by Macy Blake
Sawyer grinned and let Nick pull him into a one-armed hug. It put him face to face with one of his brother’s victims. Sawyer stared at Robin, locking her sweet features into his memory. This was why he fought. She didn’t deserve what Palinouros had done to her. None of them did. He had to be stopped. And Sawyer was apparently the one person who could do it.
Nick and Jedrek left soon after. Pip’s mom wasn’t letting him out of her sight for the time being so Sawyer went to seek out the only guardian who hadn’t remained in the room with them after their return.
He found Dakota outside staring into the woods he’d haunted for so many weeks.
“Dakota?”
“What?”
Sawyer sighed. The slight chip in Dakota’s armor had obviously been firmly returned to its place.
“I wish you’d just yell at me and get it over with,” Sawyer said. “This cold shoulder thing is getting old.”
Dakota turned to him, and finally, the underlying anger in his gaze was right there for Sawyer to see.
“You want me mad?” Dakota asked. The challenge was obvious.
“Yeah.”
Before Sawyer could think, Dakota had him by the neck and slammed him against the side of the house. The vampire guards came running, but Sawyer held out a hand to stop them from intervening. They needed to do this.
“You know nothing,” Dakota hissed.
“Agreed. I know nothing.”
Dakota growled and squeezed his neck again. He didn’t speak, though, and Sawyer knew he needed to push harder.
“You wanna hurt me? Is that gonna fix this? Go ahead. Do it.”
Dakota shook him. “Shut up.”
“Make me.”
Dakota growled and shoved him back again. His head hit the wall and Sawyer saw stars for a moment.
“At least tell me what I did before you beat the crap out of me, okay?”
Dakota froze for a moment before he moved his hand turned away. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“But you want to.”
“I really want to,” Dakota said.
“Why?”
He turned again and backed Sawyer up against the wall once more. They breathed each others’ air, both of them panting, but for different reasons. Sawyer was still trying to recover from the tight hold Dakota had on him moments before. But Dakota… he was so very mad.
“What is your power, Sawyer?”
“Metal,” Sawyer replied.
“No. That is your element. What is your power?”
Sawyer frowned. He had no idea. “I don’t know.”
“Exactly. Look around, oh Chosen One. What do you think your gift is?” Dakota flung his hand out toward the house. He had so much love for him inside, friends, family, mates.
“People like me?” Sawyer asked.
“Such an idiot.”
Sawyer shoved Dakota’s chest, forcing him to take a step back. “Tell me.”
“Mating, asshole. Mating is your power.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Exactly. Why do you fucking think most of our kind can’t find their mates? Because you fucked off with all the power and basically fucked over every single one of our kind. Oh, except those lucky few I guess. But the rest of them? Fucked over. All because you threw your power away without thinking of the consequences.”
“I don’t… I don’t understand.”
“Of course, you don’t. What a surprise. Can you say anything except I don’t know or I don’t understand?”
“Stop being a fucking asshole,” Sawyer snapped. “I don’t know why I made the decisions that I made before. I’m trying to do my best now.”
“Bullshit. You’re being cautious, letting your mates guide you. You’re the one who has to fix this shit. Of course, why would you bother? You have all of your mates now. Fuck everyone else.”
Sawyer ignored Dakota’s accusation and tried to think. Mating. The amount of mates had been rare for a long time. He’d said so to the mother that night on the beach. It was all connected. But the dial hadn’t been turned down slowly as he’d originally thought. No, he’d turned it down on his own when he made the decision he made.
“Is the fertility thing my fault, too?”
“Such an idiot.”
“Answer the damn question.”
The ground began to rumble. The ravens swirled around. Sawyer forced himself to calm down.
“No, your highness. You handled mating; your brother handled fertility. You fucked it all up, though, didn’t you?”
The your highness thing pushed Sawyer one step too far. He used one of the many skills Andvari had taught him and swiped Dakota’s feet out from under him. He hit the ground with an oomph of pain. Sawyer shook his head and walked away.
“Where are you going?” Dakota asked.
Sawyer ignored him and moved to the edge of the trees. The ravens cawed, and he looked up at them. There weren’t any answers hiding in their sounds, though. Not this time.
“Sawyer,” Dakota said.
“What?”
“Where are you going?”
“Go inside, Dakota. You wanted to hurt me. You did. That was your one shot. You don’t get another.”
“Sawyer.”
“You think putting your hands on me hurt? No. Letting me know that all this is actually my fault, that people have suffered for years, longed for mates they never found and children they couldn’t have all happened because of a decision I made? That hurts, Dakota. Mission accomplished. Now I need to think, and I can’t do that when all I want to do is scream.”
“So scream.”
Sawyer sucked in a breath, and then blew it out. “That won’t fix this. I have to figure out how to fix it, and me losing control isn’t going to be how it happens. I need to think.”
Dakota ignored him and stepped beside Sawyer before leaning back against one of the trees. “It was stupid, what you did.”
“So you’ve said. Several times. I get it.”
“But you were trying to save the Mother.”
