Azrael caught a glimpse of his wings about a week after his little incident with Apollo and it had been a complete accident in his mind. The demon had been out hunting or doing something that would bring them their next meal when his bandages started itching and he sliced through the bandages as he was itching that hard. Cursing underneath his breath, he sighed and rummaged around for the bandages. When he finally found them, he had to stand in front of the mirror so he was doing it correctly. A part of him had done it because he was curious as to what he they looked like.

He had an image in his head about what it looked like and it wasn't pleasant. Azrael tried to prepare himself before he looked and when he finally caught sight of where his wings once were, he froze. It looked worse than he thought it would and he stared for a long time. Eventually, he forced himself to look away and dropped the bandages as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Trembling he buried his face in his hands and tried to wipe that image out of his mind. He hadn't been ready to seen it and Apollo had told him it would be best if he avoid looking at it because it might upset him after such a traumatic experience. He, however, had brushed him off like usual. In his mind, Apollo didn't know what he was talking about and if he thought he was ready then he was ready but apparently he had been wrong. His back was a mess and to think his wings used to be there made his heart ache because it seemed impossible he would ever be able to fly again.

It was all those bastards' fault and his trembling was partly because he was upset and slowly filling with anger. Shifting, he lifted his head and blinked a few times when he realized that he was crying. He hated crying and after crying the previous week, he promised himself he would never do it again but he supposed that was a childish thing to think and he hated being considered a child.

Wiping his eyes on the back of his hand, he glanced in the mirror and swallowed when he caught sight of it again. Growling low in his throat, he grabbed something of the stand beside the bed and threw it at the mirror. It shattered and he turned his head to avoid getting hit by any of the shards but the desired result was what he wanted. Swallowing again, he wiped his eyes harder and sniffed. He couldn't even be considered a dragon anymore. Without his wings he was nothing and he was disgusted with himself.

Digging his nails into palms, he felt the tears swelling in his eyes and when they started to spill down his cheeks he smelled Apollo nearby. Freezing, he cursed the bad timing the demon had. Why did he have to come in when he was in the middle of a breakdown? Wiping his eyes again, he turned his head when Apollo finally walked through the mirror and at first the demon didn't seem to notice anything was off and he was pleased because he wanted to be left alone. Most dragons who had survived such attacks had killed themselves eventually. The emotional pain and their pride usually drove them to do such things. His kind was usually very prideful and the temptation was there even for him.

Suddenly, he doubted everything. He was weak and if he could let something like this happen, there was no way he could think to take down his elders. Shoving his wrist against his mouth, he bit down hard in order to stifle a sob and turned his head farther away from Apollo so he wouldn't notice but it was only a matter of seconds before he did.

"Azrael I managed to get some rabbit. I am assuming dragons eat it?" he teased, frowning slightly as he stepped into the area of the small home that acted as his bedroom. Glancing in the corner, he noticed the small mirror he had in his home on the floor in pieces. It wasn't hard to figure out it had been broken and when he glanced at Azrael he knew immediately that something was wrong because he was sitting hunched over on the bed with his head turned towards the wall as if he was refusing to look at him. "Azrael, what happened?"

"Of course dragons eat rabbit. It's fine. Just hurry up and make it before I eat you!" he snapped and though it was full of anger he could detect the slight hitch in his breath which was a clear single to him that he was crying or, at the very least, upset.

"Azrael something happened. Did you… see your wounds?" he asked carefully. It wasn't hard to piece things together when one thought of all the clues present and he hated the idea of Azrael seeing them. He had never gone through such a thing but he imaged it was devastating. Apollo wasn't going to pretend he knew what he was going through, however, because he didn't. He wasn't that arrogant.

"Why would you say that?" Azrael snapped.

"The mirror in broken."

"There are other logical options," he muttered as he turned to look at him and he seemed to forget that he was trying to avoid looking at him. When he realized what he had done he turned his head but the damage had been done because Apollo had gotten good enough of a look at his face.

Crouching down to gather the shards of glass, he turned to Azrael and sighed. He imagined if he tried to comfort the dragon he would get bitten but after throwing away the glass he had gathered he decided against his better judgment and came up behind him and pulled him close. He could feel him tense and it was partly because of the pain but he ignored it.

