7

"Dead rats, Nicholas!" Donald shouted, face going red, "Do you know how much it cost to clean that up? How much Schwarz family money I've had to spend to get someone to clean that mess up without your father knowing?"

Donald paced the room, lecturing Nick.

Nick said on his red armchair, pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation, "I understand that, but-"

"You understand that? And yet you're telling me to keep this whole issue a secret from your father?" Donald looked at him like he was crazy, "Are you absolutely mental?"

"They threatened my mother," Nick stood up, eyes pleading, "If my father hears about any of this, she's a goner, Don. You know that. I-I can't risk this, I-"

"So what do you think your father is going to say when he sees all this money gone from the funds?" The butler threw his hands up, wispy hair twisting with every movement, "He's going to find out."

"He can't, Donald," Nick's hands shook, "My mother..."

"Your mother wouldn't want you to get hurt and if you put yourself in danger any longer, I am obligated to put you under the king's protection, Nicholas," The butler shook his head, "This is not up for debate, sir. This is serious."

"I am serious, Donald!" He shouted back, voice fraying, "You said yourself I know when to be serious, and I am right now! Just trust me!"

"This is not a matter of trust, your highness," Donald softened his voice, taking a deep breath, "This is not something one person of your privilege can handle. With your father has to carefully calculate what to do about this, we cannot-"

"They will kill her, Donald. They will literally murder my mother," Nick pleaded, "Not to mention Silver. If anything happened to him after I took him in-- after I told him I'd protect him, I don't know..."

***

"If anything happened to him after I took him in-- after I told him I'd protect him, I don't know..." Silver stopped at the sound of Nick's voice.

That was when he realized, he was walking right by the prince's room. The door was not completely closed and he could hear voices coming out from behind it.

He thought for a moment. Should he really be eavesdropping on this kind of conversation? It sounded serious, and Nick sounded on the brink of tears. Who was he talking about anyway?

"This is about Silver then, huh?" Donald the butler said.

They were talking about him? What were they saying about him?

"No. Well, yes, but no," Nick let out a disgruntled growl and then let out a sigh, "My mother is more important than Silver, that's a given..."

Silver couldn't argue with that, Nick seemed pretty close with his family and Silver literally just met the guy. So what was the problem?

"I just feel like telling my father would also put Silver in more danger," Nick said. Silver's brows furrowed, "I feel like if I pull my father into this, they'll stop holding back. They'll murder my mother, murder my Silver, and maybe even you too. People, innocent people who can't protect themselves, will die, Donald."

"So, what, you're gonna be the lone hero to save us all?" Donald let out a laugh, "You? All on your own, you're going to vanquish the big, bad Dragons? Nicholas, you'll get yourself killed."

"As long as no harm comes to Silver or my mother, I could care less what happens to me," He shook his head, "I promised Alpha Boris and my own father that Silver will be able to go back to Willow safe and sound, and I intend to do that. I'll stop these Dragons or die trying."

"Absolutely not!" Silver's mouth and body seemed to have moved without permission. One minute he was listening to Nick talk about how he would sacrifice his life for him, then another he barging into the room.

Nick stood there, completely shirtless in pajama bottoms, in front of a disheveled looking Donald. He turned to Silver in shock, and both of them looked at him expectedly.

Silver's face immediately heated up. Partially because of the attention, also partially because of the prince's bare chest.

"Um... good morning," was all he could think to say.

Nick shook his head, waving away the greeting, "How much did you hear?"

"'I don't know'" Silver answered.

He raised an eyebrow, "You don't know?" Nick looked at him like he was crazy.

"No no no, I mean, you were saying 'I don't know,'" He swallowed harshly, "You were talking about me, I think."

"I see," Nick sighed.

Silver opened his mouth to speak, "Listen-"

"Silver, don't," Nick pinched the bridge of his nose.

"No no no, Silver," Donald chimed in "Bring some sense into this boy."

"Uh well... I'm not going to tell you to tell your father about whatever's got you so riled," he started, causing Donald to groan, "Because it seems like your mom is involved or whatever and that's not really my business. But, I will say that I don't want you sacrificing yourself for me. Absolutely not."

Nick sat down on his unmade bed, "Silver, please, I just want to-"

"To help me, yes I know. Part of the deal was that you'll help find out who's trying to kill me and then stop them from trying to kill me," He huffed, going up to Nick with his arms crossed, "Nowhere in your contract does it say 'take a bullet for Silver anytime he's in danger'. Don't turn it into a duty to take the poison on my behalf, okay? I swear to Merlin, it's like you want to die sometimes."

Nick chuckled with a small grin, "Not at all."

"Good, then it's settled," He held out his pinky finger, "Pinky promise that you won't sacrifice yourself for me, okay? Ever. No sacrifices, got that?"

Nick laughed, but hooked their pinkies anyway, "No sacrifices," he agreed.

***

"Fancy meeting you here" Klara looked up from her iced coffee to see Darius's creepy grinning face.

"Oh... you're here," she said, trying (really, she was) to sound enthusiastic.

It all started when she went to the swingset at the abandoned St. Richard's elementary ti chill and drink coffee. She thought it was a great new thinking spot and it was such a beautiful day. Sadly, right in the middle of playing her Mystic Messengers mobile game, she ran out of coffee.

