by Macy Blake
“Why did you come?” Sawyer asked.
Dakota laughed, dark and bitter. “That’s the crazy thing. I had to come. In order to escape you, I had to come to you and be set free.”
“Then consider it done, Dakota. You’re free. You can go.”
Another laugh. “You still don’t get it, do you? I can no more leave my mates than the dragon over there can.”
“You have a choice. You always have a choice.”
“You’re not really so naïve as to believe that, are you?”
Sawyer snapped, his limit finally reached. “Yes, I am. Because I will never force myself on you. I may not know everything. I may remember shit about my past and the stupid ass decisions that I’ve made. But I would never, will never, force my attentions on anyone. I can find another guardian. Hell, I can find you another mate if that’s what it comes down to. Leave, Dakota. We will fix this without you.”
He turned and stormed out of the room, probably reinforcing Dakota’s notion that he was nothing more than a petulant child. He needed to be free, though. To clear his head and his heart. Cecil hovered at the bottom of the stairs, and Sawyer drew up short at the sight of him.
“Is it true?”
If anyone knew what he was capable of, it was Cecil. The person who’d known him longest. The only one who knew the him from before.
“Walk with me,” Cecil said softly.
Sawyer followed Cecil into the kitchen, where he started making one of his many concoctions.
“I don’t need—”
“Yes, you do. Tell me, do you feel differently now?”
“No. Yes. I guess. Dammit, Sissylt, I don’t know what to think. I’m so confused.”
“I can imagine.”
“I know I made you promise not to tell me, but I’m releasing you from that promise, okay? I wasn’t thinking clearly, obviously.”
Cecil smiled and pushed over a glass. “Drink.”
Sawyer took a chug and immediately regretted his life choices. It wasn’t a smoothie. It burned.
“What is that?” Sawyer said as he tried to remember how to breathe.
“Bourbon.”
Sawyer choked and inhaled as his eyes watered and his entire body heated as liquid flames engulfed his throat and stomach. “You trying to kill me?”
“Not kill, no. Shock.”
Sawyer glared before staring down at the swirling amber liquid. “How do people drink that?”
“They usually sip it.”
“Smartass.”
Cecil smiled, and Sawyer sat down on one of the bar stools.
“You ignored me.”
“I never ignore you.”
“I said, I release you from your promise. So tell me.”
“You also made me promise not to tell you if you tried to release me from the promise so I would tell you.”
“Dammit!”
Cecil held out a second glass for himself and took a small sip. “You’re cute when you’re angry.”
Sawyer growled. “I’m so mad I could scream.”
“So scream.”
Sawyer sighed and took a small sip of the bourbon. “Why is this supposed to help again?”
“I’m not sure it will. In fact, it probably won’t.”
“So why’d you give it to me?”
“Because I’ve learned that when you are overwrought with emotion, it is often best to distract you.”
“Reboot my brain. Mama Thea always used to say that.”
“Hmm,” Cecil hummed as he took another delicate sip.
“I’m not drinking anymore of that.”
“Would you like something else?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. Do I?”
Cecil grinned and began rummaging in the kitchen once more.
“I feel like everything is a jumble. I feel like I’m messing things up worse. Henry is so excited. Well, he was. He’s probably not now. But he’s ready to stick it to my brother. To show him we’re awesome and strong and….”
“But that’s not your duty here, Master Sawyer.”
“It isn’t, is it?”
Cecil smiled and handed him a familiar glass with one of his favorite striped straws. “Here. Let’s walk.”
“I need to tell my mates.”
“They all hover in the hall, waiting.”
“Ugh,” Sawyer groaned. “Come on guys. I’m going to walk with Cecil.”
His mates entered the kitchen, each of them worried.
“You okay?” Draco asked.
Sawyer shrugged. “No. But I will be.”
Henry sighed. “I brought the book. I’m sorry I was insensitive.”
“You weren’t,” Sawyer said. He hopped off the stool and moved to Henry’s side, cupping his hand around Henry’s cheek when he was close enough to reach him. “You’re brilliant, and I love your mind. I love that you’re excited to learn things and work even harder than I do to find answers. Please don’t stop doing that. For me, okay?”
“Okay,” Henry said softly. “He hurt my brothers and sisters, too. I know it’s not a joke.”
“I know,” Sawyer said. “And Dakota knows. He’s mad at me, not you, okay?”
“I’m going to read the grimoire and see if I can find what I’m supposed to read.”
“You will. Let me know what you figure out.”
Henry kissed him sweetly before turning to go back upstairs. Sawyer didn’t want to let him go. “Eduard,” Sawyer said. “Go with him please?”
Eduard nodded. He stepped closer to Sawyer and cupped his cheeks. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Eduard kissed his forehead and followed Henry upstairs.
He turned to Andvari and Loch next. “Will you check in with everyone? See if anything’s going on. I figure with that display earlier, our guards may need some time with the two of you. Reassure them, okay?”
Andvari and Loch both nodded. “We will be back soon.”
Draco stood with Saeward, his hand around Ward’s shoulder, holding him close as he spoke quietly.
