Chapter Eduard
Eduard
Instead of a frantic, hours-long flight like their journey to find Sawyer had been, the trip back to the griffin’s island lasted three days. Eduard was in constant communication with his father, and the extended time frame had given them time to put some additional security measures in place.
Augustus had banned all traffic from the island and insisted that no one on the island be allowed to leave. It had caused quite the uproar among the clan, but at the end of the day, they’d complied with Augustus’s wishes.
The next wave of vampire guards arrived on the island as well, tripling the numbers they had before. Augustus had also brought in a team of specialist werewolves and assigned them to the overall security of the island.
They’d teamed up with Andvari’s vampire brothers to secure both Augustus’s estate and Eduard’s cottage. They were also directly responsible for keeping Magdalen secure until Eduard’s return.
Henry had spoken to his uncle, who had sent one of his hellhounds to the island as well.
Calliope hadn’t left Magdalen’s room since she arrived, and his cousin believed the hellhound was there as her bodyguard instead of her jailer.
According to Augustus, she’d thanked him profusely for the extra protection, claiming she feared for her life against “whoever took her.” His father had wanted to gut her in that moment and had barely restrained himself.
Even recounting the event to Eduard had him snarling in rage at her audacity.
Sawyer had spent the past three days below deck, recovering from his injuries. He’d not been left alone the entire time and seemed to grow stronger with each passing hour. Draco had become Sawyer’s barnacle, only leaving his side when he needed to use the bathroom.
Henry, Andvari, and Eduard had divided watch between the three of them. Henry had also placed protective sigils around the yacht. Saeward spent hours per day in the water, each time coming back with a trinket from the ocean floor to present to Sawyer as a gift.
It was sweet, really, and each time he got a smile out of their wounded mate that soothed the angry ache in Eduard’s chest.
Saeward also reported to them any potential threats in the area, of which there had only been a few. When he found a boat too close for his liking, he reported it to Eduard, who would take to the air with Henry and check for anything suspicious.
Fortunately, they’d found nothing. They weren’t taking any chances, though, and Saeward’s abilities made him invaluable to the process.
The water was such an unknown, fathomless depths that the rest of them could not explore.
His reassurances that they were safe from beneath had done much to soothe Sawyer’s fears as well.
“Excuse me, sir.”
Eduard turned from his position at the top of the deck to the ship’s captain. “Yes?”
“You asked to be informed when we were an hour away.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
He hurried back to the helm, leaving Eduard once again to his musings.
Moments later, he heard more footsteps approaching before strong arms wrapped around his waist. Andvari tucked his chin over Eduard’s shoulder, holding him close as they watched the wide blue expanse of water before them. “You okay?”
“I am,” Eduard replied.
“Have you decided how you want to handle our arrival?”
His original plan had been for Sawyer to march triumphantly off the dock, a show of strength and resilience. Unfortunately, his feet were still entirely too injured for any amount of walking.
They’d consulted Henry’s father who advised Sawyer to stay off his feet with his legs elevated to ease the swelling.
They also iced them for twenty-minute stretches throughout the day.
He was getting better, but certainly wasn’t well enough for the type of dramatic entrance Eduard had wanted them to make.
Before he could mention other ideas to Andvari, movement caught his eye. It was miles away, still merely a dot on the horizon, but it was heading their way. “Something’s coming,” Eduard said. “Get Henry.”
Andvari hurried below deck as Eduard transformed into his griffin form and flew through the air. He was close enough within seconds to recognize the griffin who flew toward the yacht with a bag clutched in his talons.
Victor, his cousin, whom he and Augustus had decided to trust with the knowledge of their arrival. Sawyer had shared with him that Victor had helped ease the path to acceptance with his father at that first family dinner.
He’d be faced with another test once they got to the boat.
If he intended any harm toward Sawyer or anyone on board, Victor would not be allowed to land.
Henry’s magic would make sure of it. He spotted both Andvari and Henry back on the deck as he circled his cousin and they continued their flight toward the yacht.
They both landed without issue and Eduard couldn’t quite prevent his sigh of relief as they both shifted back to their human forms. Victor handed the bag over to Eduard with a small smile.
“I’m glad your mate is safe,” Victor said.
