Page 9 of The Heir
A few days after our intense fighting, he had vanished. Seeing his family and friends in pain from not knowing where he was or why he left, my kind heart made me volunteer to track him down.
I had found him on a beach in the Motherlands, but instead of thanking me for flying half a day to check up on him, the giant idiot had threatened to spank me if I ever came back or told others where to find him.
Now it was late June, and my entire family was back in the Northlands to celebrate Sparrow’s and Banni’s wedding.
I wasn’t surprised when Khan and Pearl asked my mother and me to sit down with them before the festivities began. It was my first time inside Khan’s office and while my mother talked with them, I sat looking at the large room, taking in the antique books with the worn spines that contrasted with the modern screen with family photos changing every thirty seconds. The room was masculine, and the energy was heavy and serious.
Khan’s face was marred by deep frown lines and he looked to have aged five years in the five months since I last saw him. “This is much bigger than Thor. We wouldn’t be in this situation if he understood that. True leadership is about sacrificing oneself. Pearl did it when she volunteered to take your place, Athena, remember? Back when Magni held you hostage.”
My mother moved in her seat, answering Khan in a low mutter. “Vaguely.”
My mother’s humor was a testament to my father’s influence, but Khan missed it and continued, “It’s been months of Thor neglecting his duties as my heir. We can’t keep making excuses for him. He needs to get his ass back here and prove that he’s worthy.”
Pearl gave Khan a hard look. “Please stop saying that. Of course our son is worthy.”
“Then where is he? How is he serving his country right now?”
“Maybe he would be here if you hadn’t pressured him and made him doubt himself.”
Khan grunted and turned his attention on me. “Linea, I need you to tell me where he is. I’ll send Mason and Solo to get him back. If Thor doesn’t come freely, they’ll make him, and we can finally end all this madness.”
I lowered my brow. “With all respect, sir, I can’t reveal his location. Thor asked me specifically not to.”
“Yes, but did you make him a promise? Did you say the actual words that you wouldn’t tell us?”
“That’s irrelevant.”
Giving up on me, Khan turned back to my mother. “Athena, you’re a parent. Surely you can understand how upsetting this is to us. Please explain to Linea the importance of revealing Thor’s location, or maybe you can tell us where he is. You didn’t make a promise to Thor.”
My mother’s finger followed a line on Khan’s desk as she spoke with calmness. “I understand your grief and frustration, but Linea is turning twenty-two this year and as an adult, she makes her own decisions. Just like Thor does.”
Khan pushed out air in a loud groan and got up from his chair. “You Motlanders are impossible.”
My mother and I said nothing.
Touching my hand, Pearl asked, “Linea, dear, would you be willing to bring Thor a message from us again?”
“Ehm. I’d rather not. The last time it took me two full days of traveling back and forth and I used up all my traveling points.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. We should have considered your expenses. We’ll arrange something with Jonah and pay for your travel time. For this time and the last, of course.”
“It’s not just that. Thor was angry when I showed up and he explicitly told me not to come back.”
Khan huffed and paced the room. “If you don’t take orders from me, why would you take orders from my son?”
“He threatened to spank me if I came back.”
Pearl’s face reddened as she exclaimed, “You didn’t believe him, did you? My son would never harm a woman.”
“That’s what I thought, but he repeated his threat a few times.”
“Oh, nonsense. Khan, tell Linea that she has nothing to worry about.”
Khan stopped and came to lean down with his palms on the table. “Just tell me where he is, and I’ll go and knock some sense into him. He has no place threatening a sweet Motlander like yourself.”
“You’ve done a lot worse yourself,” Pearl defended her son. “Remember when you tied us together because you wanted to control me?”
“You were my hostage,” Khan reminded her.
