Page 110 of Polestar
Despite their weapons, he could take down about half of them in his polar bear form—if he acted fast.
Although determined to fulfill their duty, they didn’t want to hurt him anymore than he wanted to injure them.
“Tell us then, Magnus.What is this?What do you hope to accomplish here?”Jan’s voice was soft, leaning on their personal history as Magnus had hoped to do earlier.
Jaw clenched, he stepped back, heel striking stone.
The guards moved in closer.Their expressions didn’t give away their nervousness, but he scented it.
He was bigger than they were and a fierce fighter.Men were going to get hurt if he resisted.They knew it.He knew it.
“I’m ensuring my son still has a Barentia to rule when my father is gone.”
Some men registered surprise.They’d expected him to declare the throne for himself.
It was all he needed.
He shifted in a blink, swiped out with a great paw.Then the other, sending his kinsmen spinning in opposing directions before any reacted.Bracing a foot against the stone wall behind him, he launched himself forward, bowling some of the rest to the floor as he ran like a freight train over them, snapping bones as he went.
Several recovered from their shock, and abandoned their weapons to shift and give chase.
Magnus charged through the castle now.Alert guards, still in human form, moved along the narrow staircases and halls to intercept him on his way to his father’s room.
As he ascended to a secondary landing, someone threw a spear.Its aim true, it embedded in his flank, causing him to stumble.He roared against the pain, dislodged it with a swipe and kept going.Blood flowed down through his fur, leaving splotching prints as he ran.
“Don’t let him get anywhere near the king’s chamber!”someone shouted.
Two bears blocked the hall.He knew them.He knew all of them.There wasn’t a single bear on this island that he didn’t.
He drew a deep breath, sprinted forward and lowered his head, aiming for the narrow space between them.The impact sent them crunching into the stone walls on either side.Pain wrenched Magnus’ shoulder from the impact and the rending of flesh as one clawed at him to stop him.But they couldn’t.
They wouldn’t.
He knocked aside two more guards posted outside the antechamber to his father’s quarters and slammed into the solid oak door.It gave way on the fourth hit, splintering inward, its pieces shattering against the interior walls.As the door gave, Ulla and Putinovski, with Ana draped across his arms, appeared from the opposite side of the antechamber, then ran into his father’s room.
“Havard, defend your King with your life.Magnus is here to take the throne!”Ulla screamed before slamming the bedroom door closed.
The iron lock clicked into place as Magnus and Havard stared at one another.Magnus’ sides heaved from the exertion of the run, the spear wound and damaged shoulder.
He already filled most of the small room.When Havard took his bear form, there wouldn’t be enough space for two grappling bears.
Things were about to get messy.
And Ulla had just commanded him to fight to the death if necessary.
Given that she had just locked herself in his dying father’s room with his vulnerable mate, Magnus was no longer sure he could afford the luxury of preserving Havard’s life if he couldn’t subdue him quickly.
Havard became his bear.Smaller than Magnus, but no less dangerous as he launched forward, jaws snapping at Magnus’ face.
He jerked backward in time to avoid the sharp teeth, stumbling on the solid wood furniture tumbling under foot.
Under Havard’s relentless offensive, Magnus swiped and batted away his face and claws again and again.
Tired and frustrated, Magnus rose on his hind legs and pounded Havard with his front paws, sending him flying into the opposite wall with a deafening crack.
Magnus roared at him to stay back.
Havard, dazed, stumbled to raise himself on all fours, shaking his head to clear it.He tottered for a moment, struggling to hold his balance.
