Benin went over and, sitting beside Jase, put his arm around his shoulder. “It’s okay, Jase. We all know how brave you are.”
“Sure,” Quinn agreed. “The others weren’t here for it, but Demi and I remember how you stuck by Emil’s side when he was neutralizing that chemical bomb.”
Jase swiped at a trickle of tears. “That was easy. I wasn’t going to let Emil do it alone. And it’s one more reason why I don’t want to fight. I would be so worried about him that I’d never be able to keep my mind on my own danger.”
“Okay, so maybe you’re right,” Damien conceded. “Although I’ve been in plenty of scrapes in my life, none have involved guns or any kind of life-and-death situation. As mad as I am about Logan and Shawn and the others, I’m not sure if I’m cut out for killing people. That’s not what all soldiers do, though, is it?”
“He has a point.” Alun once again inserted himself into a conversation that didn’t quite seem to include him. Still, he was the oldest of them all, if one counted years of living, and he’d seen more horror than any of them—of that, he was sure. He felt he had something worthwhile to contribute to their obvious dilemma.
“In my day, the young boys who served stayed behind in camp, watching the supplies. It was an important job.”
“And not necessarily a safe one,” Quinn observed. “At least, according to Shakespeare’s Henry V. Even if we concede the point that we’re not fit for the assault, it doesn’t mean the only alternative is to stay here. We could remain with whatever vehicles they arrive in and form a defense.”
Damien nodded. “That makes sense. I’m betting the final leg of the journey will be made via helicopter. Will has been giving me flying lessons since we took down Bran. I don’t have an official license or anything, but I’m pretty good at it, if push comes to shove.”
Jase smiled. “I like that idea. We protect our transportation and make sure our men have a secure exit once they rescue Dafydd and the others. I’m totally down with that plan.”
Quinn looked around the room, his gaze stopping on Alun. “I think we all are in this room. It’s Alex we have to persuade.”
“You’re in the best position,” Alun said, staring at the boy, even though he was uncomfortable with the attention. “I mean, like, you know him best and have the opportunity to sway his mind.” He didn’t add exactly how Quinn could accomplish it. He figured the boy understood. Even the aliens were vulnerable to manipulation with the right pleasurable techniques. Alun had managed to get something he wanted a time or two by swallowing his pride and giving his master extra attention.
Quinn frowned, however. “I don’t use sex to get what I want from Alex, if that’s what you mean. I’ll confront him head on with this. Our relationship is based on honesty.”
“And how has that been working for you lately?” Alun nearly covered his mouth. He was shocked at his own words. “I’m sorry. It was horrid of me to say such a thing. I don’t have any experience with real relationships.”
“It’s okay, Alun.” Demi, of all people, came over to rub a hand on Alun’s back. “We know how rough you had it in Dracul’s castle. We don’t blame you for using whatever weapons you had to in order to survive. We know you’re worried about Merlin, too.”
He hung his head, his emotions in a jumble. “I am, yes. I’m also not used to standing up for myself, but I have to now.” He lifted his chin and looked at each boy in turn. “I’m not a warrior, that’s for certain. I have no more power here than I did back in Wales, either. Alex and the others don’t give a fig about what I want. But I’m not staying behind while my son is out there, in trouble. Nor do I trust that anyone will care about his survival the way I do.
“I’m going, even if I have to ask Annika to intercede on my behalf.” This last idea had popped into his head as he spoke. Now that it was out there, he realized it might be everyone’s best chance at getting what they wanted.
One by one, the boys’ faces lit up as his words sunk in. It was Quinn who spoke first.
“Alun, that’s fucking brilliant! I’ll try first to change Alex’s mind, using logic and maybe a little pleading.”
“A blow job wouldn’t hurt, either,” Demi chimed in.
Quinn glared at him. “What did I just say about using sex?”
Demi shrugged. “I’m only saying that maybe something in between your straight-arrow approach and Alun’s more devious one might be the sweet spot in all of this.”
“No. When I blow Alex, it’s because I love choking on his big dick, not because I want to get something out of him. But if he doesn’t see reason, I’m not beyond going above his head.” He crossed his arms. “Our men say that the Queen is to be obeyed. Let’s see what happens if we put that to the test.”
“It should definitely be the last resort,” Alun cautioned, afraid he’d set in motion something that could come back to bite them all in the end. “I’ll pray that you make your case with Alex—that you all do. Because Alex may be the master warrior, but the others can be persuasive once they are convinced to bring us along.”
As he said the words, he fingered his crucifix through his sweaty shirt. And it occurred to him that he might be able to play a role in this effort. Craig wasn’t one of the aliens, but he was a warrior who was clearly being included in the plans and perhaps the assault itself. Craig liked him, too—that much was clear. While he didn’t want to employ the same tactics that he had against the monster who’d kept him, Merlin’s life was at stake. Nothing mattered more than getting him out safely. Not that Alun thought he could do much in that regard, but he was surprisingly adamant in his own mind that he wouldn’t be sidelined.
Working on his muscles wasn’t as important than working on his wiles. Clear in his plan, he ignored the chatter of the other boys, now in a full-blown discussion of how to persuade their men. Walking past them all, he headed for the showers, thinking of what he might do to justify seeking Craig’s attention and what he would do once he had it.
For Merlin. Anything for you, my son. Stay safe. Please, God, don’t let him take any chances. As he sent off the silent command into the universe, he couldn’t help worrying that Merlin was doing the exact opposite.
Chapter Three
Merlin used his pass key to let himself into Dafydd and Mateo’s cell. There were surprisingly few guards in this part of the underground labyrinth. Those who were stationed there showed obvious boredom, and they were used to seeing him come and go. They paid him no mind and he treated them similarly. The Mad King had cleared his presence and that was all any of them needed to know. He’d taken to thinking of Dracul in those terms, because they sure as shit fit. Even by the freaky standards of Merlin’s brutal childhood, the guy seemed to have gone completely unglued. His narcissism was off the charts. He paraded his hideous body in front of his men, his sexual debasement of his prisoners a daily form of entertainment for them all.
His volatility and violence had also taken on a different kind of coldness. Before, it had always seemed that Dracul had gone about his own business as if it had all been simply and naturally his due. Everyone had been beneath his contempt and anything he’d done had been, by its very nature, legitimate. He’d gone after what he wanted, and any consequences to others had been merely collateral damage and not worthy of his notice. If in seeking his own pleasure he’d caused pain, so be it. That was how Merin had seen things, anyway. Now, sadism seemed the goal and pleasure was the happy by-product. The Mad King visited his wrath with a fervor of delight that had Merlin quaking inside with fear over how each session with Mateo and Dafydd would end.