Page 16 of Barbarian Brothers

I can’t hide my amusement, either. “I think so.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Cynthia snaps, but she shudders under their gaze as she crosses her arms and takes a step forward to address them. “Are you gonna take me to see the kid or not?”

“I could never refuse you,” Kai replies with a cool grin while Maur shoos everybody else away with a single wave of his arm.

“Be gone, all of you. Lorra needs her space.”

“May we join you?” I ask.

Kai nods. “Izzo can wait outside and make sure nobody else thinks to come in. You know how curious our boys can get, even after we send them away.”

“Not a problem,” Izzo replies, stationing himself by the door.

I guide Cynthia inside as we follow Kai and Maur. I can tell she’s attracted to them, even though she’s trying her best to stay calmand distanced from the brothers. She reminds me of Amber in that sense. I guess it can come as a shock when your own body and soul override your reasoning and cultural bias. Maybe she’ll make a home here, too. Maybe, Izzo thinks. I’m getting my hopes up, but we deserve a fucking break.

We’ve been fighting and warring over scraps for too long.

Lorra’s home is dark, with the exception of a few candles burning by two of the windows in her bedroom. She’s in her bed, sweating and covered in black spots—the first symptom of the plague. She had a high fever and congealed blood pools under her red skin. The girl has barely seen her tenth year on this planet, and she deserves many more in peace and harmony. I worry, however, that she may not make it until the end of this moon.

Cynthia gasps as she approaches the girl’s bed. I stay by the bedroom door while Kai and Maur move to the other side so they can have a full view of Cynthia. They are definitely bonding with her—I see it in their eyes, but they are infinitely more reserved and patient than Izzo and I were. It’s a curious thing. Perhaps the intensity varies from one human woman to another.

“What are you?” Lorra asks, her voice feeble.

“I’m a doctor,” Cynthia replies. “How old are you?”

“She’s ten,” Kai says.

Cynthia shoots him a dark glare. “I was talking to the girl.” She returns her gaze to Lorra while I catch Kai and Maur grinning delightedly. They’re feisty fuckers who love a good brawl once in a while. No wonder they’re ready to imprint on a sharp-tongued creature like Cynthia. “What’s your name, honey?”

“Lorra.”

“Lorra, I’m sorry we’re not meeting under better circumstances. I’m Cynthia, but it is still a pleasure to meet you.” She moves closer to the bed, and I can see the anguish in the green pools of her eyes. She feels sorry for the girl, and it’s the kind of emotion I know we need from the likes of her. “I’m from another world if that answers your question.”

“You do seem similar. Sort of…”

“Well, I suppose we have plenty in common. Your friends here—”

“Brothers,” Maur politely corrects her. “I’m Maur, and this is Kai. Forgive us for not introducing ourselves first. Lorra is the last of our sisters.”

And there it is. The pain rippling in his voice. They’ve been trying to act tough for so long that the mask was bound to crack. I know how they feel, and so does Izzo. So do many more among us. There isn’t a single man in the Fire Tribe who hasn’t experienced this kind of loss. Lorra isn’t the first of Kai and Maur’s sisters to perish by the plague.

“I am deeply sorry,” Cynthia manages, her voice trembling subtly. “But I cannot promise you anything. I don’t even know what this plague is.”

“I know,” Kai says. “But Binzen was right about one thing. A pair of outside eyes can’t possibly hurt.”

“Am I going to die?” Lorra asks.

Cynthia sits on the edge of the bed and gently touches her forehead. “We don’t know yet, honey. But I promise I will do everything I can to help you.”

“You’re a medicine woman,” Lorra replies.

“Yes.”

“What can you tell at first glance?” Maur asks.

Cynthia keeps a hand on Lorra’s forehead, then looks up at him. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but can I touch you?”

“Anywhere you’d like,” Maur tries to crack a joke, but Cynthia clicks her teeth in frustration.

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