Epilogue
Sawyer
Things at home had returned to normal. Well, as normal as Sawyer’s life could possibly be these days. His body still ached, his side especially, although the boost he’d received from the goddess and Cecil’s secret potions seemed to be doing wonders.
Augustus had taken the half dozen hints Henry had dropped and had arranged for a couple fancy helicopters to fly them home. It was ridiculous and extravagant, but Sawyer couldn’t deny that he was glad to be back in his own space.
Augustus had tried to convince them to stay, had even tried to give Sawyer his gigantic house as a mating gift to encourage them to remain with the rest of the griffins. He was convinced the cottage wasn’t big enough for them and had made comments about rattling around his big old house on his own.
It hadn’t worked, but Sawyer had appreciated the gesture.
His work as the chosen one, whatever the job turned out to be, wasn’t on the island.
He had, however, promised to come back soon, and it was a promise he intended to keep.
Saeward needed to be around the ocean, and the house they lived in wasn’t close enough to make that a possibility.
Saeward was adjusting to his new life with them, although he’d asked to be excluded from sleeping with anyone but Sawyer for a time.
And when he said sleeping, that’s exactly what Saeward meant.
Saeward had baggage they needed to unpack of the emotional variety.
Sawyer could sense his pain and hoped it wouldn’t be too long before he was ready to work through it.
They were getting closer, with easier smiles appearing more frequently on Saeward’s face.
Pearl had taken a particular liking to him.
Sawyer was really beginning to wonder if he would be replaced in her eyes.
He knew better, though, especially when he was the one whose eye she poked her nose into first thing in the morning when she was ready to go outside.
He and Pearl were outside now, in clear view of his guardians and mates, who were gathered around the pool. Saeward floated in the sun-warmed water while the others lazed around in the sun on the lounge chairs.
Sawyer was gently throwing Pearl’s favorite ball for her, letting her bound after it then waiting for her to bring it back.
She’d not liked him being hurt and had hovered over him as much as the men in his life had.
He’d pretended he didn’t need all the attention, but the truth was, he didn’t plan on being alone for a very long time.
It had been a very scary few weeks, and he was man enough to admit that he was terrified.
His mates were, too, and the new security measures proved as much. There were over a dozen vampire guards around the perimeter of the house. More were watching the new security system they’d installed in Draco’s old house while they were away.
Apparently Andvari’s clan felt partially responsible for his abduction, as ridiculous as that seemed.
Their warriors had failed him so now half the clan had shown up to make sure it didn’t happen again.
Andvari said it was a good thing, that the elders wouldn’t send so many if they didn’t think he was important.
It was an odd way to gain the acceptance of a clan, but Sawyer took what he could get. He’d mourned the loss of the two guards from the cottage with Andvari, performing an ancient ritual with him to ensure their souls would be accepted by their ancestors. It was the least he could do.
Pearl dropped her slobbery ball at his feet, but instead of prancing around waiting for him to pick it up, she turned and looked down the road with a puzzled tilt of her head.
About that time, one of the vampires walked over to him with a confused frown. “Uh, sir?”
“Yes?”
“There’s a…. uh, prince here to see you?”
“A what now?” Sawyer asked.
“A… prince, sir?”
The guard seemed as confused as Sawyer was.
“Eduard, can you come here a sec?” Sawyer called over toward the pool before turning back to the guard. “Do you at least know his name?”
“Hold on, sir.”
“What is it?” Eduard asked.
“I guess there’s a prince here to see me?”
“Prince Kavalan of the Svartalfheim, sir.”
Eduard made a face before he turned to call for Henry. “This is going to be interesting,” Eduard said once Henry began heading their way.
“Why?” Sawyer asked.
“Just wait and see.”
Henry walked over and Eduard gave him a smile. “Need you to drop the outer two wards, okay? We’ve got company.”
“Only the outer two?”
“Yep. Keep the one around the house up.”
