Dakota smiled before turning to walk downstairs. Henry followed along, more confused than ever by the enigma of the newest guardian. The difference was, along with the confusion, there was suddenly a kernel of trust. If Grandpa William liked Dakota… Henry could too. It was really as simple as that. Grandpa trusted him. He’d made sure Henry saw that.
Message received.
By the time they made it outside, Sawyer had emerged from the clinic from his visit with his brother. Henry wrapped his mate in a tight hug, one just like his Papa had given to him. Sawyer melted into it.
“It’s going to be okay,” Henry promised. “It’s all going to be okay.”
Sawyer didn’t say anything, but Henry didn’t need him to. They were going to make sure it was. Whatever it took. He met Dakota’s gaze and sent the message to him as well. They were going to do this and they were going to succeed.
Dakota nodded to him before turning away.
Message received.
“Let’s go home,” Henry said softly.
“Yeah,” Sawyer agreed. “You ready to do this?”
“Yep,” Henry said. “I won’t lie and say I’m looking forward to it, but I’m not dreading it anymore either. I trust you guys. I’ll be fine. And if it doesn’t work, if my visions don’t function the same way Dakota’s do, well, we’ll figure out something else. That’s what we do.”
Sawyer smiled and kissed his forehead. “You’re so good for me.”
“Right back at ya. Do you think I can sucker Viv into making me one of those melty chocolate cake things? I mean, this is a big deal, right? It deserves a special desert.”
Sawyer laughed and took his hand, leading him to the ever-present hellhound guard at the Jerricks’ clinic. “I think that can be arranged.”
The portal opened and they all returned home. Cecil and Puteri had been busy in their absence. A bath had been prepared in their master bathroom with so many herbs and oils Henry started to worry again about the upcoming vision. If he needed that much cleansing to make it through this…
But no. He had to trust. His Papa was right.
Saeward came to his rescue once more, always ready with his calm steady presence when any of them were filled with nerves. He helped Henry undress and went with him into the steaming hot bath. The scents were overwhelming at first, but Saeward held him close until it all bled together and he didn’t even notice them anymore.
Sawyer stepped into the tub next, and he used his hands to scoop the water up and over any bit of exposed skin. He lifted one of Henry’s arms out of the water and gently massaged the oils and herbs into his skin before lowering it again. He repeated the action on the other side, then proceeded to make sure every inch of Henry’s skin was touched by him. Henry basked in the attention, letting his mates care for him and get him prepared for the task ahead.
And then it dawned on him. He wasn’t the only guardian going into the vision. He opened his eyes and looked across the room at Dakota.
“Get in the tub.”
Dakota started to argue, but something in the glare Henry sent him must have shut him up. “Yeah, okay.”
He moved as fluidly as the cat he became. His clothes hit the floor, piece by piece. The other guardians stood watching, but it wasn’t the sensual kind of looks they normally received when one of them stripped. No, this was more… medical. Like one of his dad’s patients. Naked skin didn’t always mean sexy times. Hell, Henry knew that more than most humans. He’d grown up with a pack of wolves, and when they shifted, they got naked. It was something like that with Dakota, even though there was an underlying tension in the air, the hint of possibility.
Dakota stepped into the tub and sank down into the water. He made sure he got completely wet, even dunking his head, before sitting against one of the bubbling jets and leaning back with a sigh. He opened his golden eyes once more and met Henry’s gaze.
Henry, in turn, moved his attention to Sawyer. “Now him.”
Sawyer hesitated for the briefest second, but Henry gave him Papa’s no nonsense look. Sawyer repeated the same routine as he’d done with Henry, rubbing the water and oils into Dakota’s skin. Dakota watched him with a measured stare, always looking, analyzing. Judging. Henry hoped one day Sawyer would measure up to whatever it was Dakota sought.
When the two of them finally broke eye contact, Henry spoke. “Where do we do this?”
Dakota turned his attention to Henry once again. “My pack has a sacred place where our elders stay with the vision seeker.”
“Well, we don’t have a sacred place. But since I know what my visions do to me, would you be okay with me maybe being in bed? I mean, it’s big enough for all of us, and I know that may be awkward for you—”
“That will be fine.”
Henry breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Henry pulled on a pair of his sleep shorts and someone gave something similar to Dakota. They walked into the bedroom and found the rest of the guardians waiting. Dakota glanced at him then toward the bed. Henry touched Dakota’s arm. “What is it? If this won’t work…”
