THIRD PERSON POV

"You need me."

Thaddeus's eyes shot back open, staggered by the commanding resonance of Aria's voice as it echoed throughout the hallowed halls of the Elder's chambers. It was an odd sound, one that exuded a newfound sense of confidence and strength completely unlike anything Thad had ever witnessed out of the tiny man.

"Excuse me?" Elder Laancaster's voice jilted at the very end, revealing a chink in her typically calm and collected demeanor. Aria's words had clearly managed to catch her off guard, destabilizing the foundation of her usual, smug poise.

Aria's soft brown eyes hardened, narrowing into slits as his smoldering gaze sliced straight through the row of Elders still seated at their long table. Although he still remained captive, held tight in the grip of the Enforcers, his renewed presence exuded such an aura of unwavering determination that even they hesitated in their pursuit of tearing him out of the chambers.

"You need me," The small yet uncompromising man repeated his words, low and steady, with a sincerity that demanded everyone's attention. And as he did so, Thaddeus couldn't help the sense of infinite wonder that filled his heavy chest as he gazed adoringly at his inconceivably brave little Soul Mate with a newfound sense of awe.

"And if you kill him, if you ever hurt Thaddeus again..." He paused, lips contorting into a tight line as he struggled to keep his emotions at bay, "Then I will never, ever, give you what you want." His final words hung in the air, heavy with a sense of foreboding, like a noose waiting to be tightened.

The weight of Aria's threat remained palpable as the silence stretched on, broken only by intermittent, ragged breathing as Aria and Thaddeus's hearts beat at a rate of a million miles per minute.

If there was one thing that The Elders were known for, it was making their decisions only once, and never straying from such a decision once it was set in stone. So based on that fact alone, there was very little chance that The Elders would entertain any negotiation that wasn't of their own making, no matter how potent the threat.

So, as the eerie stillness lingered, Aria's delicate muscles pulled taut with tension, trying not to shake, determined not to show a single indication of weakness in the face of such powerful beings as The Elders.

But then, like an unexpected clap of thunder, Elder Laancaster – still seated tall in her seat at the head of the table – broke the silence with a grin so wide that it seemed as if her teeth might fall straight out of her face. The sight of it alone made both men's skin crawl.

"Well, well, well..." She trilled, tapping her long fingernails atop the table once more. The persistent ticking sound that they made Thad want to break them right off of her wrinkly fingers and shank the old bat with them. "Now that you mention it... there may just be an... alternate offer that The Elders would be willing to consider. "

All of the other Elders remained seated throughout her spiel, a stony silence etched into wrinkled faces whose expressions betrayed nothing. The tension within the room thickened to unbelievable heights, a level which even left Thad shifting nervously on the balls of his feet, and Aria's breath catching in his throat as he waited for Elder Laancaster to continue.

Said Elder leaned forward then, beady eyes glimmering with such thinly veiled excitement that it made Aria's blood run just a little bit colder.

"You see, there is something that we require," She drawled out the words, stretching out the syllables as if relishing in the torment that they bestowed. "Something that – as you know – only you can provide us with, Aria." She finished, voice low and honeyed. And, strangely, the fact that she'd called Aria by his given name rather than his Society member number made the smaller man's heart drop like a stone. This woman obviously had an agenda, and Aria couldn't shake the feeling that he was about to be dragged even further into something that was so much larger than himself.

Even so, what exactly would The Elders want from him? In exchange for such a rare compromise, they were bound to ask for something that bore a hefty price tag. But what else could he possibly do? How much was he willing to pay to save Thaddeus's life?

The weight of such a decision weighed down on Aria like the heaviest boulder, threatening to crush him flat beneath its unfathomable pressure. But even still, Aria refused to allow himself to falter, to succumb to the sudden surge of fear that threatened to overwhelm him.

Aria's heart thrashed against his ribs like the wings of a bird trapped in a cage made only of marble and grinning teeth. For this this was a matter of life and death, and if he wanted to ensure Thaddeus's survival, he knew that he had to stay focused, keep his wits about him, and above all, appeal to The Elders' desires.

