Conor's PoV -

     It was a few days later, after my journey with Devin. Life went on as normally as possible, though my family was still stressed about the loss of half our flock. I woke up early that morning and got ready for the day, I helped mom make breakfast and later my family sat down and ate together.

Halfway through breakfast we were interrupted by a nock at the door. My father stood and went to answer it, in the door stood two Trunswick guards. "How may I help you," my father asked maybe a little too nervously.

"Is this true that you are not able to meet our quota of sheep's wool?" one of the guards spoke up.

My family had been stressing about this problem for weeks, Devin's family long ago ordered a quota of sheep's wool for their servants to make clothes out of. We had been growing out our sheep's wool to cut but only days ago a wolf pack had destroyed half our flock, without that wool there was no way for my family to fulfill the noble family's order. I couldn't help but blame myself for my family's troubles. "Yes, sir, it is true, we were not able to meet the quota after a pack of wolves killed half our flock," my father sighed, "we need more time, sir!"

"You shale get no more time, by order of the Earl," the guard spoke, "and you are to send us one of your sons to work as a servant of lord Devin, till your debts are paid."

"But sir, you don't know what your asking we need our sons here and we wouldn't be able to visit often," my father pleaded.

"Oh, we know very well what we're asking, I'll give you and your family a few minutes to decide which son will come with us," the guard smirked and walked over towards their horses, giving us time to decide but my mind had already decided.

My father turned to his family with a crestfallen look on his face. "Father, I'll go," I stated, "It's my fault all this is happening anyway."

"No, Conor, we must discuss this as a family," he replied.

"But I couldn't help you here anyway, I'm no longer a good shepherd," I hated to admit this to myself.

"Conor, stop," my mother piped in, "besides, what about your... sheep like features, if the Earl found out he would imprison you... or worse!"

"I would hide that," I tried to persuade my mother, "Who else would you send?"

We were all silent in thought, most of my brothers were to young to send to be a servant and my eldest brother was the best shepherd of us all. I knew I had won but the though scared me, I wouldn't be able to see my family for a very long time. There was a knock on the door, no doubt the guards had decided we had been given enough time. "Alright, Conor, we will send you but please be safe!" my father stated, "and always remember, we love you."

With that the rest of my family group hugged me telling me they loved me. I ran to my room and grabbed my necessities and checked in the mirror once more to make sure my sheep ears and tail were hidden. I rushed back out of my room to find the guards impatiently waiting, my family bid me farewell and moments later I was sitting on the back of a horse headed to town.

Hours passed but finally Trunswick estate came into view, towering over all the other buildings. Once there the guards led me inside and took me to the Earl. Devin's father told me of my duties and briefly showed me around the estate, the final stop was Devin's room. The Earl knocked on his sons door, "Come in," called Devin voice from inside.

     Devin sat in his bed reading a book, he glanced up at his father and I. "Devin, this is Conor, he will be your servant till he has paid off his family's debts, I'll leave you two," the Earl left his sons room, leaving just Devin and I.

     "Long time, no see," Devin smirked.

     I nodded. "So your father can't pay off a debt, I'm sorry to hear that," Devin stated, I thought he was being sarcastic but I really could here a ounce of sympathy in his voice.

     "Yes, thank you, master Devin," I replied.

     "Errr, just call me Devin," Devin smiled awkwardly.

     I nodded, thinking that this couldn't be more awkward. "Here, come sit," Devin smiled at me and patted the place next to him.

     I sat down next to him making sure I wasn't sitting too close to him. A moment later Devin ruffled my hair so that my sheep ears showed. I smiled at him but a moment later I began to worry, "Devin, your father can't know about this," I pointed to my sheep ears, "you won't tell him will you?"

"Of course not, Conor, believe it or not I actually care about what happens to you," Devin smiled at me, "also you have to be in bed before midnight, who knows what dad would do if he seen a lamb walking around the estate."

"Yeah...," I stared wondering about how I could keep my secret a secret, this was going to be way more difficult than what I originally thought.

     I had been working for the nobles for awhile now, sadly I hadn't seen my family since I left and I couldn't expect to see them for awhile longer. Devin was actually pretty nice to me, he didn't ask much of me either, really just to help him with his designer jackets and occasionally to help 'babysit' his younger brother. Of course I helped the other servants with chores but unlike them, being Devin's personal servant I got to sleep in his room instead of in the servants room. Which was good, Devin kept my secret a secret, even to the point one night that he pretended to be sick and stay with me instead of having to go on a night hunting trip with his brother and father.

     Over the months I had worked there Devin and I had grown surprisingly close. I was overjoyed by this, I couldn't quite explain it but every time I looked into Devin's eyes I could feel my heart flutter a little. I got nervous around him and yet I somehow felt comfortable in his company. I knew I he'd fallen for him, I was in love with Devin Trunswick but I could never tell him this.

     After I was done washing the dishes after dinner one night, Devin and I snuck out of the estate. It was reasonably cold out and the sun was just now setting. Devin and I strolled through the woods along a trail. Devin led me to a clearing that overlooked a river, we sat on a nearby fallen log. "It's beautiful out tonight," I stated, looking out over the water, it was late autumn and this weather reminded me of my days as a shepherd.

