Page 17 of Barbarian Daddies

And it shows in every intimate interaction I have with the Hadana twins. Almost every time, I have to remind myself that they’re different. They’ve proven themselves more than once. I dare not doubt them, nor can I deny that our bond has only grown stronger and more intense since I first walked into their bedroom.

It’s a strange period in my life.

I’ve got one eye peeking back at the past while the other eagerly peers into the future. And in between, the Hadana twins and I consummate our relationship every chance we get. On some nights, they come to my house and take turns giving me one orgasm after another. On other nights, I sneak into their bedroom and return the favor. The mornings always find us tangled atop the bed sheets, our bodies covered in sweat and shimmering afterglow, our hearts full.

Yet my mind loves sabotaging me, even then.

I end up walking away from them, pretending I’m busy with my research, though all I do is sulk in a corner and loathe myself for not finding the courage to give into this bond completely.

The twins haven’t given up on me yet. I’m just unsure how much longer it’ll take for me to truly step forward, to really accept them as my men.

They’re so much alike, yet so different at the same time. Kai is the gentler twin, a diplomat with pacifist tendencies. A strategist and a provider. Calm and with a sweet nature, at least when we’re together. Maur is the fiery one, the wild beast with endless passion and rough edges. He will adhere to violence against those who wish to harm him and those he loves, and he’ll never regret it.

I’m falling for them. I’m falling so hard, I’m fucking terrified.

What if it does work out? That’s the question Amber left me with the last time we spoke. A question that’s been haunting me since. I’ve yet to find an answer, but I’ll certainly mull over it later tonight when we have dinner with the Tallas tribe.

Our raft pulls over to their jetty on a sunny afternoon, days before we’re set to leave for Sapphire City. Maur and Kai wanted Helios and Kharo’s counsel on a few matters before we head out there, and I don’t mind. It’s another opportunity for me to hang out with Alicia while they gather more insights on how to handle the Sky Tribe going forward.

“I’m glad you decided to see us before going to Sapphire City,” Helios says as he greets us at the base of the carved steps that lead into Tallas City, a sprawling complex of homes and narrow alleyways sculpted directly into the plateau’s hard rock wall. “We have some ideas we wanted to share with you regarding the siege, brothers.”

“It’s a pleasure to be here, as always,” Kai says, shaking his hand.

We follow Helios upstairs, where Kharo and Alicia await with fresh fruits and cold water to drink. The town’s storage caves are so deep within the plateau’s wall that the temperatures there are low enough to keep foods and drinks fresh for days on end. I love that about this place since it reminds me of home.

Once we’re settled in the living room of Helios and Kharo’s abode, fed and hydrated, the conversation develops into an hour-long strategic debate on how to approach the Sky Tribe leaders for peace talks.

Alicia and I listen carefully while the men pass ideas around the table. It’s interesting to see so many different points of view diverging around the Sky Tribe and Sunna’s future.

“I know you don’t think a conversation with the Sky Tribe leadership will lead anywhere,” Helios tells Maur, “but we should still try that avenue before we commit to violence.”

“Alicia has been going over several speeches of our former kings,” Kharo adds, giving my friend a subtle shoulder nudge and a sweet smile. “She’s managed to extract a few arguments that may sway the Sky Tribe to actually sit down and listen to what we have to say.”

“I’m sorry, but that is just wishful thinking,” Maur replies. “No offense Alicia. But historical conversations will not convince those lunatics to stop doing what they’re doing.”

“Have any of you even read the speeches?” Alicia asks, eyebrow raised.

Kai chuckles softly. “She’s got you there, brother.”

“Listen, normally I just focus on the research side of things,” Alicia says, glowering at the Hadana twins. “But now that you’ve actually let Cynthia convince you to take her with you to Sapphire City, I feel it’s my solemn duty as her best friend to try and do something to protect her. And that means giving you all the tools you need to engage the Sky Tribe in fruitful peace talks. I think it’s possible. Your ancestors did it in equally dire times.” She points her finger as she speaks. “The Brutal Wars that took place a thousand years ago, for example. Yulen the Great managed to bring five tribes around the same table. He walked away with a ceasefire agreement that was ultimately developed into a peace treaty. A century later, all five tribes unified into a single state. The very state from which the Sky and the Fire Tribe fractured when the plague hit Sunna.”

As the conversation progresses, I notice Kharo’s fleeting glances—he admires Alicia profoundly. I can tell from the glimmer in his smiling, red eyes. Helios is more reserved with his gestures toward her, but every now and then he stops to peer into her warm, brown eyes, and she’s not indifferent to his muted affections, either.

Maur and Kai think a bond is imminent between them. I have mixed feelings about it, but I’m just being selfish.

If Alicia and Jewel fully bond before me, I’ll feel deficient somehow. Incomplete. It would amount to some sort of self-inflicted failure. I don’t know what scares me more at this point. Falling so deeply in love with the Hadana twins that I’ll never wish to go back to Earth or failing this bond while also being stuck here for the rest of my life. Because those are the two most probable options in these circumstances.

“There are still Sky Tribe officials who have the generals’ ears,” Kharo says, pouring us more of the Tallas people’s famous black honey tea. “If we can reach out to them with some of the arguments Alicia has written down for us, you might be able to bring at least one of the lieutenants over to the negotiating table. It’s not impossible.”

“I agree,” Kai replies. “And I’m all for it. We’ll start with a lieutenant and work our way up to a general. How many more must die before both sides realize this is pointless?”

Maur shakes his head slowly. “You’ll never get Selina Sharuk at the negotiating table.”

“It’s not her I want to speak to,” Kai shoots back. “She’s a maniac. We know that. General Kaspian, on the other hand…”

“He has Ruby City, right?” I ask, trying to remember all the big players’ names.

“Yes,” Kai responds. “He strikes me as a slightly more reasonable man, at least as far as his campaigns are concerned.”

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