Page 228 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

Andvari

It had been nearly twenty-four hours since Sawyer vanished without a trace. Andvari stood at the window of Eduard’s bedroom where they’d carried an exhausted Draco an hour before. Their dragon had almost flown himself to death in the search. Eduard wasn’t in much better shape. Neither were he and Henry, if he was being totally honest.

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.

Andvari hoped to question her himself once she woke, desperate for some clue about who took Sawyer and where they might have taken him.

“You need anything?” Henry asked. He leaned against the window frame, weary and disheartened.

Andvari pulled him close and they stared out over the water together. A group of griffins continued the search by the shore, and the rest of the clan had taken their boats out and had been searching the water for any sign of Sawyer.

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.