Page 101 of Polestar
His gaze slid from the woman, returning to Ulla.
Her brother had been the last instance where he’d had to use his deeper ability to subdue a difficult situation.
He whispered to Yvan next to him, “The venom in my octopus ink is thinning.”
“So you said before.”
“My ability to overcome another’s will is weakening.I’ve had to release some of my older connections in order to accommodate this last spell,” he said, referring to Ulla’s brother.“And the two before that.Shifter will is so much harder to control than human will.”
Yvan scowled as his eyes flicked between Ulla and Adolf.
Neither Adolf nor Yvan were sure what had set off the polar bear shifter, but he’d gone on a rampage in the facility, screaming about one of Adolf’s products.They subdued and spelled him, then put him on a ship.A ship which was eventually seized, and no one had heard from him since.
“Each time I used my venom to calm another, it drew on my strength, even with the spells you used to boost it.I’m stretched too far.My connections are thinning to fragile filaments; any more, and they may snap.I have no way of knowing what will happen.Could be some, could be all.”
“Or drain you to a husk.I’ve seen it with other magic users that weren’t strong enough to maintain their spells.”
Adolf wasn’t sure he liked the calculated look in Yvan’s eye.“We’re almost finished here.Once I have control of the artifact—on behalf ofThe Consortium, of course—it won’t matter.”
“If we can’t control the king and his guard, we can’t control the rest of the Barentians.If we can’t control the Barentians, we sure as hell can’t control the rest of the polar bear clans, who will no doubt want to overrun the territory for themselves.They won’t stand by while humans take over.”
“Once I have the power we’re seeking, they’ll do whatever we want them to.”
“Are you so sure about that?”Adolph adjusted his posture on his seat, turning more fully toward Yvan as his agitation got the better of him.“Didn’t one ofThe Consortiummembers say that we are ensuring control of the artifact for when it awakens?Meaning we won’t have access to power right away?”
Yvan shrugged, scowling at Adolf’s line of questioning.“Maybe.Maybe not.The shaman’s books have histories and detailed spells to connect and use the thing.There just hasn’t been enough time to read through them all yet.Ah, finally.”He nodded toward the door.
Adolf turned his attention to the door as two guards appeared with grim expressions.
There was no chained Barentian polar bear shifter behind them.
“Where is he?”Ulla demanded, striding toward the guards.
“When we couldn’t find the lockmaster to open the cell, we had to use the secondary key.”
“And?”
“The cell is empty, mistress.”
“Find the lockmaster,” she roared as the guards rushed out, “Find Magnus!”
Adolf jumped to his feet when she charged toward Adolf’s property, hand extended to grab her by the throat.
“Ulla!”
The woman, Ana, squeezed her eyes shut, stifling a whimper as she clutched the chair she sat on, head pressed into the back of it.
“Where is he?”Ulla demanded of the woman, shaking her.
“How the fuck should I know?I’ve been trapped with you assholes since you caught me at the fishing village,” she forced the words out of her compressed windpipe.
Ulla shoved her as she released her, forcing the chair to rock backwards.
The woman clutched at her throat, gasping and coughing from the assault.
She’d have more bruises to add to her growing assortment.
More delays before Adolf could collect on her.His buyer liked his acquisitions pristine, unblemished.
