Sawyer arched a brow and turned to look at Cecil, who studiously avoided meeting his gaze.
“The weather has grown quite warm,” Cecil said.
Sawyer put his hand on Cecil’s shoulder and squeezed before taking another pull on his drink. “You’re right, you know. I’m tired of being on the defensive. I need to do something.”
“Ahh, good. And I believe— yes, I believe your request for answers has been delivered. You have company.”
“Wait? What? How? Where?”
Cecil went back into the house, but not before Sawyer saw his smirk.
“I saw that! Don’t be smug, Cecil. It’ll give you wrinkles.”
He’d spend more time glaring, but Saeward emerged from the pool, all dripping wet and sexy and Sawyer could no more keep his attention on Cecil than a fly could avoid honey. Some things were impossible.
“Sawyer,” Saeward said. His eyes widened, but not with fear. With excitement? But not sexy times excitement, either.
“What’s wrong?”
“She’s coming. I can feel her.”
And about that time, Sawyer felt it, too. If he’d been paying attention and not so busy glaring at his obnoxious oldest friend in the universe, he’d have noticed.
“She is. You want to meet her?”
Saeward grabbed his hand and held on. “Yes?”
“Come with me, then.”
Sawyer tugged Saeward along, waving Draco away as they stepped into the woods once more. His little clearing was becoming a special place, even if when Gamayun had asked, he’d said it wasn’t. But now it had been visited by two of his sisters. That kind of power left a mark.
“My brother,” Anuket said as she emerged from the trees.
Saeward trembled beside him.
“Annie, please meet my mate, Saeward.”
She smiled at him as he dropped to a knee and bowed his head. She touched him, running her hand over his head before looking at Sawyer with a scowl. He nodded, understanding that she was picking up on Ward’s troubled past.
“Rise, Guardian. You have honored our element and I am pleased to call you one of mine.”
Saeward blushed. “Thank you. And, um, thank you for your brother.”
She grinned. “I’m not sure I had anything to do with that, but you’re welcome. Love him well, my hippocamp.”
“Yes, my goddess.”
“Go on back to your dragon now. He paces and it’s making me nervous.”
Saeward glanced at Sawyer, who nodded, and then he ran back to the yard. They heard the splash of the pool a moment later.
“Damn, that was intense,” Sawyer said. “Annie, I need a favor.”
“I will do nothing for you if you insist on calling me that obnoxious nickname.”
“But I like it. It’s sweet. Come on.”
“Just because you have a new name doesn’t mean we all wish for a new one.”
