Page 12 of Forge the Blade

“Please . . . don’t fight,” Rei whimpered.

Sevastyan dropped Lisa’s hand, turning back towards Rei to comfort him.

Lisa spoke faster. “We’re playing, not fighting, ReiRei.”

Rei blinked slowly, looking between Sevastyan and Lisa.

“I’m not going to strangle Lisa,” Sevastyan said. “If he bites me—” Sevastyan shrugged, then winced when the bullet wound pulled. “It would be understandable.”

Lisa licked his lips and eyed Sevastyan up and down.

Rei pulled the covers fully over his head. “Please shower. And don’t die!”

Lisa chuckled and hopped towards the bathroom, supporting himself on furniture. Sevastyan leaned over the bed and pulled the edge of the sheet just enough to see one of Rei’s eyes. “I’ll be careful.”

Rei blinked slowly, and nodded, eyes large and haunted. Having to fight and at least help kill if not outright kill another human being had done a number on his boy’s psyche. Sevastyan kissed Rei’s forehead, keeping his face bright and reassuring. If he wasn’t so worried, seeing Rei hiding behind the sheet and expressing himself would be cute, but Rei wasn’t acting this way because he was relaxing. He was regressing. Regression, at least, was probably better than a complete shutdown and retreating into robotic submissive behavior. It was a place Rei had gone at times.

Sevastyan brushed his fingers through Rei’s hair and kissed him again. “I’m proud of you.”

Rei dropped the sheet and sat up, reaching for Sevastyan. Sevastyan sat on the edge of the bed and helped Rei crawl into his lap. They clung and there was nothing regressed about how Rei’s body felt against his, or the weight of the world he could feel on Rei’s shoulders as Rei rested his forehead on Sevastyan’s. He liked it when Rei was like this, when protocol crumbled and they were two creatures together. No, not creatures . . .

A bonded pair. Partners. Two souls tied with red string.

Sevastyan closed his eyes and held Rei as close as he dared around Rei’s ribs and his own wound.

Someday he would have to let Rei go. His heart might not survive. Lisa was right. Too right. But until that day, until the last moment, he was going to hold this man in his arms as much as he dared. It was already too late for Sevastyan. Had been too late for years. There was no protecting himself from Rei. He could only love him until the end.

Sevastyan

When all three of them were showered as much as advisable and dressed, they collected in the kitchen. Lisa had been there first. He had food on the small two-person table against the wall. Sevastyan insisted Rei and Lisa sit because of their legs and leaned against the counter himself. The food from the condo had all been stuffed in Ellisandre’s fridge, including the roast Lisa had baked the day before. Lisa made roast beef sandwiches at the table and Sevastyan poured coffee for everyone. Rei’s hands were almost useless. The bruising was worse now and the swelling had spread. He ate with one hand on a bag of ice, switching sides often. Sevastyan watched and said nothing. Noting the thing would only make it worse.

“So, what’s the deal with the Jon Wick drag queen?” Lisa said.

Sevastyan raised one eyebrow. “I’m surprised you know the reference.”

Lisa shrugged. “I might have watched it naked in a muzzle, but it’s still fucking good cinema. Don’t change the subject.”

Sevastyan dropped his eyes, glanced at Rei, and looked away. He knew the two slaves were watching him and yet it was still hard to start. This was a conversation that had been a long time coming. He’d always thought it would be just him and Rei. Or him, Rei, and Ellisandre. Or a letter he left behind for Rei to read.

“Ellisandre shot me in Germany eleven years ago.” He tapped the scar on his shoulder.” Rei’s eyes widened. Sevastyan nodded. “They took out the whole team around me. It was a kidnapping. Two kids. Their father was an official some people wanted to put pressure on. I had the kids. Ellisandre killed everyone else and shot me. We were stuck on a train together. They let me live. We met up a few months later. Became . . . lovers.”

Rei’s chest rose and fell. His eyes were fixed on the table. Sevastyan forced himself to hold still.

Lisa snorted. “Bullshit. What’s the rest of it?”

Sevastyan dropped his eyes to the floor. How did one explain the confusion and wonder? “They were beautiful. Efficient. Lethal.

“They shot you. Why didn’t they kill you?”

“I don’t know.”

Sevastyan’s phone buzzed. He fished it out of his pocket. It was the one from Ellisandre. He checked the screen.

Sevastyan smiled. He passed Lisa the phone.

“They’re fucking listening?!” Lisa’s back stiffened and he looked around the kitchen. “Fucking creep. You hear me, you’re a fucking creep.”

The phone buzzed again. Sevastyan stepped closer to read Ellisandre’s next text.