The Chosen One Universe Volume Three: An MM Paranormal Fantasy Shifters Series

by Macy Blake

  “Cure him?” Sawyer asked as he slipped the metal barrier shielding Draco away. “From what?”

  Draco stood, only somewhat shakily and moved closer to him. He held something weird in his hand— Sawyer honestly had no idea what it was— but it didn’t matter. Whatever had dared touch the blood of his mate had been destroyed. Now that he knew how, it seemed so simple.

  All of it was simple really. The only thing that wouldn’t be easy would be leaving his mates behind.

  “No!”

  Draco smiled and took his place at Sawyer’s side. “Took you long enough, love.”

  “Sorry. Something shiny distracted me.”

  Draco smirked, knowing better, and dropped his arm around Sawyer’s shoulder. “So what are we going to do with this asshole now?”

  “Do with him? Nothing. Well, I mean, I’m taking all the magic he has away from him at the moment. He’s almost on empty and hasn’t even noticed. Shouldn’t steal other people’s magic, Palinourous. Your blood doesn’t like it, and blood is apparently, my thing.”

  It was no wonder, really, that there wasn’t a record of Sawyer and what he could do. All of the hints about blood magic were dark and deadly. Secret things done only by the worst sort of desperate creatures. It wasn’t really the case, though. Sure, it was bad in the wrong hands, but that’s why what he could do was truly rare. That’s why his element didn’t have a place in the awen. His magic wasn’t for balance. His job was different.

  He forged bonds. That’s what metal did. That’s what mating did. It made sense, when he thought about it. His bond with his mates would always be there, even if he couldn’t be. That’s the strength of what he did, what they’d made. They would find a way. They had to. And it wouldn’t be perfect, but it would be theirs.

  Their friends dispatched the rest of Palinourous’s attackers more quickly than Sawyer anticipated. But they stepped in, surrounding him, forming a wide circle that trapped Palinourous in the center.

  And still, Sawyer tugged at that power, reforming it inside him, feeling it settle beneath his skin and pump through his blood.

  Palinourous tried to stop the flow. The stolen magic within him responded to his call, but Sawyer’s magic continued syphoning it away. “No!”

  “You can’t keep doing this,” Sawyer said. “It’s done.”

  Palinourous charged him, but Sawyer simply moved his hand. Metal flew up from the ground and wrapped around his brother’s legs, pinning him in place.

  “Sawyer?” Draco asked.

  “I’m okay.”

  But he wasn’t. Not really. The amount of magic flowing into him couldn’t be contained. Not by one person. Even as his brother’s magic faded, Sawyer’s body refused to bolster twice the magic he’d been meant to hold.

  This must have been why he hid the magic away in the first place. Past him had tried taking it but couldn’t hold it either. Dividing it between his eight future mates, though, put a bandaid on the issue. Until now.

  He desperately tried to think of a clue, even as his mates and their family and friends protected him from any further attacks. Not that there were many attackers left. He could feel them out in the trees, magic fluctuating as his own grew. And then he remembered. The mother had given him a clue. “Focus on the beginning and the end.”

  “What about them?” Dakota asked, his voice rough with strain. The pull of magic wasn’t easy for his mates, either. It had hurt them before, when it ricocheted back into them. Sawyer wished he could make it easier for them now, but he could only hold it tight to him.

  “What?” Sawyer asked, suddenly realizing what Dakota had said.

  “You asked about Meshaq and Drew. What about them?”

  Sawyer gasped. “The alpha and the omega. The beginning and the end.”

  “Sawyer,” Dakota barked. “What are you thinking?”

  “Stay with me,” Sawyer yelled. He tightened his hold on the magic fighting to be free while continuing to block his brother’s attempts to pull it back away. The magic wanted to be back where it belonged. Half to him, and half to his brother. It was too tangled together, though. Mating and fertility magic, metal and air, not meant to be entwined, and yet a perfect pairing.

  “Meshaq!”

  The alpha fought in his hellhound form as he flipped a dark, slithering something or other over his back. It landed with a crunch of bones and didn’t move. Sawyer shivered at the sight of him. “Meshaq. Get Drew. Hurry.”