"Will you let me go? I don't need your pitying comfort," Azrael snapped at him.

"This isn't pity, Azrael."

"Then what is it?"

"Azrael I found that I tolerate you more than I thought I would and I want to attempt to make you feel better."

"Who the hell would think that sentence would make me feel better?" Azrael growled softly, trying to pull away but he only held him tighter.

"I am just as stubborn as you if not worse because I've had more years to practice it," he muttered to him, as he leaned close to the male's slightly pointed ear so he could hear him better. "Tell me what happened. I can figure it out for myself but I'd rather hear it in your own words."

"If you already then know then why make me tell you? You sound like a sadistic bastard!"

"That's not my intention, Azrael. I simply don't want to infer about your feelings."

"I saw what used to be my wings, okay?" Azrael snapped, his voice hitching as he tried desperately not think of it. "It's disgusting. How can you even stand to look at it?"

"I won't say it doesn't look damaged but you faced a horrendous practice. No one is going to judge you for that, Azrael."

"You don't understand how dragons are. A dragon without wings is laughable and gets mocked, taunted, and ostracized from society. If I thought I was worse off before, I was wrong. My clan and others are going to view me as an even bigger disgrace."

Apollo sighed. "I suppose your right. I don't understand how dragons are but demons can be the same. I may not have been born with a tail and things of that nature but some demons are and how do you think some will view them? It can be the same in any community."

Azrael didn't say anything, keeping his mouth shut as he seemed to unconsciously lean against Apollo. He wanted to smack the man because the last thing he wanted was to be comforted. He wasn't used to it and because of that he didn't want it. "There would really be no point in going back to get my so-called revenge. Nya might back me up but the others would laugh or refuse to work with me. They might even turn me in. It might put them at risk but I wouldn't put it past them."

"This was not how I wanted you to change your decision."

He had a defeated air about him and that was the last thing Apollo wanted for Azrael. He wanted him to come to this sort of decision because it wasn't the smartest thing to do at the moment. "Azrael, you'll be okay."

"How can you tell me I'll be okay when I look like this?"

"I don't know. It seemed like the only thing to say."

Snorting in disbelief, Azrael wiped the tears away again and had to let out a small laugh. "You're an idiot if you think that could make me feel better by saying something like that."

"I tried and you are laughing so don't complain."

"Get off me. I thought you got rabbit so why don't you hurry up and make it."

"Don't order me around, dragon. You better not forget who the elder here is."

"Apollo if you start that crap again I'll…"

"Kiss me again?" Apollo smirked, letting Azrael go as he got off the bed. "Come out here and eat once I'm done."

Nodding, Azrael watched him leave and then glanced down at where the mirror used to be. He was almost glad that it had been destroyed because the last thing he needed was to see that horrid sight again. This was when he knew that his revenge plan wasn't going to work and it wasn't right. He had to stay back and get his strength back and get stronger. At his current state he couldn't take down anyone in his clan. If he attacked them the second he got better all he was going to do was get himself killed.

It annoyed him to think Apollo was right and as he watched the man cook, he was tempted to ask him something. Every morning, the demon got up early and went out to train. He had spied on him a few times and it had purely been because was curious as to what he did those mornings. He was fit and had to be powerful from the looks of it so he figured that once he was better, he could ask Apollo to train him. It was what he needed and he was prepared to fight for a yes and if he had to prove himself he would.

"Something wrong, Azrael?"

When Apollo noticed he was dazing out, he was mildly concerned and lifted a brow when he suddenly stood from the bed and walked into the area where he was cooking. "Yes?"

"Would you train me once I get better?"

Apollo was caught off guard and paused. "You want me to train you?"

He nodded. "I know your more skilled then you let on. I've seen you train."

"You've watched me?" he asked slyly.

"Get your mind out of the gutter!" Azrael spat angrily but the flush on his face was evident. "I want you to train me, Apollo."

"No."

Azrael stiffened. "Why?" he demanded to know.

"I don't know if I'd be training you for the right reasons. If you can prove to me you want to learn for the right reasons then maybe I'll consider it, but only if you can do that, Azrael."

"I want to go back to my clan and prove them wrong but not until I get stronger. I understand that I can't go back home yet and make them pay. I'm not strong enough and I don't just mean physically… I want you to train me because it will teach me discipline."

