Page 41 of Polar Destiny
Bonnie and Clyde are telling me to go out there and look again. And maybe touch a little. But if I do that now, I'll lose my clothes again and... and... and... I'm struggling to find good reasons why I shouldn't go out there. Torben said that bears were used to sharing their females. With the female being the one to choose who she's with. But I don't even know if they're all interested. Torben's my mate, so I know he's mine, and Finn has definitely shown that he wants me just as much as I want him. But the two brothers... maybe they just want friendship? Back at the women's house, where I tried on the dress that led to me and Torben starting the mating bond, they did look like they were interested. Hungry. But who knows if they were only interested in me physically... and that's not enough. I'm not that kind ofgirl.
Trust me, they're more than justinterested.
How do you knowthat?
I have eyes, silly girl. And even before I could look through yours, I saw them. They're just waiting for the right moment. And for you to show that you're not going to rejectthem.
Is that really what theythink?
I can't look into their minds, but it's obvious. I think if Torben hadn't made the first move on you, they would have. Although they respect their alpha a lot, so maybe they're also waiting for him toapprove.
Torben isn't going to have to approve anything. I'm the one making the decision. And if I want them, I'm going to havethem.
That's my girl. I think I made them pretty tired though with all the running, so you better wait until they're in better condition. You'll want them to havestamina.
I blush as she sends me some very explicit images of me sandwiched between Húnn and Ràn. That makes me think... Alis, are you interested in them aswell?
There's only silence for a moment and I fear that she is. How is that supposed towork?
No, I have my ownmate.
Finally! Then I notice that she's only just been born, if you can say it like that. I still don't get how she was suddenly inside me. The sciency part of my brain just doesn't understand it. Even after I accepted that bear shifters exist, having one in my head makes it all a lot more real. Is she a shifter? Or a bear? Aspirit?
A nymph actually, but that was long ago. I won't bore you with the history, so all you need to know is that you aren't my first human host and that I have a mate who isn't here with me, but who I will always stay true to. Now either go outside and look at their balls, or go eat something. I can hear your stomachgrowling.
With that, she disappears, leaving an echo filled with sadness behind. Her story can't be a happy one, with a mate that isn't with her. And did she say nymph? I'm not even quite sure what that means. Greek history? Or Roman? The Drowning spoiled any chance of a good education I might have had. My general knowledge is terrible, but at least I have my medicalskills.
Alis? Tell memore?
No response. I take her advice and make my way into the kitchen where I find a large plate stacked with sandwiches. Arnold and Bertrand are the perfect hosts. I just wish we could repay them somehow. They're going out of their way to keep us fed and make us feel welcome, but I'm sure their resources aren't limitless. On Salvation Island, I was useful as a healer because there were many people and someone would get injured or sick every other day. But here, it's just the seven of us. I go through my skills... not many. I can cook, but the two older bears are definitely better at it. I can write and read, I'm good with children, I can knit and sew, and living on the island also taught me some basic DIY skills. Sometimes we all had to pitch in when a house needed to be built or the community hall needed repairs. But I don't see any of these skills come in handyhere.
I feel completely useless. We won't be able to stay long once they find out. I doubt they like freeloaders. Unless my four bears have any amazing skills they can bring to the table. Maybe they're better at hunting? I'm still having trouble imagining a panda run after prey. That reminds me, I now know that Alis can fish... I hope Bertrand and Arnold likefish.
I take my half-eaten sandwich and join them in the living room. Húnn is sitting by the fire, watching our hosts play chess. There's no sign of the otherthree.
"Do you play?" I ask him and henods.
"Ràn is much better though, he always beatsme."
I try and hide my surprise but he sees it and grins. "Most people are surprised when they hear Ràn plays chess. He reads a lot, too. You wouldn't guess that based on how little hespeaks."
Arnold gets up and rummages in a cupboard close to the fireplace. "We've got a second board somewhere... ah, here itis."
He passes me a beautiful wooden case and I take it gingerly. The black and white squares are made of something cool and polished, porcelain maybe. Inside the box are intricately carved chess pieces, each of them a work of art. I set up the board, admiring each piece inturn.
"Who made them?" I ask and the two older shifters smile at eachother.
"A craftsman in China, in the village where my family came from. We went there about twenty years ago, back to the roots and all that. People thought pandas were endangered back then, but nothing could be further from the truth. There were whole villages with not a single human. All just panda shifters. It was incredible, I learned so much about our heritage. They were a bit confused though that I didn't speakChinese."
He chuckles. "It's strange to suddenly come to a foreign place and find hundreds of relatives living there. I was adopted and brought up in the UK and never knew if I had any living family. Turns out I have more than enough. Now, let me see how good you two are atchess."
Under their scrutiny, Húnn and I start our match. It's clear that he's a lot better than me. He seems to be able to plan his moves far in advance, while I go along with whatever challenge he sets me. I can see the others cringe at some of the moves Imake.
Just when Húnn tells me "check mate", the other guys join us. No idea where they've been all this time, but having them close makes me feel happy. Like I missed them before - which of course is crazy. You don't miss someone who's only been gone for half anhour.
"Did you lose, honey?" Finn asks and I smile at him. He hasn't used that pet name in a while. "Do you need cheeringup?"
"Depends on what that entails," I hedge, hoping that kissing might be involved. Or getting to sit on his lap, I remember that being very comfortable. A girl candream.
