Chosen One Universe Volume One (The Chosen One, #0-2)

by Macy Blake

All the little obsessions, the worry, the fear, it all faded away. He didn’t have to be afraid of Sawyer catching some disease and him not being there to help. He didn’t have to be afraid that Sawyer would be hurt and he wouldn’t be by his side as he healed. No, he may have other things to worry about now, but his dragon had finally been allowed to court his mate. Whatever trouble came their way next, no one would be able to take that away from him.

Students moved quickly out of his way and then Draco was kneeling in front of him. “You’ll be okay. I’m here.”

“Out of my way. Excuse me.” “Sawyer!” Henry. Henry was here, too. But it wasn’t safe for him. He had to warn… “Hen—” Sawyer’s breath caught and he began to choke. Draco pulled him closer and the pain ratcheted up another notch. His throat felt like it was closing and he gasped desperately for a breath. Then he felt a wash of coolness, like he’d stepped into a cool shower after a hot day. The pain began to fade and it became easier to breathe. He pulled in a breath, then another. His vision came back into focus and he saw Henry and Eduard kneeling beside him. “Henry. Danger. Go,” Sawyer gasped out the words but it was all he could manage. Blackness consumed him, and this time, he couldn’t fight it.

If anyone thought they were going to harm a hair on either young man’s head again, they’d have a pissed off vampire to get through first. As much as Henry baffled and confused him, Andvari was not letting him get hurt. Part of it was because of his duty. The other part… well, he didn’t need to think about that.

Pearl shifted her position and sent a pitiful look Andvari’s way. He reached out to stroke her head, then left his arm stretched out across Sawyer’s body so he could pet her. Most animals shied away from him, but Pearl didn’t seem to mind his touch. It was as if once Sawyer said it was okay to like him, she did. It was as simple as that. He wondered what she did to people Sawyer didn’t like.

“Sawyer!” Henry jerked and came awake, raising his head from Sawyer’s chest and smiling at him. Then he leaned in and kissed Sawyer, before pulling away with an embarrassed squawk. “Oh my goddess, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean… but you’re awake… and I just… you’re awake!”

Eduard grinned and offered him a strawberry from the dish of fruit on the tray. “Of course, I’d have to join you. I had a very large tub installed in the master bathroom. I’d hate for you to fall asleep and drown. No, it’s better if I assist.”

Draco laughed and tugged his shirt over his head. His pants were next and then the dragon was gloriously naked. Where Eduard was long and lean, Draco was a muscled mass of man. He had the broad muscles and back of the dragons, and the rest of him was equally stunning from his rippled abs to his thick thighs.

Eduard handed the bottle back to Draco and focused on laving the liquid over Sawyer’s hole.

We are not washing lube on a hole... You want to slather that bad boy.

“Why eleven?” Andvari asked. Henry sighed. “That’s when my dads found me. Before that, I’d been kidnapped, my birth parents murdered, and I was held captive for we don’t know how long while some stranger tried to drain our magic. Good times.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you, Henry. I can’t.” “You better not. But you also better remember that my job is to stand beside you not behind you. The Chosen One is who we protect, okay?” “Yes.”

“I can walk, you know.” Andi looked at him like he’d lost all his brain cells. “Obviously.” Henry sighed and dropped his head onto Andi’s shoulder. “You like getting your way too much.” Andvari coughed out a laugh. “Obviously.”

Henry snickered again and raised his eyes. Draco came rambling into the room again, still mostly dragon. He’d brought them both little bits of food all morning, offering Sawyer a strawberry and Henry a bite of cheese. Then he brought little bits of egg, or meat, or other fruit. And then warm croissants.

Hmm... Henry is lactose intolerate. Why the fuck is he eating cheese?!?

Sawyer scowled and shoved at the book he’d been pretending to read. “I can’t believe you let me sleep through it all.” “Ha!” Henry burst out laughing for several minutes, earning another glare from Sawyer. “Sleep through it. You were unconscious, dude. He literally fucked all your brain cells out. I couldn’t have revived you if I tried.”

“I’m pleased you figured out your truth so quickly, young Sawyer. I’d expected it to take longer. Then again, I hadn’t expected the dark ones to make a move on you directly, either. I don’t like it when the way is blurred.” Sawyer nearly stumbled, but was able to retain his footing without tripping them both up. “So… it really is me.” She grinned at him and gave his arm a squeeze. “Of course it is.” “Oh, wow. Just… wow. Really?” “Sweet boy, who else could it be?”

Sawyer thought he might be hyperventilating. If she was… then that meant… “Goddess?” “I told you I prefer Mother.” “Yes, ma’am.” “And you still don’t like that word.” Sawyer laid his hand over hers where it rested on his arm. “No, I like that word a lot. It’s special. And… so are you.” He gulped. “Mother.” “Oh, sweet boy. You are just the heart this world needs. So full of love. That’s the key. You’ll need that love to do what must be done. You’ll find your loves and it’ll make you so strong. Trust in it, Sawyer. Trust in them. With your whole heart.”

