Read Perfekt Control (The Ære Saga Book 2) for Free Online Page B

There
would be no time to lose. Freya represented all that was good in
the realms. The love she instilled upon beings of all species begat
kindness. And that kindness was infectious, spreading like a ripple
across the calm waters of a pond at sunrise. We needed her love
like we needed air—it was our life force, the energy that gave us
strength to fight for ære —for honor—even in the face of
total defeat.
    Without it, there would be only chaos.
    “Please be careful,” Mom urged again.
    Before I could answer, the front door
clicked. Heavy male footsteps pounded up the stairs. They sounded
angrier than footsteps had any right to. Not without good
reason…
    “Gotta run. Give Dad a hug for me.” I hung up
and shoved the phone into my back pocket. I raced into the hallway
and nearly collided with an angry deity.
    “As God of War, I wholeheartedly object.
Sending my guards in my place is a display of cowardice, and a
gross misuse of resources that will lead to—” Tyr stopped shouting
into his phone, presumably to hear whoever was on the other end of
the line. After a moment, his eyes narrowed. “You can’t issue an
order that will compromise Freya’s rescue. I’m the most effective
tracker we have. I should be on the ground for this.”
    “What’s going on?” I whispered to Henrik, who
flanked Tyr.
    “Odin’s telling Tyr how to run the recon. And
apparently he’s not telling him what he wants to hear.” Henrik
raised an eyebrow.
    “You’re setting them up to die, and you know
it!” Tyr yelled. “This is obviously some kind of trap.”
    He fell silent as Odin explained something we
couldn’t hear. After a moment Tyr’s shoulders dropped. A command
was a command, and Odin was the only god who outranked Tyr.
    “Well, if it is me they’re after, you don’t
need to hand them my bodyguards first. They’ll find a way to get to
me eventually, and—” Tyr broke off. As he listened, his free hand
made a fist. “Fine,” he snapped. “But my objection is on record.
And if anything goes down, I’m going in after them. Nobody else is
dying because of me.”
    With that, Tyr turned off his phone and
shoved it in his back pocket. He let out a growl and stared me down
with angry eyes. I held his gaze, barely ruffled by his outburst.
We could handle any death trap Tyr thought we’d be walking into.
Odds were good we’d seen far worse.
    “Where is she?” Tyr barked.
    “You’re awake. And walking. How do you
feel?”
    “Where is Mia?” he repeated.
    “I’m here!” Mia flew down the hall and threw
herself at Tyr. “Oh, thank god you’re okay. The last thing I saw
was… well, you’re here. And you’re standing.” She pulled back just
enough to take in his features. “And you’re angry, but you’re not
bleeding, so that’s a good sign. Right?”
    Tyr kissed the top of her head, and set her
on her feet. “I need you to pack a bag. We’re taking you to the
safe house.”
    “Already on it. I’m packing one for you,
too.” Mia squeezed Tyr’s arm.
    “ Takk . Go finish, and be back here in
five.” Tyr was all business.
    “Okay.” Mia scurried back into Tyr’s room,
shooting a worried glance over her shoulder as she ran.
    “So we are taking Mia to the safe
house,” I confirmed. I’d guessed correctly.
    “ Förbaskat right, she’s going to the
safe house.” Tyr glowered. “Along with my sister, and…” He glanced
between Forse, Henrik, and me. With a furious growl, he ran his
fingers through his messy blond hair. “Living room. Now. The
trail’s lost; we can’t waste any more time.”
    “Elsa needs to heal you, Tyr. She’s got the
room prepped,” I said.
    “I don’t need a healing. I’m fine. Living
room.”
    I opened my mouth, but Henrik shot me a look
that said not now . If the fire emanating from his normally
cool grey-blue stare was any indication, he was every bit as
furious about Freya’s abduction as Tyr.
    Well, honestly. Who wasn’t?
    The boys turned in unison