Page 84 of The Artist
I grinned back at him because seeing my father laugh always made me feel better.
With him clasping a hand around my neck we walked on as he muttered, “Sometimes it feels like I’m the only one who cares about our old traditions. I’m tired of hearing that we need to adapt when it feels like we’ve adapted too much already. I have no problem with Motlanders moving here and giving birth to a new generation of Nmen, but I have a problem with them weakening our boys with their fussing and pampering. If they can’t deal with swearing, hunting, and fighting then they should have stayed home.”
“You think Aunt Pearl weakened Thor?”
“Of course she did. Just like Christina weakened Indiana. You’re one of the few men who was lucky enough to be raised by a mother who understands and appreciates your need to be a real man. Laura never held you back or tried to dampen the daredevil in you. If anything, she pushed you to be stronger and better.”
I chuckled. “I think Indiana and Thor would object to you calling them weak.”
Magni sighed and let go of my neck. “Yeah, and they would be right. I was humbled enough after my accident to learn that having a strong body means nothing if you don’t have an even stronger mind. And just for the record, I’m not saying that being raised the way Khan or I was raised was better. It was a fucking nightmare, but I can’t help my stubbornness when I feel like our old traditions are being dismissed or neglected. It makes me swear more and wear leather to every meeting. It’s a fucking reminder to Khan that we’re still proud Nmen and it’s the best way I can flip Pearl off without Khan getting angry with me.”
“Do you think you and Aunt Pearl will ever see eye to eye?”
My dad scrunched up his face. “How could we? She’s a vegan, Mason.”
I laughed again. “Will you like Belle better if I tell you she eats meat?”
“Who said I didn’t like Belle? I hardly know her.”
“So, you’re fine with me marrying her?”
My dad stopped and looked into my eyes. “I want you to be happy, son. I’ve never seen a mixed marriage without problems. It’s hard when you don’t share culture or values, and I worry buying her freedom might not be as easy as we hope. If it were up to me, Belle would stay here while you, Jonah, and Victor went back to negotiate. I don’t care about showing good faith and respect to the French. You’re smart enough to know there’s a real chance that they have a plan to separate you and Belle. If they do, how will you find her? They are more than a million people with dwellings above and below ground. They could hide her until the baby is born and then you’ll never know your child.”
With gritted teeth, I promised, “I won’t let that happen.”
My father’s once dark-blond hair had strands of gray just like his eyebrows under a furrowed brow. “Do you want me and Solo to come with you? We could bring a group of Huntsmen if we need to.”
My older brother Solo was the Commander in the Northlands and responsible for keeping the peace. It was a position he’d taken over from our father, who now primarily served as an advisor for Khan. I was the highest-ranking Huntsman serving under Solo.
“I’m not as fast or agile as I was twenty years ago, but I can fight if it comes to that.”
“Thank you, Dad, but I think they’ll be intimidated enough by the sight of me with Thor and Indiana. If you and Solo came along, they would shit their pants and that might hinder the negotiations.”
“Huh. Yeah, you might be right.” Patting my shoulder, he continued walking. “I guess I’ve had my share of adventure and I should leave a little fun for you and the other two rascals.”
“You mean three rascals – Aubri is worse than Thor, Indiana, and me combined.”
“I’m afraid you’re right about that part, but at least they’ll underestimate her because she’s a woman.”
I wasn’t so sure. “You’re talking about Nmen. Victor says the French are geniuses compared to us so maybe they won’t make that mistake.”
“Ha! As far as I can tell Victor has underestimated Freya for the past eleven years. He still thinks he’s smarter than her and she’s been wise enough to never correct him. Nah, the French are arrogant pricks who think they’re better than everyone else. If you ask me their superiority complex is their biggest weakness.”
I nodded. “Let’s hope you’re right.”
CHAPTER 23
Returning Home
Belle
At five o’clock the next morning, we took off in one of Khan’s long-distance drones, which was shaped like a diamond. It had room for fifteen people on the upper deck, and offered a restroom on the lower deck. The luxurious details of the aircraft had me trailing my fingers over the bird engraved on the neck-rest of my white leather seat; there was one on every seat. Soft music played and the heated seats that could be reclined into beds were comfortable. The window went all around and with the seats positioned in a circle, we all had a great view of the outside. This was a far cry from the French drone I’d arrived in.
I had Mason on my right side and Freya on my left. She had brought a pillow and a blanket that she curled up with.
“This drone has blankets. Why did you bring your own?” Mason asked her.
“Because it’s cozy.” Freya opened a pack and reached in. “I also brought lots of snacks. Anyone hungry?”
