Andvari
Eduard’s cousin hadn’t been much help either. Magdalen had washed up on shore in the early hours of the morning, exhausted and barely able to speak. She hadn’t had much information for them, just that they’d been jumped, and she’d been hit on the head.
Their kidnappers had thrown her overboard and left her to drown, but she’d managed to make it back, swimming through the night and finally managing to find her way closer to home, where one of the search boats had found her.
“You need anything?” Henry asked. He leaned against the window frame, weary and disheartened.
They all feared that Sawyer had been thrown overboard as well and left to drown in the vast expanse of the Atlantic. None of them had said it out loud, but the thought of Sawyer being scared and alone… No, he couldn’t think about that.
The griffins had incredible vision and all of them who were able had joined in the search. Augustus had coordinated efforts and had even called in some favors with the Coast Guard to have them join the search.
Everything possible was being done. Private yachts were being used to search as well.
Eduard’s cousin Victor was handling the land search, hiring a team of investigators to search off the island for any signs.
They’d had a team at every harbor, inlet, and boat slip, asking for information on the comings and goings of any vessel.
Helena coordinated the search of the island itself with the assistance of the remaining vampire guards.
Every inch of the island had been gone over, including each and every estate.
Not one single clue had been found. No boats were missing. No one had seen any strange vessels around the island. And there wasn’t a single sighting of Sawyer anywhere.
“We’ll find him,” Andvari said quietly. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to comfort Henry or himself.
“I know we will,” Henry replied. “Cecil is having Viv mix up one of his super potions for Eduard and Draco. We need to get you something, too. We need you all to be strong.”
“I’ll be fine,” Andvari said.
“You need to feed,” Henry insisted. “We have no idea what we’re facing and I’d rather you go in as strong as possible.”
His voice had a hint of steel in it, one that had Andvari hugging him even tighter. “Okay,” he agreed.
Henry sighed. “Do you think it will bother them if we open the window? I can’t breathe.”
“Of course. Come on.” Andvari led Henry to the small balcony outside the bedroom. It gave them a beautiful view of the water, not that either of them could appreciate it at the moment. The moment they opened the doors, the breeze drifted over them and Henry’s breath caught.
“That’s better,” he whispered.
“Did you eat?” Andvari asked.
Henry shrugged.
“I’ll have Cecil bring you something. You have to take care of yourself, too.”
Draco stirred, calling out Sawyer’s name. He bolted upright in the bed and his eyes flamed out. It woke Eduard as well, who pushed himself up wearily. Andvari started to go to them, but Henry stiffened in his arms.
“Henry?”
Henry pushed away and went to the edge of the balcony, leaning over the edge.
“Henry? What is it?”
Draco and Eduard hurried out of the bed, stumbling toward the balcony.
“Get me down,” Henry said. “Now.”
Eduard shifted and in seconds he had Henry on his back and down onto the ground. Andvari leapt over the edge and Draco followed. Henry slid off Eduard’s back immediately. He walked toward the trees, his head tilted.
Listening.
“Sea world?” Henry asked with a puzzled frown. “Sea word. Toward the sea. Sea-ward.”
They stepped around him as he closed his eyes and the breeze around him picked up. He was still listening intently, nodding on occasion. Then he turned to them. “He needs us. North. Along the sea. It’s pretty far.”
“How far?” Draco asked.
“I don’t know. Come on.” Henry led the way back into the house, this time leading them to the kitchen.
Andvari, Draco, and Eduard followed him. Andvari itched to ask him more, demand more answers, but he refrained.
“Cecil, we need those restorative drinks for Draco and Eduard right away. And I need a bag packed, medical supplies. Food. A change of clothes. Whatever Sawyer might need. And I need Mr. Eastaughffe on the phone right away.”
“Right away, sir.”
“I’ll call my father, Cecil. You handle the rest,” Eduard said.
“Thank you, sir.”
Cecil hurried away as Eduard grabbed his phone and dialed his father. He handed the phone to Henry when it started ringing.
Andvari reached for Draco, who was about to vibrate out of his skin. He grabbed his hand and held it tight as Henry began to speak.
“Hello, Mr. Eastaughffe. I need to know if you have any of the search boats north and how far they are?”
Augustus answered immediately, his voice filled with concern.
“Thank you, sir. Can you have them turn northward and stay along the coast? I don’t know how far, but far. I’m sorry to be so vague but we’ll be taking to the air soon and we’ll probably need assistance getting back.”
