Page 46 of Forge the Blade

“And she agreed.”

“I offered to visit if she did.”

Alexi raised an eyebrow. Across the dining room, Sevastyan caught sight of Richard Reevesworth following a waiter to a table. He drew his attention back to Alexi. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d waited in the shadows via plain sight.

“Your mother wants a director’s chair,” Alexi murmured.

“She doesn’t have the support.”

“But she has a brilliant son.”

Sevastyan gave Alexi an exasperated look. “One she’s afraid to deploy fully. If she thought she could use me to get a seat, she would have.”

Alexi waved between them, holding a thought suspended as he chewed a bite of his own steak. He swallowed and got his words out. “But now you’re playing? Will she think she can use you now? Going to be a dutiful heir?”

“I’m no one’s heir,” Sevastyan said placidly. “I have a sire, and a dam, like any creature.”

Alexi studied Sevastyan’s face for a long moment.

“I need to ask a favor,” Sevastyan said. Alexi had allowed so much vulnerability to show in the last few hours, it was time to return the risk and take their relationship deeper.

“Ask,” Alexi said.

“Will you watch Rei while I’m in London?”

“I can stay with the pets for a few days, then I must be off. Business in Saudi Arabia.”

“You’re not taking Lisa back?” Sevastyan asked.

Alexi took another bite and sipped his brandy, not answering quickly. When he spoke, his words were slow, parsed out as if he was still ruminating. “Much like there’s no one else you trust with Rei, there’s no one else I trust with Lisa. Not right now.”

“Terms?”

“Same as before,” Alexi said.

“Can I train him?”

Alexi nodded. Then his gaze grew more calculating. “There’s a party in New York I hear you might attend.”

Sevastyan nodded.

“Take him with. Put on a show. Let’s see what happens.”

The hair on the back of Sevastyan’s neck rose. “That’s more than just training.”

“I know.” Alexi met Sevastyan’s gaze straight on.

Sevastyan covered his confusion with a drink from his glass. This was a test. Alexi couldn’t have said it more plainly, and yet what the test was for, he couldn’t yet see—could guess at, but not see.

“What kind of show are you permitting?” Sevastyan asked.

“Obedience, submission.”

“Can I have Rei and Lisa together?”

“Yes.”

“Let him dominate Rei?”