Page 217 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“Henry, don’t argue with me on this. I’m fine. I don’t want you there while I’m doing… what I’m about to have to do. Besides, if I need anything, Cecil and Viv will be there. Come on, don’t make me be embarrassed any more than I already am.”

A subtle throat clearing drew their attention. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” Magdalen said quietly. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s fine,” Sawyer said. His stomach chose that moment to make a sound that was anything but fine.

“Oh dear,” Magdalen said.

Sawyer turned beet red.

“Come on, dear. I’ll walk you back to the cottage. You shouldn’t be alone.”

Sawyer let her guide him away and the wind whispered around Henry. Two of the vampire guards appeared behind Sawyer on the path, shadowing him and Magdalen as they walked away. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Henry shifted his focus inward, opening himself to his magic. He looked around the entire area, searching for some sign of anything unusual. Nothing anywhere.

“What is it?” Andvari asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Where did Sawyer go?”

“To the cottage. He needed the bathroom. He didn’t want us to come with him. Magdalen was with him and I made sure two of the guards were as well.”

“Good.”

“We should go,” Henry said. “Something… is in the air. It’s close.”

Andvari nodded. “Go get Eduard. I’ll get Draco.”

Henry nodded and hurried over to the low-slung chairs where Eduard and his father were sitting. “Excuse me,” Henry said. “Eduard, I hate to interrupt but I need to—”

“What’s wrong?” Augustus asked.

Henry smiled as Eduard pushed to his feet. “I don’t know.”

Eduard searched his face, and then turned to look for the others.

“Where’s Sawyer?”

“He wasn’t feeling well. Magdalen walked him back up to the cottage.”

Augustus stood as well. “Were his guards with him?”

“Yes,” Henry said. “I’m sure he’s fine—”

“Trust your instincts, young mage. Go get your mate. I’ll alert security and clear the beach.”

Eduard grabbed Henry’s hands and pulled him toward the path to the cottage. By the time they reached it, Andvari and Draco were already there. The air chilled around Henry suddenly growing so cold he stumbled. “Get to Sawyer. Now.”

Draco shifted, morphing into his dragon from one moment to the next. Andvari took off at a run, moving faster than Henry could track. Eduard shifted as well, but stayed beside Henry long enough for Henry to clamber onto his back. Then they were in the sky, soaring through the air toward the cottage.

They saw the vampire guards at the edge of the path behind the house. They were both dead, their heads sliced cleanly from their bodies. Andvari stood beside them, his breath coming in gasps as he searched the area. Eduard circled low, his eagle eyes hunting. Draco had flown higher and was searching the surrounding area as well. Henry’s magic was still open, and he looked for any sign that anything out of the ordinary had happened. It had only been a few minutes. How could the guards be dead and Sawyer gone?