Page 227 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

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.