Page 223 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

It meant that they were hours away from where the griffins made their home, even with him swimming at full speed, which he couldn’t do with Sawyer in his current state. He’d never be able to get Sawyer to his mates on time. “Sawyer, listen to me. My name is Saeward.”

“Ward?” Sawyer asked. His voice was becoming more slurred by the minute.

“Ward works,” Saeward said. He’d been called worse and the nickname was easier. “Here, drink this.”

He pressed the mug of tea back to Sawyer’s lips and encouraged him to drink. He wasn’t expecting for Sawyer to grab his hand in a suddenly tight grip, or for his eyes to widen. “You’re one of them,” Sawyer said.

“One of who?”

“My guardians. I’ve been looking for you.” The words were said on a whispered sigh, one that twisted Saeward up inside.

“No, Sawyer. My name is Saeward. Ward. You’re confused. You’ve been…poisoned and we’re too far from your mates. I need you to understand.”

Sawyer ran his hand over the mark on Saeward’s wrist, the mark which had mysteriously appeared one day long ago with no explanation. He’d never found another with a mark like his, even though he’d searched the oceans far and wide before he gave up and found his isolated refuge. “Guardian,” Sawyer whispered.

Saeward trembled. The word struck a chord deep within him, one he didn’t quite understand, but one that settled deep into his bones as right, as right as he felt wandering through strange woods earlier and coming across this injured human and knowing he had to risk exposing himself to help.

“Sawyer, please.”

“You can save me,” Sawyer said. He ran his finger over the mark again. “I should have known the goddess would send me to you. She does that, you know. She’s sneaky.”

This man, this human, spoke of the goddess as if he knew her. It wasn’t possible. The daughters never revealed themselves to humans, and the mother had been gone for so long. “Sawyer, I can save you but… I can’t get you to your mates in time.”

“Ward,” Sawyer sighed, “you’re so beautiful. Henry’s going to love you. Draco will scowl because you’re bigger than him. He likes being the biggest, but it’ll be okay. Andvari will take a while to warm up, but that’s the way he is. Eduard… well, he’ll wait and see but he’ll give you a chance because you belong to me. He believes in tradition, you know. I’m cold and hot at the same time. Isn’t that weird?”

“You’re going to be okay, Sawyer. I… I’m sorry it has to be this way but… I hope you will understand.” Saeward picked Sawyer up and carried him through to his bedroom. He placed him carefully on the bed before unwrapping the blankets from around him.

Sawyer’s body was flushed red, his cock full and leaking. They’d dosed him with one of their potions and had planned on fucking him until he died, keeping him on the edge for as long as possible until they spilled his seed and his blood in one violent moment. That was their sacrifice, their gift for their goddess.

But it meant that if he didn’t have sex, he would die, the ancient incense that they’d used ensuring he would be an acceptably potent sacrifice to their dark goddess.

Ward had a small pot of oil that he used when he pleasured himself. He placed it on the table beside the bed, and then crawled up beside Sawyer. He was so much bigger than Sawyer, towering over him even as they lay beside each other. Sawyer lifted his hand and cupped it around Saeward’s cheek.

“Why are you so sad? You found me. It was fate.”

“I need to bring you to completion, Sawyer. I… wish you could understand. I don’t want to hurt you, and I don’t know how many times I must help you, but you have to orgasm. Your seed must spill. It is the only way. I’m so sorry.”

“Wait,” Sawyer said.

He breathed in then out. Long moments between each.

When he opened his eyes, they were more clear. He’d never seen a human with such control.

“Explain.”

“They gave you one of their potions. It was to make you more… powerful a sacrifice. Willing to accept their attentions even as they violated you. But it means you must have sex and I can’t get you to your mates. We’re too far away. So I will need to… stroke you. I won’t hurt you. I swear it.”

“You don’t know, do you?” Sawyer asked. “I thought you all knew. It’s okay, you have my permission. You have to save me, okay? Ward, you have to save me.”

“I will,” Saeward replied.

Sawyer’s eyes began to cloud again, but he tugged Saeward’s neck down and kissed him gently. “I’ll explain when I’m better. Don’t leave me, Ward. Please don’t leave me.”

“I won’t, Sawyer. You have my oath.”

Saeward wanted desperately to know what Sawyer meant with his confusing words, hope rekindling that perhaps Sawyer was meant to be his after all. It had seemed impossible, especially after he’d been banned from his clan after he rejected the advances of their prince.

He’d regretted it for so long, wondering if he’d just gone along with the prince, accepted his desire even though Saeward did not return the feelings then maybe he wouldn’t be alone now. He glanced at the mark on his wrist again. Sawyer had recognized it. He’d known its meaning. Maybe it hadn’t all been for nothing.