For too long the Were-King had made every effort to keep the return of his vampire mistress a secret. It was a private nightmare that so continually haunted him - the anticipation of what he knew would surely come in due time. It had been easy enough, at first, to ignore her reincarnation. Despite her initial appearance, the hellish woman had been all too content to return to the deep recesses of his life. She was a threat to linger over his head, the oppressive repetition of those nightmares the only indication of her existence. In comparison to all he had endured in those decades he'd spent alone within her care, those horrific dreams were distinctly pleasant. That lack of sleep and exhaustion the only by-product of her affinity. Such things had required little effort to explain away, unnoticed by the eyes of most of his pack members. But now -- this was something more than he could brush under the rug. The truth of his predicament slowly came to light, even if he was hesitant to offer Tobias the true extent of just how long it had been. His utterance of time seemed to hold no true meaning to his Beta, a fact that he was aware of by the almost blank look he was given.

A soft sigh left Tetradore's lips as he searched through his own memory for a singular event the boy might hold some memory of. He knew well how excited Tobias had been that fateful afternoon he'd taken the boy on his first driving lesson. His every effort had been focused upon assisting his childhood friend in regaining some hint of ability to handle the world in his inevitable absence. He had known, even then, with the return of her that his time free would surely be limited. For several moments, Tetradore's emerald eyes simply watched as his companion so struggled to make that connection between that singular event and Risque's return. He hardly anticipated the intensity of those mahogany eyes as Tobias' gaze so abruptly focused upon him. That innocent inquiry caused the corner of his lips to tilt downward ever so slightly. Why? Was it not obvious? He didn't want Tobias to worry. He didn't want the boy involved. Tetradore remembered those few dreadful months his companion had spent with him in captivity. He remembered well just how the man had teetered on the edge of insanity, how he had lost himself in those broken pieces he was equally as unable to put back together in the chaotic anguish that was Risque and Syn.

"It wouldn't have mattered," Tetradore muttered simply, his gaze so purposefully turning from his companion at that moment. It was, he was certain, the simple truth of things. He knew Tobias would have followed him back into...there...but not again. He refused to see his friend fall down the darkness of that hole again when he was so finally given a chance of life out here, with Raven at his side. He watered with another soft sigh as the gangly boy so purposefully placed himself once again within his line of sight, refusing to let his gaze tarry. Hesitantly, Tetradore's eyes fluttered upwards, a small shiver running down his spine in the process. That blood loss, even for all Matteo had done to bring his figure back to its usual strength, still afflicted the Alpha to some degree. That very shiver, as subtle as it was, hardly seemed to pass unnoticed by his companion. The jacket thrust at him some moments later was unexpected and yet, after a brief glimpse of uncertainty, he leaned forward to pull the clothing article over his broad shoulders. He had only just resettled himself against the door when Tobias reached down, so abruptly pulling him upward with the sudden insistence that they needed to go.

That simple act of moving brought an overwhelming sense of vertigo to the Were-King, prompting that sudden hold upon his companion's arm. He was unaware, really, to those thoughts that so seemed to flutter across the mind of the fractured boy. The sudden grip of Tobias hand against his arm caused his gaze to turn down but briefly in an almost questioning fashion. It was unlike his childhood companion, that strong touch upon his arm. His emerald eyes fluttered upwards at Tobias' whispered utterance that he did not want to return to that imprisonment - nor did he wish Tetradore to. It was, admittedly, a desire the Were-King himself shared, even if he knew his very life had long ago been forfeit to Risque's whims. The boy's pleading to leave tugged at the Were-King's heart, prompting his efforts to interrupt the man to cut off short. Slowly, Tetradore reached upwards, his hand settling on his neck to draw his companion closer with the boy's name upon his lips. Though he knew well he could not calm all of those anxieties and fears that filled the boy, there was but one singular promise he made to his companion, one he had every intention of seeing through - that Risque would never again have Tobias within her grasp.

That shakey sound to Tobias' voice caused his emerald gaze to soften ever so slightly, the Were-King almost grateful that his companion's head was buried in his shoulder as he tried to press back that emotion that threatened to tug at him. "I know." He uttered softly, swallowing for a moment. Tetradore knew, innately, that any promise he might give to always return would be in vain. He was silent for a long moment as if searching for some word of reassurance to provide his companion. "...but you're not alone now...not anymore." Tetradore continued softly, slowly releasing his companion from his hold. If only Raven knew how much they both were depending upon her. It was the very thought of the girl that prompted those very reasons why they couldn't leave from his lips. He could see well Tobias' consideration of such things, at least until Tetradore reached out to ruffle the boy's hair with the simple promise that he was, and would continue to be 'okay'. It was, admittedly, a lie and one they both knew well. His very utterance of that singular word seemed to prompt some sort of shift within in companion as Tobias' head shook quite firmly.

The vehemence behind the boy's single statement was striking, the truth far more poignant then even Tetradore wanted to hear. For far too long he'd lived on half-trues and jaded lies. For far too long he'd soldiered through with the simple hope that tomorrow would somehow be better. It rarely was and yet, the boy's conviction could not merely be ignored. A soft breath left Tetradore's lips as his gaze turned towards the floor. "I know...Tobias." He muttered at the boy's declaration that, one day, he would surely die by Risque's hands. Frankly, if she had her way, she would see to his death over and over again - and with that necklace still dangling from his neck, she had every power to do so. He had tried to make arrangements for them all in the event of his death, though whether or not they would make a difference he didn't have the slightest idea, much less the heart to ask it of his fae father.

The very notion of Raven alone and without them, however, seemed to prompt a pause from the deviant. The near abrupt movement away from him caused Tetradore to reach out, his hand resting upon the firmness of the wooden door, holding onto it for balance as he watched Tobias move across the room in search of paper. He watched as his companion scribbled near frantically upon that page, only to old it up triumphantly with the assurance that the note left for Raven would surely cause her to understand - much less that they'd come back for Raven first. Another sigh left his lips and yet, Tetradore hardly had the energy to fight with his companion tonight. "All right." He murmured, agreeing if only because it was far easier then providing any further efforts to argue with the boy's logic. Tobias, he knew, though cunning, was not a man to fret over exchanged words he neither understood nor cared for. Tobias' sudden declaration that Frost and Matteo combined would keep the pack safe prompted a small shrug of his shoulder, though he truly hardly wished to consider it - not yet.

"I will." It was the only vague sort of response he provided his companion, the boy's desire to run quite clear at that moment as Tobias once again approached him, his hand reaching out to brush against Tetradore's arm. The Were-King's emerald eyes turned upwards towards his companion as Tobias encouraged them to try to flee. Oh, if only he knew just how many times Tetradore had tried and how many times he had been dragged back kicking, screaming, and fighting. His escape efforts as a child had been near notorious when he'd hit twelve, prompting the boy to spend most of the year chained to something or another. This time, he was certain, would hardly end any different from all the others. Nevertheless, his gaze slowly turned towards the drawer Tobias pointed towards, the Were-King offered his companion but a small nod. Maybe he could just drive till his companion fell asleep before returning them back home. His own exhaustion, after all, was near palpable in the wake of all he had endured tonight.

Slowly he pushed himself from that door frame, crossing the room to that drawer only to pluck from its depths the keys for the Agera. The vehicle was the fastest in their fleet, the singular car best made for such fleeing, even if Tetradore doubted they would get very far. It was, he was quickly discovering, futile to hope when it came to Risque. Those goodbyes were reserved if only from the simple assurance that this would not be the last time Tetradore was within this very room.