"Azrael, you are just telling me what I want to hear. However, I appreciate that. It shows determination. Maybe I'll consider it but not until you have fully recovered."

Huffing, Azrael felt like he was treating him like a child again but only somewhat. It did anger him and he wasn't sure what to say. He wanted the demon to train him and he would be damned if he was going to let him get away with saying no. "Dinner ready yet?"

"Not yet."

"You sure are taking your time," he grumbled.

"Be patient, Azrael."

"Bite me."

"Gladly."

Azrael only gave the demon a look.

xXx

Azrael lay on the bed, panting softly the next morning. He was on his side and pulling the covers closer to his chilled body as a shaky hand slowly emerged from the covers to push back some of his sweat slicked hair. Sometime during the night he had started to feel sick but he had ignored it. After hearing Apollo leave that morning to do his usual training, he fell back to sleep but woke up again feeling hot and clammy all over. He hadn't cleaned the wounds yesterday and might have cut them open when he sliced the bandages and touched the stumps. That was the only thing he could figure because the demon had been taking good care of them.

It had to be some type of infection and he was almost positive he had a fever. Shifting, he rolled onto his stomach and winced at the nausea that ran through his body. He wanted to just fall back to sleep but he felt so hot and cold at the same time, it was difficult. Rolling onto his side again, he cracked an eye open when he heard Apollo walking back up to the house. Pulling the covers over his slightly trembling form, he closed his eyes and tried to fall back to sleep but before he could, he felt a hand on his forehead.

"Do you feel sick, Azrael?"

"No," the dragon croaked out even though he knew that Apollo didn't believe him because it was more than obvious that he was sick. "Fine, I am but you don't need me to tell you that!" he snapped at him.

"Roll over onto your back, okay? I want to check your wounds. The last thing we need is for you to get an infection even if the fever will fight it off."

"Fever's aren't always good you know," Azrael managed to rasp out as he rolled over onto his back. Wincing as he sliced through the bandages, he shifted and waited to see what he was going to say. When he failed to say anything, Azrael did start to feel a bit nervous because the silence was never a good thing. "Well?"

"They look a little redder but from what I can tell they don't look infected. However, it doesn't mean that it isn't infected. It does look like you have a fever."

Azrael rolled his eyes. "No shit," he rasped out, yanking the covers over his head as the chills became worse. He was so tired and all he wanted to do was sleep.

"Azrael, I need to clean these out so pull the covers down and roll over onto your stomach."

"I want to sleep," he snapped.

"Azrael if I don't clean these out they will get worse and the last thing I imagine that you want is to die."

Muttering something underneath his breath, he rolled over onto his stomach and winced at the queasiness that ran through his trembling form. The pressure on his stomach made him want to get sick but he tried to ignore it and let Apollo do what he needed to do.

"Thank you, Azrael."

Rolling his eyes again, Azrael buried his face in the pillow and winced as the demon cleaned out his wounds. It hurt and he bit down into his lower lip. These wounds had just started to heal and now he had to go and get an infection. He had no idea how he had gotten one and it pissed him off but the pain quickly drowned out any anger he felt. "Are you almost done?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes. I just need to bandage to you so can you sit up for me?"

He did as he was asked and once he had been bandaged again, he lay back down in the bed and yanked the covers close to him. Flinching as a hand pressed against his forehead, he glanced up at Apollo and tried to ignore the urge to bite him.

"You still feel pretty warm, Azrael. Try to get some rest and I'll make you some tea. It will have some herbal medicine in it so it should bring down the fever pretty quickly."

"Thank you… Apollo."

Lifting a brow, he glanced over at Azrael and smirked slightly. He could see that it was difficult for the dragon to thank him because that was the sort of person he was but he didn't mind. Azrael was stubborn but he had been like that when he had been his age. "I'll be back. Try to rest up and don't push yourself to hard or I will tie you to the bed."

"Really?" Azrael asked and he flushed in embarrassment when Apollo flashed him a grin. "Go make me some tea!"

"Don't order me around, Azrael," he reminded him playfully as he walked off to make Azrael some medicine so the fever could go down quickly.

