Page 23 of The Wolf and the Monarch

He lifted his gaze up to his uncle and he just shrugged. “I-I’m not. Sorry.”

“What was that?”

“I’m sorry. I know you’re not the bad guy.”

Milo nodded. “Good. Because if we’re going to get this information out of Andi, then we all need to be on the same page. If I can’t trust you with him, then what can I trust you with?”

“You can trust me.”

“Can I?”

“Yes.”

“Then you need to act like it. One more misstep and I’ll have to take corrective action. I don’t want to do that to my sweet little nephew.” Sawyer could feel his blood beginning to boil from irritation. As much as he wanted to yell and scream that he didn’t give a shit, he ran his tongue along his teeth and nodded. “You’re dismissed.” Sawyer stood up from his chair and turned to leave when his uncle said, “Don't forget the clothes for Andi.”

He stilled and turned around to look at Milo. “I-I wasn’t–”

“I’m not stupid, Sawyer. I’m offended you think I wouldn’t notice you tossing them before you walked in here.”

He swallowed once again. “I didn’t think you were. I just–”

“Didn’t want me to know.” He didn’t answer that statement. “If you feel so inclined, do change his clothes.” A smile crossed his uncle’s face that sent a chill up his spine. “I might think otherwise though.”

Sawyer didn’t respond to that. He just stepped out of the office and grabbed the clothes so he could re-ball them up. He knew that it wasn’t necessarily wise for him to do it, but he couldn’t just let Andi suffer further down there. He didn’t look back to the office once he had grabbed the clothes. He just hurried down the hall without a second thought.

Chapter Thirteen

Sawyer

Sawyer had been gone far longer than he wanted. The whole getting his block knocked off was not something he had planned, but he supposed that was rarely something anyone expected. He practically ran down the stairs once he locked the door behind him and approached Andi, almost warily. Even from the bottom of the stairs, it was easy to see how badly he was shaking. “Hey, Andi. I’m really sorry.” It was fascinating to be apologizing to his captive, but he really was. He couldn’t take his mind off him to be quite honest.

Andi barely lifted his head but it was enough to take in the look of him. His lips were practically blue. His teeth were chattering. His skin was pale. “W-W…What happened?” He stammered.

“I was just getting you clothes.”

“T-To your fa…ce.”

Sawyer blinked then shook his head. “It’s nothing. I need to get you changed which means I have to unbind you…” Andi nodded just a bit. “Please don’t fight me.”

“Don’t think I-I could if I wanted to.” His teeth chattered at the end of that statement and it really just made Sawyer’s heart ache a bit. And his statement was, unfortunately, probably true. Saying that he looked unwell was truly an understatement. On his key ring, he had the key to the handcuffs. He took the time to undo those before he worked on the ropes that tied his feet to the chair. The moment his arms were free, Andi balled them together in front of him, as if he was searching for any type of warmth that could give him.

Sawyer kept his frown to a minimum, which was a true feat. “Sore?” He asked. Andi just nodded. It probably felt nice to be able to move his arms and legs. And, just as Sawyer asked, he didn’t try to run. It was for the best for both of them at that juncture.

Without a word, he curled his fingers into the hem of the man’s shirt and his gaze drifted up to his briefly before he pulled it off. He could feel how cold it was. He couldn’t imagine just sitting there with it on. Sawyer tossed it aside with a wet plop then grabbed the t-shirt he had brought. As he was about to put it on, his eyes drifted over Andi’s torso. It had been the first time he had actually seen it. All the other times he just looked at what he needed to. Sawyer noted his build. It was rather impressive and looked similar to his own. It would be a lie to say he didn’t like what he saw. But that was neither here nor there. He couldn’t help but notice the tattoo on his pec. “That is fucking hideous.”

Andi slightly moved his head to follow Sawyer’s eyes before he snorted. “Are you…making fun of m-me?”

“Not you necessarily. That,” he pointed at the tattoo. “Is it a wolf?”

“Yeah. It’s not t-that bad…”

“Not that great either.”

“At least you can…can tell what it is,” a soft smirk crossed Andi’s face and it was nice to see. Especially in his condition. “You should s-see the others.”

“I’m sure I will,” he mumbled. His gaze then drifted down towards the gash on Andi’s side. “Jesus,” he sighed and knelt down to look at it better.

It was inflamed and there was pus beginning to form around it. Sawyer gingerly reached a finger out to touch it and Andi immediately hissed. Just from that light touch, he could feel how warm it was. It was the only thing warm about Andi at that moment. He lifted his hand and placed the back of it against his forehead. He didn’t have a fever…but then again, could he have one in his state? He would have to get something to clean that out but he couldn’t risk going back up there again. Not right now. Later tonight. He told himself while he pulled the shirt onto Andi.