She gave his hand a gentle pat. “It won’t be easy, what you must do. Nothing easy is ever worthwhile. But you can fix the tears, Sawyer, mend the things that have gone unaided for too long.”

“I think the rules are silly, too. It’s so annoying when you can’t just say.” “Isn’t it, though? But then, where’s the adventure, Sawyer? You have so much to learn and explore. Even a few mistakes to make along the way. But they’ll be yours to make and own, not mine. Love is the key. Trust in it.”

“I need you to switch back for me, okay? Got something I need to tell everyone, and I want to tell you first.” Draco leaned back and from one breath to the next he was human again. He pulled Sawyer into his arms and held him close. “What happened?” Sawyer sighed. “I’ll tell everyone the whole story at once but… I have some good news?” Draco frowned. “Why don’t you sound happy then?” “Because I’m scared.” “Of what?” Sawyer tugged Draco closer and nuzzled his face into Draco’s neck. “Just am.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” “I know you won’t. And now you have an even better reason.” Draco scowled and pushed him away. “I need no reason to take care of you. I love you, Sawyer. That’s the only reason I’ll ever need.”

“So, um, I woke up earlier and I was outside in the front yard. Pearl was with me, and there was an old woman walking up the hill.” Draco sat up, his attention fully caught. “She confirmed for me that I’m the Chosen One.” Eduard looked skeptical, especially considering that Sawyer had come inside and sent the others out due to danger. “It was the Goddess. She told me to call her Mother. Isn’t that weird? But… it was her. And I’m him.” “Holy shit,” Andvari said. “I need a drink,” Eduard added. “The Mother visited you?” Draco asked. “Yep. Said it hadn’t taken me very long to figure it out and she was impressed. She told me some other stuff, too, but that’s… I don’t know. It’s for me, you know?”

Draco knelt and placed his fist over his heart. “I am Draco of the Volsunga clan, proud guardian to you, the Chosen One. I pledge my life to keep you safe.”

Henry knelt next, meeting Sawyer’s eyes with a bright smile before he lowered his head as well. “I am Henry of the Jerrick pack. I am guardian to you, Sawyer, the Chosen One. I pledge my life and my magic to keep you safe.”

“I am Andvari, vampire of the Passarowitz clan. I am guardian to Sawyer, the Chosen One. I pledge my life and my blood to keep you safe.”

“This isn’t what I wanted for you. This life, the danger. But as scared as I am for you, I am more scared to do this without you.” He moved to Draco’s side and knelt. “I am Eduard of Arimaspia clan, guardian to the Chosen One. I swear I will give my life to keep you safe, Sawyer.”

He’d not hidden his initial reaction from Sawyer as well as he’d hoped, but then again, pure abject terror was a hard emotion to hide. He didn’t have Andvari’s ability to shut down, but if the vampire thought Eduard didn’t know exactly what had gone through his mind when they realized the Chosen One was a young human with exactly zero magical power, well, he was wrong. The world had shifted on its axis for all of them, whether Sawyer understood it or not.

“The Chosen One was expected to have powers impressive enough to combat several angry goddesses, Sawyer.” “And instead you got me. A big pile of nothing.”

Eduard couldn’t hide his grin. He watched Sawyer taking the warrior vampire apart with mere strokes of his tongue. Sawyer had his own kind of magic, even if it wasn’t the kind they’d been expecting.

“Because I know you. You can’t stop me from getting hurt by not telling me. So I’m going to get hurt. I’ll live, right?” Henry nodded. “Then we let it serve its purpose. The Mother Goddess wouldn’t allow it if it didn’t have to happen. But that doesn’t mean I won’t fight, okay?” “Okay.”

“Are you sure about this?” Andvari asked. “It will put you beyond the safety of the wards.” “I’m not going to hide behind the wards forever. We’ve got to figure this out, and I know it’s important for me to be safe, but I’m going to have to take some risks too. That’s why I have guardians, I think. Maybe?” Andvari ceded the point, then cupped his hands in front of him. “Let me give you a leg up.”

“You sure about this?” “Yes. I don’t know why, but I feel like there’s something out there I need to see. The Goddess chased after something, then Henry said he saw something too. It’s like… if something is out there watching us, I want it to know we know. Does that make sense?” “It does. You can’t fight what you can’t see.”

Sawyer couldn’t believe it. He was flying on a dragon’s back with a vampire holding him in his arms. What even was his life?

They passed the first ward and seconds later they crossed the second. Sawyer couldn’t see anything. He’d hoped something would be obvious. Some neon orange sign saying Bad Guy Here. With a couple big arrows pointing at him for good measure.

The goddess had warned him that it wouldn’t be easy, that he would make mistakes. He’d just witnessed his very human foibles first hand and it had nearly gotten all of his guardians killed.

