Chapter 26

My eyes shot open as I was pushed into consciousness, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. I sat up, rubbing my face hard, trying to make sense of what I’d seen. The cool bedsheets beside me told me I’d been alone for a while. I threw the blankets off myself and stretched before moving to the bathroom.

I moved through my morning routine and dressing on autopilot as I sorted through what I’d seen in my sleep and tried to piece together what the vision was about. Confusion clouded my thoughts. My visions had always been so straight forward. Last night's vison was choppy and jumped around in quick glances. Enough that I knew something bad was going to happen, but not enough that I knew where or to who.

Muffled voices carried up the stairs, drawing me to my mates. I finished dressing and went downstairs. Sten met me at the stairs, concern on his face and a question in his eyes.

“Princess, what has you so upset this early in the day?” He asked, blocking my path.

“An unclear vision.” I murmur, brushing past him.

He followed me closely as I got a cup of coffee and sat at the table next to Frode. Movement out the window drew my attention to the front yard where I saw Erik and Rune training.

“Thank you for last night, little one.” Frode whispered huskily in my ear.

I smiled and turned to face him.

“I feel like I should be thanking you.” I grinned.

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, we’ll have to do it more often. I hear it can be quite stress relieving.” He kissed my forehead before gathering his plate and taking it to the sink.

“Are you hungry, princess?” Sten asked from the sink where he was washing dishes.

“Not right now. Can you try to help me with my magic today? I’d like to try to figure out the vision I had last night.”

“Of course, but the more you stress over it the harder it could be. Are you sure it wasn’t an odd dream?” He asked.

I scowled at him. It felt like a vision, but it was very different from what I’d experienced previously for my visions. Could it have been a dream?

“How about a walk?” Frode asked, placing a warm hand on my shoulder.

“That actually sounds great.” I said.

We made small talk while I finished my coffee and then Frode and I put our boots and winter gear on. For winter it wasn’t overly cold, besides I found winter air refreshing. We set out down the driveway. The sun was out and the birds that stayed for the winter were singing, reminders that spring would be here before long.

“Erik and Sten said that you’d voiced your concern of not being able to come with us on trips to handle rogues.” Frode said, breaking the silence we’d been walking in.

“Yes. I understand that I need more training to really help, but I could be an asset with my medical skills.” I said, voicing the words I’d been working on over the last week.

I’d been wanting to talk with Frode before they started working again. I understood their concern with my lack of training but having someone who was medically trained would be an asset, I wasn't making that up. They wouldn’t have to try to find a healer or wait for one to arrive. I knew that some wounds they received and the speed at which we healed would be hard to explain in a hospital.

We walked a little further in silence, Frode seemed to be considering my side of the argument. His silence confirmed that I was correct about being an asset. I wasn’t trying to be out beside them, not yet. I just wanted be able to be on standby in the nearest town. Some place where I could reach them quickly.

“I’ll talk with the others, but you have a point. I think that either Erik or myself would have to stay with you, if not Sten as well. It would be handy to have someone close by with medical knowledge. It’s not a guarantee, but we’ll at least all sit down and talk it over. Erik will be your biggest opponent.” He said with a grin, preparing me for who I would have to fight the most.

“I figured.” I sighed, watching my feet for a few steps.

Looking back up to watch where I was going when I froze. An odd sense of déjà vu washed over me and made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It took me a minute to figure out why this seemingly random spot in the woods.

My eyes landed on a gnarled tree. It held no leaves, and the main trunk was short, only coming about four feet off the ground before the tree it started breaking off in huge branches that loomed high overhead. The branches almost made a seat in the tree that would be perfect for a tree house. I walked towards it to get a closer look.

“Like this tree?” Frode asked, stepping up behind me.

“It’s unique.” I said, unsure of why this tree was so interesting to me.

“Erik and I plan to build a treehouse for the pups when we decide to have them.” He wrapped his arms around me, pulling my back into his chest.

“It would be perfect for one.” I murmured, my eyes not leaving the tree that loomed over us.

“There was a tree like this on the other side of the territory, that we built a tree house in. It sits close to our best friends’ parent’s house. We must have spent most of the summer out in it was children.” He said, I could the smile in his voice.

“Can you show me?” I asked, turning in his arms.

“Sure. We’ll have to take the SUV. It’s a little too cold to walk that far, and the snow is too deep to cut through the woods.” Frode shrugged.

“Ok, let’s go.” I said, breaking out of his arms and heading back to the house.

“Oh, ok. What’s the rush? Is everything ok?” He asked, catching up to me in a few long strides.

“I can’t explain it. I just need to see it.” I said, not stopping to explain.

“Alright. Is it a vision thing?” He asked.

“Yes.” I said.

Our quick pace had us back to the house much quicker than it had taken to walk out.

“Erik we’re going to the Borg’s house. You’re coming with us. I’m just going to grab the keys.” Frode commanded at Erik who was still working with Rune.

“Is everything alright?” Erik asked turning to me.

“I can’t explain. I need to see a tree.” I said.

“A vision thing?” He asked.

I nodded.

“Then I’m coming too.” Rune said, grabbing his sweatshirt and tossing Erik his.

Frode jogged out of the house, with Sten trailing behind as he pulled on his jacket. We climbed into the SUV and headed to the treehouse my mates used as pups. About fifteen minutes later we pulled into a driveway of a cottage style home. A woman who appeared to be in her late fifties came out smiling and waving.

Frode stepped out of the SUV and walked to her, wrapping his arms around and lifting her off her feet as she laughed. I heard them talking but didn’t pay attention as I felt a familiar pull that I had felt back when we went to save Beth. I heard Sten say my name from beside me, but I couldn’t respond. I had to follow the pull. I heard Sten curse under his breath and follow me. More footsteps followed us.

I walked around the fence that opened on the side and moved towards the backyard. The sound of an axe hitting wood filled the air and a man came into view. His back was too us and he was chopping wood. It didn’t take long for him to sense us and turn.

He smiled when he saw my mates behind us, but it quickly faded. He stepped forward, asking what was wrong. Before anyone could answer my vision bombarded my memories. The force at which they wound themselves together in my mind made me close my eyes and stumble back into Sten, who caught me and held me steady.

I was running through the woods, a male voice yelling at me to keep going. My only thought was to get to the Asketill house. It was just through the woods. I heard something thud to the ground and looked over my shoulder. The man that had been splitting wood was on the ground.

He yelled for me to go, to leave him, but I couldn’t. He was my other half; I couldn’t leave him alone. Footsteps sounded closer, but in no rush to get to us. They knew they had us and I knew I wasn’t leaving the forest.

My eyes shot open, and I looked at the happy, loving couple who had moved to stand together in front of me. Frode’s words echoed through my mind. These were their best friends’ parents. Beth’s mother and father-in-law. They were a couple that were as much parents to my mates as their own were, and I just saw their deaths.