Chapter 14

He gently placed the woman on the bed, and his eyes took in her form. My breath caught in my chest as I realized who it was-Beth. Her face was a mess, covered in swollen bruises and a few cuts. Her eyes were shut, and I wasn’t sure she was conscious anymore. I turned to Erik who let me wrap my arms around him as he held me close.

“Let’s get her cleaned up the best we can, and we’ll head out. I don’t want to tempt whoever did this to her. We’ll go home and we can help her establish herself there or wherever she’d like.” Frode said, before to the bathroom and getting a warm, wet cloth and towel and gently cleaning her wounds.

Stepping forward I started assessing Beth's injuries. I was glad that shifters had fast healing powers, I could already see some of the wounds healing. The magic that flowed through us aided in healing. Sten moved forward and grasped her hand. He closed his eyes and then his face turned into a grimace.

“What-?” I started but was cut off by a shake of Rune’s head.

“Sten can take some of her pain away. Not all of it but ease it some. When he does that, he takes it on himself. There’s always a cost to magic, kitten.” Erik whispered quietly in my ear as I continued my assessment.

Despite her body starting to heal itself she was still severly wounded. I could do some minor dressings and stabilize her, but she needed more help than I could provide here at the bed and breakfast. I worked quickly so we could leave back for the territory and get to a healer who would have the medicine and supplies to properly aid Beth.

Rune stood by the door, his pose tense as he stood watch over the room. Erik and Frode watched and kept out of the way as Sten and I worked. Twenty minutes later, I stood and faced Erik and Froze.

“Broken ribs and nose, lots of bruising and a few cuts. Nothing that needs intervention, but she’ll be sore. We’ll pad the back of the car and lay her down there, try to keep her as comfortable as we can." I summarized what I found.

"We’ll leave now. I’m going to go check out and start the SUV. Will you pack up and help move her?” Frode asked us.

We nodded and I started packing for Frode, Sten and I as Sten stayed with Beth to ease her pain as much as he could before we moved her. Erik went to pack and his and Rune’s belongings. Once we were ready Frode met us at the front door helping with the bags. Erik had carefully scooped Beth into his arms. The movement and Sten's loss of contact had pulled a groan from her and had been the only sound she’d made since she collapsed.

Once we were all loaded and settled Frode pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road to start the long drive back. We rode in silence for almost an hour when Rune spoke up.

“Well, it’s not the best way, but we saved her.” He said, never breaking his gaze from the trees passing by.

“Wish we could have done it without her getting hurt.” I grumbled from my seat between Sten and Erik.

Erik took my hand and squeezed it. I met his gaze and gave him a weak smile. Leaning into his arm, I savored the warmth of his body against mine. It was a small win, but a win. It didn’t take long before I was drifting asleep.

I was running through the woods, fear pulsed through me. I tripped as I tried to look over my shoulder to see who was chasing me. There was no scent.

Pain raced through my hands and arms as I caught myself on a fallen log, scraping my palms and forearms. I couldn’t stop to look at them. Scrambling, I pushed myself back to a standing position, my feet already starting forward before I was fully upright. Whatever was behind me was gaining on me.

My lungs screamed in protest as they tried to pull in a full breath. I could feel the warm breath of whatever was behind me against my neck. It was close enough now to grab me. I dug deeper into whatever was pushing me forward, trying to go faster and further.

A scream was pulled from me as sharp claws raked over my back, tearing through my shirt and skin. My back burned as the warm blood drenched my back. I lost my footing and I felt myself start to fall. I screamed, waiting for the impact of the forest floor to come crashing into me. It never did.

“Wake up, Astrid!” A panicked voice filled my consciousness.

“Check her back.” I heard Rune’s panicked command.

I felt my body being pushed forward, a strong arm across my chest, keeping me from slumping too far. I hissed as my shirt was pulled up and away from my skin. My hands clenching around the arm that gripped my shoulders.

