did you convince his father to let us go? ”
“Colton, can you get Logan?”
“Sure, be right back.”
“Just a sec, Rom…Kieran, what are you doing?”
“Just giving Fionn some love, Doc.”
Ian opened his mouth to speak but Rom held up his hand, stopping him.
“Let him be, Ian,” Rom said, then leaning in, whispered in Ian’s ear, “I don’t know who he is, but he’s very powerful. I promise it will only help Fionn.”
“Yes, you’re right…Kieran is a powerful Shaman,” Ian whispered back.
Logan came in with Colton and glanced at Kieran before saying. “My brother said you wanted to ask me something.”
“Yes, it’s about Fionn’s father,” said Ian. “I know how they ended up in the cave, but I was wondering how you convinced the father to let Fionn and Rom go?”
Logan was perplexed. Why was Ian asking him about this, when Kieran could have told him? “We didn’t. We found Fionn, and Rom was with him.”
“Fuck! You mean to tell me you kidnapped Fionn?”
“No, we rescued him. His father was trying to kill him along with the wolf shifter. He was going to die if we didn’t. Is there a problem?”
“Morally, no. Legally, yes! You need to call Jackson and let him know what happened. Fionn’s father can sue the Blackwood Pack for interfering in a family matter.”
“Sue us? What? Are you nuts? You saw the condition Fionn was in.”
“Please, Logan, call Jackson. Without his father’s permission, my hands are tied.”
Growling, Logan said, “Fine. Where can I make the call?”
“I’ll show you,” Colton said, leading Logan out of the room and showing him into an office. Before he shut the door, Colton added, “For what it’s worth, I think you made the right decision, bro.”
Logan sighed, called Jackson and waited to hear his twin’s voice.
“Don’t tell me you fucked it up with your mate already?” Jackson’s voice came through the phone.
“Hey! Don’t I get a hello? And by the way, Kieran and I are fine. I’m calling about something else.”
“Just ragging you, bro. Oracle told me you couldn’t keep your hands off him.”
“She did not!”
“So, you can keep your hands off your mate!”
“Jackson, stop with the shit! I love my mate and everything that it entails but I’m not discussing my sex life with you. Now, I’m calling because Ian asked me to. It involves a young dragon Kieran and I rescued.”
After hearing the details, Jackson said, “Let me call our lawyer. Sit tight. I’ll call you back.”
Logan hung up, wondering how everything got so complicated.
Macushla, are you all right?
Yeah, just missing you. How’s Fionn?
I think a little better, I’ve been alternating between love and hope and he seems to be responding. His father is an asshole for doing this to his son. I mean at least my parents didn’t try to kill me when they sold me to Arald.
Maybe not but who knows what Arald would have done to you in the future.
What did the Alpha say? Is he mad at us?
Jackson? No, absolutely not. But I can’t say he was pleased with Fionn’s father. Let’s just say my brother had nothing nice to say about him.
What’s the Alpha going to do?
I don’t know. He’s calling our lawyer and said he’d get back to me. Just a minute, that’s him now.
“Hello, what did Penn say?”
“Ian’s right, but there is a law that allows you to interfere if a life is in danger, especially a shifter child. Penn is filing an emergency motion for Cody to be appointed Fionn’s guardian until a petition for full guardianship can be heard before the entire High Council.”
“How long will it take? Ian won’t treat him until it’s sorted out.”
“Penn told me there’s a member who hears emergency motions as soon as they’re filed. So, sit tight, it shouldn’t be too long.”
“Okay. I’ll tell Ian. Call me when you hear something.”
Logan disconnected the call and headed back to Fionn’s room.
There he found Rom and Ian discussing Cody and Dylon’s home for gay boys and the potential job for Rom.
Logan broke into their conversation, relaying what Jackson was doing, before going over to Kieran.
Worried that the day had been too stressful for his pregnant mate, Logan pulled over a chair, sat in it and placed Kieran on his lap
Grateful for his mate’s action, Kieran leaned back against Logan’s chest while keeping his hand on Fionn.
He was exhausted from the early morning wake-up call and the walk in and out of the cave and he was now expending still more energy giving the young dragon love and hope.
But he knew deep in his soul, Fionn had given up, no longer able to fight back against his father’s hatred so the only thing standing between death and life for Fionn right now was Kieran and his life-affirming powers.
No amount of medical intervention would save the young dragon if he lost the will to live.
And based on what their spirit told Kieran, the boy wanted to die.
He thought about how bleak Fionn’s life must have been because even when Kieran didn’t know how he’d survive another day at Arald’s, he always found the will to live.
Grabbing Logan’s hand so the three of them were connected, Kieran asked their spirit to help him boost the love and hope he was giving to Fionn.
If Kieran could contain the hatred in Fionn, and keep it confined to a small part of his soul, Kieran knew the young dragon could start to rebuild his life.
He drew on everything his Shaman had taught him about his powers and saw it was working as color slowly returned to Fionn’s face, along with deeper breaths.
Logan started giving little kisses on his mate’s head and whispered words of love in Kieran’s ear as they held hands. Never before had Logan been part of saving someone’s life and he had to admit, it made him feel good. As long as Kieran needed him, Logan would be there by his side.