Loch frowned after them, wondering what had startled her, but Sawyer stuck his head out the back door and drew his attention. “You standing out there all night?” Sawyer teased. His lips quirked up in that smile of his and Loch couldn’t help the little spark of pleasure that went through him.

  “Maybe.”

  Sawyer laughed and came back outside. Loch met him halfway and let Sawyer grab his hand and tug him along behind him for a moment before he stopped. Sawyer looked back over his shoulder and Loch stepped closer. “I understand now why I am so drawn to you,” Loch confessed. “I would never have betrayed my prince, but I grew more confused by the day.”

  “Tell me about it,” Sawyer whispered.

  “I—” Loch paused, his thoughts a whirl.

  “What? Tell me.”

  “I would very much like to kiss you now. Because we can, and not because we are forced to by magic.”

  “Okay,” Sawyer said. He stepped close and Loch wrapped his arms around him.

  “I am Loch, imp of the lake and sylph of the fae realm. I swear allegiance to you, Sawyer, my Chosen One.”

  Sawyer’s breath caught and he leaned in. Loch closed the distance between them and their lips met once more.

  For once in his life, Loch focused all of his attention on himself. He’d never been able to lose himself in a moment, to feel the touch of someone else on his skin. He’d devoted every waking moment to the prince. Now, his life had taken on a new path, and with it, the ability to devote himself in a new way to someone else. To more than one someone.

  The guardians had pulled him in as well, each intriguing in their own way. Only in his deepest thoughts, away from everyone else, had even considered what it might mean to be part of the Chosen One’s circle. But now, with Sawyer in his arms, their mouths tangled together, Loch poured every ounce of his pent up desire into the kiss.

  Sawyer groaned and pulled away with a gasp. “Whoa. I’m kinda weak in the knees.”

  “I will not let you fall,” Loch swore.

  “I didn’t think you would.”

  He couldn’t help but stare at Sawyer once more. “I want you to tell me what happened in the room, how you helped me. You shared your gift with me and made me stronger. And yet you say you have no power.”

  Sawyer ran his hand up under Loch’s tunic and brushed the healed skin of his back. Loch trembled at the touch. No one ever touched him there, not since the wounds had healed.

  “Sawyer,” Loch groaned.

  “I don’t have power,” Sawyer said. “Not exactly. I don’t know. We should tell the others about it, though.”

  “Don’t have power,” Loch scoffed. A slight shuffling of the breeze caught his attention and he turned his eyes to the distance. “Someone approaches.”

  “Oh man, seriously? Can’t I catch a break?”

  Loch snorted. “It is your brother and his mates. They are flying extremely fast. I believe your brother is eager to check on you.”

  Sawyer groaned again and leaned into Loch. “And here I was hoping we could go upstairs and get to know each other better.”

  “We have time,” Loch said softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Sawyer smiled at him before leaning in and kissing him gently. “No, you’re not.”

  “Another one!” Mikey climbed off Asher’s back and stormed across the yard. “What happened to the prince? And what happened period? Tell me everything!”

  Sawyer’s brother grabbed him into a tight hug. They began walking into the house as Sawyer explained their adventure in the fae realm. This time, Loch followed, eager to experience Viv’s talents in the kitchen once more. The guardians gathered around the dining room table. They’d left a seat empty for him, and he sat in it with a smile. Viv placed a plate of buttered honey muffins in front of him before bumping her arm against his.

  “I knew it was you,” she whispered. “It had to be.”

  Loch smiled up at her as he stuffed a muffin in his mouth. She gave a delighted laugh and went back to her duties.

  He looked forward to finding out more about this home, and doing his part to help Sawyer continue on his journey as well as to all the rest that came their way. He’d wanted a family for so long, but had never considered it to be an option. But already, here with Sawyer and his mates, he knew he belonged.

  Sawyer

  Sawyer woke with his toes in damp grass and couldn’t help but smile. Of course, she’d come visit after all that had happened. He glanced around, but didn’t see her anywhere. He walked around the side of the house and down the drive. It was the spot he’d first seen her. But it was empty. The ravens were restless, drawing his attention up to the trees. They normally quieted at night, but even through the darkness, he could see the movement as they grew louder.