“Hey,” Sawyer said.
Ward turned his attention to Sawyer.
“Go for a swim. I’ll be out soon, okay? Draco, stay with him please.”
Draco started to protest, but Sawyer sent him a sharp glare and he nodded.
Within moments, he’d cleared the room of all but himself and Cecil.
“They won’t stay away long,” Cecil said gently.
“Good, because I don’t want them too. Question, did I make you promise not to tell me when I was right about something? So if I say, I’m the god of metal, can you say yes?”
“Yes.”
“So am I?”
“Yes, Sawyer.”
“Right. The raven thing threw me off. I mean, birds equal air, you know?”
“Not always.”
“I suppose.” Sawyer drummed his fingers against the counter. “I’m missing something.”
Cecil smiled and took another sip of his bourbon.
“Smug is not a good look on you, Sissylt.”
Cecil shrugged, coy as ever.
“I just want answers.”
Cecil turned and glanced outside. A raven squawked loudly, drawing Sawyer’s attention. The trees were alive with them once more, but this time, he was comforted by their presence. Cecil turned to him and he got another of those significant looks. “So ask the questions.”
Sawyer drummed the counter again, a steady rhythm. He took a drink of his smoothie before taking the glass with him outside. He looked up, then back at Cecil, then back at the birds again. “I have questions.”
One of the ravens, a large one flew toward him and Sawyer put out his arm in time for it to land on him. His sister relied on her hellhounds for so much, but they were shifters. Meshaq was a man as well as a hellhound. He could be spoken to, and he could answer.
“I don’t know the questions. And I don’t know how this works. But I really need some help. Can you help me?”
<
br /> The bird cawed in his face before flying away.
Sawyer wasn’t sure what to expect. He kept looking at the sky, as if some miracle answer would fall from the heavens and land on his head. A big thunk and he’d have the answers. And probably a headache. But it would be worth it.
Cecil stood beside him, shoulder to shoulder.
“You hate this, don’t you?” Sawyer asked.
Cecil leaned into him slightly. “I love seeing you happy. And your mates make you happy. For all that has happened, I would not change your happiness.”
Sawyer grunted. “Not worth it if it has caused so many others so much pain.”
“Their journeys are their own. You cannot control the threads of fate, just as your brother cannot force you to hide away here and wait for him to come to you.”
Sawyer arched a brow and turned to look at Cecil, who studiously avoided meeting his gaze.
“The weather has grown quite warm,” Cecil said.
Sawyer put his hand on Cecil’s shoulder and squeezed before taking another pull on his drink. “You’re right, you know. I’m tired of being on the defensive. I need to do something.”
“Ahh, good. And I believe— yes, I believe your request for answers has been delivered. You have company.”
“Wait? What? How? Where?”
Cecil went back into the house, but not before Sawyer saw his smirk.
“I saw that! Don’t be smug, Cecil. It’ll give you wrinkles.”
He’d spend more time glaring, but Saeward emerged from the pool, all dripping wet and sexy and Sawyer could no more keep his attention on Cecil than a fly could avoid honey. Some things were impossible.
“Sawyer,” Saeward said. His eyes widened, but not with fear. With excitement? But not sexy times excitement, either.
“What’s wrong?”
“She’s coming. I can feel her.”
And about that time, Sawyer felt it, too. If he’d been paying attention and not so busy glaring at his obnoxious oldest friend in the universe, he’d have noticed.
“She is. You want to meet her?”
Saeward grabbed his hand and held on. “Yes?”
“Come with me, then.”
Sawyer tugged Saeward along, waving Draco away as they stepped into the woods once more. His little clearing was becoming a special place, even if when Gamayun had asked, he’d said it wasn’t. But now it had been visited by two of his sisters. That kind of power left a mark.
“My brother,” Anuket said as she emerged from the trees.
Saeward trembled beside him.
“Annie, please meet my mate, Saeward.”
She smiled at him as he dropped to a knee and bowed his head. She touched him, running her hand over his head before looking at Sawyer with a scowl. He nodded, understanding that she was picking up on Ward’s troubled past.
“Rise, Guardian. You have honored our element and I am pleased to call you one of mine.”
Saeward blushed. “Thank you. And, um, thank you for your brother.”
She grinned. “I’m not sure I had anything to do with that, but you’re welcome. Love him well, my hippocamp.”
“Yes, my goddess.”
“Go on back to your dragon now. He paces and it’s making me nervous.”
Saeward glanced at Sawyer, who nodded, and then he ran back to the yard. They heard the splash of the pool a moment later.
“Damn, that was intense,” Sawyer said. “Annie, I need a favor.”
“I will do nothing for you if you insist on calling me that obnoxious nickname.”
“But I like it. It’s sweet. Come on.”
“Just because you have a new name doesn’t mean we all wish for a new one.”
“Fine. I’ll call you Anuket. But only because it’s a great name.”
She laughed. “You really must want this favor.”
Sawyer glanced back to the yard. He couldn’t see Ward, but knew his mate swam furiously as he processed his emotions.
