Chapter 35

I woke up as nausea overwhelmed me. I untangled myself from the bedsheets and scrambled out of bed, only able to hope I hadn’t disturbed my mates. Cool tile met my knees as I fell to them in front of the toilet. My stomach heaved until it was empty, and then some more.

Resting my head against the cool toilet, I closed my eyes. Flashes of what I’d dreamt or seen flickered behind my closed lids. A hawk flying before me, looking at me as if it could see my soul. A sword coming down with a spray of blood on an unseen figure.

Pain shot through my head as I tried to process it all, creating another wave of nausea that had me hanging my head over the toilet again. The sound of footsteps and a warm hand alerted me that I had woken up at least one of the guys. Spice and pine filled my senses, easing my headache and nausea.

“Are you alright, princess?” Sten asked, running a hand over my forehead.

He sat down so my back was pressed to his front.

“Yea, just a bad dream or something.” I mumbled as I leaned into the warmth of his body.

“Or something?” He brushed my hair back from my face.

“It felt like a vision, but it was just glimpses of things that didn’t make sense. I’m not sure.” I closed my eyes, feeling content and comfortable despite sitting on the floor.

“Do you want to talk about it?” His warm breath tickled my ear.

“Not really.”

He nodded and continued to hold me for a few minutes. Certain my stomach was calmed, I moved gingerly afraid to worsen my head and stood. Surprisingly, my headache was gone and I felt fine. I shrugged it off assuming it was just from the vomiting and dream. A cell phone ringing pulled us from the bathroom and into the bedroom.

I glanced out the window, it was barely dawn. A phone call this early couldn’t be good news. My body froze in preparation of bad news. Sten sensing my unease came behind me and wrapped his arms around me as Frode answer his cell phone.

The ringing had woken Rune and Erik and they were starting to wake up. Confusion and surprise crossed their features as they realized Sten and I weren’t in bed with them. Rune smiled as his gaze found mine, and I couldn’t help but smile back. He stood, stretching before walking over to us.

“Good morning, angel.” His smile faded as he drew closer. “Are you sick?” He asked, closing the space between us faster.

“No, just a bad dream.” I smiled at him as his lips brushed my temple.

He nodded and continued to the bathroom. My focus went back to Frode who was pacing and talking quietly. His posture stiffened and he looked to me and Sten. I couldn’t read his expression.

“Let’s go make coffee.” Sten said, after meeting Frode’s gaze.

I frowned, recognizing that he was moving me out of earshot. I opened my mouth to protest, but Erik was standing in front of me shaking his head. I closed my mouth and allowed them to lead me from the bedroom.

“Why did we leave?” I asked once we were settled in the kitchen.

Coffee brewing filled the air and Erik pulled out food to start breakfast. My mouth watered as I watched him set bacon, eggs, and sausage on the counter.

“Frode is talking with our parents. From what I gathered; they need us to gather a rogue that’s up this way.” Erik said taking a drink of his coffee.

Sten growled lowly and glared at Erik, who simply shrugged in response. I watched with curiosity at the two of them but was pulled away by Frode coming down the stairs. Turning, I noticed Frode’s expression was frustrated, and his body was tense. The conversation hadn’t gone the way he wanted. .

“We have to go further north.” Frode sighed as he collapsed in a chair at the table.

“Won’t that put us in Canada?” I asked.

“All but.” Erik grunted.

“What are we going up against?” Rune asked.

“Apparently a few rogues have banded together and attacked a small community of our shifters. They slaughtered about half of them and left a lot of the remaining injured.” Frode didn’t meet our gaze.

“What?” I asked, knowing he was thinking something I probably wouldn’t like or agree with.

“This is a normal trip for us. I’m not sure this should be the first one you come on.” He said, meeting my stare.

“No, I’m coming. If they are a violent and horrible as they sound, you need all of you. Do you know how many?” Maybe with more information I could strengthen my argument.

“Fewer than our numbers, but they fight like a trained army. They aren’t the rogues we usually face.” Frode leaned forward on his elbows.

“We’re about to face a world altering prophecy, but you’re going to pull the plug on my helping with rogues?” I asked.

“She has a point, Frode.” Erik’s expression showed he liked the idea about as much as Frode, but at least he was willing to admit when I had a valid point.

“The argument isn’t if she has a point or not. It’s whether it’ll be safe. I don’t want her at risk for as long as we can prevent it.” Frode’s voice was starting to raise.

“If you shelter me and keep me out of danger, I’ll have less experience and skill for when I need it.” I shot at him.

He stared at me but didn’t say anything. I could all but see the gears in his mind spinning as he tried to rationalize it all. His shoulders dropped and his gaze fell back to the table.

“You’re right. But I have one rule.” He looked over his brothers and then finally to me.

“Fine.” I nodded.

“What we say goes. If we tell you to run, run. If we tell you to do something, don’t ask questions. Just do it. We’ll only do ask if it’s emergent. It’s technically still training. Please, just do as you are told.” Frode’s tone changed to pleading at the end.

“I promise.” I nodded.

This was it. I was going out to help my mates while we hunted some rogues. Emotions flashed through me. Sten’s warm hand squeezed my shoulder as he smiled at me from his position behind me. I nodded and we dispersed to pack for the trip.