Page 89 of Polestar
But Magnus had seen a lot in the decade since he left Barentia.Too much.
“They’re not powerless, like you say.They did a lot of damage to your Uncle Aksel.”
“Uncle Aksel?What do you mean?He’s gone to visit Grandfather Matochkin for a few weeks.”
“He’s unconscious and under critical care.”
“Wha—what do you mean?”
What do I tell him?Dear Gods, I never wanted to drag Elias into this madness.
He studied his son’s face.
Not a child.Not anymore.
“Elias, I work for an organization that counter-acts human traffickers.I’ve been tracking them for years.These traffickers use a sigil to subdue and control some of their victims.When we found Aksel, he has a tattoo on his throat.Just like Havard.”
“So, youdidcome here to spy on us,” Elias’ voice cracked as he paced back toward the door, hands curled into fists, cheeks flushed.
“Elias, these people—these friends of your mother’s—have stolen a lot of people from their families.Alotof people.We’ve only rescued a fraction of those that were taken and sold around the world.These humanfriendsarenotpowerless.They hurt Aksel.They’ve marked Havard, your grandfather’s personal guard.What else have they done here?”
“Mother wouldn’t let them—.”
“She might notletthem, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t try if she contradicted what they wanted.And those men set up on that little island you mentioned.I’m pretty damned sure that’s what they’re really doing.You’re not safe here.”
Elias stared at Magnus, chest rising and falling.
“You’re just trying to trick me.Turn me against Mother and Grandfather.”
“If my pack is still here and I think I saw Ana drop it before she ran, you’ll find my satellite phone.Get yourself out into the clear, use it to call my team and they’ll come and take you away to safety.Away from this group.”
“You said they sell humans.So?What do I care?”Elias lifted his chin, eyes glittering.
“You don’t mean that.”
He shrugged, his face full of defiance.
“Leave me,” Magnus said.“Just leave me alone.”
“I have the right to be wherever I want and—.”
“Get out,” Magnus roared.He drew a breath, paused, then continued, voice so low it was barely a whisper.“Ulla gave my Ana to those traffickers.You refuse to listen to reason.I want to be alone in my last hours before I’m executed.Just leave.”
Wide eyed, Elias backed out of Magnus’ cell without another word.
Magnus doubted anyone had ever raised their voice to him, let alone roared in his face.
Right then, he was too heart-weary to care.
He slid down the wall and dropped his head in his palms.
He’d failed on all fronts of his mission.Lost everyone and everything—including his life.
TWENTY-ONE
“Keepitlocked,”EliasMagnusson barked at the lockmaster, who accepted his order with a nod.
Elias jogged back up through the winding corridors of the dungeons, up the stone staircases and through the back halls to the family’s private living quarters.Where his father should stay, rather than in a dank cell, chained with meteor metal.
