“Is work. I am bonding with asset to maintain operational effectiveness.”
I laughed despite everything. Despite the weight in my chest and the confusion still churning through my head. “Asset. You hear that, Apollo? You're an asset.”
Apollo returned with the rope, dropped it at Viktor's feet again. Sat. Waited.
Viktor stared at him. “No.”
Apollo's tail swept the floor.
“I said no.”
Sweep. Sweep. Sweep.
“You are manipulating me.”
Apollo tilted his head. Ears perked. The picture of innocent hope.
“Fine.” Viktor threw the rope again. Apollo charged after it withthe same enthusiasm as the first time, like this was the greatest game ever invented and Viktor was the world's best playmate. “This is ridiculous.”
“This is you being soft.”
“I am not soft.” But he threw the rope a third time when Apollo brought it back. “I am humoring the dog.”
“Right. Humoring.”
“Yes.”
Apollo returned. Dropped the rope. Sat so close to Viktor his tail was brushing Viktor's boot.
“He's in love with you,” I said.
“He is dog. Dogs do not love. They perform learned behaviors for treats.”
“You don't even give him treats.”
“Which makes this even more stupid.” Viktor threw the rope again anyway. “Why does he keep coming back.”
“Because you keep throwing it.”
“I throw it so he will leave.”
“Terrible strategy. You're rewarding the behavior you want to stop.”
Viktor glared at me. I grinned back. Apollo returned with the rope, panting happily, and dropped it directly on Viktor's foot this time.
“No more,” Viktor said firmly.
Apollo whined. Not sad. Just persistent. Like he knew Viktor's resolve was crumbling.
“We could take him out,” I said. “The gardens. Fresh air. He's been cooped up all day.”
Viktor looked at Apollo. At the rope. At me. Something in his expression softened, just slightly, just enough to show through the cracks in his armor. “Is that what you want?”
“Yeah. I need to get out of my head for a while.”
“Then we go.”
The gardens werequiet at this hour. Most of the staff had retreated inside for dinner. The sky was bleeding orange and pink, sunset painting everything gold. Apollo ran ahead of us down the gravel path, nose to the ground, investigating every smell like it held the secrets of the universe.
