Page 35 of Polestar (The Global Paranormal Security Agency #3)
TWENTY-EIGHT
M agnus and Elias helped the king dress.
He was weak from his long trial under the effects of the dark sigil.
“My old friend was keeping me alive from the otherworld,” he’d said, matter of fact.
“I’ve no doubt. That was some dramatic possession he did of Father’s mate. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Elias said, awed, handing some of his grandfather’s clothing to Magnus to dress in.
“Nor have I, and I certainly have no desire to see it again if I can help it,” Magnus said, pulling on the trousers and shirt, happy to do away with the blanket.
The three men spoke with a hesitancy alien to each of them.
Three generations of polar bear royalty considered one another with uncertainty.
Finally, the king said to Magnus, “We will discuss our family matters at a later time. I revoke your banishment effective immediately. In the meantime, we must decide the fate of our prisoners.” He placed a gentle hand on Elias’ shoulder.
“We will handle your mother’s judgment ourselves.
As a citizen of the polar bear community in Barentian territory. ”
“Before we go downstairs, I want to return something. It will only take a few minutes,” Magnus said. Triggering the secret door, he slipped into the dark passageway to retrieve the objects he’d hidden there for safe-keeping.
As the bookshelf slid back into place, he handed the stone and the wrapped book to Bjorn. “I would have ensured that Elias received these if anything had happened.”
Bjorn nodded, staring at the objects in his hands. “I know you would have.” He unwrapped the book, smoothing a palm over the etched leather surface, then rolled the chunk of jet between his fingers.
“What are they?” Elias asked.
“These are the reason for our being here, Elias,” Bjorn said, looking at Magnus.
“The keys to something precious and sacred, and so dangerous we must protect it with our lives. They should have gone to your father for safekeeping on my death, along with the crown. But I know his destiny is elsewhere.”
Magnus nodded. “It is. Since I’m no longer banished and intended for execution, I will continue to do all I can to uphold our family’s duty from outside of Barentia.”
Bjorn sighed. “We should have done things differently, perhaps.”
“Perhaps. Or perhaps things went exactly as they were meant to.”
Elias looked perplexed by the exchange.
“No matter, we have guests to see to.” Bjorn laughed as he and Magnus replaced the items in their hiding places. “We will discuss these artifacts later.”
Magnus opened the door to the antechamber to find the head guard still at his post.
Despite the other guards’ insistence that Havard go to the infirmary, he stubbornly remained outside the King’s chamber.
Battered and bruised from his battle with Magnus, who looked equally so, he also looked at the king with haunted eyes. “Sire, I—.”
“I know,” Bjorn Thornsson said to his chief guardsman.
It seemed to be enough.
Havard nodded his head and stepped aside to allow the King to continue on his way.
As they entered the throne room, the king signaled that they should move into the meeting room.
Relief flooded Magnus on seeing his entire team present, hale and whole. Ana laced her fingers through his as he stepped next to her.
Bjorn leveled his stern gaze on Magnus’ team leader. “Kane. What do we have?”
“We have the suspect we’ve been seeking for over a decade in GPSA custody, thanks to your grandson and your people.”
Bjorn raised a thick gray brow. “Explain.”
Elias recounted his escape by boat and the call that brought Kane to the island.
One transport helicopter went straight for the archipelago compound, while the other met with Elias and the Barentian villagers who had followed him in their fishing boats to Bear Island to ensure his safety.
“As she flew us back, we saw the roving gangs engaging with the humans on this side of the channel. She refused to allow me to join them and brought me back here instead.”
“As is right,” Bjorn said.
“We’ve detained two ships, both bearing human cargo bound for the interior. Seems some of them were ready for us. They struck up a riot on our arrival.”
“I didn’t have to do much persuading,” Raya said, grinning at Magnus. “Usually, I have to convince them I’m not a delusion, but these guys were eager.”
“Naval crewmen?” Ana asked.
“Yeah.”
“Emilio and the guys. They were Antony’s men. From his ship when the accident happened.”
Kane nodded. “We will contact the Navy.”
“I want to know more about these outsiders that my daughter-in-law brought to my court. Her deception was great and deeply damaging. I know anything she confesses to will be shaded with denials and lies. She said one was her pet illusionist from her father’s court and the other a business connection, also through her father’s court. ”
“As far as we’ve been able to discover, that is true. But I also believe both men were members of The Consortium .”