  Something in Sawyer’s eyes must have shown his urgency because Meshaq didn’t argue. A portal formed. He leapt through it, returning seconds later with Drew gasping at his side.

  “You wondered why you were special,” Sawyer said. “Now I know. The Mother had plans for you all along. Two powerful creatures, unlike anything we’ve seen for as long as we can remember. The perfect representation of mating and fertility. An Alpha and his Omega.”

  Meshaq snarled as he transformed back into his human form.

  “I brought my mate into a battlefield of god-magic, Sawyer. Tell us what you need.”

  “How do you feel about being gods?”

  Meshaq grabbed Drew and pushed him behind his broad back. “What?”

  “It’s time,” Sawyer said. “It’s time to end this. I can’t contain both my brother’s power and my own. It’s too intermingled. Metal and air shouldn’t go together. But they can if they’re already mated. The Mother knew it would work. She told me.”

  Drew stuck his head out from behind Meshaq’s back. “That’s why she sent us to all the realms on our own. She wanted them all to see us in person.”

  “Yes,” Sawyer said. “But I need to do this. I need somewhere for this power to go. I can’t… I can’t hold it. It’ll go back to him and then he’ll have some of mine as well.”

  “Drew is human,” Meshaq snarled. “He can’t—“

  “He can,” Sawyer said.

  “Do it,” Drew said.

  “What?” Meshaq turned to his mate and pulled him close.

  “I trust her,” Drew said softly. “I really do. She gave me you.”

  Meshaq looked into his mate’s eyes for a long minute. The strain began to be too much, but they needed to agree. Sawyer needed them to agree.

  “Do it,” Meshaq said.

  Sawyer pulled the rest of the power away from his mates and his brother in a rush, ripping it free before pouring the magic into its new vessels. Neither Meshaq nor Drew hesitated as the power built inside them.

  When it finally finished, Sawyer dropped to his knees. His mates hurried to surround him.

  “Holy crap,” Drew said softly.

  The clearing began to glow, and Meshaq and Drew were the center of the new light. They held onto each other as power swirled around them, sinking into them and finding acceptance. Their place. Alpha and omega. Mating and fertility. Together.

  Around them, the battle ended. Even Palinourous knew it was over. He didn’t have any power left. Sawyer had taken it all and given it to its new owners.

  “What did you do?” Dakota demanded.

  “I skinned the cat.” Sawyer laughed and fell back into his mate. “I found another way to skin the cat.”

  The creatures who fought for his brother soon realized that they’d chosen the losing side of the fight. They scattered, leaving Sawyer alone with his mates and their family and friends.

  Palinourous turned to him and the hate in his eyes struck a chord deep in Sawyer’s soul. He’d ended it the best way he knew how, making them both human once more. Both equals. But his brother still had hate in his heart. Still thirsted for power and revenge.

  A sudden roar broke through the clearing. Sawyer turned to see a blur of golden fur rushing across the grass.

  “No!”

  His mates began to react, but they were too slow. Nick, in his lion form, tore through the remaining creatures surrounding his brother before he grabbed Palinourous by the throat. One swift pull and it was over.

  Life left Palinourous’s eyes an
d he fell to the ground, his throat torn out.

  Nick roared, and the sound shook the clearing. He transformed back and stared down at the body of the person he’d just killed before turning to look at his Sawyer.

  “You’re not a murderer, baby brother, but there was no way I was letting him walk away again. He hurt me and mine, and he wasn’t going to get another chance.”

  “Nick...” Sawyer wanted to argue, but in his heart, he knew Nick was right. He stumbled forward until he was at Nick’s side.

  “I know you’re mad, but I couldn’t let him walk away, Sawyer. Please understand. Jedrek felt the call to come and… I had to do this. I hope you’ll forgive me one day.”

  Sawyer threw his arms around Nick’s waist and squeezed. He wouldn’t say it was okay. It wasn’t. But Nick wasn’t wrong, either. Palinourous wouldn’t have stopped. He’d have found a way.