  “Shh,” Sawyer said. Not that it would do any good. It wasn’t exactly like he could speak to ravens. He looked around once more, but didn’t see her anywhere. “I must be sleepwalking. Draco’s gonna handcuff me to him if this keeps happening.”

  He smirked at the idea and turned back to the house. And then he felt it. Something behind him moved. Sawyer spun around, his senses in overdrive. Warning. Warning. The ward rippled. He normally couldn’t even see them, even though he knew they were there. He’d been able to see something when Henry worked on it, but it wasn’t something he could explain.

  And then he heard a cracking noise, and a man stepped through the ward. A man he recognized. He was the same man who’d blown poison into his face when this all began. The man who flickered.

  “Shit.” Sawyer turned to run, but wind picked up and blew against him, a tornado pounding against him and keeping him from moving. “Loch! Henry!”

  Anyone who could control wind to this extent would need one of his air elementals to stop him. And what was the opposite of air? It only took him a moment to remember. Earth. Andvari. “Andvari!”

  But just like in the fae realm, he knew his calls hadn’t been heard.

  The man got closer, his face drawn into a sneer. “You hide behind wards like a sniveling coward. Did you not think I would find a way through?”

  Sawyer didn’t think anything. He pounded against the wind trapping him and tried to get free.

  “Sawyer!”

  The voice he least wanted to hear. Mikey.

  “Mikey! Run!”

  But his brother couldn’t hear him. Instead, like the brave idiot he was, Mikey ran toward him. The moment he caught sight of the man in the yard with them, Mikey froze. He began to tremble and the protective pendant he wore around his neck began to glow. Mikey’s eyes rolled back in his head, and as the pendant exploded, Mikey collapsed. His body shook in violent spasms. Sawyer screamed and tried to break free.

  “You always underestimate me,” the man said. He knelt beside Mikey’s form and smirked when he trembled once more. “Humans are so… fragile. But you would know, wouldn’t you?”

  The wind changed and suddenly Sawyer couldn’t breathe. He tried to suck in air…air that this man controlled.

  “You failed, Chosen One.” The man scoffed out a laugh. “Chosen, indeed. You really thought you could trick me, didn’t you?”

  Sawyer gasped for air, his hand at his throat. His face got hot and black spots appeared before his eyes. He tried to call his guardians but he couldn’t. The ravens began to scream and hurl themselves against the wards.

  “And to think, you had seven of them. So close. But don’t worry, I have lucky number eight, safe and secure where you can’t get him. You really never learn, do you? Did you think I would just allow you to gather them? To fix everything I’ve so carefully unwoven?”

  Sawyer dropped to his knees, his body weak. He needed help. Someone had to help him. He screamed in his mind and saw a flicker of movement behind the man. Yellow eyes crept forward and crossed the ward with ease. Sawyer didn’t know what to do. Friend or foe? He clawed at his throat, trying to get in another breath. His chest hurt so badly. His lungs felt shrunken.

  Help me.

  He heard a snarl and saw a flash of brown. The man hissed and spun. Blood dripped from a claw wound down his arm. It was enough, just enough. Sawyer was able to pull in enough air to stay conscious. The ravens were going nuts, louder than they’d ever been before. Where were his guardians? Why weren’t they waking up?

  Help me.

  The man turned again and snarled at him. “Nice of you to keep your birds at bay. They are annoying creatures. I’ve never understood why you chose them.”

  The ravens. The ravens were his?

  “I laughed when I turned them against you. You left them all alone and unprotected, but I knew they’d be drawn to you. All I had to do was follow your precious birds. It was such fun having them attack you. Too bad they didn’t kill your vampire mate. So close. It would have ended the fun too soon, though, wouldn’t it?”

  The ravens were his.

  Golden yellow eyes flickered once more from the trees. Right at the spot where the man had walked through. Where he’d broken the ward. Sawyer flung out his hand to the opening, not knowing what to do as he choked once more. Help me.

