by Macy Blake
“Stop what, Nick! Stop worrying about Mikey? That’s not going to happen, asshole.”
“Stop blaming yourself.”
“Why? It’s my fault.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “Get over yourself, Sawyer.”
“I can’t get over myself, Nick. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have let Mikey anywhere near me. Not when everything is so….” Sawyer waved his hand around, trying to encompass just how crazy his life had become.
Nick leaned across the bed and grabbed Sawyer’s wrist. “Mama Thea told us both to watch over you. We swore we would, Sawyer. We’re the ones who failed, not you.”
“She didn’t know, Nick. She didn’t know what I really am or she’d never have risked you both like this.”
Nick snorted. “You’re an idiot.”
Sawyer jerked his hand away. “Really, you think she’d have wanted Mikey to face off with a freaking god? Knowing what his power was? Knowing that it would do this to him? Hmm? You actually think she’d have set him up to have his mind fried because of me?”
Nick made another of his annoyed sounds and turned back to look at Mikey. “You think I wouldn’t have put myself between you and him, too? No matter what, you’re my baby brother. She made sure I knew that. It doesn’t matter where we came from. It matters where we ended up. With her. Brothers forever, Sawyer.”
Sawyer’s eyes stung. He raised his head and looked at Nick once again.
“Say it, Sawyer. Brothers forever.” Nick laid his hand across the bed, over Mikey’s legs, and waited.
It took more seconds than it should have for Sawyer to accept. He placed his hand in Nick’s and his eyes stung even worse. “Brothers forever.”
“That’s right. Now, the coven is going to come back and try again, and if they can’t help, you can call your birth mother or whatever she is and tell her she needs to fix him.”
“It’s not that simple.”
Nick squeezed his hand. “Yeah, baby brother, it is. So chill out, and let’s see what they can do. Rowan said they were able to help last time, but couldn’t heal him completely. Maybe this time they can do a little more. We have options. Now explain to me again how you have a butler who is really a demigod? I’m still a little fuzzy on that part. I’ve had other things to think about, ya know?”
Sawyer couldn’t help his watery sniffle. He clung a little tighter to Nick’s hand before lowering his forehead to the bed. He was so tired. He’d felt so much better after spending time with his mates, after Draco fed him and coddled them all before he’d curled up around Sawyer and passed out for a couple hours.
But his energy faded so fast. Only a few hours had passed and Sawyer felt the weakness returning. He pushed it back, though, focusing on his brothers.
“Eduard is stupid rich. Like, crazy stupid rich. And I guess I kind of am now, too? Anyway, Cecil found out that Eduard had a guardian mark, so he went to work for him because he figured it was the fastest way to find me. I guess when all my powers were stripped, it meant he couldn’t just do his thing and be beside me. I don’t know. It’s pretty confusing for me, too, and there’s a lot Cecil can’t tell me. I guess other me made him promise.”
Nick gave his hand another squeeze before pulling it away. He reached for the notorious smoothie Cecil had carried in earlier and put it in Sawyer’s hand. “Drink it. Butler guy said it was important.”
“It is.”
Of course, Cecil was the only one who understood exactly what he was going through. He was the one who’d first realized that Sawyer’s human body wasn’t functioning correctly now that his powers had started to return. Sawyer didn’t even fully understand what was happening. He’d apparently made sure his memories were good and wiped clean. Yeah, he knew his mother and sisters. And yeah, he remembered his brother. But only by name and face. He understood who they were but had no memories of his past otherwise. He took a long drink, swallowing more than he wanted of the concoction. It did help, but both Sawyer and Cecil knew it wasn’t going to help for long.
“Now, since you have a bank account, I want a new truck. Oh, and one of those drone things. Oh, and maybe—”
Sawyer coughed, nearly choking on his drink. Nick laughed and leaned back in his chair. “Jerk,” Sawyer grumbled.
“Yeah, well, what else are big brothers for?”
With a shrug, Sawyer turned his attention back to Mikey. “I need him to be okay.”
“He will be.”
“How do you know?”