Huffing, he rolled onto his side and curled up underneath the covers. He would just focus on getting better now and hopefully this infection didn't turn out to be that bad because it was the last thing he needed. Getting better was really the only thing he could do.

xXx

Apollo paused the second he stepped outside his door. Glancing around, he frowned but went about his business, still wary of his surroundings. Then, after a few minutes, he sighed. "If you think you are fooling anyone, Archer, then you are sadly mistaken."

Wincing, the male named Archer finally stepped out from the shadows of the darkened forest and ducked his head. "I knew you could see me brother. I just didn't quite know how to approach you."

Before his brother even had a chance to blink, he pinned him to a tree, pressing his arm against his throat. "If Aries sent you here to kill me then he made a grave mistake because I can easy eliminate you, little brother but that really isn't the issue. What I wanted to know was how did you find me? Aries has been looking for years."

Coughing, he resisted the urge to push at Apollo and took the punishment he felt he deserved. "I-I finally got the nerve to leave home and have been looking everywhere for you. Finally, I stumbled across your scent yesterday. It was faint but I tracked it and it led me here."

Apollo realized that since taking the dragon in, he had neglected a few things and that included masking his scent and his power signal. Keeping those hidden had kept his older brother from finding him but he had gotten sloppy. He was in no way blaming Azrael, however, because it wasn't that stubborn dragon's fault. "For all I know he sent you."

"Brother, you know I would never do that to you!"

He pressed on his throat harder. "After the incident, you stood by and didn't say one word. The same went for after I ran off. I never heard anything from you and you sided with him."

"I was scared, Apollo!" he coughed out.

Finally letting him go, he watched his brother collapse onto the ground and then stepped back. "I want you to leave, Archer. I don't care why you came and nor do I care what your intention is. I have a life here and I want no part of you or our brother. If you come back here, I will kill you so remember that."

Standing up, he glanced at the small house and frowned as he sniffed the air. "Is that a dragon I smell? You managed to find yourself a dragon mate?"

"Archer, don't talk about things you don't understand. I want you to leave and don't come back."

"Brother, I need your help. Aries has gotten to out of control but… I won't push you into this. I will be back though because you are our last hope."

"I don't care about our home or the fact that you are too weak to take on our brother. Leave and don't show your face here again, understand me?"

"I will be back, brother. I know we hurt you but without your help, our brother is going to go insane."

"Archer, he went insane a long time ago."

xXx

Azrael was sure that he smelled something strange. He woke up from his fever induced sleep briefly and smelled another demon. It was similar to Apollo's scent and that caused him to frown but he was so sleepy that he was starting to brush it off. However, it was somewhat concerning because there was another demon around that smelled like Apollo. From the smell, he didn't think it was as powerful as the demon but still. He wondered if it could be that brother he had always talked about.

Falling back to sleep, he jumped up slightly when he heard a door slam. Lying back down, he cracked one eye open and looked over at where Apollo was. He couldn't see his face but he knew that the man was angry from how tense he seemed from the back.

"Azrael, sit up and drink your tea."

He noticed how emotionless the tone was and it sounded more firm than usual. Swallowing, he forced himself to sit up and then, with shaky hands, took the tea. "Did something happen while I was asleep?" he asked, as he took a sip of the tea, wrinkling his nose when he realized how bad it tasted. Resisting the urge to spit it out, he swallowed the mouthful and quickly drank the rest of it. Then he glanced up at Azrael as he held out the cup to him. "Well?"

"Why do you ask such a strange question?"

"I smelled someone earlier while you were outside. They smelled like you."

Apollo sighed. "My brother came to visit me and I don't wish to discuss this right now."

About to protest, he growled as he was pushed to lie back down onto the bed. "I don't like people keeping things from me."

"Azrael this has nothing to do with you so shut up and sleep!"

Blinking, Azrael stared at the outburst and then muttered something underneath his breath as he rolled over onto his side. Pulling the covers back over him, he listened as Apollo walked back out of the house and left him alone again. Huffing, he winced as he felt the nausea suddenly come back but he didn't feel as hot as before.

He knew that something had happened and the man was very upset about it. Azrael was very curious but he had to let it drop for now. In his time of staying here with the demon, he hadn't raised his voice like that. He was usually very calm and collected. Sighing, he jumped when he felt the covers being tucked closer around him and grumbled something underneath his breath. It was a thank you but he said it so muffled that it didn't really sound like one.