So, swallowing down his fear as his throat constricted around words that rang sharp and painful; he braced himself for what was sure to come.

After all, for Thaddeus, he would pay any cost.

"What is it that you require of me?" Aria finally responded, voice now barely above an exhausted whisper. As he patiently awaited their response, he couldn't help be feel as if he were kneeling at the guillotine, waiting for the executioner's axe to fall, heavy and true.

Elder Laancaster's eyes bored deep into Aria's, sending raucous shivers down the curve of Aria's spine.

"It's quite simple, really," She leaned back in her chair smugly, and Thaddeus scoffed, fighting the urge to roll his fuckin' eyes right there, directly in her damn face. Nothing with The Elders was ever simple. "In order to spare Thaddeus's life, we require a demonstration of your unwavering dedication to our Society" She continued, tone shifting into one that one might even interpret as delighted. Thad's jaw ticked with aggravation.

"And how do you propose we do that?" Aria followed up, his voice tight, betraying his fear. He could practically feel the consequence of her words before she even spoke.

"As mentioned before, what we ask of you is quite simple," The Elder replied, tone dripping with a sickening kind of sweetness that made Thaddeus want to punch something. "You will both will mate. Here, and now. Under the watchful eye of The Elders."

No... no.

This couldn't be happening. How could they possibly ask him to do such a thing? Just the thought alone made him feel sick, like he was about to vomit up his guts and then some. But even as Aria's face crumbled into one of pure disbelief, Elder Laancaster's gaze remained steady, cold, and unrelenting.

Aria's mind raced, heart pounding and stomach lurching as he frantically wrecked his brain, searching for a way out, anything to avoid fulfilling such an unthinkable demand. The idea of The Elders forcing them to mate was repulsive, but the thought of losing Thaddeus was so, so much worse.

And as the expression of shock, confusion, and disgust painted over Aria's soft features, Thaddeus' heart ached in a way that he didn't quite want to acknowledge. His Soul Mate's scent was off, the metallic scent of his fear mingling with the sweet smell of peaches making Thaddeus's head all fuzzy, rapidly filling with all different types of ways to get away with murder.

But, seeing as to how he was still firmly caught in the grip of the Enforcers and restrained by those bitch ass electro-ties, Thad settled for clenching his fists as he glared daggers at that arrogant, knobby-kneed ass bitch. He knew that The Elders were capable of unspeakable things, but this? This was beyond wrong. This was fucked up.

The air in the room was thick and hard to breathe through as Elder Laancaster just... sat there, smug and satisfied with her ridiculous ultimatum. And as Thaddeus watched the stupid bitch with eyes that were reduced to slits, the large man felt the anger begin to well up inside of him. In fact, he was so caught up in his own bubbling, feral instincts that he nearly missed Aria's soft, quiet voice as it drifted past his smoking ears.

"How can you even... suggest something like this?" The smaller man said, voice weak and trembling with incredulity as it cut through the suffocating silence. Thaddeus felt his heart break at the sound. "It's... it's not right."

Unfortunately for Thaddeus and Aria, The Elder was thoroughly unmoved.

"Why, it is the only way to truly prove your loyalty to our great Society." She said, tone dripping with condescension. As if what she was offering was some kind of fucking honor. "But of course, the choice is still yours. Fulfill our request and we will extend Thaddeus an exceedingly rare – and notably generous – chance to avoid a third strike," She paused, "Or, if you refuse, we will proceed with the original plan."

Grumbling from somewhere deep in his chest, Thaddeus nearly lost himself. He couldn't let this happen. He couldn't let these fucking Elders, who were always testing the limits of their seemingly never-ending power, win. And, most of all, he couldn't let anything happen to his Aria.

But... how? No matter how much he abhorred them and everything they stood for, The Elders were much too powerful, their hold infinitely too strong. The Elders held all of the power, and they weren't afraid to use it.

