If I Say Yes [UNFINISHED]

Chapter 13 - The Balance of Nature

Harry stood frozen for a good few seconds before his body spurred into action.

"Draco!" Harry cried as he rushed towards him, falling on his knees before the boy.

He reached out a shaking hand to touch Draco's cold, pale cheek, but withdrew it quickly with a cry as a sharp bolt of electricity pierced his skin.

"No!" Draco cried, scrambling away from Harry, his eyes wide with fear. "Don't touch me! It hurts!"

"Draco..." Harry stated at his hand in horror, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's going on?"

Draco's teeth were chattering as he hauled himself into a sitting position, his back resting against a tree trunk behind him, looking sadly at Harry.

"You didn't know?" he asked, looking at Harry through bleary eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Harry responded, feeling the nausea resurface as he stared at Draco's pale face. He looked ghostly.

Draco let out a short, humourless laugh, shaking his head at the sheer ignorance that Harry possessed.

Draco sighed, wrapping what was left of his delicate wings around himself, attempting to bring some warmth into his body.

"Harry..." Draco whispered, tears in his eyes as he stared off into the distance. "Harry, do you know what happens when a Veriae's mate rejects him?"

A pit of dread began to rise in Harry's stomach as his eyes widened at Draco's words, the realisation of what Draco was saying hitting him at full force like a freight train.

There was a long silence before Harry spoke.

"I... I did this... didn't I?" Harry choked out, his voice barely a whisper as his own tears threatened to escape. "I did this to you!"

Draco nodded silently, still not looking at Harry and said, "Once a Veriae is rejected by their mate, they are destined to a long and painful suffering. They can't be touched by anyone, not even their mate... The pain is too much..." Draco trailed off, choking out the last words as his face grew paler and his body grew colder.

Harry felt like he was going to be sick. He'd just killed his boyfriend. Not intentionally of course, but he'd still done it just the same. Fuck! Why hadn't he listened to Hermione?! Why had he been such an asshole?

"Draco..." Harry whispered, trying to shuffle closer to his Veriae, but watched in horror as Draco recoiled away from his touch.

"Draco, please!" Harry despaired, not knowing what to do. "I'm so sorry!" He was freely crying now, his eyes begging Draco for... something. For what? He'd done this - this was his fault!

"It's okay, Harry," Draco whispered, his eyes finally meeting Harry's. Harry gasped as he noted the deep blue shade they flickered so minutely.

"I was prepared for this..." Draco continued, his voice wheezing from his chest as he felt the constraints in his throat tighten with every breath. "I knew that this might happen... But no matter what, I want you to know that I cherish every moment I spent with you, every moment I did my best to protect you. I fulfilled my duty as your Veriae to the very end... And no matter what, Harry..." Draco's voice was barely a whisper now, gasping for breath between his sentences.

"No matter what... I want you to know that I love you. I always have..." Draco's voice trailed off as his eyes began to flutter closed.

"Draco.. Draco!" Harry said sharply as he tried to get as near to the Veriae as possible without touching him. "Do not fall asleep on me now, do you hear me? I'm going to fix this! I'm going to fix my mistake and I'm going to make you better!" He cried desperately, tears spilling fast down his crest-fallen face.