No, it wouldn’t be easy, but whatever had attacked them today was about to learn a very harsh lesson. His guardians may be tasked with protecting him, but he would avenge their wounds. He wasn’t letting anyone get away with hurting them.

Eduard’s heart pounded in his chest, more happy and fulfilled than he’d ever been. He closed his eyes and thanked the Goddess for sending him to Sawyer. He felt a tingle down his spine and smiled, knowing she’d acknowledged his thanks in her own way.

With a mighty yawn, Draco stretched again, then crawled down the bed and off the end. He stared back at his mates and rumbled his approval. They were all beautiful and happy and whole. But Andvari and Henry were overdressed. It wasn’t acceptable.

“I like you like this. I mean, not all the time,” Sawyer said. “But caveman mate is kinda cool sometimes. You’re really cute when you’re all growly and non-vocal. Lucky for me, I’ve had years of practice reading your face and know you’re a happy dragon in there.”

He’d packed so much knowledge into his brain over the past hours, read book after book. He’d only scratched the surface. He wasn’t ready to defend them yet. He’d have to let them keep him safe until he knew more, understood more. He’d begun to see patterns though, to understand more about the things that were broken. He had no clue how to fix those things, but he’d find a way. He’d see the path once he had all the pieces of the puzzle.

“Good morning, Master Sawyer. I prepared you a restorative drink.” Sawyer sighed and Andvari had to bite back a laugh. “Cecil, buddy, I appreciate you more than you know. I swear I do, but do those drinks have to taste like you dug up something dead and marinated it in sewage?” Cecil’s lips twitched, but he managed to keep his butler-cool. “I prefer to marinate in the blood of our enemies, sir. Shall I change to sewage?”

Elephants are glorious creatures who… oh my goddess. Are there elephant shifters? Because please, please, please let me have an elephant shifter as a guardian. How cool would that be?”

“Although I suppose a vampire, a dragon, and a griffin are, you know, more amazing than an elephant. Probably. Elephants are awesome. Oh, are unicorns a thing?” “Anything is possible.” Andvari believed that, especially where Sawyer was concerned.

The worst thing about being the mystical chosen one of myth and legend? Everyone expected a super-being with great big cosmic powers. How many powers did Sawyer actually have? None. Zero. Nada. Nothing. He was a magical null.

“This is…too much. I can’t—” “You can and you will. This is our gift to you. I want you to have everything you’ve ever dreamed of, Sawyer. That is what mates do for each other. You’ve made mine come true with your very presence. And I want to give that to you in return.” Sawyer’s throat closed and his eyes got a little watery again. He was so incredibly lucky. “Are you’re sure it’s safe? I don’t want to put you guys in danger. I’d rather stay here than risk any of you.”

Henry and Sawyer were being trained in self defense daily. Andvari, Draco, and Eduard were working on aerial fighting techniques nightly. It was why Draco and Andvari were still in bed. They’d been up most of the night working together with Draco in his dragon form while Andvari experimented with different weapons while he was airborne and riding on Draco’s back. They weren’t taking any chances after the raven incident, as Sawyer had taken to calling it. He couldn’t hear the sound of a crow’s caw any more without panicking and checking the air for approaching ravens.

“What’s the downside?” Sawyer asked moments later. Andvari snorted out a laugh and Draco groaned. He buried his face in Henry’s neck and pulled both of their young lovers closer to him. “It’s not that bad,” Eduard snapped. “Tell me,” Sawyer demanded. “Griffins are…” “Snobs?” Sawyer suggested gently. Andvari laughed so hard the entire bed shook. Eduard pinched his leg in retaliation.

“I can’t breathe,” Andvari said. Sawyer poked Andvari in the side. “You aren’t helping.” It didn’t help. The vampire kept cackling.

Sawyer made another of his faces. “You have a personal shopper?” Eduard groaned. It was going to be a really long day.

Oh but the uncomfortable atmosphere will be awesome af.

“He’s glowing,” Draco said after a moment. He came over to them, lowering himself to his knees once he was by their side. He ran his hand down Andvari’s spine softly, reverently, before turning an awe-filled gaze toward Sawyer. “Yeah?” Sawyer whispered. “I bet it’s pretty.” “It is,” Draco murmured. “I didn’t know I could see happiness like this, but he’s really happy.” “And he’s right here,” Andvari grumbled. “Shush,” Sawyer said. “I made you happy. Be happy still.”

Eduard pulled Sawyer to his feet and presented him to Bebe. It took every ounce of willpower Henry possessed not to die laughing. Sawyer had worn jeans and a random T-shirt he’d gotten at an event at his university. It was worn and faded, but really soft. Sawyer had a thing for soft T-shirts. Bebe whimpered and put his hand over his mouth. “Oh, sweetheart. It’s tragic. You’re too beautiful to be this depressing.” Draco growled and Henry squeezed his hand again.