The car came to a stop on the side of the road. Fear and panic rose in me. We couldn’t stop. We had to keep moving forward.

“Don’t stop.” I said, my voice sounded weak to me.

“You’re hurt. We need to check you out.” Frode said, his voice cold and stern.

“Don’t stop. We must keep moving. They’ll catch up, they’re already close.” I mumbled, hoping my voice carried enough to be heard.

“After you’re cleaned up. We don’t know what caused the wounds, we need to look at them.” Frode said, starting to kneel in his seat so he could look.

“We must keep moving. We cannot stop. Do you hear me? Drive, Frode.” I said, looking up to him.

Rune gasped as my face rose. Black spots started to creep into my vision. I blinked hard, trying to clear my eyesight.

“Her eyes.” Rune hissed to Frode.

I wasn’t sure what Rune meant, but I was in too much pain to ponder it too long. We had to get moving. Whatever had been chasing me in my dream, or maybe it was more of a vision, was close. I could feel it.

“I see them.” Frode said, turning back and sitting down, putting the SUV back in drive.

He peeled away quickly, continuing down the road. The panic only slightly lessened as we sped down the road.

“Where do we go?” Rune asked, his gaze still on me as my head drooped again.

I groaned as someone prodded at my back, checking over the wounds that were still oozing blood. The skin on my back protested the stretch of skin as my neck lengthened.

“I guess we keep heading to the territory. We have back up there. Whatever did this to her did it through a vision. Only powerful magic can manage that. We need help. Besides we won’t be full fighting strength with two of us wounded and needing protection. Call Dad.

“See if they can send someone to meet us to help, in case we need intervention before we get home. Also tell him we need the healers there. Magic wounds won’t heal as fast even with her being a shifter. She’ll likely need stitches and poultices.” Frode rattled off as Rune pulled out his phone.

A groan sounded loudly through the cabin of the SUV. It took me a moment to realize it was my own. Erik and Sten had covered my wounds and draped a blanket over me. Slowly, they eased me onto my side, so my back wasn’t against the seat. My head was on Sten’s lap, his warm hand smoothed my hair back, as Erik lifted my legs, so they were over his legs.

I felt warm hands wrap around my own, then they seemed like they grew warmer. A hiss from my left, were Sten sat, alerted me that he was trying to take my pain. At first, I welcomed it, but then I remembered it had a cost. I pulled my hand from his, fighting against his tight grip.

“Let me help you, Astrid. We have a long drive and it’s easier on all of us if you’re more comfortable.” He said, his voice shaking.

“No. You don’t need to suffer.” I said, putting my hands between my thighs.

“See you in this much pain, feeling it through the bond makes all of us suffer. I can take it.” Sten said, brushing my hair back. “Please, give me your hand.” He pleaded.

I tried to process what he was saying, and it took me longer as the pain was making it hard to focus. Slowly, I realized what he was trying to say. No matter what he was going to feel it, all my mates could feel it to some degree.

Despite not being fully mated, they could feel harsh and extreme pain. Our proximity made it worse. Sten could ease it enough that it wouldn’t be felt through the bond. Groaning at the movement, I reached for him. He met me halfway and slowly helped me set my hand on his leg.

His warm hands closed around my own again, and the warmness started back up. I hummed as the pain was alleviated enough that I could almost think straight. Everything came crashing back to me. Questions raced through my mind.

“How?” I hissed through clenched teeth.

“We aren’t sure. We’re hoping our parents will have answers. I’m pretty sure we can sum it up to your magic, but I’ve never heard of being harmed in a vision. It’s old magic though, so it’s not surprising we don’t know.” Sten said, his grip lessening and the warmth leaving. “Sleep, we have a long drive.” He added, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

I nodded and didn’t fight the darkness that washed over me. I could hear my mates quietly talking around me. My last thoughts were hopes of more peaceful dreams, or better yet nothing.