Thaddeus was quite honestly three seconds away from saying fuck it, kicking the closest Enforcer in the nutsack, and strangling every Elder he could catch with their own, stupid robes. But when a broken voice interrupted his vengeful thoughts, cutting through the blazing haze of red that was steadily clouding the periphery of his vision, such thoughts ceased cold.

"I–" Aria choked, those beautiful, almond-shaped eyes filling with tears that Thad longed to brush away with the pad of his thumbs. He trembled as he continued. "I–"

"No, Aria. You can't do this." Thaddeus finally interjected, voice thick with emotion. The thought of Aria sacrificing his own well-being for his sake was honestly unbearable, so much worse than any form of torture he could even fathom. "Not this. Not for me."

But before Thaddeus could protest any further, Aria turned his head, wavy hair flowing around his shoulders like a curtain. And as they locked eyes, Thaddeus caught a glimpse of the determination that lived there, a flicker of fiery resolve that made its way through their bond and settled somewhere deep in his chest.

"Just as much as you want to protect me, I also want to protect you." He started, voice soft, but still filled with conviction. "I won't let them hurt you. Not ever again." His lips flickered up into what Thad interpreted as an attempt at a smile. "You're everything to me, Thad. I can't... I can't lose you."

In that split second, Thaddeus was overcome with a herculean flood of emotions that overwhelmed him to the point of suffocating – fear for Aria's safety, anger at the unfairness of their situation, adoration for the man who stood before him with such unwavering determination to keep him safe. All of it swirled together in a dizzying vortex that left him reeling.

Thad's fingertips dug deeper into his palms, drawing out tiny droplets of blood from his calloused skin as he struggled to contain himself. He couldn't speak, couldn't possibly find the words to convey this strange, infinitely painful emotion.

He longed to hold Aria close, to wrap the small man up tight in an impenetrable embrace that would shield him from harm for the rest of time. But all he could do was shove the need through their bond in a raw and powerful outpouring of emotion, a silent plea that he hoped would be enough to convince Aria that sacrificing himself for Thaddeus was not an option.

Aria's brown eyes bore into Thaddeus's hazel depths, and for a moment, they seemed to share an exchange deeper than words could ever hope to encapsulate. If it were his choice, Thaddeus would simply remain there forever, lost in that connection, allowing it to proliferate and grow until they both inevitably dissolved into one another, free of any and all influence that The Elders could ever hope to enforce. But as unshed tears stung at Thaddeus's eyes, blurring his vision, Aria only gave him a sad, withering smile before turning back around to face The Elders' table.

"I accept your offer," The strain and agony in Aria's voice was palpable, and Thaddeus could feel every bit of the tumultuous emotions through their bond, each one of his words like a physical blow. It was as if a part of him was being ripped away entirely, leaving only a cancerous void that he could never hope to be re-filled. "We will complete your request."

It took a moment for Aria's words to sink in, for the entirety of the room to register his agreement to the ultimatum. And as it settled, the room seemed to spin around Thaddeus, the Elder's chambers becoming a blur of shapes and colors as his mind reeled, attempting to cope with the gravity of the situation.

Simply put, the idea of mating with Aria under such dire circumstances was tearing him apart. And as Aria turned back around to face him once more, Thaddeus witnessed similar anguish etched on his face, the sorrow in his eyes that mirrored his own. They shared a moment of wordless misery, the truth of their impossible situation weighing heavy, before the moment was interrupted by an absolutely ecstatic Elder Laancaster.

"Excellent! We are so, very pleased that you have made the right decision, Aria" She exclaimed, clapping her hands together with an enthusiasm that reminded Thaddeus of a knife as it echoed throughout the chamber, twisting its way into Thaddeus's gut, making his anger boil over at once.

"Pleased?!" He suddenly hollered, unable to keep quiet any longer, "You're pleased that you're forcing us into a situation we want nothing to do with? Are you out of your goddamn mind?!"

Elder Laancaster only raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at his outburst. "Your wants and desires are irrelevant. We all have our roles to play in the survival of our Society, and sometimes, those roles require sacrifice. This decision was made for the greater good of all."

