Page 240 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“Cool. Okay, I’m going to go talk to Ward and then we’ll get this show on the road.”

Eduard snagged Henry’s arm when he started to walk away. “You are amazing,” Eduard said. “I am in awe of your gifts and I thank the goddess every day that she gave me the gift of you.”

Henry couldn’t quite help the tears that formed in his eyes. He stepped back to Eduard and wrapped his arms around Eduard’s waist. “What brought that on?”

“I don’t tell you enough,” Eduard said softly. He ran his hand through Henry’s hair then gently rubbed the back of his neck. “What you did today? I’ve never seen anything like it before. I am so proud of you and honored to be in your life.”

“Thank you,” Henry said. He was humbled by the words and tried not to laugh them off with some awkward joke. Eduard didn’t hand out praise like candy, so when he gave a compliment, Henry knew he could cherish it as truth. He pushed up on his toes and kissed Eduard quickly. “I’m going to go apologize to Ward.”

He gave Eduard one more squeeze before pulling away. He couldn’t help the goofy smile he had plastered across his face as he walked further down the beach. Ward had remained in his horse form and was running full speed toward Henry. He stopped a couple dozen feet away and reared up on his hind legs.

“Goddess, you’re big,” Henry sighed. “And look at you. I’ve never actually seen a silver horse before. You shimmer, did you know that? So pretty. Can I touch you?”

Ward huffed, shaking his head even as he danced a few steps closer. He had his head held high, looking anywhere but Henry as he approached. Henry cooed a little, used to soothing the disgruntled animals at his father’s clinic.

Often, when shifters were injured, they stayed in their animal form, comforted by fur and instincts. Henry didn’t understand it, exactly, but his brothers told him it felt safer to be in their animal forms when they were afraid.

Henry slowly reached out his hand, knowing full well Ward could see him out of the corner of his eye. It was a trick. Making Henry think he wasn’t paying any attention to him, but knowing exactly what Henry was doing. “Oh, look at you. So big and strong. Maybe one day, if you forgive me for insulting you, you’ll take me for a ride. I’ve never been on a horse before. I mean, I’ve ridden Draco and Eduard in their shifted forms, but that’s not a horse, you know? You’re… Goddess. I just want to pet you.”

Ward turned and lowered his huge horse head, bumping into Henry’s chest. It about knocked him on his ass, but he was used to shifters who didn’t quite know their own strength. He pressed his forehead to Ward’s, and then stroked his hand along the horse’s cheek.

The hair tickled his fingers and he nuzzled his face in a couple times before using words. “I’m sorry I offended you. I honestly didn’t mean to. Eduard explained it to me. I think you’re beautiful in all of your forms. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

He received a huff of breath against his chest in reply before Ward pulled away. He transformed again, once again back in his human form. Fuck, he was huge. Henry hadn’t really paid much attention before, but the guy made his Uncle Meshaq look small, and Uncle Meshaq was gigantic. Henry had to tilt his head back when Ward walked closer.

“Thank you for your kind words,” Ward said. “I shall try to not be so very sensitive in the future. It is a weakness of mine, I fear.”

Henry grinned up at him. “Me, too. So, um, I don’t want to offend you again or anything, but you probably want to put on some pants. Sawyer gets a little cranky when someone else sees our private bits.”

Ward shook his head with a puzzled frown as they began walking back down the beach. “I do not understand human modesty. Sawyer asked me to cover myself before as well.”

“Yeah, it’s a thing. I mean, I’d prefer you stay like that all the time… uh, if it’s okay for me to say that. Sorry again. I’m kind of used to speaking my mind about these things. I mean, yeah. I’m shutting up now.”

Ward chuckled then stooped down to pick up his abandoned clothes. He pulled them on then looked out across the water at the yacht, which had anchored itself a safe distance away. A couple of the crew members were unloading jet skis from the back of the boat into the water. And how cool was that?

“Dude,” Henry said when they stopped beside Eduard, “Jet skis?”

“You have much to learn about yachting,” Eduard said primly.

Henry pinched his ass, earning a startled yelp out of his griffin. He grinned when Eduard scowled and rubbed his ass.

The crew members climbed aboard the jet skis and began approaching the beach. Both passed through the ward with no problem, earning a sigh of relief from Henry.

“You doubted?” Eduard asked quietly.

“I doubt everything now. All of them need to be able to pass through the wards before we let Sawyer onto the yacht.”

“Agreed,” Eduard said. “Why don’t you go up to the cabin and send Draco out? We’ll have him shift and carry Saeward’s trunk out to the yacht.”

Henry grinned, seeing through Eduard’s ploy quickly. “You’re gonna scare ‘em with the big terrifying dragon, huh?”

“That’s the plan. I’m going to board the ship and send them all to shore while I make a private call to my father. It will get them all within the wards, but I will be prepared to shift and assist if there are any problems.”

The whir of the jet skis engines grew closer, so Henry ran back to the house to let Draco in on the plan. Although reluctant to leave Sawyer, Draco quickly agreed. He lifted the trunk and walked out of the cabin.

From one moment to the next, he was in his dragon form and in the air. He made a show of blowing a stream of fire out of his mouth as he approached the boat.

Andvari followed behind him, walking across the beach while drawing his sword and marching menacingly toward the crew.