"You're welcome," Apollo chuckled before letting out a sigh of his own as Azrael fell into a fever induced sleep once again.

He would have to deal with his brother sooner or later. The thing was he felt that it was too soon.

xXx

"If you make me drink that again, I'll bite you!" Azrael warned as he backed away on the bed.

It was three days later after the counter with Apollo's brother and he was starting to feel a whole lot better. The fever down and he wasn't so pale anymore but the demon insisted on him continuing to drink that herbal medicine he kept making which tasted disgusting. Azrael wasn't one to be ungrateful but now that he felt better, he refused to drink it and the demon looked like he would force him if he had too.

"Azrael I don't care how many times you insist you are better. Your still at risk for an infection until that wound heals completely and you need to cooperate with me. If you refuse to, I will make you drink this medicine if I have too."

"You're really pissing me off right now… and how many times do I have to tell you that I am fine?"

"I thought you didn't like it when I treated you like a brat?" Apollo asked coyly.

"I don't but it's disgusting! If you had to drink that crap you'd be acting the same-"

Azrael's ranting was muffled by the demon slamming his mouth over his own which effectively silenced anything else he wanted to say. Twitching, he decided he could play that game as well and buried his fingers in Apollo's long, black hair and forced him down even farther, slipping his tongue into his mouth. Apparently, this didn't seem to phase the demon and he felt him smirk against his lips and then slip a hand between their legs.

"Bastard. You're playing dirty," Azrael gasped out as he pulled away from the kiss to throw his head back, exposing his throat unconsciously to the demon, who let out a soft growl at the sight.

"You don't seem to mind my playing dirty," he murmured, his voice low and rumbling in his throat as squeezed the bulge in his hand.

"I thought you wanted to help me stay healthy," he rasped out, torn between shoving Apollo away and pulling closer.

"I think that's enough talking, Azrael."

He could've said no but instead he pulled his head down, their lips and teeth smashing together but neither seemed to care, fangs nipping at his lower lips as he reached between them and struggled to push the offending garments out of the way. Azrael soon got so impatient and ended up ripping some of the fabric which caused the demon to chuckle.

"You make this situation humorous at the worst times."

"That's what everyone loves to hear," Azrael snapped. Suddenly growing quiet, he spread his legs and threw his head back. Feeling fangs on his neck, he didn't think anything of it and dug his nails into his palms as the fangs scraped lightly over his jugular.

Quickly, their clothing was pulled or rather torn off between both sets of claws. Before he felt Apollo about to push into him, the demon seemed to pause. Azrael growled. "I'm not some fucking child you stupid demon!"

When it was over, Apollo collapsed beside him, and Azrael looked over at him with a coy expression on his face. "Was that your idea of trying to make me take the medicine?"

This only spurred another round. "You don't give up do you?" he gasped.

"No I don't. So take your medicine Azrael or I won't give you what you want."

Huffing, he turned his head away from the medicine and bit down hard on his bottom lip as Apollo lightly bit down on his neck and snapped his hips again. Swallowing, he stubbornly grunted and turned his head away even further. Refusing to take the medicine, he kept on telling the demon no until he was a panting, withering mess.

"Will you take the medicine?"

"Fine!"

Finally giving in, he drank the bitter tasting medicine and nearly jumped when the cup was carelessly thrown away from the two of them. Before he even had a chance to comprehend the demon's actions, he was shoved onto his knees and after it was over he lay there dazed and angry.

"Giving me medicine in such a manner was a dirty trick!"

"I did it on a whim but next time I think I'll try that because it seems to be pretty effective," he said with a small grin.

"If you ever try to give me medicine like that again-"

For a second time that day, his words were cut off by a pair of lips but before it could get any further Azrael pushed him away firmly by the shoulders. "If you even think about doing that again I'll… I'll…"

Apollo laughed.

He really wasn't taking the threat seriously.

xXx

Azrael took the medicine without a fuss the next morning and the next and the next. When he asked Apollo how his wounds were looking, the demon told him it was healing nicely and he was pleased with that answer. He wanted to look at it but the last time he had seen his back, he had broken down crying. The thought made him shudder and he felt sick to his stomach as he thought of the way his back looked.

