Sawyer
Then the memories of the past day came flooding back to him. “Ward?”
Nothing. He climbed out of bed and winced when his feet touched the floor. He didn’t have clothes on, but his feet and side were both bandaged. He slowly made his way out of the bedroom and into the living area of Ward’s cabin. He tried not to panic when he didn’t find his new guardian anywhere.
The sun was out so he peeked outside the front door. It wasn’t until he caught a flash of silver in the water that he realized he wasn’t alone after all.
“Afternoon,” Ward said quietly. “How are you feeling?”
“Rough,” Sawyer answered honestly. “Like I’ve been beaten up.”
“You were,” Ward said. He reached for Sawyer’s face and held it gently. “Do you not remember?”
Sawyer smiled and covered one of Ward’s hands with his own. “I remember. I was just being weird. Thank you for staying with me.”
Ward moved closer, tucking Sawyer against the long line of his body. “I should have been there when you woke. I promised I would be but… I found I needed the sea for a few moments.”
“It’s okay. Um, do you have a phone? I was pretty out of it last night and didn’t ask, but I really need to call my mates.”
“I do not,” Ward said. “I do not interact with humans often.”
“Okay,” Sawyer said. “So, I need to get to a phone.”
“I understand. We are several hours walk away from my nearest neighbors. I can shift to my horse form and let you ride, but you should rest a bit more first. You’re injured.”
As much as he hated to admit it, Ward was right. If walking hurt this much, riding for hours wasn’t going to be pleasant. He needed to think. He needed his mates. He needed to not panic.
Ward urged him to sit on the cabin steps then knelt in front of him and unwrapped one of his feet.
Sawyer didn’t want to look. He had a feeling they weren’t pretty to see. “Do you have to swim every day? Our seer had a vision so we’re having a saltwater pool built. I’m pretty sure it must be for you.”
“I was oddly drained today. I think… I think when we shared my magic it tired me. The water is rejuvenating for me. I shouldn’t have left you. I should have waited.”
Sawyer looked up, searching Ward’s heartbroken eyes. “You did the right thing. You… you’re all I have right now, so if you needed to regain your strength, I’m glad you took a few minutes to do that while I was sleeping. But… Ward, did I hurt you?”
“No. Not at all. I was a little tired, that’s all. I’m better now.” Ward looked over his shoulder at the approaching boat. “I would like it if you went inside now. Strangers are approaching. It is not safe for you.”
“Should you, I don’t know, put some shorts on or something?”
Ward glanced down at his body, and then up at Sawyer. “If you prefer.”
Sawyer couldn’t stop his grin. “Well, I prefer you exactly like this to be honest, but if that boat comes any closer, they may see your beautiful body too and I’m not sure how I feel about sharing you with strangers.”
Ward smiled then lifted Sawyer easily into his arms and carried him back into the house. “Then I will cover myself and see what it is they want. My cove is generally sheltered, and I don’t receive visitors.”
Sawyer glanced back worriedly. The boat was still moving their way and hadn’t slowed at all. “Do you think… did they find me?”
Ward looked back over his shoulder. “Perhaps. You’ll be safe inside, Sawyer. I believe I will change forms to assess this threat.”
He carefully sat Sawyer down on the beat-up sofa that had obviously been his for many, many years. In fact, looking around the space, Sawyer didn’t see much that could in any way be called current.
Including electricity. Not a single electric light existed in the house, but a couple lanterns sat on the mantle of the fireplace. He hadn’t noticed any of it the night before.
Ward backed away a few steps and his body shimmered a lot like Draco’s did when he shifted. Before Sawyer could process the change, the beautiful horse from the night before was back in front of him, filling the entire living room.
“I’ll watch what happens. If it’s safe and they’re lost humans or something, I’ll come help. I’m going to look for some clothes really quick, okay?”
Ward shook his head his mane flying around him before he eased his way through the open door of the cabin and galloped back down the beach toward the approaching boat.
Sawyer hurried back into the bedroom and found a faded flannel shirt hanging on a hook behind the door. He pulled it on, laughing at how huge it was on him before trying to find something else he could use as pants.
He finally found a pair of cut off jeans that were so threadbare there wasn’t much to them. He slid them on, laughing again at how low slung they were. “Ridiculous,” he muttered.
Luckily, Ward hadn’t used all of whatever cloth he’d sacrificed to make Sawyer’s bandages, so he grabbed one of the abandoned strips on the sink and pulled it through the belt loops as a makeshift belt. He looked ridiculous but it would work for the moment.
