“So what’s your guide like?”
She hesitated for a moment, obviously surprised by his question. There was something there, something he didn’t know. It was one of the keys. Sawyer was sure of it. Instead of answering, she held out her arm and a crash of thunder sounded. A glowing bird landed on her arm a moment later.
“Dammit. Another bird!”
“You do not like my thunderbird?” Anuket asked.
“Well, I mean, I like it. It’s fricking cool. And is that actual lightning sort of flying him around because I’m human and that’ll leave a mark.”
“I will not allow harm to befall you.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“What is your question, brother?”
There were about a thousand, really. But one stood out more than all the rest. It bubbled up from deep inside him and poured out before he could stop it.
“Did I do the right thing? I messed up so many lives, Annie.”
She reached for his hand and held it tight. “You saved our mother, and you saved us all. It… was not that path I would have chosen, but you saved her.”
“Desperate times and all that.”
“Yes. They were.”
“I really need to find my guide, don’t I?”
“Yes.”
“My brother has my guide, doesn’t he?”
“Yes.”
Sawyer sighed again. “He’s really a pain in my ass.”
Anuket laughed. “Yes.”
“I’m going to fix this, Annie. I swear. I’m going to fix it.”
“Then the time has come, Sawyer. Actions speak louder than words.”
Another clap of thunder sounded, and she was gone.
Saeward
It only took a few laps in the pool for Saeward to calm. He didn’t need the water as much anymore. His mates helped soothe his frazzled nerves just as much as the cool, quiet peace he found beneath the water. Draco sat on the edge of the pool with his legs dangling invitingly. Saeward swam toward him and ended up with his head against Draco’s chest and his arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
Draco was a lighthouse in the storm. Warm sand on a sunny day. Saeward basked in it, even as he watched the woods where Sawyer still spoke withher. His goddess. No, that wasn’t right. Not anymore. He was mated to a god.Sawyerwas his now. Saeward grinned and turned his face into Draco’s stomach.
“What’s that smile for?” Draco rumbled as he softly ran his fingers through Saeward’s hair.
“Sawyer is our god now.”
“Yeah,” Draco agreed. “He is. That’s crazy to think about, isn’t it?”
Saeward glanced back to the woods. “It’s good.”
“That, too.”
