Before he got too distracted admiring the view, he pointed toward the sea and the approaching boat. Ward turned and looked at it before turning back and running up the beach until he reached Sawyer’s side.
“Afternoon,” Ward said quietly. “How are you feeling?”
“Rough,” Sawyer answered honestly. “Like I’ve been beaten up.”
“You were,” Ward said. He reached for Sawyer’s face and held it gently. “Do you not remember?”
Sawyer smiled and covered one of Ward’s hands with his own. “I remember. I was just being weird. Thank you for staying with me.”
Ward moved closer, tucking Sawyer against the long line of his body. “I should have been there when you woke. I promised I would be but… I found I needed the sea for a few moments.”
“It’s okay. Um, do you have a phone? I was pretty out of it last night and didn’t ask, but I really need to call my mates.”
“I do not,” Ward said. “I do not interact with humans often.”
“Okay,” Sawyer said. “So, I need to get to a phone.”
“I understand. We are several hours walk away from my nearest neighbors. I can shift to my horse form and let you ride, but you should rest a bit more first. You’re injured.”
As much as he hated to admit it, Ward was right. If walking hurt this much, riding for hours wasn’t going to be pleasant. He needed to think. He needed his mates. He needed to not panic.
Ward urged him to sit on the cabin steps then knelt in front of him and unwrapped one of his feet.
Sawyer didn’t want to look. He had a feeling they weren’t pretty to see. “Do you have to swim every day? Our seer had a vision so we’re having a salt water pool built. I’m pretty sure it must be for you.”
“I was oddly drained today. I think… I think when we shared my magic it tired me. The water is rejuvenating for me. I shouldn’t have left you. I should have waited.”
Sawyer looked up, searching Ward’s heartbroken eyes. “You did the right thing. You… you’re all I have right now, so if you needed to regain your strength, I’m glad you took a few minutes to do that while I was sleeping. But… Ward, did I hurt you?”
“No. Not at all. I was a little tired, that’s all. I’m better now.” Ward looked over his shoulder at the approaching boat. “I would like it if you went inside now. Strangers are approaching. It is not safe for you.”
“Should you, I don’t know, put some shorts on or something?”
Ward glanced down at his body, and then up at Sawyer. “If you prefer.”
Sawyer couldn’t stop his grin. “Well, I prefer you exactly like this to be honest, but if that boat comes any closer they may see your beautiful body too and I’m not sure how I feel about sharing you with strangers.”
Ward smiled then lifted Sawyer easily into his arms and carried him back into the house. “Then I will cover myself and see what it is they want. My cove is generally sheltered and I don’t receive visitors.”
Sawyer glanced back worriedly. The boat was still moving their way and hadn’t slowed at all. “Do you think… did they find me?”
Ward looked back over his shoulder. “Perhaps. You’ll be safe inside, Sawyer. I believe I will change forms to assess this threat.”
He carefully sat Sawyer down on the beat up sofa that had obviously been his for many, many years. In fact, looking around the space, Sawyer didn’t see much that could in any way be called current. Including electricity. Not a single electric light existed in the house, but a couple lanterns sat on the mantle of the fireplace. He hadn’t noticed any of it the night before.
Ward backed away a few steps and his body shimmered a lot like Draco’s did when he shifted. Before Sawyer could process the change, the beautiful horse from the night before was back in front of him, filling the entire living room.
“I’ll watch what happens. If it’s safe and they’re lost humans or something, I’ll come help. I’m going to look for some clothes really quick, okay?”
Ward shook his head his mane flying around him before he eased his way through the open door of the cabin and galloped back down the beach toward the approaching boat. Sawyer hurried back into the bedroom and found a faded flannel shirt hanging on a hook behind the door. He pulled it on, laughing at how huge it was on him before trying to find something else he could use as pants. He finally found a pair of cut off jeans that were so threadbare there wasn’t much to them. He slid them on, laughing again at how low slung they were. “Ridiculous,” he muttered.
Luckily, Ward hadn’t used all of whatever cloth he’d sacrificed to make Sawyer’s bandages, so he grabbed one of the abandoned strips on the sink and pulled it through the belt loops as a makeshift belt. He looked ridiculous but it would work for the moment. Hurrying back to the front room, he tried to get his fear under control. He looked out the window and the boat was nearly to shore and not slowing a bit as it approached.
Ward had continued to gallop along the shoreline, back and forth, his hooves splashing in the waves as they hit the beach. Sawyer realized a moment later that the boat might not stop. He opened the door to call out a warning, but Ward had already begun moving back toward him and away from the direct line of the boat. The engines stopped a second later, but the forward momentum pushed the boat forward and onto the beach. Sol and Frey appeared seconds later, dressed in black ceremonial robes. They leapt onto the sand, their eyes laser focused on Sawyer, even though they shouldn’t be able to see him clearly from that far away.
It was like they knew exactly where he was.
The robes tangled against their legs as Sol and Frey ran toward him. They didn’t even acknowledge Ward’s presence as he ran to intercept them. Sol drew a knife, but with a move Sawyer couldn’t begin to understand, Saeward spun, twisted, and slammed his back legs into Sol’s chest. He went flying through the air, landing on the ground by the boat with a sickening crunch that Sawyer could hear even over all the other noise. Frey wasn’t deterred at all. He continued running toward the cabin, but Saeward simply turned again, ran full speed and slammed his front legs into Frey’s back. He stumbled and fell, as Saeward reared up again then brought his feet down on Frey’s back, his dinner plate sized hooves crushing the smaller body beneath them. Frey didn’t move again.
