Draco managed not to pout that Sawyer hadn’t accepted his offering but only because Sawyer was smiling so prettily.
“I love your dragon,” Sawyer said. “You’re perfect and strong and so beautiful.” He sighed and leaned his head to the side. “I’m glad you’re mine.”
Draco grinned and held the berry closer. Sawyer took a bite, then reached out and grabbed Draco’s hand. He pulled him forward, wrapped his arms around Draco’s waist, and hugged him tight.
He couldn’t hide his purr of pleasure, his dragon rumbling at his mate being so proud of him.
When Sawyer pulled back and accepted his plate, Draco went one last time to make one for himself. He piled it high with roasted meats and cheeses and added a hunk of crusty bread to sop up any juices that escaped the meat. His belly grumbled, ready for him to feed it, so he moved around and sat beside Eduard.
Sawyer lifted himself up, spun around, and sat back down on Draco’s lap.
“Gonna feed me, big guy?”
Draco rumbled and held out a small chunk of meat from his plate. Sawyer accepted it, sucking Draco’s fingers clean after he plucked the meat away. “Mmm.”
Draco checked on the others finding them all with their faces buried in their plates. He grinned again, well pleased that he’d chosen the best foods for them. He offered Sawyer another bite of fruit grinning ridiculously when Sawyer accepted it. He’d never been so happy.
Sawyer reached down to the plate and picked up a slice of roasted chicken. He held it out to Draco. He couldn’t help his shiver and pulled Sawyer close as he took the bite of food into his mouth.
Sawyer squirmed around on his lap, wiggling his way so he could cuddle against Draco’s chest. He let out a little sigh and relaxed completely. “I like you like this. I mean, not all the time,” Sawyer said. “But caveman mate is kinda cool sometimes. You’re really cute when you’re all growly and non vocal. Lucky for me, I’ve had years of practice reading your face and know you’re a happy dragon in there.”
Draco stroked his hand down Sawyer’s back, letting Sawyer’s words wash over him, soothe his other half. He continued eating, building his strength. The others did as well. He and Sawyer continued to feed each other, his dragon growing full and content as Sawyer continued whispering his words of praise.
Sawyer
Sawyer couldn’t keep his hands off of Draco. He couldn’t look away, needing reassurance that he was really fine. Whole and healthy again, no longer pale and still and lying in the bed with the rest of his guardians. Sawyer traced his fingers down Draco’s stubbled jaw, over his lips, then down his neck. The wound along his vein was already healed, not even a mark remaining to indicate he’d been bleeding so heavily while saving Andvari’s life.
“I’m fine,” Draco murmured. He turned his head and their eyes locked together. “I promise.”
“I know,” Sawyer answered. “You’re amazing. You finished eating?”
“Yeah. You?”
Sawyer nodded.
The others were watching them as well, Henry cuddled sleepily between Andvari and Eduard.
“Can we go to bed now?” He needed to be reminded that they were alive, that they were real and here with him. He curled his fingers into Draco’s hair and stared into his eyes. “Please.”
“Anything you need,” Draco said quietly. He stood pulling Sawyer up with him. As they walked to the bed, the others followed, Sawyer making sure to look them each in the eye for a moment as well. He needed them all, needed more than anything to know everything was going to be okay.
He’d packed so much knowledge into his brain over the past hours, read book after book. He’d only scratched the surface. He wasn’t ready to defend them yet. He’d have to let them keep him safe until he knew more, understood more. He’d begun to see patterns though, to understand more about the things that were broken. He had no clue how to fix those things, but he’d find a way. He’d see the path once he had all the pieces of the puzzle.
“Stop thinking,” Draco demanded. He lowered Sawyer onto the bed and climbed on after him.
Henry was next, stretching out beside Sawyer and wrapping his arms around his chest. Eduard slipped in behind Henry, curling up behind him and propping his head on his hand.
Then Andvari, who’d stopped at the foot of the bed and was staring down at them with a hungry look in his eyes. Not one of bloodlust. No, Sawyer was well aware of what Andvari looked like when he needed to feed. This was a hunger for something else, something similar to what Sawyer was feeling himself. Life. He needed proof of life.
Andvari crawled up the mattress toward him, then laid down on top of him. He cupped Sawyer’s face in his hands, softly, as if he were the finest china. His hands were rough and calloused, years of sword practice making him strong.
“I’m okay,” Andvari said quietly.
“I know,” Sawyer answered. And he was. He could see that he was. The wounds on his chest had healed like there hadn’t been a gaping hole in his chest a day before. A hole that wouldn’t have been there if—
“Stop it. It’s not your fault.”
Sawyer scoffed and shook his head.