"So I'm getting better?"

"Yes, Azrael but if you want me to say it's okay for you to run off back home don't hold your breath."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to do that," he snapped. "I told you I wanted you to train me. Will you?"

"We'll see once you're fully healed."

Huffing, Azrael glanced out the window and thought about the incident when he had smelled that strange person outside there with Apollo. He had asked him about it once or twice since then and every time he tried, the man became angry so he tried to usually let it drop but it still bothered him. However, it didn't bother him as much as it did when Apollo kept brushing off the training question. He wanted to become stronger but Azrael felt like the better he became, the more scared he felt. It was embarrassing and something he would never admit out loud but what was left for him back there?

Revenge would get him nowhere and a few dragons had been able to let go of their pride and stay behind but not always. Even Nya who had professed to be like a mother to him was in fear and had chosen that instead of him. No one had come to his rescue and no one had stood up for him.

"Something wrong?" Apollo asked as he started to bandage Azrael's back again. The dragon was broken out of his daze and shook his head quickly. "No, I'm fine." he insisted, sighing as he glanced out the window and he could've sworn he saw someone. After a moment or two he did feel something and looked over at Apollo who had tensed some.

"It's that same energy I felt last time. Will you tell me who it is?"

"Just stay in here, Azrael it does not concern you. My brother is simply insistent on getting my help."

"Your brother?"

"Yes."

Staring, Azrael swallowed and wondered if it was the brother he had told him about all those weeks ago. "Is it…"

"No not him. It's my younger brother. It appears he didn't take my threat seriously."

"If he needs help…"

"Don't talk about things you don't understand."

"Maybe if you tried to open up to me!" Azrael snapped as he stood from the bed. "One minute you're treating me with such concern but if I dare to try to find anything about you, you snap!"

Apollo backed off and grew quiet before exiting the house. Growling, Azrael wasn't one to listen to people who had acted in such a way but when the energy vanished within the next moment, he figured Apollo had taken care of it. "I take it your brother left?"

"Yes," Apollo said simply, sitting on the edge of the bed as he glanced at Azrael who looked like he was ready to pout. He had to chuckle. Despite how many times he tried to insist that he wasn't a child, he sometimes had moments where he acted typical for his age. "My eldest brother is becoming unstable with his power and my youngest brother tracked me down in hopes of me helping him."

"You refused?" Azrael asked in slight surprise. "If he came out all this way to help don't you think you should hear him out?"

"I did and I decided against it."

"How did he even find you anyway?"

"I've neglected hiding my scent for the past few weeks," he said wirily as he looked over at Azrael who huffed and rolled his eyes.

"Why did you leave home?"

"My brother attacked me," Apollo said after a long moment of silence. "He had always seemed to have a strange fascination with me and decided he would have me. After that, I left and I haven't been back since. The only contact I've had with my family is with my brother this week but that is over and done with."

"Your brother could find you…" Azrael argued but was cut off when Apollo assured him he couldn't. He didn't know what to say to the sudden admittance of what had happened back then with his brother. He felt bad for even prying now but Apollo kept that passive look on his face and no emotion seem to pass through him.

"Let's move onto another subject shall we?"

"Like what?" Azrael asked warily.

"Your medicine."

Growling, he backed off and shook his head. "I took it this morning so don't even try to get me to take it again any time or soon or I promise I will bite you!"

Azrael figured that Apollo was only teasing him when he started chuckling and the dragon huffed and looked away again. Sometimes, he wanted to tear his throat out. The demon could be childish at times like this even though he had a tendency to accuse him of doing the same thing. "You still won't answer my training question will you?"

"Azrael, you still want revenge."

"I don't even know what I want anymore. It seemed clear cut a few weeks ago but now it doesn't and as difficult as it is without my wings, I don't want to die. They need to pay but I'm only one person."

"Running sometimes isn't the best option."

Azrael snorted. "You ran and you seem content."

"You constantly like to point out how it was a coward thing for me to do, remember dragon?"

Frowning, he shrugged and averted his gaze. "Are you happy with your decision?"

"Yes, I still am but are you?" Apollo countered. "It may seem like running away to you but I don't want to get in some epic, to the death battle with my brother. If it happens it happens but I will not go looking for danger. I simply want to live my life peacefully."

