Page 102 of Forge the Blade

Sevastyan flexed his hands. The memory of Rei’s battered face was all he needed to keep his feet moving. He opened the door to the back of the condo.

His boys were side by side, together, in the large bed. Lisa, gun in hand, was facing the door as Sevastyan opened it. He had one palm resting on Rei protectively. As soon as he saw Sevastyan he lowered the weapon and dropped his eyes.

“Good work.” Sevastyan stepped closer, sliding his fingers through Lisa’s loose hair in praise.

Rei stirred at the sound of Sevastyan’s voice. “Master.” He pushed himself up on his knees, presenting himself.

Sevastyan brushed a kiss against his temple. “Up, both of you, living room.”

Both slaves followed him. Sevastyan pulled off his heavy layers and tossed them over the end of the couch. He gave a rundown of the trip, the Yadro’s decisions and stipulations, and the timeline. Lisa and Rei listened from the floor on their knees. Sevastyan paced as he talked. That sense of doom was expanding with each inevitable word. He needed Ellisandre. The idea of walking out the door with Rei and possibly leaving him behind made his throat tight. Logically, that would not be the plan. He needed Rei for however long it took to finish off the Merchari. Alexi would be suspicious and Sevastyan’s status would be under scrutiny if he showed up without his fabled slave. And then there was the loss of Rei’s observation and mind.

But if they demanded Rei stay, if that was the condition for their protection and cooperation, if they claimed Rei and drove him away like the bastard he was, he wouldn’t harm Ellisandre’s family, or Jun. Not when they meant so much to the people he loved.

“Meeting at the Residency is set for eight a.m. Lisa, I’m leaving the condo with you,” Sevastyan finished.

Lisa’s eyes flashed up once and dropped again.

Rei didn’t move at first. And Sevastyan couldn’t. This was the end, then. The beginning of the end, at least. Rei would step into The Residency and it would enfold him. The buzzing had already started in Sevastyan’s head. This was what Ellisandre had been protecting him from the night before. This had been what the braid was for, all to get him through this moment. But they weren’t there.

It was just him and Rei, no Ellisandre in sight. The thundering in his brain was drowning out even the memory of their voice.

Rei

Rei lifted his eyes. Sevastyan was quiet. Too quiet. His eyes were unfocused and distant, looking at nothing. Lisa twitched, glancing towards Rei. Rei pressed his lips together in a grimace, acknowledging the wrongness. Fear creased Lisa’s forehead. His aura had been anxious ever since he realized he was being left behind. And now Sevastyan was gone, even if his body was still standing there.

Rei stood and moved forward slowly. He pushed Sevastyan towards the couch and down onto the cushions. “Phone,” he told Lisa.

Lisa rose from his knees and fetched. Rei climbed into Sevastyan’s lap, facing him. His master was there, somewhere, feeling everything to the point that he appeared to feel nothing. Rei leaned in against him, letting his body and his warmth settle against Sevastyan. With one hand, he typed out a message to Ellisandre.

An answer came back in less than a minute.

Rei dropped the phone. “Go get clothes on. Alice is coming over. Just . . . give me a while please.”

Lisa’s eyes widened. But he stood and left for the bedroom.

Rei drew in a slow breath and ran his hands down over Sevastyan’s cheeks. It was always coming to this, the two of them in the dark. Now, even a little bit of light burned.

“Sevastyan.”

Sevastyan’s breath caught and rattled in his chest. His eyelids fluttered. Rei kissed his cheekbones.

“I’m here.”

Sevastyan’s arms came up. His large hands spread and clasped Rei’s waist. “I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

Sevastyan’s breath labored between his ribs. His face was wet. He pressed his forehead against Rei’s chest and clung to him. Rei threaded his fingers through Sevastyan’s hair, pulling it back over his shoulders.

“I—” Sevastyan cut himself off. He gathered himself and tried again. “I want you to be free. I want you to be happy. I will let you go. That’s the point⁠—”

Rei covered Sevastyan’s mouth with his hand. Sevastyan lifted his head, meeting Rei’s eyes.

“You think—” Rei chose his words carefully, his pulse drumming in his ears. “—you’re going to lose me.”

Sevastyan nodded, choking up. He looked away.