  Ravens began to circle overheard, screeching out their praise at the victory. Sawyer glanced up at them, sad to lose their call, when one flew down toward him. He held out his arm, and it landed there before cawing at him.

  “You belong to Meshaq now,” Sawyer said.

  He’d never actually had a bird look at him like he was an idiot until that moment. “What?”

  The raven cawed again before flying away.

  “Hellhounds do not have an affinity for birds,” Solomon scoffed from behind him. “My pack will continue to be Meshaq’s to call.”

  “But… they’re your pack now, right? You’re the alpha.”

  Nick patted Sawyer’s arm, one of those you’re so sweet but so, so dumb kind of pats. “He’s the alpha of alphas, Sawyer.”

  “That doesn’t really explain—“

  “Just go with it,” Nick said. “I think the birds are yours to keep.”

  “They can’t be mine. I don’t have—“

  Another pat cut him off. Sawyer narrowed his eyes at Nick. “What?”

  “Don’t be stupid, little brother.”

  “What?”

  Sawyer really would have loved an explanation, but Drew’s sudden shriek had him throwing out his hands and… pulling shards of metal from the ground as a shield. “What?”

  He shouldn’t be able to do that still. He’d given his power away. He should be human, null again. Or something. Right?

  Meshaq, on the other hand, had reacted to Drew’s yell by swooping his mate up and run through a portal. The cheater.

  Seconds later, they were back and the lecture Drew was yelling at his mate had several of them turning away and hiding their smiles.

  “What happened?” Sawyer asked.

  “Snake,” Drew explained. “I hate… huh… weird.”

  “What?” Meshaq asked, still holding Drew safely in his arms.

  “I don’t hate snakes.”

  They looked down at the grass where a three-foot-long black snake lay at Meshaq’s feet. “Yes, you do,” Meshaq replied. “I do…too…. Huh…Weird.”

  “Right?” Drew asked.

  “Will someone please say something besides huh and weird?”

  “What was your brother’s animal to call, Sawyer? You have the ravens? What was his?”

  “Oh it was… huh, weird,” Sawyer replied.

  Drew reached over and thumped Sawyer on the head. “Stop that.”

  “What? You did it!”

  “Yeah, well, I’m me and you’re you. So stop.”

  “Fine. His animal was serpents. So, snakes.”

  “Weird.” Drew stared down at the snake and before looking up with a smile. “He’s nice. But he wondered if we could make sure the remaining aswangs cleared the woods because they eat snakes apparently.”

  Meshaq growled. “Fucking aswangs. We’ll take care of it.”

  The snake slithered away. Sawyer’s raven cawed at him from the branches of a nearby tree. “I’m not an idiot. Shut up.”

  The raven cawed again.

  Sawyer pretended not to hear him. “I’m going to go check on my mates. You guys are okay?”

  Drew flexed his fingers and little sparks began to form on the tips. “Yep. I think I’m going to need a little training.”

  “My sisters will help you both,” Sawyer promised. “My mother, too.”

  Another giant roar sounded, and this time, Sawyer found himself surrounded by all of his mates. “Um, guys?”

  “Vampires, guard!” Andvari yelled.

  “Dragons, in the air,” Draco yelled.

  “Guys!” Sawyer yelled.

  “What?” Draco and Andvari said at the same time, both equally annoyed at his interruption.

  “Don’t bark at me. It’s just Byakko. I think he’s… well, he’s come to take Meshaq and Drew to the god realm.”

  The tiger bounded through the trees and made his way to Sawyer’s side, nudging his mates out of the way. Sawyer touched his guide’s face, looking into his fathomless glowing eyes. “You belong to them now, don’t you?”

  He didn’t need an answer. He already knew it. His place was no longer in the god realm. His place was with his mates.

  Byakko bumped his head into Sawyer’s belly then turned and bounded over to Meshaq and Drew. They looked at the tiger then back to Sawyer.

  “I guess it’s time to go,” Drew said softly.

  “It is,” Sawyer replied. “Don’t worry. My mother and sisters will take care of you.”

  Meshaq wrapped his arm around his mate and held him close. “I still don’t understand what’s going on but… I’ll guard your power wisely, Chosen One. Balance has been restored. I can feel it.”

