Sawyer frowned and his breath caught. “I…I’m not sure.”
“You don’t remember?”
He shook his head. “No. I mean. I remember, but… I…he wasn’t…he like blinked or something. Like, have you ever seen one of those projections where they fade in and out? I don’t know, maybe a hologram or something but not that because I’m pretty sure he was real.”
“Okay. What else?”
“He said…” Sawyer paused, his attention turning back to Henry. “He asked me if I knew Henry. Then he blew this powder in my face and told me to tell Henry he said hello. Then he just walked away.”
Draco leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Sawyer’s lips. “You’re safe now. We’ve got you and you aren’t going anywhere without one of us by your side until we catch this asshole.”
“Sawyer!” Henry jerked and came awake, raising his head from Sawyer’s chest and smiling at him. Then he leaned in and kissed Sawyer, before pulling away with an embarrassed squawk. “Oh my goddess, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean… but you’re awake… and I just… you’re awake!”
Sawyer grinned and pulled Henry against him in a hug. “I’m awake. You helped me, didn’t you?”
Henry nodded, untangling himself from the sheets and sitting up the rest of the way. “Yeah, it was like when you helped me. I just touched you and you calmed and… yeah. It was good.”
“Thanks, Henry.”
“Of course. Did you see—”
Draco cleared his throat. “Henry, why don’t you go see if you can find Cecil? Sawyer hasn’t eaten all day and I can guarantee he’s hungry.”
“Oh! Yeah, of course. And I’ll tell Eduard and Andvari that he’s awake, too.”
He practically ran from the room and Draco couldn’t help smiling as he watched him go. He reached over and turned off the oxygen tank, before returning his full attention to Sawyer.
“You liked that, didn’t you?” Sawyer asked.
“What?”
“Seeing him wrapped up against me like that. I saw the way you were looking at him.”
Draco grinned and leaned in again. “And?”
“And I like him, too.”
“Good. Now pet your dog before she dies.”
Pearl was wiggling around by Draco’s feet, desperate to have Sawyer’s attention. He’d made her get off the bed earlier when Henry kept moving around and bumping into her. Not that she minded laying on Draco’s feet while he kept watch.
Sawyer patted the bed and she jumped up on top of him, licking his face and chuffing happily as he rubbed her ears. She flopped down on his chest and rolled onto her back so he could pet her belly.
“She’s such a goofball,” Draco said. But he reached up to give her a good scratch as well.
Henry bounded back into the room and jumped onto the bed beside Sawyer, joining in Pearl’s belly rubs for good measure. “Cecil’s bringing food. Eduard is calling Uncle Meshaq and my dad for me and then he’ll be up. Andvari is outside on guard, but I’m guessing he’ll be in soon as well.”
Sawyer grinned at him and Draco could practically hear his inner dialogue.Yay, food! Wait, Uncle Meshaq? Mmm, Andvari.
“Help me sit up?” Sawyer asked.
Draco immediately stood and reached for Sawyer. There was still pain there and it made his dragon want to tear into something. He eased his arms beneath Sawyer and helped him sit up. “Henry, can you grab the…”
Henry stacked the pillows behind Sawyer’s back and Draco leaned Sawyer back against them. His face had gone pale, and Draco wished he could take the pain into himself. That wasn’t possible, but Henry seemed to be trying. He had Sawyer’s hand in his again and since Draco’s dragon was so close to the surface, he could just make out the blue swirl of magic.
“Oh that’s good,” Sawyer moaned. “What are you doing?”
Henry blushed. “Um, nothing?”
