Page 44 of Forge the Blade

“Pills,” Alexi said to Jonathan, pulling the water away from Lisa.

Jonathan fetched. Alexi measured the dose into his hand, checking it with Sevastyan, and held them out to Lisa. Lisa took them from Alexi’s palms with his lips and swallowed them down with the rest of the water.

“We’ll start with crackers and applesauce,” Alexi said to Jonathan.

“I can lay out breakfast,” Sevastyan said. “Jonathan can clean up, if you like. I need to feed Rei and give him his medication as well.” He didn’t need to mention the fact that he needed to take his own. The bullet wound in his side was minor, but now it was aching, probably because of how he’d caught Jonathan.

“My thanks.” Alexi nodded to Sevastyan.

Sevastyan went out to the main living area and crossed to his own room. Rei was exactly where he’d left him, kneeling on the bed in a resting pose. Sevastyan smiled. Even though Rei had to be worried about his friend, he had kept his composure, and his training. Sevastyan rewarded him by sweeping him off the bed and into his arms, careful of his slave’s ribs. He planted a kiss on Rei’s forehead, right above one of the faint burn marks. “Good boy.”

Rei’s lips stretched in a tentative smile.

“Time for breakfast.” Sevastyan carried Rei out to the table and set him on the floor on one of the cushions, guiding him into a sitting position that kept his sprained ankle safe and at ease. Rei kept his eyes on Sevastyan as he ferried food from the fridge to the table, mostly local cheeses, crackers, fruit, and pickles. It was rather like a spread of food Ellisandre would have served, practical and extravagant.

“Calm, Rei,” Sevastyan said, catching Rei’s eye as he set coffee down for himself and Alexi. “You can serve again as soon as you’ve finished healing.”

Rei’s cheeks flushed and Alexi’s chuckle from across the room made Sevastyan look up. Alexi had an arm around Lisa and was leading him over. Jonathan appeared to be still in the bedroom, likely cleaning up. Sevastyan made a note to leave a plate for the man.

Lisa was still pale, like he could faint again at any time. Alexi appeared to be taking no chances. He helped Lisa down to one of the cushions and then sat with Sevastyan at the table, both of them on the same corner.

Lisa leaned against the side of Alexi’s chair, all fight missing, only a desperate, lost look in his eyes. And there was nothing Sevastyan could do in the moment to change it. If Alexi did take Lisa back with him, Sevastyan would do what could be done to get him free, but it could be months. It might not happen at all.

Alexi made no small talk as they ate, sipping more coffee than eating, but he kept a steady flow of food down to Lisa, who ate everything offered with the same level of submissiveness as Rei. When the meal was over, Alexi took Lisa back to bed and ordered him to sleep.

“I have some business to look over,” Sevastyan said to Alexi. “If you’ll excuse me.”

“No, I should make some calls as well,” Alexi murmured. “I may go for a walk. Will you stay?”

“Of course.”

Sevastyan

Sevastyan was on the phone with a museum when Alexi returned a few hours later. He disappeared into his bedroom and then came back, taking a seat and waiting for Sevastyan to finish. Sevastyan hung up and gave the older Russian a questioning look.

“Do you mind sending Rei in to stay with my fox?” Alexi said without preamble. “I know he was violent earlier.”

“Of course. I’ll carry Rei in myself.”

Alexi gave a half smile and Sevastyan stood. Rei was in bed, eyes half closed.

“I’m going to put you in with Lisa.” He scooped Rei up.

Lisa was almost feverish looking in Alexi’s bed. He said nothing when Sevastyan entered the bedroom, but wrapped himself around Rei without speaking as soon as he was set down. Sevastyan left, closing the door as he went.

“And there he goes,” Alexi sighed, looking at his phone as Sevastyan returned. He had a camera feed on the screen. “Your boy is like a tonic.”

Sevastyan gave a half smile.

Alexi leaned back in his chair and took a long look at Sevastyan. “You’re gone over both of them, aren’t you?”

Sevastyan tilted his head to the side, as if waiting for Alexi to finish a thought he didn’t understand.

Alexi laughed and slapped his thigh, looking away. “Damn rules.”

“Damn the rules,” Sevastyan let a faint smile touch his face. He stood and fetched two ginger beers from the fridge, coming back and offering one to Alexi.

“Damn the rules,” Alexi repeated softly.