"What kind of demon are you?"

"A strange one apparently."

"Being treated like trash from day one has driven me to fight back, but now I don't know if I can."

"Then don't."

Azrael didn't know if it was that simple.

xXx

It would be a long, long time before his wings even started to grow back and when they did, it would be an extremely painful process but Azrael hoped he would be mentally prepared for that when it happened. Looking at the healed wounds, the scars and the stumps made him sick but not like it had the first time he had seen it. It also didn't feel him with rage. Anger was there but it was a testament to what he had been though.

These elders who had forced fear into his clan had done this because he spoke up and as much as he wanted revenge, he was one dragon. Being able to stir up a group and encourage people to join him had never been a strongpoint of his but he didn't know if he could let it go either. Going back would be a death wish and he wondered if he would really be able to do such a thing.

The clan might figure him dead by now because it had been so long. They probably assumed he had succumbed to his wounds and an animal had eaten him or something akin to that horrible thought. He hadn't asked the demon to train him for a while now. When he first arrived here all he could think about was revenge but now, it wasn't so simple. He had let the training drop because he knew Apollo had no intention of doing such a thing.

"I'm going back," Azrael announced the night Apollo took the bandages off for good. "I'll mask my scent so they won't know I'm coming."

"What then, Azrael?" Apollo snapped and Azrael was a bit taken aback by the sudden anger. "Do you expect everyone to band together with you and take down your elders? If they didn't do it before, they won't do it now."

"I need to at least go back. I won't be able to unless see the state my clan is in, Apollo. I'm not saying I'm going to start some sort of uprising but I need to go back and figure out the state I left them in."

"It's your decision, Azrael. I could stop you if I could and I want to so fucking bad but I won't," the demon growled, grabbing Azrael and kissing him hard which caused the dragon to snarl but it was a sound of desire and not one of anger.

"Why don't you then?" Azrael shot back.

"You're not my mate, Azrael. I have no claim to you."

Pausing, Azrael swallowed and thought about his words carefully. "Demons mate similar to dragons I assume."

Apollo glanced at him and quirked a brow.

"You know, mate for life and that kind of crap," he snapped and then he got sick of it all and couldn't handle it anymore. "Do you want me to stay, Apollo? If you do fucking speak up now and stop beating around the damn bush. I want to stay with you! You were an asshole in the beginning but I like it here and I don't have to worry-"

He was cut off, naturally by a kiss and though it made him shudder and pull the demon closer as his tongue swept into his mouth, he growled when he realized he had been silenced again. "I hate it when you do that."

"It's a good way to quiet you," Apollo said with a small smirk.

Azrael didn't know if he ever intended to leave. He wanted to see how his clan was and see Nya of all people but maybe in a way he was testing the damned demon. He wanted to stay as strange as that was. Apollo had told him he thought about leaving him out there that day because he just didn't care and it made him nearly attack the demon but when it came down to it he did help him. Apollo was many things but he had helped him and the dragon didn't think it was running away.

There were still problems with his clan and the issues of Apollo's brother which he had finally told him all about. However, for the time being he could look past that.

"Stop teasing me, damn it!" Azrael snapped, sinking his fangs lightly into the man's shoulder as a warning that he wasn't going to take teasing without a fight.

Chuckling, Apollo responded by squeezing and slowly pushing into the dragon. "Is that what you wanted?" he asked, whispering to the dragon, who only made a loud sound and wrapped his legs around his waist.

The sounds of growls and grunts filled the small house as Apollo thrust into Azrael who was clawing his back almost violently. Hissing loudly as he felt his climax coming, he pulled Apollo down for a kiss, their fangs banging together as the two of them finally came together.

"I like angry sex with you," Apollo commented as the two of them tried to catch their breath. Then, after a few moments, he paused and leaned closer to Azrael, sniffing him.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"You should've told me you were fertile."

"I happen to be a breeder so what of it?"

"Azrael you have a weak but second scent coming off you."

The dragon shook his head. "If you're telling me I'm carrying your demon spawn, I will kill you."

"Kill me then because you are."

"Damn demon!"

Things had gotten more complicated but hopefully Azrael, with Apollo's help, could navigate through the tough times ahead.