Draco rumbled a little growl. Eduard had distanced himself from them the past couple of days, and while Draco understood that he had family responsibilities to manage during this time of grief for his clan, he also had responsibilities to his mates. Eduard seemed to sense his disapproval, looking his way over the long stretch of beach. Draco stared back, letting him know without words that he was needed at the cottage.
Eduard turned away to speak to yet another member of the griffin clan and Draco growled again. “Settle,” Henry whispered.
“I can’t.”
“We’ve gotta let him get through this in his own way. Be patient. We need to focus on Sawyer for a little while, and he doesn’t need to see you upset.”
Henry touched his arm, and a cooling breeze swept over him. Draco closed his eyes and breathed the fresh, clean air that smelled lightly of Henry. “Okay.”
Andvari guided Sawyer through the griffins and back to their side. Draco pulled him close while Andvari gestured to the vampire guards who hovered around the perimeter of the beach. They drove a couple golf carts over and Draco bustled Sawyer onto one. He glanced toward Eduard, one last longing look before they were whisked away to the cottage.
Once they were inside with the doors closed behind them, Draco picked Sawyer up, giving him a glare when he opened his mouth to protest. He’d been strong, held his head high and didn’t let on how much pain he was in, but Draco had seen the bruises on his feet. He’d seen the long line of the claw mark down his side and how it had turned an angry red as it healed. He’d been strong long enough. Now it was time to let his mates take care of him.
By the time Draco made it upstairs, Cecil was waiting with ice packs. Viv was in the room moments later with a tray of food and drinks while Mrs. Robinson carried in the rest of the things they needed for dinner in Eduard’s suite. The only thing they were missing was Eduard himself.
Draco took care of his mates, making sure they had enough to eat. Giving Sawyer the pain medicine he didn’t want, but absolutely needed. He encouraged Henry to cuddle up next to Andvari and even made an effort to see to Saeward’s needs. His dragon paced, anxious and nervous.
“Draco, c’mere.”
Sawyer patted the bed beside him. Draco curled up next to him, tucking his face into Sawyer’s neck and breathing. With a long sigh, Sawyer curled his hand around Draco’s neck and began gently kneading his tight muscles.
“You’re such a worrywart,” Sawyer murmured. He nuzzled Draco’s cheek and continued to pet him until Draco couldn’t help but relax.
Henry crawled onto the bed on Sawyer’s other side and Andvari climbed on behind him. Draco rumbled and his dragon settled a little. Saeward sat across the room, staring out the window of the balcony. Draco wondered if he could see the pyre from there, if it was still burning. If Eduard was still there, waiting for the fire to completely die. The dragons didn’t leave until the last of the coals had cooled, no matter how long that took. They grieved for their lost loved one, but left that grief on the pyre as tradition demanded. They could feel the loss, but their duty was to celebrate the lives of those who’d gone on before them, not to mourn their loss for eternity.
Cecil returned long enough to remove the ice packs from Sawyer’s feet and fuss over them all for a few minutes. Everyone wanted to be close, to make sure they were all still there, still present and alive, no matter what the last few days had wrought. Sawyer drifted to sleep, and then Henry. Andvari remained awake, but he was lost in thought. No doubt grieving for the loss of his brethren who’d lost their lives at Magdalen’s hand.
The clock on the wall across the room ticked. It’s incessant reminder that another second had passed without Eduard with them. Hours passed, and he didn’t return. Draco comforted Sawyer through a nightmare, soothed him back to sleep, and then climbed from the bed. He crossed to the window where Saeward still stood watch.
“Go get in bed beside him,” Draco demanded. His eyes flamed and he dared the hippocamp to refuse.
Saeward thought to argue, but instead tilted his head to the side and gave Draco a questioning look.
“He needs comfort right now, security,” Draco explained. “He likes being surrounded by us. I need to go get Eduard. Take my place. I’m not saying you have to do anything else but give him comfort and keep my spot warm.”
Saeward nodded before going to the bed and curling up next to Sawyer. Sawyer let out a sigh and rolled closer to his newest guardian, seeking warmth and protection.
“Bring him home,” Andvari said quietly. He rose from the bed and claimed Saeward’s abandoned spot by the balcony.
“I will,” Draco promised.
He didn’t have to go as far as he feared. When he marched down the stairs, Cecil cleared his throat from the door at the side of the room. He gestured toward the other side of the house before stepping back into the room and closing the door. Draco fumed. Eduard was in the house? For how long? And why hadn’t immediately come to them? He’d obviously told Cecil not to alert them that Eduard had returned, and that made Draco even more angry.
Draco found Eduard in the opposite wing, sitting behind an antique desk with a stack of paperwork in front of him. His laptop whirled with numbers, and Draco saw red. He stormed into the room and swiped the paperwork off the desk. It rained down on the floor, snowy white papers fluttering through the air.
“Draco!”
“What are you doing?” Draco hissed.
“Working. Obviously.”
Draco growled, long and low. “Try again.”
Eduard pushed to his feet, fire in his eyes as well. “I. Am. Working.”
But Draco could hear it, the little flip of his heartbeat when he spoke.
“Why aren’t you with your mates?” His voice had bottomed out in his anger, his dragon threatening to emerge and claim his mate once more, to show him where he belonged.
