Page 50 of Polestar
“Cliffs’ notes?”
“Kane’s been around a long time.Longtime.And she’s been collecting information about ancient prophecies.That’s why she came to Barentia in the first place.She believed there was a link between my homeland and the information she was studying.”
“Which is?”
Magnus shrugged.“She and my father and the old shaman had long, long discussions on the matter.Something to do with a gateway of sorts.”
“What does this have to do with the trafficking ring we’re investigating?”
“Nothing.Everything.”He rubbed a hand over his face.“She asked for two things.Help with the prophecies and help fighting against the growing practice of shifters exploiting humans.My father sent her away and told me never to deal with her when he was gone—when I became king of the clan.Barentians never get involved with human affairs.When I pushed him on it, he said that we would do as we’d always done; keep to our own and shut the world out.That I wasn’t ready yet.The shaman said little on the matter, beyond how vital it was that we protect our territory, to keep the darkness away.”
“Sounds very cryptic.”
“Yeah, well, my father was incensed that I went to talk to Kane myself and find out what she had to say on the matter.Her view was that whatever was coming, every civilization had a responsibility to fight against those that would use this darkness which the shaman had mentioned.Made sense to me.”
“Your father disagreed.”
Magnus nodded.“We continued to argue in the following weeks and months.Kane tried again.He demanded she never return.I, being young and impatient, challenged him.Turns out Ulla also disagreed with my viewpoint, and had been putting words in my father’s ear.There was another heir—my son.The clan didn’t need me.”
Magnus gave his attention to the flight gauges for a few moments, to shake the lingering emotions for his ex-wife.
Ana maintained her silence.
“Uphold our insular traditions, or go.The Clan or Kane.My heart said to stay and shut the fuck up.My gut told me I had to go.”
It was far, far more complicated than that.
“You trust her?More than your father?”
Magnus shrugged.“Instinct.”
She didn’t ask why he didn’t just wait out his father’s rule, or why he chose a stranger over his family—his son.
He’d had a decade to study his choices.Swallow his regrets.
To work with Kane, even though his absence from Barentia meant she didn’t have the ally she’d soughtinthat territory.
Some days, it felt like it was all for nothing.
Considering the struggle to protect humans from exploitive paranormals, Magnus had done a lot, but it wasn’t enough.
“So, you’re not welcome.Humans aren’t welcome.They know we’re agents.”
“They knowIwork for the GPSA.They may assume the same of you, or not.But as a human, they can’t automatically assume you’re a threat of any kind.Anyone else would put them on their guard.”
Magnus flicked several switches and began their descent toward land.
“Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
FearpoundedthroughAna’schest as they left the seaplane tied to a simple dock and began the trek up the snow-covered path toward the fishing village.
Somewhere on the eastern tip of Norway, they’d landed and switched to the smaller amphibious aircraft for the rest of the journey.
She struggled to control her heart rate.
Pulling her phone from her pocket, she checked for cell service, holding it up in various directions, trying to catchsomething.