Viv appeared and shoved glasses into Eduard and Draco’s hands. Neither complained but gulped them down without a word. They were particularly potent, the smell drawing a grimace from him.
Henry ended the call with Augustus.
“Henry, please tell us what is going on.” Andvari clenched Draco’s hand tighter as he spoke, and Henry looked up with a small smile.
“The air told me he’s okay. Well, not okay, but alive. He said he needs us. He asked the air to find me and tell me where he is. He’s so fucking smart. I can’t believe he remembered. I don’t know how far, but north and sea-ward is what it said so that’s what we’re doing.”
“I’ll pack some food. He may not have eaten since he was taken,” Viv said. She ran back toward the kitchen and began gathering supplies quickly.
Cecil returned as well, his arms loaded with clothes and medical supplies. Then their housekeeper, Justine, came running in with two empty backpacks. “I swiped them from my children,” she explained. “Cecil said you needed something easy to carry.”
While Cecil loaded one bag with his stack of items, Viv and Justine packed the other with food.
She also added more of the restorative drinks for Eduard and Draco in aluminum bottles as well as a thermos.
“This one’s for Sawyer,” Viv said softly.
Her voice cracked and she looked up at them with teary eyes.
“Okay. We’re going. I’ll check in every few hours,” Henry said as he grabbed the nearest pack. Then he looked at Viv and smiled. “We’re bringing him home.”
Andvari grabbed the second pack of food and drinks and slipped it over his shoulders.
He hadn’t removed any of his weapons as he’d wanted to be prepared at a moment’s notice.
He’d have to maneuver carefully but if Henry felt like they needed the supplies then they’d bring them.
He’d never seen Henry take charge before, but he was very sure of himself.
And Andvari was sure of Henry. If he said they’d find Sawyer, he didn’t doubt it.
Once they were outside, Draco shifted and Andvari climbed onto his back. Henry did the same for Eduard. They were airborne seconds later. The wind rushed by them at incredible speeds.
One day, he’d measure exactly how fast his mates could actually fly.
But today, he kept his focus on their surroundings as Henry kept his eyes closed and his magic open, listening to the wind.
Their magic shimmered around them, keeping them all shielded from prying eyes.
They’d be easy targets in the bright afternoon sun otherwise.
They’d been in the air for a couple hours when Andvari could sense their energy lagging again. “Find a spot to land,” Andvari said.
Draco huffed in annoyance, but Eduard sent him an eagle-eyed stare that showed he understood. Even Henry seemed annoyed with him. But Eduard spotted a deserted stretch of rock-strewn beach ahead and began flying toward it.
When they landed, Andvari jumped off of Draco’s back and pulled off his pack. He’d taken the heavier one with the food inside. After grabbing out the aluminum bottles filled with Cecil’s mystery potions, he handed one each to Eduard and Draco.
“Drink,” he ordered.
Next, he handed Henry a bottle of water and a protein bar before snagging another set for himself.
“I could have gone further,” Draco grumped. He took another long drink, his face still pressed into a scowl.
“But I couldn’t have,” Eduard confessed. “Henry and I needed a short break. We’ll continue soon.”
Draco looked suitably embarrassed and he leaned into Eduard in silent apology.
He’d never admit it, but he was drooping as well.
Even though they’d been training nightly with Andvari on his back, the additional weight messed with his aerodynamics and made flight more difficult.
And they’d never flown the kind of distances they just had.
Draco had to be exhausted, even if he didn’t want to admit it.
“Are you hearing anything else?” Andvari asked.
Henry shook his head, quickly chewing a mouthful of protein bar. “No. Just to go sea-ward. We’re getting closer, I think. I don’t understand why I can’t get a better sense of what it’s saying. It’s okay, though. I think the closer we get the clearer it will be.”
“I can scout ahead,” Draco said. “You know I can fly much faster without the added weight.”
“Draco, I know you’re freaking out. We are, too,” Henry said. “But you have to let my magic guide us. Please.”
Draco lowered his head again. Their dragon was a wreck, more so than the rest of them even, and Andvari wasn’t entirely sure how that was possible.
He could barely breathe with the fear of losing Sawyer, not even his most effective exercises easing the knot of fear that had lived inside him since the moment they realized Sawyer was gone.
Draco had practically gone feral and hadn’t come back yet.
His emotions were a roller coaster of angry and sad, heartbroken and desperate.