Page 252 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“Does anyone even know I’m gone? I don’t want them to worry. It’s been hard for them, too.”

“They’re fine. I will have you back before anyone stirs and realizes you were gone.”

“’K,” Sawyer said. They sat down on the sand and listened to the waves crashing over the shore. He glanced over at her once and found her eyes glazed over, glowing in the light of the moon. She was looking inward, he realized, seeing things and putting pieces of the puzzle together that weren’t available to him yet. He still wasn’t sure how it all worked, but if he wasn’t being touched by the daughters at all, if he could somehow reach them and help them see, maybe he could help. He repeated the prophecy in his mind, the words memorized and studied over and over again since he’d first realized his destiny.

When the children cease their cries

And true love’s light goes dark

When the sisters’ interests divide

and the hidden ones emerge.

Nothing will stand in their way.

The guardians will rise

Two by fire, earth, air, water

The chosen one brings strength and balance

For peace and love to survive.

The sisters’ interests were indeed divided. Hidden ones had emerged and they were wreaking havoc. The guardians had begun to rise. He had his two fire and one each of the others. He had one job: to bring strength and balance. Sawyer certainly didn’t feel strong and everything around him was out of balance.

But that wasn’t entirely true. He wasn’t out of balance, not really, even though his world had been thrown for a loop. He’d found strength he didn’t know he had. He had met the most amazing men and was mated to four of them. He had an opportunity to help Saeward heal, and his heart told him that he could do it. He was drawn to his beautiful hippocamp, wanted to heal his heart and help him find peace.

And that was the key, wasn’t it?

Peace and love.

He just had to hold on, keep being strong, dig deep, and not give up. He had to help them find balance again, dial the magic back up to where it belonged, and remove whatever was muffling their voices and keeping the daughters from hearing them.

The horizon was beginning to glow, deep reds and oranges peeking above the edge of the water, when she finally took a deep breath and her eyes came back into focus.

“Better?” Sawyer asked quietly.

“Yes. I’m afraid I must go, though. A young hotel clerk is in need of my assistance. I think I know exactly which direction I should point him in.”

“What now?”

She laughed, a true laugh that Sawyer felt all the way to his toes. “Come now, help an old goddess to her feet.”

“Oh, now you claim to be old, huh?” Sawyer teased. “I’m the one beat up and bruised here.” But he stood anyway and held out his hand to her once more.

She took his hand and he tingled with awareness, magic flowing around and through him as their eyes met. He couldn’t have described her to anyone who asked, didn’t know what she looked like other than an idea of her in his mind.

But her eyes. He’d know them anywhere and right now, she was a goddess with a mission. “Go back to your mates, Sawyer. All will be well in time. You know what they say, nothing ventured…”

“Nothing gained.”

She blinked away without another word and the air swirled around him. He was back in Eduard’s bedroom, his mates curled up together on the bed. It should scare him that they could sleep through his absence, but something in him said that nothing else would be able to get through their defenses. He felt it deep in his core. The mother goddess had a special connection to him, even if he didn’t understand exactly what it was.

Draco stirred, his eyes blinking open. He noticed Sawyer immediately, frowning when he realized Sawyer wasn’t curled up next to him where he was supposed to be. “You okay?”

“I’m good. Hungry.”

“Hmm,” Draco rumbled, his voice a sleepy purr. “I could eat.”