My brothers arranged themselves around the room, their expressions serious. Riley moved to stand beside me, our arms brushing as she leaned over the maps.
“Based on everything we’ve gathered, we believe Joyce Milburn and possibly others are targeting the luminooks. The photographer, Ava, and Mary, who works in maintenance, could also be involved.” I pointed to the marked locations on the detailed map of our property. “We know someone tried to steal one of the babies. The adults are restless. We think they’ll try to take as many as they can tonight.”
I outlined what we knew, including Joyce’s suspicious phone call, Mary’s meeting with the unknown male and receiving boxes, plus the specialized cage hidden in the maintenance shed. The evidence pointed to a coordinated operation designed to harvest biological material from the luminooks, possibly for the pharmaceutical company Sillavar Research.
“We need comprehensive surveillance.” I tapped specific points on the map. “Every approach, every potential blind spot covered.”
Ruugar nodded. “I’ve been reinforcing the perimeter fencing all morning. I added motion sensors at the weak points weidentified.”
“Good.” I turned to Tark. “You know the trails better than anyone. I need you on the eastern approach. Anyone coming from that direction will have to pass through the narrow gully running along that side.”
“I’ll take Castree,” he said. “My sorhox can sense movement from a clek away.”
I assigned positions to each of my brothers based on their particular skills. Becken would monitor the thermal imaging equipment from a concealed position near the pens. Sel and Hail would patrol the outer perimeter, creating a broader defensive ring. Greel would coordinate communications from the command center we’d established in the sheriff’s office. Their mates would keep the tourist town running, something we couldn’t suspend without tipping off whoever might be after the luminooks.
As I spoke, I was continuously drawn to Riley. She added insightful suggestions, pointing out tactical considerations I’d missed, her mind working well with mine. Each time our gazes met, I felt the mating bond pulse between us, a connection deeper than physical touch.
The golden mark on her wrist caught the light as she reached across the map to indicate a potential entry point, and my heart stumbled in my chest.Mine,a primal part of me growled. My mate. My partner. My everything.
“Dungar?” Riley’s voice pulled me back. “Anything else?”
“Just thinking through contingencies.”
Her knowing smile told me she wasn’t fooled, but she returned to the discussion without comment.
We spent the next hour distributing equipment. Each piece needed to be tested, positioned, and documented in our operation plan.
“You’ve thought of everything,” Riley said as she reviewed my plan one last time.
“Not quite.” I lowered my voice so only she could hear. “I didn’t account for how distracting you’d be in those jeans.”
Her surprised laugh sent warmth through me. “Sheriff Bronish, are you flirting while planning a sting operation?”
“Multitasking,” I said, allowing myself a small smile. “I’m very efficient.”
Her fingers brushed mine as she took the checklist from my hands. “That you are. Though I seem to recall certain activities this morning where you took your time quite thoroughly.”
Heat rushed to my face, and across the room, Ruugar snickered. Orc hearing. I’d forgotten.
They left to get their own parts of the project set up.
Riley and I continued to set things into motion. By midday, we’d established a command center in the sheriff’s office. Three monitors displayed feeds from cameras positioned around the luminook pens. A fourth showed a real-time map with the locations of each team member. Greel had set up the communications hub, testing each radio frequency to ensure clear transmission.
Riley and I would monitor everything from here,coordinating the response if or when someone made their move.
We ate lunch at the saloon and finished making arrangements. By the time the town had slowed down for the evening, we were ready.
As night shadowed the sky, Sel pulled me aside while Riley discussed something with Becken.
“Riley wears the mark well,” he said quietly.
“She does.” Pride filled my chest. “Better than I could’ve hoped.”
“But you’re worried.” It wasn’t a question. Sel had always been perceptive.
I glanced at Riley, taking in the way she smiled at something Becken said, how she moved with a new confidence among my brothers. But beneath that smile, I could see the shadows, the hesitation in her eyes when she thought no one was looking.
“She’s afraid,” I said. “Not of me, but of what being with me might mean. What it might cost because of her past.”