     "It certainly is," Devin smiled at me and ruffled my hair, "It is a little cold though."

     I turned and smiled at him, I took off my jacket and wrapped it around the noble. "Better?" I asked.

     "Yeah, thank you, but you must be cold now," Devin genuinely seemed concerned for my wellbeing.

     "I'm fine, don't worry about me," I stated but the truth was I was fairly cold.

     It seemed Devin could read my thoughts, he cuddled in next to me and wrapped an arm around me. I snuggled into him, glad to share his body heat. Then Devin placed a hand on my chin and lifted my head so I was looking up at him. A moment later he pressed his lips gently to mine, I smiled into the kiss and pressed back. The kiss lasted only a few moments, all too short. "I love you Conor," Devin smiled at me, his face red with blush.

     "I love you too, Devin," I cuddled the boy tighter and pressed my lips to his once more, this kiss lasted longer than our first, we both pulled away panting for air.

     We satisfied ourselves with pressing our foreheads together and staring into each other's eyes, totally ignoring the scenery around us, Devin's eyes were way more beautiful than a sunset could ever be.

Devin must have carried me back after I had fallen asleep, later I woke in Devin's bed, with Devin's loving arms wrapped around me. I frowned as I gazed down at my fluffy wool that covered my sheep form. I wiggled out of Devin's grip and gave Devin a quick lick on the cheek before I jumped off the bed. I desperately had to use the bathroom and decided I would let myself outside, I didn't want to wake my sleeping boyfriend.

I pulled at the string tied to the door that Devin had left for me incase there ever was an emergency where he couldn't open it for me. The door creaked open and I shouldered it the rest of the way. I glanced out into the hall, no one. I glanced back at Devin, maybe I shouldn't do this but I had to go. I wondered out into the hall, trying to keep quiet, though with every step my hoofs clicked on the wood floors.

I jumped down the steps to the first level, there was a light on in the next room so I hurriedly scurried outside through the dogy door. I looked around, no one was outside either so I found a nice patch of grass and relived myself. I trotted back to the estate and was just about to climb through the dogy door when a pair of muscular hands grabbed me. I let out a panicked bah but of course no one was around to hear my pleading for help.

The hands lifted my off the ground and into the arms of some rough looking man. "So your the Trunswick's precious lamb, I bet they would pay a high price to get you back," the man growled through rotten teeth.

They threw me in a cage in the back of a horse draw wagon. There were a few other animals, mostly dogs and cats. We were still on the road when the rising sun shone through the cracks of the wagon, changing me back into my human form, this didn't help the fact that I was still stuck in a cage.

Devin's PoV -

I stretched and yawned, silently cursing the bright sunlight. I looked around me trying to find my boyfriend. I couldn't find him which was weird I normally always awoke to find him wrapped in my arms, even before we were technically boyfriends. Honestly I was looking forward to our first morning together as a couple. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Then I noticed the door was open, just a little but enough for a small lamb to crawl through. It was daylight now so Conor should have been in his human form. Frantically I ran out into the hall, I searched in every open room, no Conor. Next I ran down stairs and checked outside, tied to the door handle was a note written on cream colored paper. I grabbed the note and quickly read it...

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If you wish to see your precious lamb again be prepared to pay for it, leave this note and a down payment on the stump near the river tonight.
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     I had to help Conor, I knew that, but how without my father knowing? I ran upstairs and grabbed all the money I had, which surprisingly wasn't much for a noble, then ignoring the rest of my family I ran back outside and towards the river.

     I laid my payment on the stump but hid behind some bushes to wait for whoever my boyfriend's kidnapper was, they were going to be the ones paying for what they done.

Soon enough my answer came, I sat silently, my heart racing in fear and anticipation, some rough looking men came into the clearing where I had laid my small payment. One of the men dragged poor Conor, who's arms were tied with chains, behind him. Anger surged through me as I watched my boyfriend being dragged by chains like that. I couldn't let them know I was here just yet. "Well, look here, this isn't very much money," on of the men had picked up my payment, "I guess they don't want their poor sheep boy back after all."

     The man tugged painfully on one of Conor's sheep ear, he bleated in pain. I couldn't contain my anger anymore so I jump on top of the man who was hurting Conor, we both fell to the ground. "Don't hurt my boyfriend like that," I yelled as I punched the guy in the nose, he passed out immediately.

     The two other men stood staring at me with angry eyes. One still held a very scared looking Conor's chains and the other had pulled a knife on me. "Let me have Conor back and I won't fight you," I stated reasonably.

     The two men exchanged glances and one spoke up, "You think we'll let you have this boy back after what you did to our boss," the other continued, "Not a chance in hell!"

     I jumped at the man that held Conor. With a fist to the face he let my boyfriend go, "Run!" I pleaded to Conor.

     "I can't leave you," Conor stated with a concerned look.

     "Please, go!" I didn't have time to waist, with that Conor gave me one final look of love and concern before running into the brush.

     The man I was fighting had managed to land a few punches while his partner had given me a few wounds with the knife. The moment I managed to break free I ran back into the woods trying to find Conor. "Devin," Conor's whispered voice came from a clearing just off the trail I was running down.