"Bullshit!" Thaddeus growled back, his voice hoarse with outrage, "Do you really think we're fucking stupid?! You don't give a damn about us! All you're doing is using us as pawns in your twisted fucking game of authority!"

Elder Laancaster only scoffed. "Clearly, you do not understand the gravity of the situation, young man. We are not in the business of playing such childish games that you speak of. On the contrary, we are in the business of ensuring the survivalof our people." She punctuated her sentence with another tap of those damn nails. "And both of you should consider yourselves fortunate that you have been selected for the important task of assisting us in such an endeavor."

Thaddeus struggled in the Enforcer's grip, shaking his head with utter disgust. "Aria is not a task." He spat, "He is a person – a wonderful person – with thoughts and feelings and a life of his own."

"Such insolent sentimentality is wasted here." Elder Laancaster boomed at once, the sound laden with irritation, and Thad felt the Enforcer's grip tightening around his arms. "We have wasted enough time on the two of you." She nudged her chin toward one of the many doors that lined the marble walls, "Enforcers, show them to the bonding chambers."

Thaddeus only managed one last, scathing glare at the table of Elders before both he and Aria were turned around and wrenched away, shoved in the direction of the door that Elder Laancaster had just gestured to.

Thad could feel the fear, the sheer trepidation rolling off of his Soul Mate as if it were his own, and he shook with rage, wishing that he could do something – anything – to comfort him. But as he watched Aria hang his head low, shoulders shaking with sobs as he gave into the inevitability of this inescapable nightmare they were now trapped within, he knew somewhere deep down that there was absolutely nothing that he could do to truly fix this.

No matter how he looked at it, this situation was horrific. They were both being used, their lives and emotions twisted into some tool to be used by the very people who claimed to protect them.

As they were led to the door of no return, Thaddeus tried to thick quickly, to conjure up some last-ditch effort to escape, to relieve them of this wretched situation. However, try as he might, the only thing that he could properly focus on was Aria, on the weight of the Enforcer's gloved hands as they twisted his arms, of the Enforcer's heavy boots echoing as they clunked across the shiny, marble floor.

One Enforcer disengaged the door's locking mechanism with a loud click, forcefully pulling open the heavy thing before shoving Thaddeus and Aria inside. They stumbled into the room gracelessly, and as they did so, Thaddeus immediately took in their new surroundings.

It was a stark contrast to the dark, damp torture chamber he'd been kept in throughout his beatings. Instead, this lowly lit room was spacious, adorned with intricate marble detailing that bore striking similarities to The Elders' chambers themselves. However, despite the room's apparent beauty, Thad couldn't shake the ominous sense of disquiet that hung in the air.

For, as he continued to take in his surroundings, his heart dropped as he noticed the centerpiece of the room. It was a large, imposing bed, its grandeur only increasing the harrowing sense of foreboding that gripped him, and the lifeless, plain, grey sheet that draped over it did nothing to soften the atmosphere. It was as if the room itself pulsed with a dark presence, something lurking in the shadows, waiting to ensnare them both.

A small yelp sounded from Aria as he was tossed unceremoniously onto the bed by his Enforcers, and a beeping sound registered in Thaddeus' roaring ears as his electro-ties were disengaged.

Naturally, the larger male took that as his cue.

A deep-seated blaze of fury burned its way through Thaddeus's veins as he instantly surged forward, jaw tensed, muscles primed for battle. And then, with a roar that shook the very foundation of the room, he charged headfirst into the fray.

The very first enforcer he came into contact with didn't stand a chance. Thaddeus's fist connected with his helmet with a deafening crack, sending the man stumbling backward in a daze of surprise and pain. But as Thaddeus prepared to press his newfound advantage, he was suddenly blind-sighted by another Enforcer, who hurdled at him from his side.

Cold armor pressed into his skin as they made contact, but Thaddeus didn't falter. Instead, with a burst of rage, he twisted the Enforcer's arm in an unnatural position behind his back, wrenching it painfully before kicking him away. The Enforcer screamed as he fell helmet-first onto the ground, nursing a thoroughly dislocated shoulder, but Thaddeus had no time to gloat at his achievement before he found himself surrounded once more, trapped by a ring of angry, determined Enforcers.