Magnus flinched as his father growled, turning away.
The Consortium .
And the human trafficking ring.
The two topics that had sundered his family.
“Wulker used his corporation to mask and grow his trafficking business. Ulla Matochkin gave him the protected base of operations he needed to function outside of international law. In your sovereign territory.”
Bjorn’s jaw worked as he listened, eyes glinting. He didn’t interrupt.
Kane continued. “As for Yvan Putinovski.” She shrugged. “My Deputy Director, Jack Maeda, has been studying the nature of the sigils used. They used Wulker’s venom to create the sigil. But until we interrogate him, I can only theorize that his motive was access to your gate.”
Bjorn went rigid, his gaze darting to the faces of Magnus’ team.
“They’re all trustworthy,” Kane assured him.
The king turned his focus to Magnus.
Magnus nodded. “We’re all dedicated to opposing The Consortium. And protecting this gate, as well as the others.”
“Others? You’ve found them?”
“Not yet,” Kane said quickly. “We’re close to discovering the location of one, but it’s painstaking work.
” The weariness in her demeanor was obvious despite her centuries of dedication.
“With your permission, King Bjorn Thornsson, on behalf of the Global Paranormal Security Agency, we will remove the ships, perpetrators and all of their assets from your islands.”
“Hm,” he grunted, pursing his lips. “We will handle Ulla Matochkin ourselves.”
“Thank you. And our GPSA medics report that Aksel Matochkin is awake and free of the same sigil. We will remand him into your custody as soon as he is well enough to travel.”
Bjorn’s brows rose. “I see. Good.”
They said their goodbyes to the Barentians and made their way out to the transport helicopter, waiting to fly them to the trafficking compound.
On arriving, Kane went inside the main building to meet with the lead of the forensics crew.
Magnus and Ana hung back, staring at the place. Carson, Lirikai, Aaron, Raya, and Ian joined them. Perpetrators were clustered in one area with their wrists bound behind them, while victims gathered in another as GPSA prepared to transport them out of Barentian territory for the next steps.
“We did it,” Carson said, shoulders relaxed.
“Now we can enjoy that vacation that keeps getting interrupted,” Lirikai said, slipping her arm around Carson’s waist.
He squeezed her to him, then looked at the rest of his team. “Vacation at my place?”
“I’ve never seen your island. As long as it’s some place warm, I’m happy to crash,” Ana grinned, her excitement clear.
Fingers linked, Raya looked up at Ian’s quirked smile and said, “We’d be happy to join you.”
“Perfect. Bring your apron, Ian. You’re making us all scones.” Mischief glinted in Carson’s eyes. “Aaron?”
“I have some family matters I need to attend to back in Toronto, but yeah, I’ll join for a few days.”
“Awesome. We’ll sort out the details later. Back to work, folks!” Carson tilted his head toward the activity and strode toward it. The others followed.
Ana pulled Magnus’ fingers, hanging back.
He looked down into her concerned face and brushed his fingers over her creased brow, then along the discolored skin of her cheek and throat.
“This case ended, as I knew it would. Just not how I expected it should.”
The corner of her mouth lifted. “Same here. I expected to be in Iceland.”
“Disappointed? We could go there if you wish—.”
Her forefinger shot up, pressing his lips together. “Hush! I wish for no such thing. I’ve had more than enough snow and ice and sub-zero temperatures for a lifetime.”
He frowned as his heart sank. “You won’t come back to Barentia?”
She searched his face and smiled. “I will. I recall you said you wanted many children. If we are so blessed, we will have to register them, won’t we?”
He nodded as his heart buoyed again. “We will.”
“Come on, you two, we have work to do,” Carson called, hands cupped around his mouth.
Ana sighed. “I love him, I do…”
“Do you now?” Magnus lifted a brow.
“I do but not as much as I love you, I think.” She poked his chest.
He threw his head back and laughed at the sky as he squeezed her close. “She thinks.”
Ana rose on tiptoe to kiss Magnus.
He met her smiling lips with unspoken promises of their future.
With a final nibble, she broke the kiss, squeezed his hand, and said, “Let’s go. The man says we have work to do.”