Page 20 of Polar Destiny
I get up and limp after Bertrand. He turns around when he notices that I'm a little slower thanhim.
"What happened to yourleg?"
I shrug. "I fell from aroof."
"What were you doing on aroof?"
I blush. That story is ratherembarrassing.
"She was running away from four bloodthirsty bears, isn't that right, Isla?" Torben waits for us at the end of the corridor, leaning against the doorframe. He's grinningwidely.
"I was enjoying the view," I retort, "until an annoying polar bear startledme."
"I wouldn't call that polar bear annoying. How about dashing? Handsome?Beary?"
I laugh. "Beary?Seriously?"
"It deserves to be an adjective. Now come inside, it's nice and warm inhere."
The others are waiting for us in the living room, lounging on an assortment of mismatched furniture. The brothers occupy a dark leather sofa next to an old-fashioned wingback chair which Torben now takes a seat on. It suits him, a throne for a bear alpha. Finn is spread out on a red chaise longue by the fire and I join him there, nudging until he makes some space for me. Still, I end up halfway on his lap. Suitsme.
I stretch out my arms towards the fire, warming my frozen hands. After being outside for so long, this is paradise. I wonder if anyone minds if I fall asleep on Finn's chest. He's rather comfy, although his muscles could be a little softer. But then they might not look asnice.
Stop it, I tell my ovaries, who I've named Bonnie and Clyde during the long ride over the frozen sea. Yes, I had too much time to think and make up funny names for my ovaries. But I decided they get up to so much mischief that Bonnie and Clyde would be appropriate. The second choice was Sarah and Jane, which sounded nice but I couldn't come up with a good enough reason to use thosenames.
"I'm afraid we only have one guest bedroom," Bertrand says cheerily. "Do you mindsharing?"
Hellno.
"Isla will take the bed and the rest of us will be on the floor," Torben decrees and I cringe. I wouldn't say no to a warm bear in my bed tonight. I'm still cold everywhere, despite sitting in front of thefire.
"You're quite the gentlemen," Bertrand chuckles. "Very well. I will get some blankets ready while you have your tea. Ah, here's Arnold, and I see he used the last of the jasmine tea." He lowers his voice to a whisper. "I'll finally be able to drink Earl Grey again now that stuff isgone."
Arnold huffs and puts down his tray on a marble table in the middle of the room. As I said, it's all pretty mismatched furniture, but I like it. It makes the place feel likehome.
He hands me a mug of steaming cocoa and I instantly fall in love with him. Not like that. Not like with... Ehm, anyway, the hot chocolate smells amazing. And tastes even better, despite being almost too hot todrink.
"Where do you get your supplies from?" Húnn asks curiously as he takes a sip of his jasminetea.
"We trade," Arnold shrugs. We're friendly with most of the neighbouring islands, and a few times a year one of the big trading ships stops by. Not that we have much to offer in return, but we get byalright."
"There are trading ships?" I ask in confusion. I've been living on an island for a long time, surely one of them would have passed us in that time. But the only strangers we've ever seen in the waters around the island were small fishing boats from neighbouring communities. Definitely nothingbig.
"Aye, they sail the ocean and connect the continents - or what's left of them," Arnold explains. "Some of them are huge floating towns where you can get everything you want, if you can pay for it. There are young people living on there who've never stayed on land in all their life. Guess they see it as the future, should the sea levels start rising again. But it wouldn't be for me. I like solid ground beneath mypaws."
Still musing why those ships never came to Salvation Island, I drink the last of my hot chocolate. I'm finally feeling warmer again, and lying on Finn's chest helps with that. I swear, these bears are hot in all meanings of theword.
"You should go to bed," Finn whispers and gently strokes my hair. I sigh in contentment. His gesture is so gentle, so protective. I take a sneak peek at Torben to see if he's jealous, but he's smiling at us, obviously not bothered in the slightest that I'm so close toFinn.
"I'll show you the guest room," Arnold offers. "Bertie should have it ready bynow."
Finn hugs me tight and gets up, carrying me in his arms. I should protest to show that I'm not a weak little female, but I'm tired and like his touch. Next time, I'll complain. Now, I'm just going to enjoy the closeness as he follows Arnold into a large room with a king size bed in the middle. An extra mattress has been put on the floor and there's a heap of blankets lying on top of it. We definitely won't be cold with allthose.
"Some of you can sleep in the living room, if you want. Might be comfier that way," Bertrand says as he gives the pillows on the bed a final fluff. "We don't have much in terms of toiletries, but there should be some shampoo in the bathroom,Isla."
"Thanks, that's very thoughtful of you." I find it hard not to yawn when speaking. It really is time forbed.
"We'll leave you two alone," Arnold tells us with a slight chuckle and shoots his partner a knowingglance.