“Woo hoo. I saved her. But look at the cost.”
“I have. Believe me, I have.”
Dakota pulled out his phone and pushed a few buttons before turning it around. A photo was on display. A younger Dakota surrounded by a half dozen kids. One of them had wings, just like Robin. They all looked haunted, and even though they were surrounded by dust and boxes and looked like they were in some abandoned building, something in their faces showed relief.
“You saved them.”
“Yeah. They’re all messed up, though. Still. They’re a work in progress.”
“And it’s my fault,” Sawyer said. He wished he could go back in time and yell at his former self, demand that he make a different decision. There was no way he’d known the consequences would be this. No way. He couldn’t have known what was at stake and made the choices he’d made.
“Maybe. A little. Fuck, I’ve blamed you for a long time. You and your brother both. Ever since the first vision I had of you. I knew this was on you. Then I saw you laughing and smiling with your mates and…”
“It made you mad. I get it.”
“I need you to make this right, Sawyer.”
“I will,” Sawyer vowed.
“How?”
“I don’t know. But I will. I’ll figure it out. I’m close. I can feel it. I have my mates and my guide.”
Dakota reached for Sawyer and rubbed his thumb over Sawyer’s neck. It was probably pretty red still from the hold he’d had on Sawyer earlier. “Sorry.”
“No more, okay?” Sawyer asked.
“No more,” Dakota agreed. “I want to help make this right.”
Sawyer took a breath and tried to make sure his next words demonstrated the true depths of his feelings. He needed Dakota to understand. “That’s all I want. Whatever it takes, I want to make things right.”
The next moment passed with Sawyer holding his breath. He didn’t know why he was so desperate for Dakota to beli
eve him, but he did need it. More than he realized. So when Dakota pulled him close and wrapped his arms around Sawyer, Sawyer was finally able to breathe once more.
The final words of the prophecy bounced into his mind even as he breathed in Dakota’s scent. The chosen one brings strength and balance, for peace and love to survive. And that’s what this was going to be, Sawyer realized. A battle for survival. But there was more to this than Sawyer knew. Dakota had been right to say he didn’t know and didn’t understand. Because this was about more than winning a battle. Sawyer needed to win the war.
Stop at Nothing
Chosen One Book Five
Copyright © 2020 by Macy Blake
All rights reserved.
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Cover and symbols designed by Alexandria Corza, www.seeingstatic.com
Formatting by Leslie Copeland, LesCourt Author Services
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No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
It took a village to write this series. For Mary, Casey, Sam, and Melissa. Thanks for holding my hand and making me keep going. Words happen because of my sprint team. I couldn't do this without you (you know who you are!). For Bruce, who talks me off the ledge every morning and convinces me that I can do this. And for Elija, who means the world to me. And Alex, who designs the most amazing artwork for me. Thanks for putting up with me for nearly twenty years.
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And last but not least, for Amy and Charlie, the sisters of my heart. I love you more than my Vera.
Sawyer
Blood dripped down Sawyer’s face. The rest of his body grew more numb by the second, but those warm, wet drops rolled over his cheek and down his neck, his only connection to reality. Light filtered through the trees, revealing more of the dark figures he hadn’t been expecting. How could he have been so stupid? He’d underestimated Palinourous once again, and this time, he’d paid a cost greater than he’d ever considered.
His guardians lay on the ground around him. He couldn’t tell if they were alive or dead. He was afraid to look, even if he’d been able to move. He tried, though. Goddess, he tried. Even though he’d never known such gut-wrenching fear, he tried. He choked out Draco’s name, but for the first time in his life, he didn’t get a response.
Dark magic built, surrounding them all. It wouldn’t be long before he lost the remaining hold on his powers. He’d managed a shield of sorts around them, but his tenuous hold on his magic waned with each passing second. Then Palinourous would have it all.
It had been his plan all along, of course. So obvious once Sawyer realized. He’d thought the plan hadn’t changed: go after the Mother and take her place. But of course, his brother was more clever than he’d given him credit for. He always had a plan B. Always.
A sudden roar broke through the silence and bright white light formed all around him. Byakko.
“No.”
Sawyer tried to warn him away, but his guide wasn’t having any of it. He ran toward Sawyer, and Sawyer remembered the first time he’d seen his tiger, not so long ago. Byakko had pounced on him then, covering Sawyer’s body with his, shielding him, protecting him, even though Sawyer hadn’t understood at the time. Byakko did the same now, but this time, it was in a futile attempt to keep Sawyer safe. It wouldn’t work.
“Byakko,” Sawyer groaned. “Go home.”
The tiger had a mind of his own, though, as well as a millennium of experience and knowledge that Sawyer couldn’t even begin to fathom. Byakko’s magic built once more, and Sawyer realized what his guide dared to try.
“No,” Sawyer groaned again. “No.”
He wished he could go back to those first moments with his guide. He wished he could have his mates around him again. He wanted to see Dakota’s scowl, and Pip’s beaming smile as he realized what they were to him.