Despite the remarkably shitty odds, Thaddeus still stubbornly thought that maybe, just maybe, he could win this, that he could fight his way free of this mess. So, as the throng of Enforcers closed in, he lashed out one last time in a fit of grim determination, fists readied to strike...

But before he could get far, a sharp, deafening blow at the back of his head stunned him into submission.

Staggering backward, Thaddeus found himself growing woozy as the Enforcers took the opportunity to draw back, filing out of the room until only one was left at the threshold. The muffled sound of that Enforcer's voice reached his ears, saying something about them having one hour to satisfy their side of the deal.

But Thaddeus barely registered the Enforcer's words as a murderous rage continued to gnaw at him. That primal, feral part of him screamed with fearsome wrath, fueling an intense desire to slice open every one of those sick bastards, to wrap his trembling hands around their necks and squeeze until they begged him for mercy. The thought of making them suffer just as they'd made his Soul Mate suffer sent shivers of desire down his spine until the dark, twisted desire within flared into an all-consuming inferno – raging and roaring – a firestorm that he fought to contain. And yet, even as it licked at his simmering bones, Thaddeus found himself enamored with its beauty.

In all honesty, Thaddeus didn't want to resist it. No, he wanted to fight for his beloved, to crush souls and obliterate armies in his name, until they were both free from the torment of this mad Society, free from everything that was The Elders' blasphemous existence.

But as his breathing grew ragged, nearing the point of hyperventilation, a quiet whimper echoed through the room, jolting him back to himself.

Swiveling around at once, that savage, bloodthirsty urge deep within Thaddeus quelled to but a whisper as he caught a glimpse of his tortured Soul Mate. Aria looked even smaller than he usually did as he lay, curled up in the very center of that big, empty bed.

It felt like no time had passed between the moment he was seething with rage by the locked door and the moment he was on all fours, straddling Aria atop the bed, eyes wide as he desperately searched for the source of his beloved's distress, frantic to eliminate it.

"I'm sorry," Aria whispered, his soft voice breaking. His rosy cheeks blotchy with tears as he turned to look up at Thaddeus, who could do nothing but heave his wide chest as his instincts ran wild, consumed by the intensity of the moment. He could feel the truth of Aria's words as they poured out of his teary eyes, the depths of his adoration striking as it flowed through their ever-strengthening bond. "I had no other choice. I won't let them take you away. I can't..." Aria's voice broke, soft and trembling "I can't lose you."

His heart ached as Aria reached up to touch his cheek, and Thaddeus found himself startled by the way it brought attention to the moisture that lingered there, too.

Nonetheless, Thaddeus leaned into Aria's touch, unable to think past the reality of what they were about to face. The touch was a reminder of the bond that they had forged throughout all of their time together, a connection that had grown immeasurably stronger with each and every obstacle that they had faced. And yet, as they lay there, the sweet intimacy of such a precious moment was bittered, marred by a sense of profound sadness and grief so powerful that it seemed to stretch out endlessly before them.

Kissing Aria's palm, Thaddeus hoped that the gentle touch could somehow offer some semblance of comfort. But honestly, it felt like trying to put out a raging fire with a mere droplet of water. The weight of their pain was crushing, overwhelming, and he wished he could take it all away. But since he knew deep down he couldn't, he instead vowed to do everything in his power to ease their burden, to be there for Aria through the darkness that surely lay ahead.

Taking Aria's hand in his own and interlacing his own fingers with the ones that still rested against his damp cheek, Thaddeus gazed into his Soul Mate's tear-streaked eyes. The pain that rested behind those soft, brown irises made a lump form in his throat, and he struggled to maintain his composure through it. However, in that moment his own emotions were insignificant as he reminded himself that he had to stay strong for Aria, who was clearly toeing the edge of a complete breakdown.

Thaddeus's voice was undeniably tender when he finally responded, the large man's typically sharp tongue replaced by a deep, soothing tone that sounded notably foreign, even to himself.

