“I liked him,” Sawyer said. “He made me feel good about myself.”
“And that is why I adore Bebe. No matter how you’re feeling when you arrive, you always leave feeling like a million bucks.”
Eduard led them back downstairs and found Draco sitting on the patio with a plate full of food. He had his mouth open to take a bite of one of the biggest burgers Sawyer had ever seen when he realized they were there.
“Eat, Draco. You obviously need protein.”
Draco nodded and took a giant bite. He groaned around it, pulling a laugh out of the rest of them.
While the others settled around the table, Eduard pulled Sawyer aside. “I need to go speak to my father for a little while,” Eduard said. “I’ll be back later.”
“You okay?”
“I’m going to explain to him who you are. I feel like he’s going to need some time to adjust before I spring you on him. He’ll be as surprised as we all were.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No,” Eduard said softly. “But thank you for offering. I want to give him a chance to wrap his mind around it before you meet him. We also have some business matters to discuss. Enjoy the afternoon and don’t forget that you can ask Cecil for anything you want.”
“I won’t. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’ll be fine, love. You’re here, that’s all I need. We need to get used to this, don’t we? And if we get my father on our side, the rest of the clan should fall in line without too much trouble.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I am. Eat, relax. Walk through the gardens. Whatever you’d like. Just save the beach for me when I’m back.”
“Deal,” Sawyer promised. “Hurry back.”
“I will.”
Eduard
Eduard adjusted his tie nervously as he stood outside the door to his father’s office. When Augustus finally emerged and waved Eduard inside, Eduard tried to hide his anxiety behind his most practiced bland expression.
“Welcome home, son.” Augustus said.
A large computer monitor sat on the desk beside him and his eyes roamed over it as a ticker tape of stock prices rolled across the screen.
“Thank you, Father. How is everything?”
Augustus sighed as he typed out a quick email then turned to face Eduard. “His Royal Highness is being a royal pain in my arse.”
“So nothing new?”
Augustus laughed. “No, son. Nothing new. I saw a couple of your investments did extremely well. Excellent work.”
“My clients are pleased.”
“I should imagine. So, let’s be done with the niceties. Tell me about the other guardians. I am very pleased that things are beginning to move forward with the prophecy.”
His father had a tell, one that Eduard had never told another soul about. When he was lying or even extremely uncomfortable, he slowly rubbed his thumb against his finger. It was a very subtle gesture, but Eduard had spent a lot of time with his father. Augustus was anything but pleased about the prophecy, just as he’d been horrified at Eduard’s mark declaring him a guardian.
“Actually, Father, we have found the chosen one. He is with us now. We decided to keep the news quiet and I convinced the others to allow me to share the news with you first.”
His father paled, forced a fake smile, and then turned his attention back to the computer screen. “It’s the dragon, isn’t it? Should have known.”
“No, it’s not the dragon.”
