Page 48 of Claimed By Brothers

“Do you think Umok is keeping Valen safe? Do you think he’s okay with the Sky Tribe?” Amber asks after a long and heavy silence.

“He won’t hurt the only leverage he has against us.”

Surprisingly enough, now that there are no more secrets between us, I’ve come to know her better in the past few hours than in the weeks since she’s been here. I’ve learned details about Amber’s childhood and relationships, about how all she ever wanted was to build her life, settle down, and raise a family of her own. From what I understand, she was a happy child, yet somehow, she entered the realm of adulthood unsure of how much she truly deserved, which is why she accepted a partner who didn’t even suit her most basic needs. It was a hard lesson to learn, but I’m proud she did, in fact, evolve. I’m also sorry she ended up here just as she was beginning to heal her wounded heart.

Had I known this earlier, perhaps I would’ve been more patient. Perhaps I would’ve put less of an accent on our naturally occurring bond and more of an effort into wooing her, into conquering her human heart.

“I’m so sorry,” Amber lets a heavy sigh roll from her chest. She sits on the ground, hugging her knees as she stares at the red dirt in front of her. “This happened because of me. I can’t even get through to Izzo anymore. He probably despises me. I sure despise myself.”

“Don’t,” I tell her. “He loves you. We both love you. But lines were crossed. Lines that he cannot allow to be crossed. I get where he’s coming from and why he’s doing all this. He may seem reactive to you, but our people need to understand that the safety and well-being of the Fire Tribe comes first—before you and your friends, before our brotherhood, before our quarrels and problems.” He gazes into my eyes. “You said it yourself. The children matter most. I wronged Izzo, too, which is why I’m in here and not out there with him.”

“I still feel bad,” she says. “I could’ve done better.”

“Be honest, Amber. How do you truly see yourself coming out of this? Set our bond aside before you give me an answer.”

She gives me a long look, and I notice the lingering sparkles of sadness in the blue gems of her eyes. I wish I could take her pain away. All I ever wanted was for Alana to be safe and happy with us, and it’s the same I wish for Amber. The difference here is that Amber doesn’t truly belong on Sunna. Not really, anyway. She didn’t belong when she crash-landed, and she didn’t belong when I first saw her, either. She didn’t belong when Izzo and I claimed her, and she didn’t belong when she first ran off with Cynthia, Alicia, and Jewel. Part of me hopes something may have changed since, but I see the hesitation; I can almost feel it.

“I see myself as a free woman,” Amber says. “Able to make my own decisions. I would have full autonomy over my body, and every choice would be mine and mine alone.”

“So, our bond enslaves you.”

She scoffs lightly, a smile testing her full lips. What I wouldn’t give to kiss her, to feel her soft body against mine, her warm skin on mine. My cock buried so deep inside her we’d both be melting with the stars above.

“That’s a harsh way of putting it,” she says. “No, it doesn’t enslave me. But I’ll admit, it does cloud my judgment. And once I sense that I’m not truly myself, I tend to go in the opposite direction no matter how good it feels to be with you. It’s why I ran away, why I still want to go home. I’m not free here. Not with you, and certainly not with Umok. Whichever way I go, somebody will always want something from me, something I should have full ownership over.”

I nod slowly, the pieces of her puzzle finally falling into place. “You would leave, then.”

“I don’t know. Maybe,” Amber replies. “A few days ago, a few weeks ago, I would’ve scrammed pretty quickly. Things have changed, though. I can’t lie to you anymore, Binzen. There’s more than a biological bond between us, but with the way things are, I lack the clarity I need to make sound decisions. I cannot trust myself when I’m with you and Izzo. I can’t trust myself when I’m with the girls, either, and it’s very confusing.”

There are plenty more questions I’d like to ask her. About Earth, about their society and their customs. I’d like to be able to make Sunna into a new Earth for Amber. A new and better home than the one she was taken from. I’d destroy the Sky Tribe altogether if it meant we’d never part again. It’s what Izzo is determined to do, anyway, and I get it.

I hear footsteps and look up. My brother has returned, and heavy shadows cover his eyes. Of the two of us, I’ve often believed him to resemble our father more—the same playfulness combined with a stoic stance when things get rough. I suppose I take after my mother, often calmer and more composed. We’ve always worked well together. It pains me to see us quarreling like this.

“We need to talk,” he says.

“Will you let us out?” Amber asks, springing to her feet with a hopeful look in her eyes.

As soon as my brother glances her way, however, I realize he has no intention of setting her free. Perhaps if I were more selfish—just this healthy dose of selfishness Izzo uses without remorse—I’d have done the same, and none of the troubles that befell us would’ve happened.

“You’re staying right where you are, Amber,” he says. “It’s for your own sake. Someone has to protect you from yourself in these trying times.”

“What’s going on, Izzo?” I reply, slowly getting up as well.

“I need you, brother. And I hope you already understand where we go from here,” he says, looking at me. “I have to be able to trust you going forward.”

“You can trust me,” I say. “You could always trust me. And I will earn your forgiveness.”

“There is nothing to forgive,” he sighs deeply. “I’d have done the same if I had your kind and noble character. Alas, I’m the prick among the Mal sons, so here we are,” Izzo adds with a dry chuckle. “But I am serious. I need you.”

“All right,” I say, and take a step back, allowing him to unlock my cage.

I can feel Amber’s gaze drilling a hole in my back, so I give her a quick and reassuring glance, hoping it’ll be enough to keep her calm while Izzo and I discuss the matters at hand. He will let her out eventually, but I assume he just wants to keep her safe. I don’t like it, though. Seeing Amber caged like this doesn’t sit right with me.

“Come on. The tribal elders from all over the river plateau have sent us messages of support and fealty,” Izzo says. “You’re the master strategist, Binzen. If we’re to go to war with the Sky Tribe, I need you by my side. You were right. I can’t do this alone. There’s too much at stake, and our son needs us to stick together.”

A few hours later, and still thinking about Amber’s suggestion that we release her and her friends and let them flee, I manage to come up with a solid plan for our meeting with Umok. It took a while to get Izzo on board, but once we went over every possible option and carefully analyzed the risks for each scenario, he finally came around and agreed to follow my lead.

I leave Izzo to gather the fighters in the town square for a briefing session. Each of us will have a role to fulfill in the upcoming battle, and each of us will have to rise to the occasion. It is no longer just about the four human women who would be forced to serve as breeders for the Sky Tribe. It’s no longer just about our son being in Umok’s clutches. It’s no longer just about the plague and the civil war that ravaged our world. It is about the survival of not only our species but also our core values.

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