So she fled back into the city to Starbucks to get another cup. Exiting the cafe is when she came across Darius.

He looked almost the same except his eyes were slightly bloodshot and his hair looked more unkempt than usual.

She continued walking and he followed. She didn't fancy being alone with this guy in her new thinking spot, so she sat at a bench not too far away from Starbucks. He expectantly (but not desirably) sat next to her.

"So, what kinda coffee is that?" He asked, voice slightly more hoarse than before, "Caramel? Vanilla chai?"

"It's just coffee. With cream. And sugar," she said. Angie wasn't around so she didn't exactly have to play nice.

"Ah, simplicity is key, I always say," he smiled, sitting back, "So you just came out here for coffee, or is there someone you wanted to meet?"

"I didn't really want to meet with anyone today", she said hoping that sounded subtle, yet passive-aggressive.

Darius didn't seem to take the hint, "Ah, the lone wolf," he laughed again, "I'm actually about to meet with my dad. Keep me company?"

"Why?" Klara didn't wanna say 'yes', but she also didn't wanna be completely rude.

"Um, because you're here? You should meet him, he's a really cool dude," he said with a shrug

"Didn't you say your family hated werewolves or something?" Klara suddenly remembered, "I'm sure your family is just as bigoted as mine, aren't they?"

"I was exaggerating. They really just don't like humans," he said as if that made everything all fine, "My dad always said they were a waste of space and horribly weak. But he doesn't mind werewolves. He believes personality is more important than species... unless you're a human, I guess."

"How lovely," she said sarcastically, but Darius smiled, not reading the sarcasm.

"Then follow me, my fair lady," Darius jumped up. Klara followed in suit slowly, and not at all amused. They began walking and Klara realized she never agreed to meet this clown's dad in the first place.

Right before they were about to cross the street, Darius grabbed Klara's hand.

Klara was about to snatch it back when she saw his face and realized he wasn't grabbing her to flirt, but for balance. His eyes tried to focus for a second and then he shut them tight.

Once he opened them again, he looked at her with a smile, "Ah, sorry. I got a bit light-headed there. Oh, we still have the light," he said, letting go of her hand before he crossed.

Klara followed behind, slightly more wary of his haggard appearance this time. They came up to a large mirror-tiled building.

"Your dad works here?" Klara's eyes passed over the large 'DRAGON CO.' letters in bright gold, "Dude, this is a really big company,"

"I know," he beamed, "He's the owner,"

Klara looked at him awe for the first time, "That's amazing, they make literally everything"

"Yeah, I know. That's why we're loaded," he laughed.

Klara wanted to laugh too. Not because being rich is funny, but because he dressed like someone who had to fight for their clothes, not the son of a wealthy businessman.

"You planning on taking over the company?" she asked him.

He shook his head, "Nah, not really 'bout that business."

"What?" Klara glared, "You realize you're a business major in college, right?"

"Yeah, I'm in college because I thought maybe I'd find a profession I'd like to have or something I'd like to do, but I don't know if that's the life for me," he shrugged, "I mean, it was my father's idea anyway. He has more kids to take the company. He might even just want me to find someone rich and stop living off of his money, I dunno,"

"I see," Klara nodded, "So have you found someone like that?"

"Not quite yet, but if worst comes to worst, I'll just get a really rich best friend," he laughed.

"Right..." Klara was sick of this topic now, "So are you sick or something?"

He looked up from the hem of his shirt that he was previously fiddling with, "Why? Do I look sick?"

"Yes, extremely," she answered, "And you nearly passed out in the street. Are you okay?" She didn't want to make it sound like she cared, but she kind of did.

"It's- It's nothing really. I'm just..." He sighed, stepping closer to her. She immediately stepped back, but he grabbed her shoulders before lowering his voice, "You see... I have... an illness."

"An illness?" she raised a brow.

"Yeah, me and my family don't exactly know what it is but I know it's not super bad most of the time," he said, "I've had it since I was a kid. That's why I'm here. I have to get the medicine from my dad."

"Why can't you just take it from home?" Klara asked.

"It's an injection," he explained, "and it has to be in a completely sterile environment or else I'll get even sicker. I've gone a bit too long without it and that's why I'm a bit out of it today."

She nodded, releasing herself from his hold, "I'm guessing that I'm supposed to keep this a secret, yes?"

"That'd be much appreciated," he gave her a pleading smile.

"Yeah whatever," she shrugged, "What happens when you don't take it? Will you die? Are you dying right now?"

He laughed out loud. It was big and breathy, "Are you worried about me?"

"Not in the slightest"

"Well, no I wouldn't die" he ignored her last comment, "I'm not quite sure, to be honest. I throw up a lot, I know that. But I don't know. Maybe I will die if I don't stop throwing up. I don't really wanna find out."

"Right," Klara nodded, "So your father-"

"That'd be me,"

Klara spun around and faced a man with bright red hair and equally bright hazel eyes. He smiled dryly at her, "Hello, my dear"

The man was extremely tall and lean. He had a navy blue suit and held a black briefcase in his hand.

"Dad," Darius beamed, "I'd like you to meet my friend,"