“I want it more than anything, and that’s saying something right now.”
“Sawyer?” Anuket asked. The teasing smile was gone from her face.
“The one who hurt him is one of yours. I want him to pay for what he did. He hurt my mate, and for that, he needs to pay.”
She grinned, and it was no longer the sweet water sister who’d make you think of a gentle spring rain. No, this was a thunderstorm, maybe even a hurricane. “Consider it done.”
Sawyer breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn’t exactly go hunt down the asshole himself, but knowing his sister had his back was enough. “Thank you. My mates… they’re everything, you know?”
“It is as it should be, brother.”
“I can’t help it. I mean, one guy shouldn’t be so blessed, you know? I mean, I guess I planned it that way, but it just feels like it happened. Like they were supposed to be mine and they were. And I can’t imagine being without any of them. Isn’t that crazy?”
“You babble, Sawyer, as you used to as a child. I’ve missed it.”
And the word struck a chord, one that might as well have sounded a gong inside his head.
“I babble like a brook. Just like Mama Thea.”
His sister at least had the courtesy to look away.
“Oh my Goddess, Annie! You totally interfered when you weren’t supposed to.”
She scoffed. “Did you really think I would allow my baby brother to fall into the hands of someone who would not treat him well? You asked too much of me, my brother. And our sister sent you your dog when you needed one. I don’t hear you fussing at her, do I?”
Sawyer grinned and leaned into her. “No.”
“I could no more leave you alone and afraid than I could stop the seasons from changing.”
“How’d it happen?” Sawyer asked.
Anuket sighed. “I often hear the prayers of my kind, their thoughts and wishes sent into the ether. When I can, I assist. Oftentimes, it is not for me to intervene, but sometimes, exceptions can be made, especially for one who is pure of heart.”
“Which Mama Thea totally was.”
“She was selfless. When she discovered… Mikey, I believe is his name?”
“Yeah. That’s my big brother.”
“Her prayer was to give up her meager powers to help him better control his. He’d seen her and reacted. She begged for help for a child that wasn’t even hers, a stranger who she could have easily walked away from and forgotten.”
Sawyer couldn’t help the tears that formed in his eyes. “Yeah, that sounds like her.”
“I answered her prayer. And then made sure the waters flowed correctly so he was given into her care. When she needed help with his gift, I made sure she found a coven to assist.”
“Wow. You really went all out, didn’t you?”
She shrugged. “His is a unique ability. His powers fall under my purview. Did you know that?”
“No. Then why haven’t you helped him! Our brother attacked one of yours.”
“He is at peace and in no danger.”
Sawyer growled and dropped his head. He breathed deeply for a moment. “I need him better, Annie. Please.”
“It will be done when the time is right, Sawyer. Shall I finish my tale or do you grow bored?”
“Bored? Really. Come on. On what planet are you ever boring?”
She grinned at him and he knew he’d managed to get back into her good graces.
“A short time later, I do not know the human time, I received another prayer. This one came in a storm that held much power. I recognized her prayer, of course, and wondered what she’d discovered. When I heard of the new child, the lion who was so broken, I intervened again. Our mother was most displeased with me.”
“Thank you for helping them,” Sawyer said.
She shrugged. “It was only natural when you finally returned, that I asked a favor in return for the blessings I’d bestowed upon her. And she did it with unfettered joy, brother. She loved you with all of her heart.
You and the other two as well.”
“Yeah, I know that.”
“She was taken too soon,” Anuket said sadly. “But accidents do happen. I thought perhaps it had been some other force. I worried over you so much. But both of our sisters aided me and we didn’t find a trace of any other involvement.”
“That… I’d been afraid of that, deep down inside.”
“I know.”
“What about…Papa? Was he?”
“No. Thea’s husband was human. He was as pure a spirit as his wife, though. I made sure of it before I left you in their care.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled and touched his face. “Brother, I fear for you now. The time grows near.”
“I know. And the last guardian, he’s one of yours, too.”
“He is.”
“I’ll get him.”
“I know you will.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
Sawyer held out his arm and one of the ravens flew down to him.
“What’s your animal? I have ravens. Our sister has hellhounds.”
“I have the orcas,” Anuket replied.
“Oh.”
“Why do you sound disappointed, my brother?”
“I don’t know. I was expecting something out there or something. Like the kraken maybe. That would have been a good one.”
She laughed and a little rain began to fall.
“You are fanciful, Sawyer. Always have been, always will be.”
“I try.”
“So what’s your guide like?”
She hesitated for a moment, obviously surprised by his question. There was something there, something he didn’t know. It was one of the keys. Sawyer was sure of it. Instead of answering, she held out her arm and a crash of thunder sounded. A glowing bird landed on her arm a moment later.
“Dammit. Another bird!”
“You do not like my thunderbird?” Anuket asked.
“Well, I mean, I like it. It’s fricking cool. And is that actual lightning sort of flying him around because I’m human and that’ll leave a mark.”
“I will not allow harm to befall you.”