Page 12 of Barbarian Daddies

“We’ll keep the party small. We’ll infiltrate through the eastern gate when the guards change shifts. One of our inside spies can help us get in and move around unnoticed. Local fashion, hoods, whatever works,” Maur says. “And Dahlen will stay with Cynthia at all times. We can give them a couple of fighters to watch their backs and let them survey the research lab while you and I take the rest of the crew over to the territory hall to see what Selina’s setup looks like. The more we know about the general and her system, the better. Once we’re done surveying, we’ll meet by the western gate and leave unnoticed.”

“How do we leave unnoticed?”

“Our spies can set up a diversion. Nothing too flashy or loud.”

I’m nodding slowly, inwardly surprised by how tempted I am to agree to this. “We need to protect Cynthia at all costs, Maur.”

“I know, but we can’t coddle her. Besides, she’s been itching to come with us for months. If we keep rejecting her, she’ll take it personally. It won’t help with our relationship, if you think about it. On the contrary.”

I hate it when he’s right. Cynthia isn’t the type of woman to allow herself to be sidelined all the time. Sooner or later, she’ll want to be a part of the action. There’s only so much research she can do in that makeshift lab of hers, anyway. If we get her access to the Sapphire City unit, she will be infinitely more motivated. Especially if the whole facility is still functional.

It’s a risky move, though.

“We’ll need firm boundaries in place,” I tell Maur. “Cynthia must adhere to them, otherwise she’s not coming.”

“Agreed.”

“You sound excited.”

“I am. Imagine how fucking aroused she’ll be when we return from this recon mission with a clear objective,” Maur says, a huge grin on his face, his fangs glistening white in the morning sunlight. “Imagine how wet she’ll get when we bring her home knowing we’ll give her Sapphire City, Kai. Just imagine.”

I can imagine that and plenty more. In the olden days, the Sunnaite men would woo their women with flowers and gifts, with courtship rituals and poetry, with romantic getaways and expensive dresses or rare jewelry. Now, however, in this volatile landscape of plague and violence, we have to resort to other methods. And I can almost taste Cynthia’s arousal on my tongue.

5

Maur

Iwasn’t lying when I told Kai I trust his judgment, but I trust mine, as well. I will do whatever he asks of me, without a doubt or a sliver of hesitation, yet I need to take measures of my own too. He may get mad about it later, but if shit hits the fan, he will be more than thankful if my measures save us and buy us more time to regroup. Failure may not be an option in any of our strategies; however, it’s always a possibility. I’d be a fool not to prepare for it.

With that in mind, I leave Kai to his tribal meetings, knowing he will select the right men for the next recon mission to Sapphire City, and head north of Hadana territory to a secret rendezvous with the Kreek delegation. Yossul, Fadai, and Jewel are still around, and I need to talk to them about a few possible worst-case scenarios.

The better prepared we are for what’s ahead, the smoother our path to victory shall be.

The Kreek brothers wait for me in an alcove carved into the Sun River Plateau’s wall about two miles up from my territory. They’ve already got a fire going and a couple of rabbits skinned and roasting slowly, while Jewel flips through a military history book she got from Alicia during her last visit to Tallas territory. I know because she hasn’t parted from that leather-bound tome since she first unwrapped it a few weeks ago. Her enthusiasm is childlike and adorable—an interesting contrast to her otherwise tough girl persona.

Every now and then, Yossul and Fadai steal glances at her, their red eyes glowing with deep longing. In that respect, I wholeheartedly sympathize with their plight, since Kai and I have been going through something similar. I’m not sure a bond has formed between these three, though. Not yet, anyway, and certainly not at our level with Cynthia. We Sunnaites have a nose for this thing. We can pick up the scent of hormones when a bond is formed—Binzen, Izzo, and Amber, for example, reek of it. In a good way.

“I suppose Kai doesn’t know you’re here.” Fadai grins as soon as he sees me coming from down the river. I pull the raft over to the shore and tie it to one of the black trees reaching toward the water. “We won’t tell if you won’t tell.”

“Not that I don’t plan on looping Kai in when the time is right, but—”

“I get it,” Yossul cuts me off. “He’s the cautious type. He may not agree with our methods. I respect that.”

I give Jewel a friendly nod. “Still devouring that book, huh?”

“Oh, yeah,” she shoots back with a happy grin. “I’m halfway through the Miloponesian War… Fascinating stuff. You guys are hardcore. You’ve been hardcore since you could walk upright, from what I’m reading here.”

I can’t help but laugh lightly. “I suppose the fire of Sunna has always burned through our veins. It makes us hot-headed.”

“True, but it has also made you into impressive warriors,” Jewel says. “I’ve had a lot to learn from you over the past few years.”

I take a seat by the fire and help myself to some of the braised meat, delighted that the Kreek brothers bring spices with them wherever they go. Yossul watches me intently, waiting for me to start the actual conversation. Fadai is too busy swooning over Jewel as she turns another page of her book. I can see what draws them to a woman like her.

“Alright, so Kai and I intend to do another recon mission into Sapphire City early next week,” I say. “We plan to take Cynthia with us to determine whether that fabled research facility is still useful or not.”

Jewel instantly glowers at me. “Are you insane?”

“She wants to come with us. And we’ve turned her down one too many times, already. It’ll be a small party. We’ll be careful with our infiltration.”

---