Nick leaned forward once more and looked into Sawyer’s eyes. He’d always believed in Nick. Nick had taken his role as big brother seriously, and Sawyer trusted him. He needed more than anything for his big brother to tell him it was going to be okay.
“Because you’re going to make sure he is. You need to do whatever it is you were sent here to do so you can power up or whatever. That’s what all this hoopla is about, right? You’ve been hiding out as a human or whatever, and now you’ve gotta claim the throne or winter will come and the rebellion will cease to exist and the snap will happen or some shit.”
“I think you’re mixing up about a million pop culture references there.”
“What the fuck do I know?” Nick said. “But I know there’s shit going down, and you’ve got shit to take care of. So get it done.”
“That simple?”
“Probably not going to be simple, little brother. But Mikey’s got me and his mates to look after him. And we’re in these wards or whatever and apparently hellhounds are good guys? I feel like I’ve been lied to for years.”
“Yeah,” Sawyer said. He couldn’t help but smile, which is exactly what Nick wanted. “They’re supposed to be evil, right?”
“I mean, it makes sense. Then again, I like this version. Nobody fucks with a hellhound. Except me. I find I like fucking a hellhound a lot.”
Sawyer groaned and Nick cackled.
“Although, I suppose god trumps alpha. I mean, really, Sawyer? Couldn’t you just like, shift into an animal like the rest of us? You’d make a great tiger. No, wait. What’s that one who chirps and is a maniac?”
Sawyer grinned again and took another drink. “No clue. Besides, I think it’s the youngest child syndrome. I’m the youngest of them, too, you know?”
“I didn’t know. But yeah, spoiled brat seems about right.”
Sawyer scowled because Nick expected it, but he could see the teasing in his brother’s eyes. “I had planned on giving you more money for the new compound, but now I think I won’t.”
It was a lie, and both of them knew it.
Nick grinned and leaned back in his chair. “Not afraid of you. Also, Eduard gave me some fancy credit card and told me not to worry about the bill. Whatever we needed, he said. No questions asked. I like that guy.”
Sawyer laughed and finally released his hold on Mikey’s hand. “Speaking of, you need to get me caught up on everything going on over there. How many kids have you found now?”
“Thirty-two.” The last few weeks had been an adventure for Nick. Not only had he recovered his shifting abilities, but he’d become the mate of a hellhound and the alpha of a ragtag group of orphans. “Come on. Let’s go and you can see what we’re working on. You haven’t been by yet.”
Sawyer pressed a quick kiss to Mikey’s forehead and Nick did the same. He followed his big brother out the door and met Asher and Quillon in the hall. Mikey’s mates were both struggling, and it broke Sawyer’s heart that he hadn’t found a solution for them.
Asher gave them a brief nod before going back to Mikey’s side. Quillon hovered in the hall. “Any updates?”
“No.”
“Keep us in the loop. And we’ll let you know if anything changes.”
They waited until the door closed behind him. Nick hooked his arm around Sawyer’s neck and dragged him outside. “Don’t get all moody on me again. Where are all of your bodyguards?”
Sawyer rolled his eyes. “I’m not moody.”
Nick snorted.
/> Sawyer sighed. “Fine. I’m a little moody. Cut me a break already would you?”
It was Nick’s turn to roll his eyes. Sawyer couldn’t really blame him. Like Nick would ever actually cut Sawyer a break. Loch appeared as soon as they stepped outside the clinic doors with Nick’s mate, Jedrek by his side. Eduard followed, typing furiously into his phone. Draco and Saeward came around the corner of the house with Henry and his younger brother Ollie between them. Andvari stood by the gate with Solomon, the new alpha of the hellhounds.
All of his mates with him. Sawyer breathed and relaxed a little.
“Come on. Jedrek will do his portal thing for us, and then he can portal you home from there. Man, I gotta tell you, I like this whole travel by portal thing. Cool, right? And, I hate to point out the obvious little brother, but none of your mates can do that.”
Sawyer laughed and tickled Nick’s ribs. His brother yelped and finally released Sawyer from his hold. “What have I told you about that?”