“I brought clothes. Cecil packed them for you all. Your father said you’d borrowed clothes from the crew. ”
They had. No one had wanted to stop and the crew had kindly offered to share. Draco and Saeward had mostly stayed without clothes, as neither of them would fit into the smaller piscine’s clothes, but it wasn’t like either of them minded.
Victor looked around nervously as Andvari stood beside him on the deck with his sword clutched in his hand. They weren’t taking any chances, whether or not they trusted Victor until Henry gave them the all clear.
Henry met Eduard’s gaze and nodded then pulled his magic back inside him.
Victor hadn’t even noticed, but Eduard had grown used to Henry’s use of the air around him and knew it had been happening from the moment Victor landed on the deck.
He’d passed the test of the sigils, and then Henry’s magic gave a second all-clear.
The relief was visible on Andvari’s face.
Victor looked between them, waiting for someone to speak.
“Thank you for coming,” Eduard said softly. “It’s been a difficult few days. We’re being very cautious.”
“I would do no less,” Victor said. “Helena and I…we had no idea, cousin. Magdalen has always been a bit off, but to go to this extent? I considered her eccentric, not dangerous.”
“Sawyer doesn’t believe that Helena likes him. He’s very concerned that she’s involved.” Eduard had learned of her slights during a quiet talk with Sawyer over what had happened.
“Helena is envious of you, cousin. But she’s never hidden that emotion from you. She would love to have the honor of being a guardian, and she longs for her mate as well. She doesn’t begrudge you either of those things, however, or wish you or your mates any ill will.”
His words rang true. From the moment Eduard’s guardian mark appeared, Helena had been jealous of it. She chafed under the limitations of her role and hadn’t yet stretched her wings. He should encourage her to do so.
“I will speak to her,” Eduard said. “I cannot allow disrespect toward my mate.”
“I know,” Victor replied. “Your father asked me to let you know that the dock area is secure. We have everyone on high alert, and we’ll be ready to transport Sawyer to the cottage the moment you arrive.”
“Excellent. Thank you. I need to go update the others. Will you stay with us until our arrival?”
Victor nodded. “My eyes on the sky.”
Eduard gripped his shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze. They’d said it to each other for years, their way of saying they had each other’s back. Andvari stayed on deck while Henry and Eduard made their way below to help the others get ready for their arrival.
He found the others curled up together on the sofa in the living area. Sawyer had his head resting on Saeward’s lap while the hippocamp gently stroked his hair as he stared in confusion at the television playing an action movie across the room.
Sawyer’s feet were resting on Draco’s lap, and he had ice packs pressed to them. The rest of Sawyer’s body was wrapped up in a blanket.
Draco paused the movie when Eduard knelt in front of Sawyer and cupped his cheek. He ran his thumb over Sawyer’s face, tracing one of the bruises that had changed into a rainbow of painful looking color over the past few days.
“Hey. We’re almost there,” Eduard said quietly.
“Good,” Sawyer whispered in return.
“You think you’ve been doted on the past few days? Wait until Cecil, Viv, and Ms. Robinson get their hands on you. And Pearl’s gonna be your personal body pillow.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Eduard leaned in and kissed him quickly. “Father will meet us on the dock. He’s anxious to see you for himself.”
“’K.”
“Cecil sent clothes for us with Victor. He’s on deck now. You want to go ahead and get dressed?”
“Yeah. Maybe a shower?”
“We can do that.”
Draco unwrapped the ice packs from Sawyer’s feet, and then Eduard helped him up. It didn’t take long for them to all get cleaned up and dressed. Sawyer stood in front of the small mirror and looked into it for a moment before turning to look up and meet Eduard’s gaze with a small smile.
“Let’s do this.”
The view from the windows showed that they were nearing the dock and the engines had slowed as the captain maneuvered the yacht into the boat’s slip. The crew moved into position, the fluid movements showing how long they’d worked together.
When they were finally docked, the guardians led the way off the yacht with Sawyer in the center of the line. Eduard went first, walking straight up the wooden planks to his father. He was pulled into a quick hug then released as his father reached for Sawyer.
“Young man, you gave me quite the scare,” Augustus protested.