  Sawyer smiled. “I feel it, too. Go on.”

  They disappeared in a glow of light and the clearing grew silent.

  “What just happened?” Pip asked. “I’m so confused.”

  “Sawyer gave it away,” Henry explained. “He’s not a god anymore.”

  “I never was a god,” Sawyer said slowly. “I mean, old me was, sure. But this me, this me is human. And yours. That’s all I want.”

  His mates circled around him and held him close. His magic may be gone— mostly, and he’d need to think about that later— but his bond with his mates held true. He’d been afraid it wouldn’t, that losing his mating magic would mean losing his mates. He should have known better.

  “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starving,” Draco griped. “Blood loss will do that to a guy. Asher! Get your ass over here.”

  His cousin landed beside him and transformed with a scowl. “What?”

  Draco held out the thing in his hand. Asher paled and took it.

  “Quillon.”

  “Yep. I know it’s not going to heal his wounds, but at least he knows that it can’t be used for harm any more.”

  “Thank you, cousin.”

  “You’re welcome. Now get back to your mates. I’m sure they’re both losing their minds.”

  “You guys come to the house,” Sawyer said. “I think a party is in order.”

  The hellhounds opened portals and everyone began walking through. Only Sawyer and his mates remained behind.

  “I want… I need to bury him,” Sawyer said softly. “I know he’s… well, he deserves that much at least. He was bad but… he was still my brother.”

  “Yes, he was.”

  The mother goddess stepped from behind the trees. “You boys go on home,” she said. “I need a few minutes with my son.”

  His mates hesitated.

  “It’s okay,” Sawyer said. “I’ll be home soon.”

  The mother’s stag moved from the trees. His mates followed it and disappeared.

  “I didn’t want him to die,” Sawyer whispered. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” she replied. Moving closer to him, she took his hand in hers and squeezed it. “Your brother chose his path. We gave him too many chances to change his ways. Our decisions were… selfish at best.”

  Sawyer considered all of the people Palinourous had hurt over the years. “I wish I could have stopped him sooner.”

/>   “Oh, my boy, that wasn’t your job. It was mine. He was my son, though, and I was weak.”

  “Mother—“

  “Oh, Sawyer. I could have ended this ages ago and I chose not to. I left it to your hands and… I shouldn’t have. So many have suffered because I could not take the action that needed to be taken. But you, my brave, foolish boy, decided to save me from myself.”

  “You knew what I did had messed up our magic.”

  “Yes,” she confessed.

  “And you knew that if I did what I had to do and took it back, that it would destroy us both.”

  “Yes.”

  “So you found a way.”

  “When your magic started returning, I felt it. I knew I was out of time to act. But then I found Drew. And it all made sense. Don’t you see? The universe has a way of correcting things on its own. Power imbalances never last. The pendulum swings one way, then the other, but always settles back in the middle.”

  “D-does this mean I don’t get to see you anymore?” Sawyer asked.

  “Oh, sweet boy. I will never give you up. Although my meddling will need to cease. I’ve done enough damage. It’s time to let the new generation take over. Your sisters are ready, and they will make sure Meshaq and Drew are ready as well.”

  “Let’s… say goodbye to him.” Sawyer couldn’t look at the body lying on the ground beside them.

  “Yes. Let’s send him back and set him free.”

  Magic filled the air and a bright glow formed all around them. Palinourous’s body turned to dust and then the wind picked up the pieces and carried him away. A fitting end for the former god of air.

  “And now, I’m going to take my leave. Go to your mates, my boy. Enjoy them. You haven’t fulfilled your destiny just yet.”

  With a twinkle of her eyes, she disappeared. “Hey! How am I supposed to get back?”

  The ground rumbled beneath him and a familiar looking staff emerged from the ground. It looked a lot the one he’d been banged in the head with during his visit to the… Dactyls. “Wait. Am I… am I an old one now? Dude, seriously?”

  Sawyer cackled and plucked the staff out of the ground. It warmed in his hand. He did a little dance before tapping it on the ground. “Take me to Draco,” he commanded.