Sawyer grinned and darted toward Draco. His mate rolled his eyes as Sawyer ducked behind him, hiding from his brother’s wrath.
“You are ticklish?” Jedrek asked.
“No!” Nick glared at Sawyer, and Sawyer couldn’t help but grin.
“He is,” Sawyer said. “And if you really want—”
“Sawyer,” Nick growled.
“What? You’ve called me a brat about a dozen times. I figured I should at least act like one.”
“Fine,” Nick groused. “No more brat and no more talk of—” Nick wiggled his fingers in an imitation of tickling.
“Deal.”
Sawyer came out from behind Draco, and his mate pulled him into his arms. He rested his back against Draco’s wide chest and leaned into his touch.
“We’re going to go over to Nick’s for a few and check things out, okay?”
“Okay,” Draco said. “I’m curious.”
“Me, too.”
“I’m sure their wards are strong enough,” Draco said quietly. “Not unlike here. Maybe Henry can…”
“Oh, that’s a good idea. I wonder if Zaire will let him?”
“Doesn’t hurt to ask. Maybe Andvari and Loch can take a look around, too.”
Sawyer looked up at Draco and smiled. “I love you, you know that?”
“I do. But why?”
“Because you’re looking out for my brother and his pack. And I love that.”
Draco shrugged, but to Sawyer his actions spoke so much louder than his words. “Gotta keep the kids safe,” Draco grumbled.
“I know. Did you know that Eduard gave my brother a credit card?”
“Damn. I guess I better plan on us living on my trust fund, huh? Nick’ll burn through your resources in a month or two.”
Sawyer laughed and wrapped his hands around Draco’s arms. He breathed in, taking in Draco’s strength once more. “You know, the funny thing is, he won’t,” Sawyer said softly. “He’ll keep that beat up old truck of his, because it runs and it’s perfectly good for what he needs. He’ll make sure whatever vehicle the kids would be in is top of the line, but for him, nah. He doesn’t think he’s worth it.”
“Jedrek will take care of that for you.”
“Yeah.”
Sawyer liked his brother’s mate already, even if he didn’t know the hellhound well. Jedrek had a calm, steady presence. He was strong enough to put up with Nick’s demanding personality, but chill enough to know when to let Nick have his way. Nick looked at Jedrek the way Sawyer looked at his mates. The way Asher and Quillon looked at Mikey.
“Did you talk to your cousin?” Sawyer asked gently.
“I did. Asher’s doing okay. I think… I mean, he’s worried, don’t get me wrong. But it feels like we’re waiting for something. He doesn’t think he’s going to lose Mikey anymore. I don’t know how to explain it. He’s just waiting for him to wake up.”
“Yeah. I think… I think that’s the way I feel, too. In the beginning, before the coven helped, I didn’t think he was going to wake up. But now…it’s weird. I’m glad it’s not just me being overly optimistic and not facing reality. If his mates feel it, then it’s right.”
“Exactly. He’s probably going to have some wild tales to tell us when he wakes up.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. I can’t wait for him to find out about Nick.”
“That’s gonna be awesome. I wonder if he’ll give up the coffee shop and go help out.”
Draco shrugged.
“You guys ready?” Jedrek asked.
Draco nodded and led Sawyer to the edge of the yard where the others had already gathered. Before they stepped through the portal, Draco stopped him once more.
“Sawyer?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you, too.”
Sawyer grinned as his mate pulled him forward and into the flames of the portal. They emerged within a circle of stones and waited for one of the coven members to come let them in. Zaire had set up a complicated system of entry into her home. Sawyer could see Henry’s thoughts as he checked the magic around them, looking for ideas to improve the wards at their home.
Keziah, Zaire’s son and one of the coven members who were now part of Nick’s pack, hurried toward them with a beaming smile. “You brought your brother,” Keziah said.
“Yeah,” Nick replied. “He wanted to see.”
“Greetings, Chosen One. Welcome, Guardians.”
Nick snorted.
Sawyer chuckled and nodded his head formally, the way Eduard had taught him. Then he held out his hand. “Keziah, it’s good to see you again.”