"You saved my life, Aria," He began, voice swelling with admiration as he whispered the words to Aria – to his Mate. Squeezing the tips of those delicate, trembling fingertips that remained entwined with his own, Thad used his thumb to caress any skin that he could reach. "You were so brave out there. I'll never be able to thank you enough for what you did for me," He paused, voice but a whisper. "If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you."

Thaddeus had no doubt that The Elders were listening to his every word. But as he leaned down closer, nudging their forehead together, he tried his best to pretend like it was only he and Aria in this place, safe and protected in their own tiny little bubble, a sanctuary where only they existed.

With a deep breath, Thad continued. "But you don't have to go through with this," He finished in a soft tone. "You still have a choice."

Aria was quick to shake his head in rejection of such a notion, and despite their dire situation, Thaddeus couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful his Soul Mate was right then. His wavy, brown hair splayed around him like a radiant halo, still shimmering even in the dim light that the room shone upon them. And his porcelain face – although still teary – was beyond a work of art, a masterpiece that could have only been formed by a force much greater than those bastard Elders.

As Thaddeus gazed at Aria who lie beneath him, the larger man was overcome with an overwhelming urge to lean down, to seal that tiny, torturous gap that lingered between their lips. Desire coursed through his veins, almost painful in its intensity, causing his biceps to tremble with the effort of restraint. And yet, despite his fierce struggle, Thaddeus maintained his determination to wait until Aria had a chance to voice his decision.

Aria's watery smile was weak, but it still lit up his eyes as his other hand came up to frame the other side of Thaddeus's face, too. As he spoke, his thumb brushed against his Mate's sharp cheekbone.

"Isn't it obvious?" His voice was barely a whisper, "You are my Soul Mate, Thad. And despite everything that's happened, despite what they are making us do..." He trailed off, the reality of their predicament seemingly too much to bear. "I choose you."

Aria's declaration was both a balm and a torment, a reminder of what they both stood to lose. Thaddeus closed his eyes against such striking words, but even that couldn't halt the fresh wave of agony that gripped him, the onslaught of tears that burned as they made their way down his cheeks.

"I will always, always choose you." Aria repeated quietly, solemnly, as if finding peace in them.

And in that moment, as he drowned in emotions much too intense to bear, Thaddeus succumbed to it all as a deep, soul-wrenching sob tore out of his chest. It was a horrible, broken sound that crushed his ribcage and echoed throughout the entire room. And with it, he claimed Aria's lips, desperate for a connection to this beautiful, gorgeous creature that he was so, incredibly undeserving of.

He poured everything – his pains, his fears, his desires – into that kiss, in hopes that Aria could feel just how much Thaddeus needed him. And in that moment, nothing else mattered – not the forces conspiring against them, not the pain that threatened to consume them whole.

And for a brief moment, Thaddeus felt a glimmer of hope, just a tiny spark of light amidst the endless fog. He held onto it just as tightly as he clung to the precious being in his arms, the warmth of Aria's small body a reminder that he was not alone. That he would never, ever be alone again.

When their lips finally parted, Thaddeus couldn't help but feel a flickering of gratitude – unconsoled appreciation for every moment, every touch, every breath that he had the privilege of sharing with his Soul Mate, with his Bug. With hisAria.

"You are everything," Thaddeus murmured then, lips still brushing against the smaller man's. Aria still shook with the intensity of it all, newly overwhelmed by the raw emotion that vibrated through Thaddeus's deep tone of voice. But this time, it felt good. "And I don't think I'll ever know what I did to deserve you. But I can promise you this. With every breath, with every heartbeat, I also choose you. And I'll keep choosing you, again and again and again, no matter what our future brings." Shuddering through a monumental breath as his heart raced, fluttering with a feeling he couldn't quite put into words just yet, Thaddeus paused for a moment before releasing the last of his truth.

"You are my Soul Mate, Aria. Always." He vowed, the words a promise meant only for Aria's ears. And it was a promise that Thaddeus Axton intended to keep, even if it meant sacrificing everything.

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