Page 3 of Barbarian Daddies

They plan to retake Sapphire City in the near future, though, since it’s home to essential resources—military, logistical, and medical, to name but a few. The research lab in the heart of the city could hold the necessary tools I need to develop a cure for the plague, so the twins are doubly motivated to win it back from the Sky Tribe.

“Where are Maur and Kai these days?” Amber asks me, cradling Salem in her arms.

“I think they’re meeting with several other tribe chiefs to discuss an offensive on Sapphire City.”

“Oh, so, they’ve made up their minds. Good. Binzen and Izzo are already on board for that.”

“Me, too, actually. The Sky Tribe won’t be on board. Particularly the general who’s currently in control. Selina what’s-her-face.”

Amber nods slowly, her eyebrows raised in surprise. “I still can’t believe a Sunnaite woman would partake in this war at such a high level.”

“Me neither, but it is what it is.”

She looks at me sideways, frowning. “What’s going on with you lately, Cynthia? You sound jaded.”

“Jaded may be too strong of a word for what I’ve got,” I exhale sharply. “I think I’m tired. Worn out. I’ve made it my mission to save these people while half of them are determined to impregnate me and the other half are pressuring me to save them from this plague.”

“I’m willing to bet this constant push-and-pull with Maur and Kai isn’t helping, either,” she suggests. “You, Alicia, and Jewel are in the same boat at this point. You haven’t been intimate with a man in over three years.”

“Wow,” I give her a startled look. “You don’t mince your words.”

“You need to get laid,” Amber laughs.

“And what, fall in love with two Sunnaite men and have bouncing hybrid babies and pretend everything is going to be okay?”

She stills, her brow furrowing slightly, and I feel terrible for letting my mouth and my frustrations get the best of me. She knows I don’t really mean it, so all I can do is plant a kiss on her cheek and let her move on with the rest of her day.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Amber asks.

“Probably,” I reply. “I’m sorry, Amber. I’m just in a foul mood today. Maybe I’ll be better tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about it. I know the feeling all too well.” She stands with Salem. “Oh, we’re meeting with Jewel and Alicia in a couple of days. They’re coming over.”

“Good. Haven’t seen those two in almost a month.”

Alicia is studying what’s left of Sunna’s cultural archives with the Tallas scholars—she’s working to gain some insight into this world’s past so she can better assess the future. A civilization’s historical tendencies have a knack to repeat themselves, so the more she knows about these people, the easier it is to foresee certain decisions on a geopolitical level. Our Earth is so diverse in that sense, it’s helping Alicia figure out ways to strategize and prevent further degradation of the relationship between the Sky and Fire Tribes.

In the meantime, Jewel is actively training and doing missions with the Kreek fighters—infiltration missions, reconnaissance, sabotage, whatever they can, they do it. The harder they make it for the Sky Tribe to reach the stars, the better.

But I know they’re both dealing with some romantic issues of their own. They’ve got Fire Tribe beaus circling in, gradually chipping away at their defenses, though the Tallas and the Kreek fellas are far more subtle than my Kai and Maur. Oh, listen to me. My Kai and Maur. Holy hell, I’m already deep and still sinking, aren’t I?

Once I get back and put the blood samples in their storage boxes in my makeshift lab within Hadana territory, I head down river and cross over to the obsidian caves. I need the hot water with its soothing minerals badly.

Losing my dress and sandals on the pool’s edge, I give myself a moment to adjust to the darkness as I remove my beaded jewelry—I’ve been making these myself with colored pebbles, crystals and shells I found along the riverbank. Sunna’s a geological treasure, with so many colors aside from its signature red and volcanic glass.

My hair has grown longer, but the cave waters keep it crow-black and silky. It’s definitely the minerals. They’re doing wonders for my skin, too.

Naked and stressed, I dip my feet into the steaming pool first. As soon as the first toe hits the water, it’s like a volcano’s kiss dissolving through me and melting my very soul. “Damn, this feels good,” I mumble as I submerge myself completely for a few seconds. Once my head’s back above the surface, I take deep breaths and settle on one of the underwater ledges.

This is the easternmost pool of the cave system, a roughly sculpted sphere with carved pathways and steps. The walls and floor are obsidian, a luscious black that captures my reflection with every motion. Sunna’s fabled love herb grows along the pool, dark red and funny tasting, but its effect is almost addictive. It’s not the first time I’ve made use of it to alleviate the sexual tension that has been ailing me.

I used to feel guilty about it, but now it’s just a way for me to live out my fantasies without actually making them true. I’m too goddamn afraid to let myself be claimed by Maur and Kai, and it’s not even making sense to me as to why. Maybe it’s my pride.

Surviving an abusive marriage on Earth may have left deeper scars on my heart than I had originally thought.

Slowly but surely, I begin to relax as I chew on some of the love herb and let it work its magic. Soon, my senses expand, each nerve ending coming alive with excitement. I’ve studied the effects so many times on myself, I already know every stage of what’s coming, and I welcome the release.

I close my eyes and rest my head against the top ledge, spreading my legs underwater. In my mind, I’ve got Maur and Kai here with me. The two of them are tall at seven feet, with ropes of muscle twitching at the sight of my full figure, my plump breasts, and my aching pussy. The vision of the two has been tormenting me for days.

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