“’K,” Henry said. He raised his arms and closed his eyes as air began flowing around them. He breathed deep, and then the wind stilled. “It’s done. Let me know when you want it back up.”
“I will.”
The guard made another face before looking over at Sawyer. “Uh, they’re… on their way, sir.”
The guard hurried off and Sawyer frowned at Eduard. “What has him so spooked?”
Before Eduard could answer, the sound of twinkling bells filled the air, followed by…
was that flutes? It couldn’t be flutes, could it?
Little sparkling dots began floating around the edge of the ward, and then butterflies began dancing in some fancy aerial maneuvering that was more like a performance than anything remotely natural.
Then little pixie type creatures appeared, their wings shimmering in the afternoon sun. They were throwing… rose petals. Seriously? Sawyer turned to stare at Eduard, his eyes wide. “What the hell?”
Eduard was doing his best not to laugh. “I’m going to let you handle this one. Just… have fun.”
“You asshole! Get back here!”
Eduard cackled and went back over to the pool, leaving Sawyer to deal with the row of strangers walking up the hill. One man stood in the center, long blond hair nearly down to his waist.
As he got closer, Sawyer could see that his ears were slightly pointed. But that was nothing compared to the emerald the size of Sawyer’s fist that rested on his chest. He wore a matching green tunic trimmed in gold and— no kidding— he had a gold and jewel encrusted crown on his head.
Since Eduard hadn’t rushed him into the house, Sawyer figured it was safe enough to approach.
He walked to the edge of the last ward, careful to stay inside it, and stared at the mysterious man approaching.
When he was within a dozen steps, he paused then turned his mouth into an obvious pout.
He had really nice lips, thick and plump. He was really, really pretty, too.
After a moment, he flung his arms wide. “I am Kavalan, Prince of Svartalfheim, fated mate of the Chosen One.”
Sawyer blinked then blinked again. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was supposed to say to that announcement.
Prince Kavalan scowled at him. “Human, did you not hear what I said? Fetch your master. Tell him his prince has arrived.”
The vampire guard who had stayed close choked on his own spit. Sawyer looked at the poor guy, making sure he was still breathing between the wheezing coughs, and then back at the prince.
“Sure, your highness. I’ll get right on that. Come on, Pearl. We’ve got some fetching to do.”
Eduard, the jerk, was on the ground laughing his ass off. Henry and Andvari peeked over the back of one of the chairs, but from how hard the damn thing was shaking, they were laughing at him, too. See if any of them got laid any time in the near future.
Draco scowled sleepily at him, clearly annoyed at having been woken from his afternoon nap and not disturbed at all by the presence of the fairy folk outside their house.
The only one he still liked was Saeward, who’d climbed from the pool and was standing gloriously naked scowling at the strangers. That was more like it.
Sawyer glared over his shoulder at Eduard, who was cackling obnoxiously, and then pointed at him. “I’m calling Augustus!”
“Call him. Please. Goddess, please tell me that he actually told you to fetch. Please, please tell me that’s what he really said. I was laughing at your reaction and am not sure I heard him clearly.”
“You’re an ass! Get rid of him!”
Eduard had clearly lost his mind.
Andvari, who regained at least one brownie point, pushed to his feet and started down the hill. “I’ll handle it.”
“I’ll watch,” Henry quipped. He ran after the vampire, practically rubbing his hands together with glee. The troublemaker.
“You guys are jerks! I’m telling Viv not to give you dessert!”
Draco scrambled up at that threat, moving quickly to his side. “What do you want me to do? Pretty sure I can’t set him on fire. It’s a fairy thing. But I can try.”
“No. Just… I don’t know. I don’t like him.”
Saeward leaned into Sawyer, pressing the long, solid length of himself along Sawyer’s back. “You don’t know him. First impressions aren’t everything.”
Sawyer sighed. He supposed you couldn’t judge a book by its cover… or a fairy prince by the size of his crown. Guardian or not, though, he was going to make the prince pay for that fetch thing. He just had to think of a really good way to do it.
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