Page 97 of Wanted: Rogues and Bards

He was torn from his thoughts when Fen pressed the bottle into his fingers. The gesture was sweet.

“Count Pierres has more permanently settled in Baza thanks to his partnership with Governor Procaccino.”

“The count kicking back a share of the profits to the governor?” Fen murmured.

Mal nodded as he toyed with his club in front of him. “It looks that way.”

Fen released a breath and shoved a hand through his messy hair. He looked stressed, and his reaction only caused the knots in Lirion’s chest to tighten. “As a result, we need both speed and stealth for this job. If the count can’t handle the ruckus we’ll make at his establishment, I wouldn’t be surprised if he demands backup from his business partner. Because of its size, Baza is blessed with more than the typical city watch. Baza is also home to the Northern Royal Army. I couldn’t get a clear count on how many soldiers might be in the region.”

“The Northern Royal Army in times of peace will have a minimum of two regiments but can stretch up to a full division, for a range of five thousand to fifteen thousand highly trained soldiers,” Maxie recited, leaving everyone blinking and their mouths hanging open. The young man paused, his head tilting to the side. “In times of war or heightened hostilities, the base for the Northern Royal Army can comfortably accommodate up to twenty-five thousand men. The principal base is a two-hour ride from the city, but there is a smaller base just inside the city walls the governor has the power to call upon, adding roughly two thousand soldiers to the city watch.”

Fen reached out, stole the forgotten whiskey bottle from Lirion’s nearly limp fingers, and threw it back. “Fuck,” he wheezed, his voice as rough as scorched earth. He pointed one finger at Maxie, still clutching the bottle’s neck in his fist. “One of these days, you and I are going to have a very long talk.” Maxie’s eyes went impossibly wide, and he swallowed hard. “But not right now.”

“That’s a lot of soldiers,” Rain breathed. For the first time since Lirion had met the pirate, he seemed subdued.

“All the more reason for us to make this fast. Get in. Get out. Do not capture anyone’s attention. They can’t summon the city watch or the army if no one knows we were ever there,” Fen said, his voice returning to normal the longer he spoke. “The place in question is called Utopia—a lavish, invite-only villa on the north side along the coastline with some very impressive security gates. We’re talking ten-foot-tall stone walls that circle the building and gardens. There were two gates—one for servants and one for guests. Both are metal and just as tall as the walls. Both gates are heavily guarded.”

“You sneak a peek?” Lirion inquired

“Not as much as I would have liked, but aside from the city watch and the army, Count Pierres has his own impressive security force keeping a close eye on everyone who enters and leaves. In addition, you have a large complement of workers preparing food and serving drinks, as well as musicians performing on any of the three stages within the place. Not to mention all the people servicing the clients. That’s a lot of eyes to notice people who don’t belong there. With this job, the fewer people trying to get inside and get out, the better.”

“With what we know, I think our best option is for me to go in as entertainment,” Lirion stated. This wasn’t just about his need to get his hands on his sister and see her to safety. The difficulty of getting in and out of this place was through the roof. If one of them was caught, it wouldn’t be a simple thing of being stuffed in jail for a few days or getting flogged. No. Getting caught could very well be a death sentence, and there wasn’t going to be any procedure resembling a trial. He couldn’t ask any of these people whom he’d started to see as good friends to take such a risk for him and his sister.

“What?” Fenric snapped, causing nearly everyone to jolt in surprise. “Alone? Are you crazy?”

Lirion lifted a brow at his tone. How could he be against this idea? Lirion was the best choice to retrieve his sister quietly, plus it meant Fenric wouldn’t be placed in harm’s way. He had thought Fenric would be on board with this idea, but the man was sounding anything but. He started to reply, but Belstrom chimed in first.

“His proposal makes the most logical sense. Lirion is both a bard and an incubus. His ruse would not only be believable, but with his innate skills, he would be able to deftly navigate the exclusive club without arousing suspicion.”

There. Lirion couldn’t have said it better himself.

Fen’s mouth opened and closed twice, but not a single sound came out. Instead, he slumped against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and a scowl set firmly on his handsome face. Regardless of the logic of the move, Fen clearly wasn’t happy. And as much as Lirion wanted to pursue that interesting tidbit, now was not the time.

“That being said, it would be wise to send Fen inside as well,” Rain stated. “While he doesn’t have Lirion’s skills of seduction and obfuscation, Fen is still a sneaky motherfucker. He can get around without being noticed and help in locating Aria.”

Fen’s scowl lightened, and he grunted in agreement.

Fenric leaned against the wall of Bel’s room, still very uneasy about this decision. Of course, it made sense for Lirion to go in—he was the only one who could find his sister in that madness—but going in as the entertainment was the part Fenric rejected.

It wasn’t him being overprotective or feeling possessive of Lirion. It was just the idea of those disgusting scumbags putting hands on Lirion and Lirion having to smile and act like he liked it that made Fenric throw up in his mouth a little.

Maybe there was some possessiveness mixed in, but it was more worry. Worry about what Lirion would have to do, to put up with, just to get his sister out. And yes, Lirion had a spell that would allow them to send messages back and forth if he was in a tight spot, but Fenric would still have to get to him, which would take time, and it might be enough time for something to go catastrophically wrong.

So, no. He didn’t like this situation whatsoever.

Fenric lifted a hand. “Hold on. If we’re going to do this⁠—”

“If?” Rain interrupted.

“I don’t like it. Okay? To be honest, I fucking hate the plan. But if you’re set on this, then we need to hedge bets.”

Lirion sidled in to sit closer to him, lips parted, eyes warm and soft, though there was still a lingering hint of seriousness and worry. “Thank you for worrying about me. It’s sweet.”

Fenric grunted, swallowing down another anxious snap about how this was a terrible plan. He didn’t want to be labeled as “sweet.” Unfortunately, right then his head and chest were a mess of emotions he didn’t understand, yet this was no time to work through his feelings. They had a succubus to save and an incubus to protect. “Just, please, for my sanity, let’s pad this plan with some fail-safes.”

Lirion kissed him on the cheek. “You’re the cutest thing.”

“Fucking stop, you’re making me cringe.”