Hurrying back to the front room, he tried to get his fear under control. He looked out the window and the boat was nearly to shore and not slowing a bit as it approached.
Ward had continued to gallop along the shoreline, back and forth, his hooves splashing in the waves as they hit the beach.
Sawyer realized a moment later that the boat might not stop.
He opened the door to call out a warning, but Ward had already begun moving back toward him and away from the direct line of the boat.
The engines stopped a second later, but the forward momentum pushed the boat forward and onto the beach.
Sol and Frey appeared seconds later, dressed in black ceremonial robes.
They leapt onto the sand, their eyes laser focused on Sawyer, even though they shouldn’t be able to see him clearly from that far away.
It was like they knew exactly where he was.
The robes tangled against their legs as Sol and Frey ran toward him. They didn’t even acknowledge Ward’s presence as he ran to intercept them. Sol drew a knife, but with a move Sawyer couldn’t begin to understand, Saeward spun, twisted, and slammed his back legs into Sol’s chest.
He went flying through the air, landing on the ground by the boat with a sickening crunch that Sawyer could hear even over all the other noise.
Frey wasn’t deterred at all. He continued running toward the cabin, but Saeward simply turned again, ran full speed and slammed his front legs into Frey’s back.
He stumbled and fell, as Saeward reared up again then brought his feet down on Frey’s back, his dinner plate sized hooves crushing the smaller body beneath them. Frey didn’t move again.
Sawyer hurried down the steps and onto the sandy path, no matter that his feet protested the newest abuse. “Ward!”
Ward turned and ran the few dozen feet to him, stopping on a dime before lowering his head and pressing it gently to Sawyer’s chest.
“You’re okay?” Sawyer asked.
The air shimmered and Ward was back in his human form. “I’m fine. You shouldn’t have run out here. You’ve opened your wound again.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. Come, sit on the steps and let me check your feet.”
Saeward helped him to the steps once again and guided him down. He could feel the trickle of blood down his side, but Ward was right, his feet hurt worse. “Thank you,” Sawyer said.
“You’re welcome.”
Sawyer glanced at the boat and wondered if there was a phone on board he could use.
“Do not worry about them,” Ward said. “They will not bother you again.”
Ward thought he was looking at the bodies.
He glanced down at the mangled remains before looking away quickly.
“I know,” Sawyer said. “I wondered if there was a phone on the boat. There’s probably a radio, but I don’t know how to use it really, and I don’t want to announce to anyone who can hear where I am. I need to get to my other guardians.”
“I will help,” Saeward said. “You must eat first and get a little rest. Then we will go.”
Sawyer nodded, knowing he was right, even if he wanted to argue. He could feel what little energy he had slipping away. He’d never be able to ride in this condition. “Okay.”
“I will get you something to eat. Would you like to come inside?”
“No. I… I just want to sit out here for a few minutes.”
Saeward ran his hand gently over Sawyer’s head before he walked into the house.
Sawyer looked everywhere but at the bodies lying just out of his line of sight. He listened to the waves crashing against the shore, thinking back to the night Draco had reminded them all how special what they were building was.
That night had forged something in Sawyer’s soul, something that had allowed him to push back against Eduard’s father, to claim his place as the chosen one in a way he hadn’t before. It had given him the strength to get away from Sol and Frey.
The fight wasn’t over yet.
He had no idea where Magdalen was or if she’d sent someone else after him. He didn’t know if Sol and Frey’s boat could be tracked and would lead them straight to him. He didn’t even know how Sol and Frey had found him in the first place.
The wind whistled through the trees and a crow cawed loudly above him, sending a shiver of fear down his spine.
The wind rustled the leaves of the trees surrounding the cabin and Sawyer started to panic, wondering if something was hiding in these woods as it had in the woods surrounding his home, before he paused, suddenly hearing Henry’s words again.
The trees had told him where to find his father.
The wind had spoken to him, given him the name of the alpha who would save him and his siblings.
Sawyer pushed to his feet and took a few painful steps forward until he could feel the breeze all around him.
“This is probably crazy.” Definitely crazy.
Beyond nuts. “But if you can hear me, will you help me? I need to get a message to Henry. He’s my mate, and I need him.
I need them all,” Sawyer whispered the last, but then raised his head again.
“Please, if you can, tell him where I am? I really need him to find me.”
Sawyer closed his eyes and thought of the goddess then, and all the faith she’d placed in him. “Please,” he whispered again.
Then he went into the cabin and closed the door. He doubted it would work, but at this point, he could use a miracle.