Page 201 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

Eduard

Eduard adjusted his tie nervously as he stood outside the door to his father’s office. When Augustus finally emerged and waved Eduard inside, Eduard tried to hide his anxiety behind his most practiced bland expression.

“Welcome home, son.” Augustus said.

A large computer monitor sat on the desk beside him and his eyes roamed over it as a ticker tape of stock prices rolled across the screen.

“Thank you, Father. How is everything?”

Augustus sighed as he typed out a quick email then turned to face Eduard. “His Royal Highness is being a royal pain in my arse.”

“So nothing new?”

Augustus laughed. “No, son. Nothing new. I saw a couple of your investments did extremely well. Excellent work.”

“My clients are pleased.”

“I should imagine. So, let’s be done with the niceties. Tell me about the other guardians. I am very pleased that things are beginning to move forward with the prophecy.”

His father had a tell, one that Eduard had never told another soul about. When he was lying or even extremely uncomfortable, he slowly rubbed his thumb against his finger. It was a very subtle gesture, but Eduard had spent a lot of time with his father. Augustus was anything but pleased about the prophecy, just as he’d been horrified at Eduard’s mark declaring him a guardian.

“Actually, Father, we have found the chosen one. He is with us now. We decided to keep the news quiet and I convinced the others to allow me to share the news with you first.”

His father paled, forced a fake smile, and then turned his attention back to the computer screen. “It’s the dragon, isn’t it? Should have known.”

“No, it’s not the dragon.”

With a frown, he returned his focus to Eduard. “Ahh, the Seer. That actually makes sense. An open line of communication to the goddesses. There’s a reason the seers have been so hunted down over the years.”

“No, Father, it’s not the Seer.”

Augustus scoffed. “Tell me it’s not the vampire. Those idiots have nothing on their minds but their blades and blood, and not necessarily in that order.”

Eduard shook his head. “Wrong again.”

His father scowled at him once more then he drew a deep gasping breath. Eduard waited for the explosion, but it didn’t come.

“You, my son?” Augustus asked, his voice barely more than a gasp.

“No, Father. It is Sawyer. He is human.”

Augustus huffed out a nervous laugh. “Impossible.”

“He has been visited by the mother goddess herself. He is the chosen one.”

“Eduard, son, that is not possible. The chosen one cannot be human.”

Eduard had been expecting the denial. He’d wanted to deny it himself. “He is. We read the prophecy wrong. When it said nothing would stand in their way, it referred to someone who was magically null. Sawyer is that person.”

His father shook his head again.

“I know it is difficult to accept and that is why I chose to speak to you privately before revealing Sawyer to the others. We need your support if we hope to sway them.”

Augustus leaned back in his chair.

Eduard took another deep breath. “There’s more. I have found my mates.”

Augustus frowned and his face began to turn red. Eduard continued before his father had a chance to erupt. “Sawyer is one of them. As are the other guardians. We believe the others will join us in our relationship when they arrive.”