The darkness gathered, battering against Byakko’s defenses. His guide was his last hope, and yet there was no hope for him anymore. But he could see the depths of power in Byakko’s brilliant blue gaze. A pulse of energy bounded through him, and Sawyer disappeared.
Three Days Earlier
“Someone needs to save him,” Henry whispered urgently.
Sawyer glanced toward Pip, but the newest guardian didn’t seem to need saving. He sat on the couch beside his mother. She had her arm around him and held his head pressed tightly to her… oh. Maybe he did need to be rescued. He turned to look at his vampire mate, who happened to not only be an expert swordsman but also excellent at martial arts. If anyone could….
“No way,” Andvari said. “I’m not going over there. Have you lost your mind?”
“Not it,” Draco said.
“In your dreams,” Eduard added.
“You do it,” Saeward urged. “You’re cute. She’ll like you.”
“As if,” Sawyer scoffed. “Do you see the death glares she’s sending me?”
“I think she wants to hug us, too,” Henry whispered. “It’s dangerous over there.”
Dakota growled beneath his breath. “Is this really what the universe has in store for me?”
Seven pairs of eyes turned to him.
“Yep,” Sawyer said smugly.
“Fine. I’ll go. But only because… of reasons.”
Dakota gave Sawyer a significant look before gently touching the back of his head as he walked away.
“What did he mean by that?” Draco growled.
“We got in a fight earlier. I’m fine, but… he was mad. I’ll tell you later.”
Draco took a step toward Dakota’s retreating back, but Sawyer grabbed his arm. “Stop.”
“If he hurt you, I will gut him.”
Sawyer groaned and wrapped his arms around Draco’s waist. “I love it when you’re all growly and protective. However, Dakota and I worked it out. We took a big step forward, okay? We just had to fight it out. If he’d really hurt me, I’d tell you.”
Loch stepped out of the shadows and pushed against Sawyer’s back. “If he’d really hurt you, he would be dead already.”
Draco and Loch shared a smug look.
Sawyer ignored them and watched as Dakota made his way across the room to Pip and his mother. A few tense words were spoken before Dakota turned around and walked away. He stopped in front of Sawyer, a confused frown on his face. “She said no.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I told her we needed to speak to Pip. She said no. And then…”
“She told him to fuck off,” Andvari said with a suspiciously choked off snort. “Literally. Those were her words.”
Sawyer couldn’t help but laugh.
“Not funny,” Dakota protested.
“It’s absolutely funny,” Sawyer replied. “Henry, you try. You’re too cute for her to curse at.”
Henry scowled. “I don’t want to.”
“Please? For me?”
Henry sighed. “Fine. But you so owe me for this.”
“And I will happily pay.”
Henry grumbled but made his way across the room with his cutest smile on his face. His plan to be absolutely adorable was a total and complete failure. Pip’s mother simply snagged him by the wrist and tucked him against her other side. His face was against her ample bosom five seconds later, and she cooed to him like she did her own son.
Sawyer groaned. Now he had two mates trapped and no clue how to extricate them from her maternal clutches.
“What are you guys plotting?” Viv asked.
Sawyer tried not to shriek in terror. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”
“Um, Sawyer, you’re standing in the kitchen doorway, hovering like a criminal. Or a stalker. Or a serial killer. Very suspicious behavior.”
“You watch way too many of those murder shows.”
“Probably. But Andvari gave me a knife to hide under my pillow so
if anyone tries to kill me in my bed, I’ll be armed.”
Sawyer turned to Andvari with wide eyes. “You did what?”
Andvari glared at Viv for a moment before turning to Sawyer. “She asked.”
“And did you train her how to use it?”
“Sawyer, she’s better with a blade than I am. Pretty sure she can slice and dice without any problems. Although, fighting with a knife does require a different hold than a chef uses.”
“Training,” Sawyer insisted. “Also, she needs a security system.”
“She has one.”
“Besides, serial killers know how to disable them, Sawyer.” Viv’s tone couldn’t be more condescending if she tried. The look she was giving him equaled her tone. “Everyone knows that. Haven’t you ever watched Criminal Minds?”
“That would be a negatory.”
“Really, Viv?” Draco groaned like the pain was real. “Can you imagine him watching those shows?”
All of his mates gasped in horror.
Sawyer glared at them all. “I’m not that bad.” Andvari did his choking laugh again, and Sawyer scowled at him. “I’m not.”
“Uh-huh. Remember when we watched that show where the guy opened the window with—”
“You all need to shut it. I’m a god. I can… I can… trap you in metal.” Sawyer did, in fact, remember that particular episode. And now all of their windows were double-locked, alarmed with tamper proof security, and had additional wards on them. It was a perfectly rational response to a perfectly rational threat.
“Sure you can,” Loch said. “Go on. We’ll wait.”
Sawyer growled at him. “Besides, it’s not my fault I have a vivid imagination. Ever since I watched that Exorcist movie, I’ve never been the same.”
“The pea soup thing?” Eduard asked.
“Totally.”
“Same. But back to the problem at hand. We should figure out how to mount a rescue mission.”
“Rescue mission?” Viv asked.