Page 185 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“Later,” he promised. “I have some paperwork I need you to sign.”

Sawyer groaned. “Do I have to?”

“Yep.” Eduard grinned and reached for a thick stack of legal-size documents sitting on the corner of his desk. “Let’s get it over with before you distract me further.”

After leading Sawyer to one of the leather club chairs at the side of the room, Eduard claimed the other chair and sat the paperwork on the table between them. They spent the next few hours going over the contracts line by line. Eduard had insisted from the beginning that if Sawyer wanted him to continue managing the finances then Sawyer must commit to understanding what he was doing and why.

Since Sawyer had recently gotten his master’s degree in business, he actually enjoyed most of the work. He hadn’t imagined leaving school to immediately become the multi-millionaire CEO of his own business, but that was pretty much what happened. Being the chosen one may not have come with a lot of power for him, but it came with a lot of responsibility.

“Okay, last one,” Eduard said.

He had one file folder left on the desk. This one was less thick than the others, but the way Eduard’s hand hovered over it nervously made Sawyer’s heart leap anxiously. “What is it?”

“Come here.”

“What?”

Eduard patted his lap. “Come here.”

Sawyer complied, even though he wasn’t sure he wanted to. “What’s wrong?”

Eduard smiled softly and wrapped his arms around Sawyer’s waist. “Nothing. Well, that’s not entirely true. You’re unhappy. And I can’t stand it.”

Sawyer swallowed around the sudden lump in his throat and pressed his forehead to Eduard’s. “I’ll be okay.”

“I know you will. Because you’re so strong, Sawyer. You’ve accepted our word and gone along with our plans. You’ve let us lock you away in this house with few complaints. You missed your graduation because Andvari didn’t feel it was safe for you to be on campus. You’ve sacrificed so much for us.”

“Hey,” Sawyer said sharply. He pulled away and stared into Eduard’s eyes. “I’ve gained a hell of a lot more than I’ve sacrificed. Don’t think for one second I regret this. I don’t. I may not like being stuck in the house, but I have found four of the most amazing men on the planet to be stuck in the house with. I think that balances things out. So don’t feel bad about that, okay?”

Eduard kissed him softly before pulling away. “Well, I do. And so do the others. So…happy graduation, Sawyer. We’re all very proud of you.”

Eduard pressed the folder to Sawyer’s chest with a small smile.

Sawyer opened it slowly, his eyes drifting from the suddenly blurry documents inside the folder and up to Eduard’s beautiful eyes. He blinked away his tears and…

“Holy shit.”

Eduard chuckled.

“No seriously. Holy shit, Eduard. Is this… are you… Oh my goddess.”

“Draco said you’ve always wanted to go to New York.”

The topmost sheet of paper was an itinerary for a week-long visit to the Big Apple.

“But… I thought…”

“We’re going to be extra careful and Andvari has arranged additional vampire security. Word hasn’t gotten out yet that you are the chosen one so we’re going to take advantage of that fact. Your happiness is the most important thing to us.”

Sawyer couldn’t tear his eyes away from the sheet of paper between them. Everything he’d ever wanted to do. Shows he wanted to see. Restaurants he’d only heard about. Tourist traps he couldn’t wait to explore. Museums he’d always wanted to visit. Everything was there. “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.”

Eduard pulled him close again. “As you once told me, we aren’t going to live in fear forever. We have much to learn about your future, but we can’t stay locked up here as prisoners while we wait.”

“And Andvari… is okay with this?”