Henry sat alone on the porch of Saeward’s cabin. Eduard landed as close as he could and Andvari slid off his back. Eduard shifted and they walked together toward their youngest mate.
“How is he?” Andvari asked.
“He’s…okay. Draco’s got him. I’m keeping watch. How long before Augustus can get one of the yacht’s here?”
“A couple hours,” Eduard answered.
Henry nodded. “Okay, can you guys help me put up a ward? And then maybe deal with…that.” He gestured toward the bodies still lying farther down the beach.
“Of course,” Andvari said softly. “Henry, are you okay?”
Henry shook his head, his eyes glassing over. “No. No, I’m not. But we have work to do.”
Eduard had very much had his head up his own ass from the moment they found Sawyer. He hadn’t even realized how much Henry was hurting until Andvari pointed it out. “Let me get Saeward,” Eduard said. “We will have all four elements with him added.”
He walked inside, taking a moment to squeeze Henry’s shoulder as he passed. It was little comfort, but Henry raised his hand and covered Eduard’s before walking closer to the trees and kneeling beneath the swaying branches. He found Draco and Sawyer curled up in Saeward’s bed. Sawyer appeared to be asleep, although he was clinging to Draco’s arms like a life preserver.
“Saeward, we could use your assistance outside.”
The hippocamp stood in the corner of the room, his gaze locked on the two men on the bed. He glanced at Eduard and nodded before sending one more longing look toward Sawyer and Draco. Saeward visibly shuddered before closing his eyes and turning toward the doorway. Eduard went into the other room and waited, wondering what had their newest guardian so spooked.
“Everything okay?” Eduard asked quietly once Saeward appeared.
“He wishes for me to leave with you.”
Eduard wasn’t quite sure he understood. “Yes. It is important for his guardians to remain close.”
“But you are more than his guardians. You are his mates.”
“Yes,” Eduard agreed. “We are both.”
Saeward shivered again. “Am I intended to be both as well?”
Eduard almost answered in the affirmative without thought, but he paused and reconsidered his answer. “That is up to you and Sawyer. I’m sure this is all overwhelming, and I will be happy to answer any questions you have. But we want to set a ward around the cabin until assistance arrives. It will be stronger if we have your help.”
“If it keeps him safe, I will do it.”
“Thank you,” Eduard said softly.
He could see the confusion on Saeward’s face, the fear he couldn’t hide. It worried Eduard, but he had to set that aside for a while longer. Saeward followed him outside and Henry directed them into a circle. He joined hands with each of them then raised his head, looking to the sky as the wind began to swirl around them.
“Let none who mean us harm cross this circle,” Henry requested. “Any who mean us harm who are within shall be taken outside its borders.”
Power surged and Eduard could see the glow of magic appear in a circle surrounding the cabin. It stretched all the way to the water’s edge in front and in a wide path surrounding the sides. Henry repeated his words again, and on the third time, they all instinctively joined in.
Magic surged again, a protective magic wall forming around the cabin. Eduard had no doubt nothing was getting through it that Henry didn’t want to let in.
Henry released their hands and turned to Andvari. “Go relieve Draco. We need him out here for a bit.”
“He won’t be happy about that,” Eduard murmured.
“No, he won’t. But I’m not happy those assholes are still lying there on the beach and he can torch them. So he needs to get out here and do his part.”
Andvari met Eduard’s gaze above Henry’s head then turned to do as he asked. Their seer was afraid, and that fear was manifesting itself in anger. Saeward cleared his throat before glancing awkwardly away.
“I’m sorry I left them there,” he said. “I should have—”
Henry blinked, the angry haze clearing a bit, and then looked up at Saeward. “You did exactly what you were supposed to do. You kept him safe. Clean up doesn’t happen until he’s safe, okay? Always. His safety is first. No matter what. We’re his guardians; that’s what we do.”
