Two days and three nights. That’s how long Magnus had been at it without rest. The past evening, he’d personally gone back with Mia to the main convoy base, soaked every vehicle with fresh animal blood, then rushed back overnight just to pick up the final batch. The man hadn’t stopped.
In those two days, he had slaughtered forty-one animals - chickens, ducks, geese, all sorts. After last night’s supply run, they’d piled up a total of 1,056 barrels of blood. Enough to keep the convoy covered for a whole week.
No point in gathering more. First, they were clean out of white drums to store it in. Second, even if they had more, the blood wouldn’t keep. Spoiled blood was useless blood.
Once the final batch was loaded, Magnus let out a long breath and ordered the team an hour of rest. He climbed into the lead truck, finally taking a mont for himself.
Everyone knew - no one worked harder than the commander.
In the backseat of the off-road truck, Harper was there again, hands moving skillfully over Magnus’s arms and thighs. She’d been idle the past couple days, only driving short stretches. She saw how hard he was pushing himself, and since the night before last, started giving him massages.
But when it ca to sleeping arrangents, Magnus had drawn a hard line. He rested here; she had to take the sleeper car.
He had learned the hard way. It didn’t matter whether there was anything going on between him and Harper. Exhausted to the bone or not, if he didn’t make her leave at night, the rumors would start pouring in like waves - crashing one after another.
Then he’d be stuck explaining to one person after another, and no matter how clearly he said it, no one would believe a word. It was a pain.
So now he played it smart. Dayti massages - fine. It can be chalked up to team needs. But at night? Not a chance. No trouble.
One more hour left before return... and Harper knew this might be her last shot at catching the commander alone. That thought tangled her guts into a knot of reluctance.
It had been nearly a full year since the Ice Regint ford. Within the group, the atmosphere had its quirks. There was always talk - ugly talk - about Springvale forces, about n. Tales about what they’d done to won, the slave pens, how many Ice Regint sisters had been lost to them...
These stories ca mostly from Vanessa and other won who had escaped from the slave camps. Their hatred for n ran deep, and they repeated the horrors to every new female recruit who joined. Tirelessly. Relentlessly.
Charlotte encouraged it. Fueling anger. Feeding unity.
But there were other kinds of talk too - cheeky gossip, speculation, mocking jokes. Who was cozying up to the commander, who was trying to seduce him. Most of it bull, all of it entertaining.
Then there was the drears’ circle - girls who huddled around to imagine building a future ho. Where, with what resources, how many people, what kind of defenses... fool’s dreams maybe, but it gave them sothing to do. A way to cope.
The truth? Every woman here liked the commander. Hell, being able to flirt with him, to get his attention, that was a badge of honor.
It’s just how people work - opposites attract. Even if Magnus were so scruffy old man pushing fifty, there would still be girls after him. Just because he’s a man. That alone made him wanted.
And Magnus wasn’t just any man. He was sharp, good-looking, held himself with a kind of calm confidence. And he was the commander. That made all the difference. Harper wasn’t any different from the rest. She’d joked around and confessed to Magnus two days ago. When he didn’t respond, she felt a little disappointed and quickly changed the subject to cover it up.
She used to have n chasing after her left and right. She’s beautiful, damn it! And now she had to chase after a man herself? What a joke. Who would’ve thought the day would co when n were treated like rare treasures and pretty girls didn’t count for much?
Back before all hell broke loose, please - guys would’ve lined up just for a smile from her. And now? That’s all gone.
Her thoughts were a damn ss. She didn’t even know what she was doing anymore. Her hands pressed on his body, soft one mont, heavy the next. Only one thought kept circling in her mind - after this hour, chances of her getting alone ti with the team leader again would be slim to none.
This was her shot - she didn’t want to waste it. She wanted to be a real woman.
"Captain..." she called out softly.
Magnus hadn’t really slept in two whole days. Maybe got three hours total. He was dead tired and had planned to sleep during this one hour.
The massage? Wasn’t even his idea. He’d told her to stop plenty of tis. She refused to listen, so he just let her be.
Harper noticed his breathing had evened out - he was asleep. A flood of mixed emotions hit her. If he slept through the hour, she wouldn’t get another chance. Maybe she’d die soday and still never know what it ant to be a woman...
It wasn’t about being thirsty. Lots of won on the team had the sa thoughts. We all still had that little bit of vanity left.
So, what now - wake him up? But he was so damn tired. He’d probably think she was being annoying. Maybe even get mad at her.
But if she didn’t wake him up, this chance would slip by without even a reaction from him.
Her mind was a ss. She stopped the massage altogether. Magnus lay flat out on the back seat. Harper crouched in the space between the front seats, just staring at his face in silence.
He’s not even my type!
I like guys over six feet tall. Gotta play basketball, gotta be that sunshine kind, gotta be strong and clean. No ugly belly, no smoking. A little beer’s fine, but not more than one bottle. Any more and you’re just a drunk.
I like guys who can make laugh, rember my favorite food, know what colors I like to wear. Can’t ignore my calls, gotta reply to my ssages right away. And definitely not the cheating kind. Eyes stay on , not wandering to other girls.
What the hell does Magnus have out of all that?
He’s got nothing! So why did I have to chase after him?
Harper clenched her teeth, tempted to pinch his arm in frustration - but held back.
Small-frad, she let out a long breath and curled up on the ground, chin resting on her fists, eyes fixed on Magnus as he slept.
’Forget it. n are disgusting anyway. Filthy. Gross.
Still... should I take advantage of him sleeping? Maybe sneak in a quick touch? I could brag to the girls later. If they don’t believe , I’ll swipe sothing personal from him - make them jealous.
But what if they think I stole it off a corpse?
Damn it... am I really gonna let this chance slip away just like that?’
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