Page 78 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“They’re so bossy,” Sam griped the moment the front door closed.

Henry looked over at Sam and arched a brow. “You looking in a mirror when you’re saying that?”

Sam pinched his side and Henry snickered.

“You’re more alpha than dad is sometimes.”

“I most certainly am not.”

But Sam’s face showed he recognized the lie, too. His dads worked because they both were in charge, a partnership formed out of necessity but forged with a depth of love that Henry longed to find for himself.

He leaned into Sam again, preparing his magic just in case whatever was knocking at their wards made it past his dad and uncle and into the house. They didn’t have to wait long. The front door opened, and Vaughn poked his head inside.

“Henry, you have… guests.”

“Who is it?” Sam asked. He continued to hold Henry against him, as protective as ever.

“Come see for yourselves.”

Henry glanced curiously at Sam, but he seemed as confused by Vaughn’s reaction as Henry was. They stood and went to the front door where Vaughn waited. He gripped Henry’s shoulder with a smile.

“Looks like the time has come, son.”

Henry looked across the yard. Two men stood there with Uncle Meshaq. They were outside the gate, but close enough that Henry was able to get a look. “Sweet Mother,” Henry gasped.

“Put your tongue back in your mouth, Henry,” Sam teased.

“But Papa…”

“Yeah. I see ‘em. Why don’t we go out and say hello?”

Henry couldn’t actually remember how to walk. He couldn’t remember how to breathe. All he could see were the two men standing outside his house.

One was blond, and his long, curly hair shone in the afternoon sun. He scanned the area constantly, his eyes moving with the ease of someone used to being on guard. And if Henry wasn’t mistaken, he had a really large sword attached to his back.

The other man was stunningly beautiful, with red hair and a pristine suit that looked like it wouldn’t dream of getting wrinkled.

He smoothed down his T-shirt self-consciously, wishing more than anything he’d not chosen to wear one of Natasha’s old T-shirts that morning just to annoy her. He looked ridiculous, but he’d made her laugh once she got over her outrage.

“Henry?” Vaughn asked quietly. “Is something wrong?”

“No. I don’t think so. I just… I’m nervous.”

Vaughn smiled and wrapped an arm over his shoulders. They’d been waiting for this for a long time, and now his future was finally in front of him.

“We’re with you always, son. Remember…”

“Alphas don’t break their promises.”

“That’s right. And I promise you that whatever the future holds, I’ll be here and so will your Papa.”

Henry took a deep breath and started forward, his dads at his side. He stopped at the edge of the ward and both of the newcomers stared at him. The blond dropped to one knee and placed his right fist over his heart. “I am Andvari of the Passarowitz clan, guardian of the Chosen One.”

Henry gulped as the second man also knelt.

“I am Eduard of the Arimaspia clan, guardian of the Chosen One. We have been sent to protect the seer until the Chosen One arrives.”

“Um. Hi. I’m Henry Jerrick.” He held out his wrist and showed them his mark. “I’m the seer.”

Eduard and Andvari rose and Andvari spoke again. “We will keep you safe until the prophecy comes to pass. It is our duty.”

Both Meshaq and his dad grumbled a bit at that, but Henry stepped forward. He may not understand it yet, but he knew his life had been building toward this. “I dreamed of you,” Henry said quietly.

“And we of you,” Eduard explained. “We knew to find you here.”

A group of crows flew overhead, eight of them, cawing and making enough of a racket to draw Henry’s attention. They didn’t have it long. A vision struck, and he would have fallen if not for Andvari’s quick reflexes.

He couldn’t make sense of everything he saw, some of it too confusing to process.

Black scales that glistened with a rainbow of colors beneath the sun.

A darkness only broken by the sound of water, and then a glimpse of a light so bright it nearly blinded him.

A flare of pain stretched through him, burning as he trembled. A house came into focus for the briefest second, and then peace.

Henry collapsed, gasping at the glimpse of the future he’d seen. Andvari stared into his eyes, searching for answers as Eduard knelt beside him, supporting his head. “We have work to do,” Henry muttered, and then darkness claimed him.

THE END