Page 39 of Forge the Blade

“Stay down, LiLi. Rest,” Master Alexi said from above. His voice was pitched low.

Lisa’s form collapsed against Rei, still not reaching for him, just resting against him, as if he could pull Rei into his body with his will alone.

“I see what you mean about his worry,” Master Alexi said to Sevastyan in English. Lisa barely understood any of that language, but Rei could comprehend it well.

Rei drifted as Lisa relaxed. The warmth of Lisa against his skin and the knowledge that, no matter what was happening, Master Alexi and Sevastyan were present lay over him like a comforting cloud. In time, though, the sedative wore off completely and his body demanded facilities. He pushed himself up on his hands and blinked up at his master. Sevastyan paused in what he was saying and spread his legs, gesturing Rei to come towards him.

“His back,” Master Alexi breathed, shaking his head. “I keep forgetting how bad they were hurt.”

“Yes.” Sevastyan leaned down, spreading his hand over Rei’s bruised skin. Rei knelt up on his knees, following the pressure, but it wasn’t a signal. Sevastyan was being protective. Rei leaned into him.

“Do you need something, sweet boy?” Master asked.

“Toilet, please,” Rei whispered.

“I’ll take you. Alexi, my friend, excuse me. I don’t want him on this ankle just yet, and I hate the strain the crutches put on his ribs.”

“By all means,” Alexi said.

Rei leaned his head against Sevastyan’s shoulder as his master carried him into a bathroom in one of the bedrooms, still exhausted from the drugs. It didn’t matter. If Sevastyan wanted him tired and hazy, that was Sevastyan’s prerogative. They were under Merchari rules now. Whatever, and whenever Sevastyan wanted, that was what was done. Feeling any way about it wasn’t necessary. It wasn’t even necessary to push through the haze. If Sevastyan had drugged him, then he was allowed to be hazy. And he could trust that. Resistance was unnecessary. Sevastyan’s hands were steady and gentle. Once the toilet stuff was finished, Sevastyan let Rei comb his hair and brush his teeth. He did it with his head against Sevastyan’s shoulder, eyes half shut.

Back in the living room, Lisa had moved off the blankets and was in a modified kneel in front of Alexi. There was tension, concern on Alexi’s part, fear on Lisa’s. Lisa’s head was down, and Alexi was leaning towards him.

“We can give you a moment,” Sevastyan said, still holding Rei.

“No, no, sit, sit,” Alexi said.

Sevastyan lowered Rei down onto a cushion he kicked into place, then settled. Rei followed the pressure of Sevastyan’s hands and reclined against the couch and Sevastyan’s inner thigh. “I have food here for dinner, or we can order room service.”

Alexi drew Lisa in between his knees, putting Lisa’s back to the front of the chair. He carded his fingers through Lisa’s color-streaked hair. The highlights were starting to fade, leaving hints of color through the black. Alexi guided Lisa’s head to his lap and braced him. Lisa went, body stiff and uncertain. Next to Alexi, the size of Lisa’s frame was more visible. Alexi was shorter than Sevastyan. Lisa was all long limbs and underfed ribs, a vase-like waist and bony wrists, his skin marked by scars, old whippings, dog bites, and burns.

Parchment. Lisa was living parchment in faded colors, faded strength, hooded, uncertain eyes. When they were close, the marks were less visible. What remained most was the impression of his touch and his breath. Watching him across the room left everything to be seen. It felt like too much, an invasion of the other slave’s privacy.

But Lisa was looking at him. Rei met his gaze. What did Lisa see? Could he even see, in this moment, with Master Alexi holding him? The distance across the floor between them felt wide as an unbridgeable gulf. Of his own volition, he could no more reach Lisa in this moment than Lisa could reach him. After weeks of closeness, it was worse than being bare. Lisa near was safer than wearing clothes, more necessary than food.

Rei dropped his eyes. He had to remember his place. Their masters were their shelter, their food, and their air. Until Master Alexi was gone, he could not let himself long for Lisa. Nor could Lisa long for him. They belonged to different men.

Rei

Rei lay in Sevastyan’s arms that night, ears straining to hear anything. Lisa had disappeared into Master Alexi’s bedroom in the hotel suite when it had come time to retire. Jonathan had cleaned up the living room, clearing away dinner, and Sevastyan had taken Rei off to bed. The lights were out now, and Sevastyan was resting behind Rei, holding him.

“Sleep, beautiful,” Sevastyan murmured.

Rei swallowed, eyes open and staring into the darkness. How was Lisa handling being alone with Master Alexi now? This was the first time Lisa was alone with his master since the thought of escape had been offered to him. Lisa would do well in freedom. He would know how to live without his master, unlike Rei. He wanted it. Needed it like water.

Rei tightened his hold on the arm Sevastyan had wrapped around him. He couldn’t even whisper his thoughts here in the dark. Not with Jonathan and Master Alexi having had full run of the suite for most of the day. There could be cameras or listening devices anywhere. Rei closed his eyes. Sevastyan was there, a wall of heat and strength at his back. And Sevastyan’s word was law.

Rei relaxed into that absolute.

Sevastyan

Sevastyan finished combing his hair in the mirror and went back out to the bedroom. Rei was on the bed, freshly showered, carefully replacing bandages on his legs and rubbing lotion into his skin where he could. He smiled at Sevastyan, then quickly dropped his eyes. Sevastyan pressed a kiss to his hair. It was already brushed and styled. “Tell me when you’re finished, I’ll carry you out to the living room.”

“I can crawl, if you like, Master.”

“And I will be carrying.” Sevastyan smiled down at his slave. Rei blushed and dropped his face. This morning, with sunlight filtering in through the windows, he looked fragile. Beautiful and fragile, and badly handled by the world. Sevastyan brushed his lips against one of the bruises on Rei’s bare shoulder. He was going to do something about that. Something to make everyone in their world think twice about touching this beautiful man again.

Sounds of hissing and objects striking walls came in from one of the other rooms. Sevastyan swung around. “Stay.” He took long strides through the suite, towards the sounds coming from Alexi’s room.