     I immediately stoped and walked over to him. I gently but eagerly pulled him into a hug. I placed a kiss on his lips, "I was so worried about you!"

"I'm sorry Devin," Conor kissed me back.

"Lets head home," I smiled at him and ruffled his hair.

We both stood and picked our way through the briers of the woods. Finally, we made it back to the estate. I quickly stoped in the garden hut and found a pair of shears to cut the chains from Conor. I replaced the tool the way I had found it an with Conor we made our way back inside. The two of us snuck back up to my room without anyone noticing, well I though nobody had noticed. "Devin, where have you been all day?" my brother, who had been hiding, stalking my room's door, ran up to me.

I couldn't very well tell him the truth so I simply stated that I had went on a walk to clear my head. "Do Conor went with you too?" Dawson questioned, "Is there something going on with the two of you?"

I blushed, I glanced over to see my boyfriend's face was an adorable pink color with blush as well. "Hahaha, I guessed correctly!" Dawson grinned from ear to ear.

"Oh, shut up, would you," I shoved him playfully.

"Hey, I'm offended," Dawson pounced on me.

Soon we were a fighting mess, rolling around in the hall, grabbing fistfuls of each other's hair and pulling hard or punching each other in the chest. Of course this was all play, I would never truly hurt my younger brother. Conor simply stood watching us with a hint of amusement in his eyes. Dawson took my moments hesitation to pin me to the floor, I struggled under him but he had me. "Yeeee, I win!" Dawson laughed and then got off me, helping me up.

"I'll get you back later," I smiled at him.

"Since I won, will you tell me where you and Conor really were, please!?" Dawson begged.

I glanced over at Conor who shrugged. If he was okay with telling Dawson then so was I. The three of us hid in my room, sitting on my neatly made bed. Conor and I sat cross legged facing Dawson. We explained about Conor's changes at midnight and about him getting sheepnaped. Conor ruffled his hair showing Dawson his sheep ears, Dawson just smiled thinking that Conor was cool. Conor explained about me fighting against the money hungry goons, he added some details making me look braver than I acually was. Finally we finished with a warning to not tell father. I threatened my brother that if he did tell I would throw his favorite teddy bear out the window.

With that Dawson left Conor and I. The two of us laid in bed cuddling each other till Conor fell asleep in my arms. I too feel asleep with a small smile on my face.

     "What in Erdas is going on here!" a booming voice awoke me from my sleep.

     It was morning now and I looked over to see my boyfriend rubbing sleep from his eyes, he must have been awakened too. My father's towering figure stood in my doorway scowling down at Conor and myself. He was probably upset to find out I, a noble, had fallen for a guy and even more so in my dad's eyes, a shepherd. Conor immediately scooted away from me and sat up after realizing my father had caught us together. I sat up too. "Devin, would you care to explain?" My father practically growled.

     "Sure, I feel in love with Conor, big deal," I was sarcastic.

     "With a shepherd!!!" My dad stood next to us, towering over Conor and I.

     He grabbed Conor's shirt and lifted him to his feet, practically choking him in the process. With Conor standing in front of him now, looking overly self conscious, my father could see what Conor and I feared most. "What is this?!" My father angrily tugged at Conor's sheep ear with Conor literally crying in pain.

     "By Tellun, your a monster, do you know what I could have done to you?!" Father scolded Conor with the poor boy crying.

     "That's enough, father," I marched up to him and looked him in the eyes, "I won't let you hurt him, I love him!"

     I placed myself in between my father and my boyfriend. Father just shoved me out of the way again. I landed on the floor with a thud. He pinched Conor's ear again and dragged him out of my room. I quickly got to my feet and followed.

My father had thrown my boyfriend in a dungeon cell, "This is where you belong, you monster, I'll have to think about what to do with you," with that my father locked Conor's cell and walked away.

After my dad left, I jumped back out of the shadows were I had been hiding from my father. I grabbed onto the other side of Conor's cell door. "You have to get me out of here!" my boyfriend pleaded, "I can't stand to be in a cage like this!"

I reached my hand through the bars and gently cupped his face. "I'll do what I can but I can't make any promises," I was worried for Conor, "In a few days we will have our nectar ceremony, father will have to let you out for that."

"I hope so, maybe I can escape just before the ceremony," Conor forced a hopeful smile.

"No, do it after you drink the nectar, then you won't get sick," I stated.

"Do you really expect me to summon a spirit animal?" Conor asked with a humorous smile.

"Who knows, maybe you'll summon a cute sheep," I ran my fingers through Conor's hair.

"What do you think you'll summon, Devin, if you do summon a spirit animal?" Conor asked me, he was starting to calm down a little.

"Of course Ill summon a spirit animal, all my ancestors have, but I guess I hope to summon a wild cat of some sort," I stated with confidence.

"Don't be too confident, Devin, don't jinx yourself," Conor stated seriously.

     I simply smiled in reply and continued holding him as best I could with bars separating us. I stayed with Conor the rest of the day and the days to follow. My father still hadn't made a decision on what to do with him yet.