Page 7 of Polar Fates
He chuckles in amusement. “Got any goodideas?”
“Not yet. I’ll let you know if I think of something. But are we bound now ornot?”
His smile turns a little more serious. “I don’t think so. I believe we need to exchange blood to make it a proper bond. But we can always do that the next time, if you’resure.”
I like how he’s already thinking of the next time. My nipples harden at the thought, but the sensible part of my brain is telling me we should really join the others to find out more about that strangebook.
“I’d like that. Nexttime.”
I get up with a sigh, missing his touch already. I walk to the wardrobe and laugh as I remember that this was why I came to the bedroom in the first place. To put on clothes, not to stay naked withHúnn.
I quickly put on a simple shirt and linen trousers – as I no longer feel the cold as I used to, I can wear whatever I want now despite the icy temperatures – and follow a now dressed Húnn downstairs into the living room. Finn is sitting by the fire,reading.
“Where are the others?” I ask, taking a seat next tohim.
“Ràn’s still over at Bertie and Arnold’s place and Torben is outside hacking firewood.” He grins surreptitiously. “Did you two have a goodtime?”
I blush and smile at Húnn who clears his throat. Is he embarrassed as well? I still need to get used to the idea of being with all four of them and none of them being jealous of eachother.
“We did. What are youreading?”
Now it’s his turn to blush. He hands me the book and I have tolaugh.
“Pride andPrejudice?”
“There’s not much choice in this house, I think only women lived here. It’s a paradise for any Mills and Boon fan. Nothing butromance.”
He shudders in mock horror. “But shall we go over and take a look at a much more interesting book? Maybe Ràn has finished bynow.”
* * *
Bertie has madetea already when the three of us arrive at hishome.
“I was just about to get you. He’sfinished.”
Ràn is sitting in front of a stack of papers, looking exhausted and elated at the same time. I plop on the sofa next to him, totally excited. If they’re all making such a fuss about this book, it has to be important. Maybe it will get us a step further in our quest. Not that we’ve managed to take a lot of steps so far. We found Inchbrach, but that’s about it. If there was a big secret hidden here, Arnold and Bertie would have known. They’ve had years to explore the island on their search for resources to trade. Maybe it’s fate that this little book made its way to us. Or one of theFates.
We all sit down with our cups of tea and look at Ràn inexpectation.
“I’ve corrected most of the grammar,” he begins hesitantly, “but I haven’t changed any of the content. First though, Isla, can you ask Alis if she knows what happened to herson?”
Alis, did you hearthat?
Silence.
Alis?
He’sdead.
I’m sorry. How did hedie?
Hera. When she learned that her husband Zeus had fathered a son with me, she went to find him. She’s a jealous woman, she couldn’t bear the thought that Zeus hadn’t been faithful to her. She killed a lot of women and their children over the years. But Zeus kept taking lovers, not caring for their fate. She killed Arcas only a few years after my own death. By then he had become King of Arcadia and had both a wife and children, the ancestors of all the bear shifterstoday.
He was running as a bear and she had a hunter kill him. She didn’t even do the deed herself. Zeus was actually quite shocked by his son’s death and decided to build him a permanent memorial. If you look up at the night sky, you’ll see him there. Ursa Minor, the little bear. Thinking that I was dead as well, he added Ursa Major in my honour. Thatbastard.
I wait for her to continue her story, but when she doesn’t, I relay it to theothers.
“I’ll never look at the stars in the same way ever again,” Torben mutters and the othersnod.
