“What now?”
She laughed, a true laugh that Sawyer felt all the way to his toes. “Come now, help an old goddess to her feet.”
“Oh, now you claim to be old, huh?” Sawyer teased. “I’m the one beat up and bruised here.” But he stood anyway and held out his hand to her once more.
She took his hand and he tingled with awareness, magic flowing around and through him as their eyes met. He couldn’t have described her to anyone who asked, didn’t know what she looked like other than an idea of her in his mind. But her eyes. He’d know them anywhere and right now, she was a goddess with a mission. “Go back to your mates, Sawyer. All will be well in time. You know what they say, nothing ventured…”
“Nothing gained.”
She blinked away without another word and the air swirled around him. He was back in Eduard’s bedroom, his mates curled up together on the bed. It should scare him that they could sleep through his absence, but something in him said that nothing else would be able to get through their defenses. He felt it deep in his core. The mother goddess had a special connection to him, even if he didn’t understand exactly what it was.
Draco stirred, his eyes blinking open. He noticed Sawyer immediately, frowning when he realized Sawyer wasn’t curled up next to him where he was supposed to be. “You okay?”
“I’m good. Hungry.”
“Hmm,” Draco rumbled, his voice a sleepy purr. “I could eat.”
Epilogue
Sawyer
Things at home had returned to normal. Well, as normal as Sawyer’s life could possibly be these days. His body still ached, his side especially, although the boost he’d received from the goddess and Cecil’s secret potions seemed to be doing wonders. Augustus had taken the half dozen hints Henry had dropped and had arranged for a couple fancy helicopters to fly them home. It was ridiculous and extravagant, but Sawyer couldn’t deny that he was glad to be back in his own space.
Augustus had tried to convince them to stay, had even tried to give Sawyer his gigantic house as a mating gift to encourage them to remain with the rest of the griffins. He was convinced the cottage wasn’t big enough for them and had made comments about rattling around his big old house on his own. It hadn’t worked, but Sawyer had appreciated the gesture. His work as the chosen one, whatever the job turned out to be, wasn’t on the island. He had, however, promised to come back soon, and it was a promise he intended to keep. Saeward needed to be around the ocean, and the house they lived in wasn’t close enough to make that a possibility.
Saeward was adjusting to his new life with them, although he’d asked to be excluded from sleeping with anyone but Sawyer for a time. And when he said sleeping, that’s exactly what Saeward meant. Saeward had baggage they needed to unpack of the emotional variety. Sawyer could sense his pain and hoped it wouldn’t be too long before he was ready to work through it. They were getting closer, with easier smiles appearing more frequently on Saeward’s face. Pearl had taken a particular liking to him. Sawyer was really beginning to wonder if he would be replaced in her eyes. He knew better, though, especially when he was the one whose eye she poked her nose into first thing in the morning when she was ready to go outside.
He and Pearl were outside now, in clear view of his guardians and mates, who were gathered around the pool. Saeward floated in the sun-warmed water while the others lazed around in the sun on the lounge chairs. Sawyer was gently throwing Pearl’s favorite ball for her, letting her bound after it then waiting for her to bring it back. She’d not liked him being hurt and had hovered over him as much as the men in his life had. He’d pretended he didn’t need all the attention, but the truth was, he didn’t plan on being alone for a very long time. It had been a very scary few weeks, and he was man enough to admit that he was terrified.
His mates were, too, and the new security measures proved as much. There were over a dozen vampire guards around the perimeter of the house. More were watching the new security system they’d installed in Draco’s old house while they were away. Apparently Andvari’s clan felt partially responsible for his abduction, as ridiculous as that seemed. Their warriors had failed him so now half the clan had shown up to make sure it didn’t happen again. Andvari said it was a good thing, that the elders wouldn’t send so many if they didn’t think he was important. It was an odd way to gain the acceptance of a clan, but Sawyer took what he could get. He’d mourned the loss of the two guards from the cottage with Andvari, performing an ancient ritual with him to ensure their souls would be accepted by their ancestors. It was the least he could do.
Pearl dropped her slobbery ball at his feet, but instead of prancing around waiting for him to pick it up, she turned and looked down the road with a puzzled tilt of her head. About that time, one of the vampires walked over to him with a confused frown. “Uh, sir?”
“Yes?”
“There’s a….uh, prince here to see you?”
“A what now?” Sawyer asked.
“A… prince, sir?”
The guard seemed as confused as Sawyer was.
“Eduard, can you come here a sec?” Sawyer called over toward the pool before turning back to the guard. “Do you at least know his name?”
“Hold on, sir.”
“What is it?” Eduard asked.
“I guess there’s a prince here to see me?”
“Prince Kavalan of the Svartalfheim, sir.”
Eduard made a face before he turned to call for Henry. “This is going to be interesting,” Eduard said once Henry began heading their way.
“Why?” Sawyer asked.
“Just wait and see.”
