Page 136 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

Draco grinned and leaned in again. “And?”

“And I like him, too.”

“Good. Now pet your dog before she dies.”

Pearl was wiggling around by Draco’s feet, desperate to have Sawyer’s attention. He’d made her get off the bed earlier when Henry kept moving around and bumping into her. Not that she minded laying on Draco’s feet while he kept watch.

Sawyer patted the bed and she jumped up on top of him, licking his face and chuffing happily as he rubbed her ears. She flopped down on his chest and rolled onto her back so he could pet her belly.

“She’s such a goofball,” Draco said. But he reached up to give her a good scratch as well.

Henry bounded back into the room and jumped onto the bed beside Sawyer, joining in Pearl’s belly rubs for good measure. “Cecil’s bringing food. Eduard is calling Uncle Meshaq and my dad for me and then he’ll be up. Andvari is outside on guard, but I’m guessing he’ll be in soon as well.”

Sawyer grinned at him and Draco could practically hear his inner dialogue. Yay, food! Wait, Uncle Meshaq? Mmm, Andvari.

“Help me sit up?” Sawyer asked.

Draco immediately stood and reached for Sawyer. There was still pain there and it made his dragon want to tear into something. He eased his arms beneath Sawyer and helped him sit up. “Henry, can you grab the…”

Henry stacked the pillows behind Sawyer’s back and Draco leaned Sawyer back against them. His face had gone pale, and Draco wished he could take the pain into himself. That wasn’t possible, but Henry seemed to be trying. He had Sawyer’s hand in his again and since Draco’s dragon was so close to the surface, he could just make out the blue swirl of magic.

“Oh that’s good,” Sawyer moaned. “What are you doing?”

Henry blushed. “Um, nothing?”

Draco snickered and resumed his seat. Pearl stretched out on Sawyer’s legs, a sign to Draco that Sawyer was doing better. Her instincts where Sawyer was concerned were very on point. When he was sick, she never left his side and curled up against his ribs close to his heart. Once he started feeling better, she moved back to her usual spot against his legs or feet.

“He’s working his magic on you,” Draco teased. “I can see it.”

That caught Sawyer’s attention. “Wait… you can actually see it?”

“My dragon can. I get hints but if I let him through, he can see it.”

“Really?” Henry asked.

“Yep. Which is why I didn’t know this place was warded when we first got here. Normally I would be more on guard but I wasn’t expecting it and I hadn’t been my dragon in a long time.”

“That’s kinda sad,” Sawyer said. “Was it because of me?”

Draco actually took a moment to think about his answer. He tried to never answer Sawyer’s questions by rote. “No, not entirely. It was more that I didn’t need him for anything, so I didn’t shift. He’s very much part of me, but it’s not like the shifters Henry grew up with.”

“Oh yeah,” Henry added. “My family has to shift at least once a month, more if they’re kinda high strung. Longer than that and it isn’t pleasant, believe me.”

“So the rules aren’t the same for everyone? Or like all magical creatures, um, beings? Magical humans? Humans who shift? What exactly are you all called?” Sawyer asked.

Before either of them could answer, Eduard entered the room. He hurried to the head of the bed and Draco moved back far enough to give him room. Eduard leaned over and looked into Sawyer’s eyes. After a moment, he sighed in relief. “You’re better?”

“Getting there,” Sawyer said. “I’m really sore, though.”

Eduard ran his fingers through Sawyer’s hair and cupped the back of his neck gently. “You had a seizure. You’ll be extremely sore for a few days. Dr. Jerrick said we’d need to be careful of any torn muscles or sprains so don’t get up without one of us here to help, okay?”

Sawyer nodded and Draco leaned further back into the chair with a smile. The way those two were looking at each other sent sparks of desire through him. Sawyer glanced his way, asking the question, and Draco nodded, giving him the reassurance he needed. Sawyer reached up and ran his fingers along Eduard’s jaw before kissing him gently. “I’ll be careful. I promise.”

Eduard stiffened for a moment, obviously realizing they weren’t alone, but then reached an understanding. He pulled Sawyer close once more and pressed another kiss to his lips. “Thank you.”

“Merlin’s beard, that’s hot,” Henry moaned.

Draco snickered and Sawyer pulled away from Eduard to shoot him a frown. “Did you just quote Harry Potter?”