“Isn’t it, though? But then, where’s the adventure, Sawyer? You have so much to learn and explore. Even a few mistakes to make along the way. But they’ll be yours to make and own, not mine. Love is the key, Sawyer. Trust in it.”
Sawyer groaned. “It’s so cheesy.”
She cackled and tapped the ground again with her cane. “Oh, you are so precious, Sawyer. I’m so glad it’s you. I—” She paused, turning toward the woods that ran behind the back of the house. “Sawyer, run. Inside. Now.”
“What? But what about—” Before he could finish, she’d dropped her cane and transformed into a huge white stag. The rack of horns on her head stretched wider than he could reach and were deadly sharp. “And you can take care of yourself. Got it. Pearl, come!”
Sawyer turned and bolted for the house, circling for the front door even as her heard her crash through the trees at the back. He flung himself inside, shutting the door once Pearl was safe in as well, then bolted for the stairs.
“Draco!”
Draco was out of the bed in a flash of movement, his naked body fierce even in its vulnerability. “Sawyer?”
“Dragon form. Outside. Go. Protect the stag.”
He didn’t hesitate, but ran for the turret stairs and moments later Sawyer heard his answering roar. Andvari appeared at his side next. “What is happening?”
“Outside. Don’t hurt the stag.”
Andvari ran for the stairs as Eduard burst into the room.
“I’m fine,” Sawyer said. “Stay with Henry.”
He ran for the turret stairs, going up to the tower. The sky was just bright enough for him to make out the shadow of Draco’s form flying high above the trees. Andvari had his sword out and paced just outside the outermost ward.
“Anything?” Sawyer called down to him.
“Something was here,” Andvari answered. “But not now. Do you want me to follow?”
“No.” Sawyer glanced up at the sky again. Draco shot a burst of fire through the air, but not down at anything. It was more a frustrated snarl than anything else. Sawyer understood completely. He returned his attention to Andvari. “Come back inside. We’ll be down in a few minutes.”
Andvari nodded, then disappeared around the side of the house. Sawyer watched Draco soaring through the night sky, his dark wings spread out wide around him. Sawyer couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful. “Draco, come on back!”
The dragon twirled through the air and shot like a bullet toward the turret. Sawyer couldn’t hold back his grin. What a showoff. Draco landed against the ledge with a thump of clawed feet, then pranced further into the open area. His eyes were huge, the flames he’d seen several times now in Draco’s eyes as a man repeated in his dragon form on a larger scale.
His body was larger than one of the Clydesdale horses Sawyer had seen at a parade a few years ago. Part of him had been expecting Draco’s dragon to be huge, and he was… but not on a giant scale. No, he was about seven feet tall and maybe double that from his nose to the tip of his tale. His wings, which he’d folded against him as he landed, we’re larger still. Sawyer certainly wouldn’t want to mess with him, especially considering the size of the claws on his feet.
“You’re gorgeous,” Sawyer whispered. He reached out to touch Draco’s side, slowly, in case he didn’t want to be touched. But no, this was his Draco, so he pushed up against Sawyer and huffed a burst of smoke through his nose. “Okay, okay. I’ll pet you.”
His skin was rough and felt like hardened armor. He had just enough light to make out a jumble of colors and wondered if his skin would glow in the sun. Sawyer ran his hand all the way down Draco’s side, then stepped over his big tail, only to continue his path back up to Draco’s long neck. “Stunning,” he whispered.
Draco lowered his neck and pushed his head against Sawyer’s chest.
“I need you to switch back for me, okay? Got something I need to tell everyone, and I want to tell you first.”
Draco leaned back and from one breath to the next he was human again. He pulled Sawyer into his arms and held him close. “What happened?”
Sawyer sighed. “I’ll tell everyone the whole story at once but… I have some good news?”
Draco frowned. “Why don’t you sound happy then?”
“Because I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
Sawyer tugged Draco closer and nuzzled his face into Draco’s neck. “Just am.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
