Andvari grinned. “You’re always hungry.”
“Ugh, that’s what he always says!”
“Come. Let’s see what Cecil has prepared for us today. The others will be rising soon, I’m sure.”
“Don’t count on it,” Sawyer said with a laugh. “I think Henry would come down here and get your sword and stab me with it himself if I tried to make him get up.”
“Our seer does prefer to sleep whenever possible.”
“Eduard will be up soon, though. I bet he’s going to get to work on the pool and stuff.”
Andvari huffed. “I don’t like leaving you so exposed.”
“I know, but if one of the guardians needs a salt water pool, then I want to get it ready as soon as possible. I feel like whatever is coming… well, I think we need all the guardians here. I’ll feel better once all the pieces are in place. I don’t have the full picture yet, you know?”
“I understand. We will make it happen.” Andvari led the way to the kitchen, where Cecil was busy putting another of his trays together.
“Morning, Cecil,” Sawyer said with a smile. “Smells yummy in here.”
“Good morning, Master Sawyer. I prepared you a restorative drink.”
Sawyer sighed and Andvari had to bite back a laugh.
“Cecil, buddy, I appreciate you more than you know. I swear I do, but do those drinkshaveto taste like you dug up something dead and marinated it in sewage?”
Cecil’s lips twitched, but he managed to keep his butler cool. “I prefer to marinate in the blood of our enemies, sir. Shall I change to sewage?”
Sawyer burst out laughing as he accepted the small juice glass Cecil held out. “I suppose not. But I really don’t want to ask what is in this, do I?”
“Every butler has his secrets.”
Sawyer chugged the drink, then sat the empty glass on the counter. “Oh, that’s horrible.”
“Yes, sir. Brunch is almost prepared. Shall I serve in the dining room?”
“Nah,” Sawyer said. “The breakfast table will work. We don’t need that much space.”
Sawyer skipped around the counter and sat down on the floor beside Pearl. She was spread out on her dog pillow but raised her head happily at his approach.
Andvari glanced at Cecil, who was smiling at them both in a doting way. “It’s been a long time since you’ve had so many people to care for, isn’t it?”
Cecil smiled and turned his attention back to the breakfast tray. “It has. I believe I will take you up on your offer of assistance, though. I don’t want to leave Master Eduard’s estate too understaffed. The housekeeper there will manage fine in my absence, but I don’t want to leave her at a disadvantage. It is a large property with many valuables which require special handling.”
“I’m sure it’s a museum,” Andvari said. “Tell me what you need and I’ll bring some of my people in to assist. I trust them with my life, and with Sawyer’s.”
“Thank you, sir. A housekeeper would be helpful. I am bringing the chef from the estate. She will arrive later today, and can travel with us as needed. I will also bring one of the head gardeners to help with the new building project. He will bring some of his staff as well, but I have arranged other accommodations for them. Anyone allowed inside the house will be carefully vetted, of course.”
“I’ll make arrangements right away. I would also like to bring some of my clansmen in to serve as security. We’ll need to provide accommodations for them as well.”
“Someone can stay at my house,” Sawyer said. He hadn’t looked up from his position on the floor, staring down at Pearl as he stroked her neck. “Draco’s too, probably. We’ll have to check with him. I… guess I need to think about moving in here, don’t I?”
Andvari crossed the room and knelt down beside Sawyer. “Whatever you need, Sawyer.”
Sawyer reached out for his hand. Andvari laced their fingers together and sat down beside him on the floor. Sawyer leaned against him, letting out a long sigh as he did. “I don’t want to think about all this but I guess I have to. I’m not… I don’t know how to manage staff. I don’t know what to do with a house full of people. I don’t know when I’m going to wake up and find out all this was just some weird, stress-induced dream and I really don’t have a bunch of creatures from myth and legend both fucking me and trying to kill me. I’ll wake up and won’t be falling in love with four guys at once and won’t know what it’s really like to fly on a dragon’s back while my sword-wielding vampire strikes down attacking ravens. You know, just some weird dream because I ate too much hot sauce on my Thai take-out.”
When he said it out loud, Andvari actually realized just how much Sawyer had experienced in such a short period of time. It was a wonder he hadn’t lost his mind or run away screaming. Andvari believed to the depths of his soul that Sawyer was born for this role. He’d make it work, even if they did have to learn to cook their own food or do their own laundry. They would do it if it made Sawyer happier.
“What can we do to help? We don’t have to bring in additional staff, you know. We can do—”
