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Chapter Fifteen
Why didn’t you call me before now?
Jillian’s typed message pulsed in my mind. There were so many reasons. I was ashamed that I couldn't handle this alone. I didn't want her to worry.
I was a stubborn ass who tried to handle everything on my own. And one who had shown the note to my sister.
“I don’t know. I just thought I’d let you know in case something happens. I was trying to protect you and not make you worry.”
She pulled back from the screen and muted the microphone after holding up a finger signaling me to wait a second. Her mates formed a circle around her while she wrote something on a notepad out of my view. The they all nodded at once and high-fived.
What in the heck was going on?
Leif tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned to face him. “I don’t like the sound of this.” I cracked up. I knew what he meant, but I had to laugh at the statement. “Still too soon, Janis.”
Schooling my face, I went back to looking at the computer. Jillian was waving, trying to get my attention. Gods, when my twin put her mind to something, there was no stopping her.
We are coming to help you. All of us.
I gasped, and my heart began to thrum overtime. If something happened to Jillian or one of her mates in coming to help me, I would be as good as dead. It would break my heart into a thousand pieces for my twin to get even a scratch because of me.
I spat out my reply like someone was paying me by the second. “You are absolutely not. I won’t put you in harm’s way.”
Jillian and her mates laughed overdramatically. They threw back their heads and held their stomachs like I was so funny.
“I mean it, Jillian. Don’t you dare come here while Bors is on the loose. I won’t allow it.”
Jillian shook her head. Clearly, another tactic was necessary.
“As the queen, I am putting my foot down. You will not come here until the threat is gone.”
That only made them laugh harder.
Janis, you are the queen, but you are not my queen. I’m coming. And as I already mentioned, my mates are coming with me. We will help you out all that we can to get rid of this asshole. Beloved uncle. The nerve!
And before I could answer or try to tell her not to again, she was gone. The video chat ended.
Stubborn twin of mine.
That afternoon, Leif, Gunnar, and Arne were dead set on me training more. And I was dead set on throwing up any excuse not to. I wasn’t going to be some assassin overnight. Plus, assassins could hear. At least any one I’d seen in the movies I streamed.
Couldn’t be a ninja either, could I?
“If I overtrain, I’m going to be sore for the battle. We can’t have that, can we?”
Without waiting for an answer, I sat on the ground where the sun was heating the lush green grass so much I became envious of its warmth. I leaned back to turn my face to the sun and put my arms out behind me, bracing my body like one of those sunbathers on a movie.
Someone’s lips touched mine. Arne. No doubting the full lips of my big, brutish mate. “Arne, that’s not going to persuade me. I’m happy to get some sun and watch the three of you spar. But first, can you take your shirts off, you know, because it’s so hot.” I fanned myself with one of my hands for dramatic effect but then almost toppled over.
Yep, never would be a ninja.
Leif laughed, and I would know that laugh from miles away. I prayed that when my hearing finally stopped working altogether, I’d remember that sound. “Fine, fine. The queen gets the day off.”
As I basked in the sun, I heard the clinking of swords, metal against metal. Smiling, I picked up the sounds of my mates and basked in that as well. This moment would be tucked away for an eternity inside me. After feeling like the sun might’ve switched from doing me good to doing my skin harm, I got up and moved to sit against a tree trunk and watch my mates. They were so different, and, yet, each uniquely made for his place in my life.
Arne was like a big, soft teddy bear. He was patient and calm, that rock everyone needed in the storm. Leif was strong and funny. He called me out on my shit and didn’t let me get away with whining. Plus, there was his ass. I mean, all other asses should bow down to his ass. Gunnar was gentle, so fiercely loyal to me as a person and to this kingdom.
As I sat there, twirling my hair around my finger, I knew what I was doing. I barely contained my smile.
