In a world that doesn’t forgive, Rem Lumes has found a way to survive. A self-taught thief and swordsman bound by an honor code, Rem is a mercenary up for grabs to the highest bidder. His specialty is returning stolen items to their original owners. One bad job lands Rem on the wrong side of the Legion, a clan of sorcerers, and the only way to repay the debt is to return Luca, a Legion runaway.Rem would do almost anything to not be in the Legion’s debt. Even take Luca back, someone too entangled in the Legion’s web to know better. When Luca’s power starts to unravel and his life becomes endangered, Rem promises to do anything to protect him. Anything except betraying the Legion. But what will Rem do when he realizes the Legion may be what’s endangering Luca’s life the most?This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story. Dear Author,In my younger days, I was a rogue. I stole things for money, or simply for thrills, and I was very good at what I did. Throughout the underground I became legendary. But as the years wore on, the luster wore off, and I found myself at an impasse. My life felt empty. So I embarked on a career change, learning all I could about the ways of a warrior. Now my skill with a blade is nearly equal to my skills as a thief; I work for whoever hires me, returning objects to their rightful owners and battling whatever human or creatures stand in my way.This job is different. A rescue mission. Simple, or so I think. When I meet the man whose clan wishes for his safe return, I find many surprises… The magical prowess he has. His claim that his clan has dark plans for him. The fact that our destines are intertwined more deeply than I ever expected…Photo Description: A blond swordsman in a red cloak holds a young man with reddish-brown hair and shackles around his body, arms and legs, close to him. He holds a sword in front of them protectively, while the chains start to break with the color of blood.This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.