  The ravens heard his call. They dove for the opening and crashed against it. Hundreds of them, until finally, with a resounding boom, the wards fell.

  “No!” They flew at the man, unrelenting. “This isn’t over, brother. Not by a long shot.”

  The wind swirled, pushing the birds away, but again it pulled focus from him and he sucked in a breath.

  “GUARDIANS!”

  His voice boomed, power behind it that he shouldn’t have held. His vision flickered.

  Air swirled around him, but none would allow him to breathe. He couldn’t stay awake any more. His ravens struggled to continue their attack, the wind forcing them away.

  But then came the sound he loved more than any other. A deafening roar as his dragon flew through the air, parting the ravens with ease. He blew his flames at the man and he finally released his hold on Sawyer.

  Something was wrong. He could breathe again, but his body wasn’t his own. He trembled.

  His guardians surrounded him and their magic formed a barrier around him.

  He couldn’t think. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t.

  “Let me through.”

  A familiar voice. One he’d known his entire life.

  “Sissylt.”

  “I am here, my lord. You are safe.”

  Everything settled and Sawyer closed his eyes. He was safe.

  Beep. Shhh. Beep. Shhh.

  Sawyer wanted nothing more than for someone to make the noises stop. His head had jackhammers in it already. He opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar room. The noises continued. He was in a hospital. A heavy weight was along one side and another across his legs. Draco and Pearl. He didn’t even have to look to know who his companions were. He leaned into Draco, letting his slight movement waken his guardian.

  “Sawyer,” Draco gasped. He immediately rose up so he could stare down into Sawyer’s eyes. “You scared the shit out of me.”

  Pearl wiggled her way up the bed and licked his nose. He had one of those oxygen things around his face, and she was obviously put out by its presence. He didn’t blame her. It was annoying him already, and he’d only been awake for five seconds. His memories began to flood back, and he turned to the side where the beeping was coming from. He tried to sit up, but Draco and Pearl didn’t let him. He was so weak.

  “Mikey.”

  He barely managed to get the word out. Mikey’s mates were on either side of them, and Quillon shot Sawyer a glare. He couldn’t blame him. He’d almost gotten his brother killed. He turned back to Draco, a question in his eyes.

  “We aren’t sure, love. He’s in bad shape.”

  But Sawyer knew that already. The others began to filter into the room, drawn by the sound of Draco’s voice. Andvari kissed his forehead. Eduard gripped his hand. Henry curled up beside him. Ward stood at the end of his bed, touching his feet, reassuring himself that Sawyer was awake and okay. He knew all of these things. And then he looked into the corner, where he also knew Loch had been hiding the whole time. His newest guardian melted from the shadows and approached him cautiously.

  He was so glad to see them all. But they weren’t the one face he most wanted to see at the moment.

  The door opened once more.

  “Sissylt,” Sawyer gasped.

  “My lord,” Cecil replied. “You should be resting.”

  He untangled his hand from the blankets and reached for his oldest friend. “What are you doing here?”

  “Did you honestly think I’d let you take on this mad scheme without me?”

  “Cecil?” Eduard asked. “What’s going on?”

  “Cecil,” Sawyer said. “I like it. It suits you.”

  “As Sawyer does you. You have guests, when you’re ready.”

  Sawyer nodded and gave Henry a squeeze. “I’ve got to get up, Henry.”

  “No, you don’t,” Draco griped. “You need to rest.”

  Sawyer turned to him and smiled. “I’ll rest in a little bit. Goddess, I love you. I love you all so much. Now let me up, please.”

  “Sawyer,” Henry grumbled. “You’re really hurt.”

  And he was. He could feel it. His body ached. So weak.

  “Please, let me up,” Sawyer repeated.

  His memories bounced around in his head, nothing taking shape. He remembered Sissylt so clearly, but everything around him was a blur. “Cecil,” Sawyer said.

