Page 153 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

Sawyer peeled open one eye and looked up at Eduard. “Yeah. I would.”

Eduard smiled down at him and opened the small, leather bound volume. The pages were old and slightly yellowed, but it was obvious that it had been taken care of for a long time. Eduard’s voice was so soothing, his elegant tone adding to the heft of the words that had brought them all together.

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.

Sawyer frowned up at him. “That’s it? It doesn’t even rhyme.”

Eduard pinched his stomach, then rubbed the sting away. “It sounds better in ancient Greek.”

“Read it to me that way then.”

Eduard sighed but complied. The old language was definitely prettier, even if Sawyer didn’t understand a word of it.

“In English again.”

Eduard laughed, but repeated the verse again. “Anything else, your highness?”

“Stop laughing at me. And it’s weird. How did you guys make sense of it at all?”

“I think the first ones called must have understood more of the nuances of the language. You know this from your undergraduate history studies.”

“Yeah, I know. Back in the day, Shakespeare was slapstick funny and now we struggle to understand the words.”

“Exactly. So we follow the traditions they first laid out and wait.”

“Have you ever wondered why now?”

“Every day since the mark appeared.”

“Where is your mark anyway? I don’t remember seeing it.”

“On my arm.” He sat the book on Sawyer’s stomach, then unbuttoned his cuff before rolling up his sleeve. The mark was on his inner arm, just below his elbow. It looked like a tattoo, dark ink against the golden tan of Eduard’s arm.

“Are everyone’s different?” Sawyer asked.

“I would imagine so.”

“That’s kinda cool. But how do you know it’s a guardian symbol and not just a tattoo?”

Eduard grinned and ran his thumb over Sawyer’s bottom lip. He’d been chewing on it again and between that and all the stubble, his lips were a bit chapped. “I just know.”

The words held a heavier meaning between them and Sawyer couldn’t help his smile. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Sometimes you just know.”

Draco came rumbling back into the room and made his huffing noises. He scooped Sawyer up out of Eduard’s lap and carried him out of the room. “Any clue how long he’s going to be like this?” Sawyer called out over Draco’s broad shoulder. “Because seriously.”

“Enjoy it while it lasts, Sawyer.”