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Chapter 4

Suddenly my eyes snapped open, and I found I was in a bright hotel room. Sten was hovering over me, panting with a sheen of sweat on his face. When his gaze met mine, he sighed and pulled me to him in a tight embrace. I relaxed into his comforting hold closing my eyes, but the images of what I’d seen flashed before eye lids. Rune. I pushed back and looked around the room.

Frode was sitting on the other bed, staring at us with a wide-eyed expression. Erik looked pale and angry from his perch in an office chair. Panic started to fill me. Where was Rune? I pushed out from Sten’s hold when I heard a flush from the bathroom. Rune stood in the doorway, pale and sweaty, fear and pain written over his face. Relief filled me. They are all here and safe.

“What was that?” I spat, noticing for the first time that my hands were shaking.

“That was a vision. You have old magic we haven’t seen in centuries. I believe that you, princess, are a type of Seer. It’s a type of empath magic.” Sten said, his warm hands moving up and down my trembling arms.

“So that will come true?” I asked, wincing at the possibility.

Panic filled me. I didn’t know Rune, not really, but my stomach felt like it was filled with lead at the thought of losing him. My eyes flashed to Rune, and he took a step forward. My sorrow and fear reflected on his face. I moved my gaze back to Sten, begging silently for him to tell me it wouldn’t.

“It depends. Visions can be changed if proper interventions are acted upon. But yes, if nothing changes, the course is set. That will be the future.” Sten said, not meeting my eyes.

“Did you all see it too?” I asked.

“No. We all felt your fear and distress through the bond. We couldn’t wake you, I even tried using my magic on you to try and coax you out.” Sten said, his voice full of pain.

“I think I felt you. It was like I was being tugged out. It made me collapse in the vision and then I opened my eyes and was here.” I said, reaching for him, hoping that it would be a comfort that he’d succeeded.

“Well, at least we know that you can pull her out. Gods, that was horrible, and I didn’t even see it.” Erik said, pushing himself to a standing position and shaking out his arms.

“I saw it.” Rune said quietly, stepping up to the side of the bed.

Everyone’s attention snapped to his. I took a moment to take in his pale complexion and shaking hands. He was filled with terror and sadness, not his cocky and energy filled personality I’d seen at the apartment. Sten eyes popped open wide, and his gaze moved back to me, searching for an explanation.

“You were sleeping and touching her. You guys were holding hands while you slept. I’ve heard about strong Seers being able to take people with them. But they’d had years of practice and training. Usually, a Seer can only show something they’d seen before. This was your first time seeing this, correct?” Sten asked.

“Yes. I would definitely remember if I’d seen that before.” I said, my gaze not leaving Rune.

He was still pale and shaking. I crawled from where I was sitting so I was kneeling in front of him on the bed. His eyes never left me. I reached for him, and he took my hand, falling to his knees at the edge of the bed and pulling me to him. His head pressed into my stomach below my breasts, his strong arms shaking, but holding me to him tightly. I held him just as tight.

“I know it was bad, but we have to know. What did you see?” Frode asked, sitting on the edge of the bed beside us.

Rune broke the embrace we’d been in and scooped me up bridal style and sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard with me on his lap. He kissed the top of my head and held me tight against him, before slightly loosening his hold.

“He’s right, angel. If we don’t share, we can’t stop it.” He said, turning me to face the others, but keeping me in his lap.

I swallowed thickly before I met each of their gazes. The other three had moved to the double bed Rune and I were sitting on. Each looked like they wanted to be closer but kept a respectful distance between us. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

“It started in a beautiful field. It was warm summer day.” I started with a small smile on my face, remembering how happy I’d felt at the start of the vision. “Then it suddenly changed. The wind picked up, like a storm was coming in, but instead of smelling rain I smelled blood. I sat up and looked around and the field that was filled with life and blossoms was littered in bodies and blood. I tried to back away, to get away from what I was seeing but, I-I tripped.” I said, my eyes snapping open, they burned with unshed tears.

Rune’s arms around me tightened and he kissed the top of my head, encouraging me to go on.

“It was the meadow by our house.” Rune said over my head.

Mixed feelings ran through me. I knew that I could have so many happy moments in the that beautiful meadow. Picnics, reading, watching kids play. But how could I enjoy those moments when I knew what else that meadow could hold-death and despair. I had to finish telling this, so we didn’t have to relive it for real.

“I tripped over a body. Rune’s body.” I said, no longer able to stop the tears. “I rolled away and vomited and then my head started pounding and I felt a pull to leave.”

“Sorry I caused you pain. I panicked when I couldn’t wake you. I was more forceful than I should have been trying to draw you out.” Sten said, not meeting my stare.

“Don’t apologize. It was short lived and pulled me away from that sight. I’ve worked emergency medicine for years; blood doesn’t bother me. But that-well, that was something else.” I said quietly, staring at my hands in my lap.

“We’ll find a way to change it.” Erik said, his warm hand cupping my knee.

“How? We don’t know what caused it, or why it happened.” I said, anger rising in me.

My emotions were all over the place and that made me angrier. I just wanted to be happy. I didn’t want to live the rest of my life waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting for something more or worse to come along.

Rune hugged me tighter, sensing my anger. His touch calmed me, and I pressed further back into his warmth.

“We have a few ideas; we need to get back and talk with our parents.” Frode said. “It’s late, try to get some sleep. We’ll leave early in the morning and should be there by dinner if we don’t stop.”

The guys all nodded and Frode moved to join me and Rune on the bed were on, while Erik and Sten moved to the other bed. I heard the rustling of clothes and then saw a nearly naked Frode slide under the blankets. I felt my face heat. Rune set me down between him and Frode before getting up and grabbing a bottle of water. He handed it to me with a small smile, then reached for the buttons of his jeans.

I looked away, feeling my face heat even more, and took too big of a gulp of the water, causing me to choke on it. Frode chuckled behind me and took the water bottle, setting it on the nightstand. He pulled me to him, and I realized that my bare legs were against his. Looking down at my body, I saw I was only wearing my underwear and t-shirt. I’d been so caught up in the vision that I hadn’t realized my state of undress. Rune climbed into bed and laid down face us.

“Sleep, little one. Stop squirming and for the love of the gods, sleep. Now is not the appropriate time for us to claim you.” He growled as I kept moving to get comfortable.

I stilled and relaxed against their warm bodies. I could already hear the soft snores from Erik, and Sten growled at him and made him roll over. Frode had pulled me against his body and his arm was draped over Rune’s side and me. Rune was facing me, one of his legs between mine. He smiled gently as he cupped my face.

“I’m not leaving you, angel. Not now or ever. Sleep, I’ll be here when you wake.” He said, kissing my forehead.

I nuzzled into his hand and locked my leg around his. I smiled and let myself take comfort in their presence and warmth. I should be embarrassed, I barely know these men, but they already feel like home.

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