  Cecil moved up beside the bed and gently guided Henry away. Draco stood with a huff. Sawyer pushed back the blankets and let Cecil help him sit up. The moment he was, he wrapped his arms around his friend and held tight. “I can’t believe you’re here. And I can’t believe you’re old.”

  “I prefer my appearance this way. Besides, there is nowhere else I could be. Now, stop dawdling. You’ve frightened and confused your mates, your brother needs your attention, and you still have visitors.”

  “I need a smoothie,” Sawyer teased.

  Cecil smirked and helped him stand. “Then I shall get you one. Henry, there is a robe hanging there by the door. Will you get it for me?”

  Henry blinked for a second before complying. Sawyer glanced down and realized he’d been put in one of those hospital gowns that weren’t a good look for anyone. Henry brought back the robe and helped him slide his arms into it as Cecil held him steady. He moved to his brother’s side next, ignoring the glares from his mates. He laid his hand gently on Mikey’s forehead.

  “What’s his status?”

  “He had a severe seizure,” Cecil said. “His gift… it was too much for him.”

  “Yeah, and your butler here wouldn’t let us take him to a bigger hospital,” Asher snarled.

  Sawyer nodded. “Good. This is where he should be. Do we have a coven nearby?”

  “Not close,” Cecil said, “but I took the liberty of doing some research. I found a young coven, untouched by outside forces. They should be able to help.”

  “Perfect,” Sawyer said. “I’m guessing the hellhounds are nearby.”

  “Yes, my lord,” Cecil said.

  “I thought I told you to quit calling me that.”

  Cecil grinned. “It is good to have you back.”

  “Ask Meshaq to have one of his hellhounds take you to the coven. Bring them to my brother.”

  “Yes, young master.”

  Sawyer groaned. “That one’s not any better, Sissylt. Cut it out.”

  Cecil smirked and left the room.

  “What is happening?” Eduard asked.

  “It’s a very long story,” Sawyer said. “Please trust me?”

  “With my life,” Eduard replied.

  “I’ll explain everything soon, I promise. I just… there’s one more thing I need to do right now, and I need you guys to stay here.”

  Loch and Andvari both made sounds of protest.

  “Please. I know what I need to do now. Just give me a little time.”

  Sawyer wrapped the robe more tightly around him and walked slowly out of the room. His body wasn’t impressed with his decision to be up and walking, but he couldn’t wait any longer. He wasn’t in a hospital. It took him a minute to realize he was at the Jerricks’ clinic. Of course, Henry would have called his dads. Sawyer was thankful, because if he’d been in a traditional hospital, there would be way too many awkward questions he wouldn’t be able to answer.

  Dr. Jerrick stepped out of a room and stopped at the sight of him.

  “I know, I should be in bed,” Sawyer said gently. “There’s something I have to do really fast, and then I’ll be back to rest.”

  “I can’t believe my son and your other mates allowed you to move.”

  Sawyer shrugged. “I asked nicely.”

  “Don’t go far,” Dr. Jerrick said gently. “You’re very weak.”

  Sawyer nodded and walked the final few feet to the clinic’s door. He opened it and immediately turned his head. He could feel them. They were close. Four figures emerged from the woods, each more beautiful than the last. It had been too long.

  For all but one.

  “Mother,” Sawyer gasped.

  She moved forward quickly, at his side in a flash, and clasped her hands on his face. “My son. You remember.”

  Sawyer couldn’t help the tears that formed. “Only bits and pieces. It’s a jumble. But I had to see you. I knew you were here.”

  She pulled him close and gave him a giant hug.

  “I cannot believe you convinced me to allow this scheme of yours.”

  “I had no choice,” Sawyer said softly.

  “I know, son. I know. Now say hello to your sisters before they decide to be angry with me.”

  He turned to them and held out his arms. He immediately had his arms full.

  “Did you really mate with all of them?” his oldest sister asked.

  “I think what your sister is trying to say is Hot damn. Did you really mate with all of them?”

  His third sister grinned at him. “I think what our sisters are trying to say is hubba hubba.”

  Sawyer laughed and held them tight. “You’re all ridiculous. I’m so glad you’re here.”

 

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