Page 92 of Wanted: Rogues and Bards

“Yes, what attributes do you possess that will enhance our rescue operation?” Belstrom asked, leaning against the counter behind Malfas. “A full understanding of your strengths will help us weave you appropriately into our dynamic ahead of the upcoming fight to liberate your sister. It would be dreadful to not take full advantage of your abilities.”

“Oh. Yes.” Lirion paused and cleared his throat, hesitating for a moment. He’d never revealed so much information about himself. Hiding his magical abilities had always given him an edge in all situations. But in those moments, it had always been him against the world. This time, he had an entire team of villains on his side to fight with him to save Aria. His throat tightened, and he had to clear it for a second time before continuing to speak.

“So, as an incubus, I have many natural abilities of seduction, which can work to confuse and cloud the mind. I can even make people forget they ever met me. In a lot of ways, my gifts are similar to getting drunk on strong alcohol. I have developed my musical magic skills slowly, and I’ll admit they aren’t terribly powerful, but I am good at distracting and even some basic hypnosis, so long as the crowd isn’t too big.” He paused and licked his lips. “Plus, I have the ability to walk through walls.”

Malfas, Hapi, and Belstrom gasped before exploding in excited chatter. Lirion glanced at Fenric to find the thief smirking at him as if he’d expected this response. Or was maybe even proud Lirion had volunteered that tidbit. Why not? He was trusting them to save his sister. Shouldn’t he trust them with this valuable information?

“Hmmm.” Belstrom readjusted his glasses so they rested higher on the bridge of his nose. “I will need to ponder more about this, but I can foresee you working heavily with Fenric on this quest to rescue your sister. You both should be able to gain entry into this monstrous lair and obtain valuable information so we can formulate our plan of attack.”

Lirion lifted his gaze to find Fenric’s smirk again. Yes, that didn’t sound like a bad idea at all. He was more than content to work alongside Fen on just about any project.

Time to get off the Dark Lady and do some reconnaissance at fucking last.

Despite the weather delays—including a sudden storm this morning that had delayed them docking, which nearly had Lirion crawling out of his skin—along with the prior multiday ship repairs, the trip hadn’t been all bad considering how frequently he got sexed up by the sexiest man in existence. But still, it was good to be on dry land, sneaking about and just doing what he did best—shady shit.

Fenric adjusted his cloak, enjoying the bit of fur Belstrom had stitched on to protect his neck against the cool winds sweeping through Baza now the sun was setting. Summer was dwindling fast, but while evenings in Björnkill would still be comfortable and warm, Baza was much farther north. The city would be seeing its first snowflakes in a month or two.

But short summers and bitterly cold winters didn’t stop Baza from being one of the largest port cities in the known world. Huge and sprawling, the city took up most of the peninsula it occupied. The main harbor and along the northern shore housed an entire community of houseboats, which largely contained the city’s poor. Each boat was little more than a single room with a tiny clay stove and a tie to the land.

Meanwhile, the bulk of the city was lush and opulent, populated by multistory buildings with ornate trim. All the roads were neatly cobblestoned, and there were torches and oil lamps spread everywhere to light the broad avenues, welcoming travelers at any time of day.

“The rich get richer,” Fenric muttered under his breath, “and the poor get poorer.”

“Would you kindly bestow your musings once more?” Belstrom joined him at the railing, and he was dressed in thick trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, and a thick leather jerkin.

Fenric had just watched Rain, Malfas, and Maxie head off to see about finding temporary accommodations so they could sleep somewhere that didn’t rock with the wind and waves. After sending back word of where they were to stay, everyone was to start scouting for where Count Pierres’s illegal sex ring operated. It was the one serious drawback to their plan currently—they had no idea of the sex ring’s location. They would need to do some information gathering and skulking about before they could formulate a plan to save Lirion’s sister.

Meanwhile, Hapi was currently getting all his skelebabies settled and out of sight below deck. There was no need to advertise that a necromancer was on board and get the city watch paying attention to them before they could start trouble.

Fenric lifted his face toward Belstrom and sighed. “Just feeling philosophical. You going in with me for reconnaissance?”

“I am. It has been several years since I last wandered the winding avenues of Baza, and treading these old paths will help refresh my memory when I must concoct our brilliant rescue scheme.”

Another person joined him at the rail and stepped in close, hand brushing along Fenric’s side, their shoulders pressed together. He knew without looking who it was. Only Lirion stood like this, like he was a second away from cuddling against Fenric’s side. Fenric hadn’t known what to think of this habit at first, thinking maybe it was a carryover from all the sex they were having. Of course, Lirion would be more comfortable in his personal space because of it.

Their physical familiarity did and didn’t explain it, though. Lirion had said nothing in response to Fenric’s little confession of caring about him. The silence had left Fenric feeling a bit awkward at times, convinced those feelings of concern were perhaps one-sided and all Lirion saw him as was a warm meal and a means of saving his sister. Fenric didn’t fault him. All of Lirion’s mind had to be on saving Aria. And just maybe the only thing Lirion could offer Fenric was his body.

Regardless, Fenric was determined to take what he could get and not expect more. He had zero intention of calling the man out. If Lirion enjoyed being next to him, Fenric wasn’t about to shoo him away. If anything, the touch was nice.

Lirion frowned at the shoreline. “I need to go with you.”

“That’s fine.”

Tilting his head, Lirion looked at him quizzically. “No argument?”

“Why should I?”

“Because you can be incredibly overprotective and I’m not clearheaded where my sister is concerned?”

“Why you come at me with logic like that?”

A flock of seagulls let out a burst of angry cries farther down the dock, and Belstrom huffed a laugh, shoulders shaking. “To be equitable to Lirion, you do tend to be overprotective, Fen.”

“Shut up. I’m working on it, okay?” Fenric cleared his throat and tried to get this conversation back on track. “My instincts aside, I don’t know what your sister looks like. I know you said she has pink hair like you, but don’t most succubi have pink hair?”

“It’s a common trait,” Lirion admitted. The wind whipped across the deck of the ship, causing Lirion to pull his heavy cloak more tightly about his arms. Waves crashed against the docks and the odd wooden groan rose around them from one of the other ships moored nearby.

“I think the odds are good of that place having more than one succubus in there. So on the off chance we get a peek at her from a distance, I’d like to have you on hand to confirm it’s her. Surely they let people sit near windows; it’s free advertisement for them.”