Page 92 of A Dawn Of Blood

I’m still smiling, but now it’s with a quirked eyebrow. “Did you check for every kind of magic that could be concealing them?”

While de Groot is outright scoffing, everyone else seems hesitant. But more importantly, so does Nuala. “Let’s take a vote,” she finally suggests. “Anyone for checking the temples again?”

It’s with pleading eyes that I look around the table.

And one by one, everyone except de Groot raises their hands.

Smiling, I breathe a sigh of relief.

Nuala still seems hesitant, but it’s been decided. So she takes a deep breath, claps her hands and says, “Alright, I guess it’s Anna’s suggestion we’re going with. Meeting adjourned, it’s back to work, everyone.”

While the others start getting up, Raven raises her hand. “Um, if that’s alright, I’ve been meaning to ask everyone for blood donations.”

We all turn our focus onto her.

“What for?” Nuala asks.

“I’ll be testing the way the shadowcurse behaves at different stages of infection, so I’ll need samples of healthy blood as well.”

“We could just get settled on the couches,” I suggest to Nuala, “going through our records while she does what she has to do?”

“Sure, why not?”

I lead them to the desk with all the research we’ve done so far. “Why don’t we all grab a folder each and get started. What we’re doing here is simply going through it all again with the new information in mind.”

Within a matter of seconds, all the Old Norse materials have been cleared off the table, de Groot the only one who didn’t take a folder and go sit on one of the couches or armchairs.

It saddens me, but I have more important things to do. I go take a seat as well, opening my own folder and starting to browse the contents. It’s the information we’ve gathered on Odin’s Temple in Uppsala.

Raven walks over with her equipment in hand. “May I?” she asks.

I smile and stretch my right arm out for her. “Knock yourself out.”

She comes into a crouch next to me, a needle in hand. “This shouldn’t hurt too much.”

I quirk an eyebrow at her. “I think I’ll live,” I say, and I go back to browsing the pictures we took of each and every one of the runestones.

So far, nothing that could help. I flip the page, the next picture drawing my attention.

“Hey,” I yell out when someone snatches the folder out of my hand.

I look up to see de Groot standing in front of me with an angry look on her face.

“I thought you were smarter than this,” she grits out.

I try to grab the folder, but she doesn’t let me. Her act causes some commotion among the others, but no one dares to interfere.

She’s hurting, I tell myself. “Smarter than what?” I ask gently.

“Wasn’t it your boyfriend’s information that led you to the Reh-yah Temple in the first place?”

My eyes dart to Cain. “It was.”

“So it’s already been proven wrong, but the plan is to keep trusting the man who is our sworn enemy?”

I grit my teeth, feeling a surge of protectiveness. “He’s not who you think he is.”

“Really?” she drawls.

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