Perfekt Order (The Ære Saga Book 1) by S.T. Bende Read Free Book Online

through the neighborhood and
around campus. I was alone, I hadn’t brought the mace I’d promised
Daddy I’d keep on me at all times, and I didn’t know what kinds of
animals might be scouting for breakfast at this hour. Even though a
couple of days had passed, the animal/mountain man hallucination
was disturbingly vivid. But nothing had actually happened, and it
would have been silly to let some weird nightmare keep me from
those gorgeous jogging trails forever. Besides, if Google was to be
believed, the trails behind my house were really popular hiking
spots. People drove from all over California to see this particular
patch of Redwoods. If there were a legitimate danger, Hikers.com
wouldn’t boast so many glowing recommendations.
    I’d just follow a different trail this time.
No need to trigger any freaky flashbacks.
    I hung a left at the end of our driveway and
headed toward the woods. The pavement turned to dirt, and my
running shoes padded softly on the dusty surface as I inhaled
forest air. The redwoods smelled of calm—pine, and dirt, and moss,
and earth. The vibe was almost majestic.
    According to Google, this particular path
should loop through the woods, creating a five-mile track that came
out just above campus. As promised, it started as a gentle slope. I
lowered my head as I jogged up the hill. It didn’t look difficult,
but half a mile up, my calves were enveloped in a healthy burn. I
ignored the sensation, and distracted myself with the first thought
that came into my head. The image of Tyr offering me his hand
wasn’t particularly helpful, so I focused on circular breathing
instead, inhaling through my nose and exhaling through my mouth.
When I neared the top of the hill, I glanced up.
    And immediately wished I hadn’t.
    “You have got to be kidding me,” I muttered
under my breath. A familiar silhouette stood at the top of the
hill, hands shoved in the pockets of his hoodie. His back was to
me, but his unnatural height, broad shoulders, and air of
confidence left little doubt as to his identity. Cheese and
crackers .
    Since I wasn’t awake enough to exchange fake
pleasantries, I skidded to a stop and took a step back. A twig
snapped under my feet. Tyr pulled his shoulders back and turned his
head. The hood of his sweatshirt covered his hair, but his piercing
blue gaze bore down on me from the top of the hill. His eyes
narrowed infinitesimally as he gave a tight nod.
    “ Hei hei , Mia. Going somewhere?”
    “Just out for a run.” I glanced over my
shoulder, wondering if there was any graceful way to hightail it
out of the forest.
    “Mmm.” Tyr didn’t move. Instead, he stared
into the woods like he was surveying the woods for threats.
    “Everything okay up there?”
    “Couldn’t be better. Why do you ask?” Tyr
tore his eyes away from the tree line and looked directly at me. A
fresh coat of sweat broke out across my forehead, and I wiped my
face on my sleeve. With any luck he’d think I was tired from my
run… since a lady did not glisten at the mere sight of her
almost-date.
    “You just look so serious,” I offered.
    “Usually do.” He shrugged. “Which way were
you headed?”
    “Um… I was following the Woodside Trail—it’s
another mile over this hill, then it loops back toward campus.”
    “No.” Tyr’s voice was firm.
    “No, it doesn’t loop back?” I questioned.
    “No, you’re not going that way. We’ll take
the Sequoia Trail back.” Tyr pointed to his right.
    The hairs at the back of my neck prickled.
“We? I’m sorry. Did I invite you to run with me?” I tried to keep
my tone playful, but I didn’t like the way Tyr told me what to do.
Or the way he seemed to assume I’d just do what he said. Did girls
just blindly follow orders where he came from?
    Actually, they probably did. He just oozed
the kind of raw power that all but screamed Thou shalt do
whatever I command. And thou shalt be extremely happy about
it.
    “Apologies, prinsessa . May I join