“Smells good,” Draco said. “But why did you cook? Viv cooks.”
Sawyer ran his hand over Draco’s wide back, loving how snuggly his mate was first thing in the morning. Although Draco was actually a cuddler at all hours, he was really cute when he was sleepy.
“I’m going to take it out to the woods.”
Draco stiffened.
“No,” Sawyer said sharply. “Don’t argue. I’ll be within the wards. It’s broad daylight. I have my guardians and what feels like about a thousand vampires to keep watch over me. I need to figure this out.”
“And feeding whatever is out there is your solution?”
“Yes.”
Draco grumbled but lifted his head. His deep amber eyes swirled with emotion. “Fine, but I’m going with you. You’re not going alone. And don’t argue with me, either.Not alone, Sawyer.”
“I’ll make a picnic,” Viv said cheerfully. She pulled a basket out of the pantry and began loading it up. Before Sawyer could come up with a decent argument, she’d finished filling the basket and shoved it toward him. She passed a blanket to Draco. “There. One romantic picnic in the woods to try to find the mystery man with yellow eyes at your service.”
Sawyer sighed and walked out the back door. Pearl barked a greeting, overjoyed to see him. She’d been out by the pool, probably lounging in a sunny spot while waiting on Saeward, another of Sawyer’s mates, to show her the attention he constantly showered upon her. Sawyer couldn’t help but grin as he greeted her as she demanded, putting the basket down and rubbing her ears and scratching her back. When he finished, she plastered herself against his side and followed him toward the edge of the yard.
“Are you sure about this?” Draco asked.
“Yes.”
They stepped into the woods and by the time they were a dozen feet in, everything seemed quieter, somehow. The blaring noon sun softened, too, and it was at least ten degrees cooler in the shade. Draco kept walking, looking around as they went.
Sawyer looked as well, even though he knew they wouldn’t catch a glimpse of Yellow Eyes until he was good and ready to be seen. But even though Sawyer couldn’t see him, he could feel him. It didn’t make sense. Nothing made sense anymore.
“Here,” Sawyer said.
Draco glanced around and shrugged. He found a relatively flat spot under a big oak tree and spread out the blanket. Sawyer sat down and rested his back against the wide trunk. Draco looked around once more, then lay down with his head on Sawyer’s leg and let out a yawn.
“Sleepy,” he grumbled.
“So sleep.”
Draco huffed. Pearl curled up against Draco’s stomach and he began to pet her softly. It wasn’t long before they both fell asleep, leaving Sawyer with his basket of food and his own thoughts.
“So, this is kind of weird, but I feel like I should introduce myself,” Sawyer said quietly. Neither Draco or Pearl moved. “My name is Sawyer Smith. I’m the Chosen One. But you know that already, don’t you?”
He wasn’t expecting an answer, and he didn’t get one. He laid his hand gently on Draco’s head and stared at his sleeping dragon for a long moment. It was so easy talking to Draco. He could just say whatever was in his head and get it out. Usually he’d figure out whatever was going on once he just put the words out there. Problem was, you had to have someone you really trusted with your words to do that. Yellow Eyes didn’t qualify.
Sawyer took a breath and thought about what he’d say to Draco. Then he just stopping worrying about it, concentrated on Draco’s soft hair beneath his palm, and started talking.
“I’ve been trying to figure out why you’re hiding out here. I mean, we know you’re here. As if all my previous attempts to talk to you or give you food and stuff weren’t obvious enough. But we have a nice house, and even though all of my guardians are fierce, they wouldn’t hurt you. Well, unless you were trying to hurt us. But you know that, too. Don’t you? You know a lot, I think.”
Draco gave a huffing snore and Sawyer began to gently rub his hair.
“Anyway, there’s room for you when you’re ready. I just wanted to make sure to tell you. Officially. You’re welcome to come inside. Goddess, this is awkward, but I really do want to talk to you so, I hope you don’t think I’m too weird or stupid or whatever. Loch would give me one of his disappointed looks for saying that. He’s one of my guardians. The fae. You can’t miss him. He’s the one with blue hair. He doesn’t like it when I say stuff like that about myself. I’ve been working on it.”
Sawyer glanced toward the house, remembering the attack. He shivered. “I’ve been thinking about you since that night. Trying to figure out exactly what I saw. It was all such a blur. All I really remember were your eyes. And I know you have claws because I remember what you did to my… to him.”
Thinking of that night made Sawyer’s breath catch. He’d never been so close to dying, and he’d come close more than once since his journey in the supernatural world began. But he’d felt his body giving up that night, had felt the breath leaving his lungs and his heart slowing down.
“So you saved me, but then you ran away again. And the only reason I can think of is that you don’t like me very much. You know you’re one of my guardians. I can feel it, you know? Well, you may not know that part actually. But I can feel it. I’m pretty sure you do, too. I mean, why else are you here? Anyway, it confused me at first when he said I had seven guardians. Because I only had six. Except you were there, too, watching over me. So either you don’t like me, or you don’t think I’m up for the job.”
Sawyer couldn’t blame him. He wasn’t sure he was up for the job. He didn’t know how he’d gotten to this point, either. Nothing made sense. All he knew was that he was the son of the Mother Goddess, he had three goddess sisters who were in charge of the supernatural world, and that he’d been attacked by another sibling. He didn’t want to call the guy his brother. No, he had two of those, and even though they weren’t his brothers by blood, they were the only people who deserved the title. Especially considering the consequences of what the other guy did that night.
Mikey still hadn’t recovered from the attack, but he’d been there, by Sawyer’s side when he needed him most. And he’d almost paid for his bravery with his life. His other brother, Nick, had revealed his big secret to Sawyer as well in the aftermath of the attack. Who knew that all the Smith brothers were somehow connected to this crazy other world that existed right under their noses? Mama Thea had. And Sawyer had unanswered questions about his foster mother as well. Those were problems for another day, though.
