“You have to be careful. They have so much tech that could hurt you. Rifles, grenades, and who knows what else the Consortium hasn’t revealed to the inhabitants of the planetsthey’re supposed to protect and serve.” her tone was sharp with bitterness.
“I will be, dhysari.” I smiled, wanting to relieve her stress. “No puny human is going to take me out.”
She rolled her eyes and gave me a close-lipped smile.
“Rest now, dhysari.” I left her to go see my brother.
Luuciyn hadn’t changed a bit. Earrings dangling from his right ear—which I always told him would someday get torn off in a fight—and enough attitude for a contingent of vorpyr.
“Get your feet off my desk, you uncouth animal.”
With the same mischievous grin that drove our mother mad, he got to his feet. “Arrazyl, nice to see you’ve lightened up.”
We bumped wings.
“You need to be kept humble and besides Thyra, I’m the only one who would dare to yell at you. Unless you’ve found a mate?”
He laughed, “I’ve mated a great deal but I haven’t taken a mate. No desire to, and I doubt I ever will.”
I handed him a glass of spirits. “You’d be surprised at how quickly you change your mind when you find the right one.”
His eyebrows flew up. “Do you have something to tell me?”
I snorted, “not right now. Come, look at these plans and then go to bed, it’s late.”
“You can’t dodge the question for long, brother.” He joined me at the desk and we went over what I’d put together. He made some suggestions, always the one to consult for strategy, and I added them.
“When will the king of death get here?”
“Do you really need to use one of those ridiculous nicknames?”
He flicked a wing. “I don’t need to, but it irritates you, so I like to.”
Despite his strong-willed, sardonic nature, he had a quick wit and was a brilliant strategist, so I didn’t order him to focus.When the time came to fight, he would wind up on top, as he always did.
“Late tomorrow or the day after.”
“I know he’s also bringing a contingent. Have you decided on a contingent or more of your own warriors?”
“I plan to bring one. We will be prepared for a head-to-head fight, but my preference is to sneak in under their radar. We don’t want her to get caught in the crossfire or killed because we’re there.”
His eyebrows rose. “My big brother, the battle monster, is suggesting we sneak?”
My wings twitched. “I don’t have to like it, it just has to work.”
“Indeed. I think it’s a good plan.”
“I want you and half your contingent here.” I pointed a claw at the raised hologram of the facility we’d be attacking. “And Zyroth here with half of his. Then the rest of yours and his, as well as a full contingent of mine, will be back here, far enough to avoid discovery but close enough to come in to back us up should we engage. I will take five of my best and go in. There is an opening in this roof here. It’s likely meant for maintenance and is my first entrance plan. We are less likely to be spotted coming from high above and dropping straight down to the roof.”
“Do you really think either I or Zyroth will allow you to go in while we wait on the sidelines? We’re Vorazyr, Arrazyl, that’s not going to happen.”
“It would be best for you two to wait. I don’t know what we will find inside.”
“That’s exactly why you need the two of us.”
I rubbed a horn as I took in my brother. He was all lean muscle, with what seemed like a permanent smirk on his face. “I ask that you reconsider. As your brother.”
“You wish for me to not go in because I’m your brother and it’s dangerous? We’re no longer children, Arrazyl.”