A lot of what happened the night of the attack was a blur, but Sawyer remembered the coven trying to help Mikey. Everything had kind of been crazy that night, and he’d been whisked away pretty quickly after the big reveal. There had been a lot of “nothing to see here” moments going on, with the hellhounds doing their best to keep his secret intact.
Keziah opened the wards, and Sawyer couldn’t help but laugh as Nick hooked his arm around Keziah’s neck and held him in a headlock. At least now he knew exactly what he looked like when his brother did that to him.
“Everything okay?” Nick asked gruffly. The worrywart.
“Yep. No problems.”
Nick huffed and let Keziah go. He turned to Sawyer and gave him a look. “What are you standing there for? Come on, already.”
Draco grabbed Sawyer’s hand and they walked further into the compound, past another set of strong wards. Construction went on around them, several dozen crews hard at work in a large swath of land next door.
“It’s coming together quickly,” Eduard said. His griffin was obviously pleased with the progress.
“Yeah,” Nick said. “Thanks for pulling strings for us.”
The shriek of a child’s laughter filled the air, as well as a fake roar from an adult. Nick grinned and looked that direction.
Eduard’s phone rang, and he sighed before stepping away from them to answer.
“There’s a lot going on all the time,” Nick said.
“Nick,” Sawyer said. “I wondered if you’d let my guardians do their thing. Andvari and Loch are security specialists. Henry, as you know, can assist with wards. But only if you’d like them to take a look.”
Nick crossed his arms over his chest. “Henry’d have to talk to Zaire first, but yeah. That’s fine. And I’d appreciate the look around by your sword guys. We don’t… I mean, I don’t exactly know what I’m doing with all this. Just instincts, you know?”
“The children are well secured,” Andvari said.
“Yeah, but more is better when you’re up against…” Nick waved his hand in the air and they all nodded. They were well aware of exactly what they were up against.
Sawyer feared that he would come after Nick and the kids. He’d wanted their magic, and if he still wanted it, Sawyer wasn’t entirely sure all the wards in the world would stop him. It certainly hadn’t stopped him from getting to him.
<
br /> “I’d like to see Zaire,” Henry said. “Can I borrow Saeward?”
“Of course,” Sawyer said.
Nick pointed the way and Henry jumped on Saeward’s back. They went down the main road to the large white house at the end.
“I can show Andvari and Loch around,” Keziah offered.
Andvari glanced his way, and Sawyer nodded.
Draco and Eduard would stay with him, and with Jedrek there, they could portal out quickly if they needed to.
They spent the next half hour with his brother showing off his pack. Sawyer couldn’t believe how at ease his brother was, especially being constantly surrounded by kids. Some of them were in their shifted form, lion and tiger cubs growling at Nick playfully, and then bounding away when he pretended to chase after them. Others were in their human form, running to show Nick some little thing they’d done or found. A little girl with a shiny rock. A boy with a small flower he carried so gently as to not destroy it.
He’d not seen this side of his brother before, at least not that he remembered. Nick had always looked out for him, but this tenderness hadn’t been there. Teenaged Nick had been haunted. Tormented by a past he didn’t remember. Angry at the world, even though he tried to hide it. He’d never treated them badly, but Sawyer’d known how much he was hurting. He’d tried so hard to help, but he couldn’t fight the demons locked away in his brother’s memories.
They completed a circle of the area, with Jedrek explaining their ideas to Eduard as they went. His mate made copious notes in his phone as they walked.
“We gotta have you guys over sometime so you can shift and show the cubs,” Nick said. “They’d get a kick out of a dragon and a griffin. And what was the big guy again?”
“Hippocamp.”
“I still don’t know what that is. Jed, remind me to look it up on the internet.”
“Yes, dear,” Jedrek said with a smirk.
Their discussion was interrupted once more by the ringing of Eduard’s cell phone. “Excuse me for a moment,” Eduard said. He stepped away and put the call to his ear.
Sawyer turned his attention back to Nick. “You’re doing an amazing job here. I’m really proud of you.”
