Page 3 of Forge the Blade

Lisa kept at his work, but Sevastyan couldn’t even feel it now. He wanted to get up and find Rei, but he’d sent Rei to pack. He’d done what he’d always done, assigned Rei a purpose and kept him moving, even when everything was falling apart.

“Should I stop him from packing?”

Lisa shook his head, his multicolored hair moving on the edge of Sevastyan’s vision. “We’re slaves. And he can’t stop. Not until we’re out of here.” Lisa started plastering something against the wound, probably to stop the bleeding. Sevastyan wasn’t going to ask.

“What do you need?”

Lisa paused, his hands against Sevastyan’s ribs. He stayed still so long that Sevastyan pushed himself up on an elbow to see him.

Lisa was staring at the wound, but his mind was obviously elsewhere. “I’m trying to decide if I’m as brave as Rei.”

Sevastyan stilled, giving Lisa space.

Eventually, Lisa took a shuddering breath. “Three wasn’t enough for me. If you’re really going to take them down, I’ll . . .” Lisa swallowed, his Adam’s apple moving nervously. “I’ll be your slave. I’ll help you, from the inside.”

Sevastyan swallowed back emotion. “I was going to offer you an out. Once Alexi gives me the info to reset the chip . . .”

“There’s no out for me.” Lisa lifted his chin, eyes glittering. “Not for you, not for Rei, not me. Not until they’re dead. I’d rather go down fighting than looking over my shoulder. Now that I know there’s a fight to be had.” He pressed a bandage across the wound and tapped down the edges with a firm touch. “I’ll give you what I never gave Alexi: my willing submission.”

Sevastyan pushed himself to a seated position. Lisa didn’t move from where he remained kneeling on the floor. “Lisa.”

Lisa gritted his teeth. “I get it now, why Rei is like he is with you. It didn’t make sense. He’s your willing slave. That’s why he can go so far with you. Why he trusts you. I don’t know if I’m as good as he is. But I’ll try. If it will take them down, I’ll give you whatever you need.”

Sevastyan reached out, his fingertips touching the edge of Lisa’s hand. Lisa pulled his gloves off and grabbed Sevastyan by the wrist. He lifted Sevastyan’s hand and settled his palm against his throat, looking up at Sevastyan.

Sevastyan wrapped his fingers around Lisa’s neck, feeling the pulse points on either side. They had both killed today. He’d always known it was in Lisa, but now it had been done. And here he was offering Sevastyan real submission. Not broken surrender like before, but the use of an awake and aware tool. Sevastyan swallowed, waves of cold passing through his body that had nothing to do with the lack of blood in his veins.

He raised his eyes. For some reason, they were still alone. He looked back to Lisa. “I don’t expect to survive. Rei doesn’t know this.”

Lisa’s eyes stayed steady.

Sevastyan waited.

But Lisa never faltered. He reached up, covering Sevastyan’s hand on his throat. “When I laid down with the dogs and the wolves, I didn’t expect to wake. But if I lay down with you, maybe Rei will wake up in the end, whether or not I do.”

Sevastyan swallowed past the lump in his own throat, tears running down his cheeks. “That’s why I needed Ellisandre.”

Lisa squeezed Sevastyan’s hand. They both dropped their grips.

There were footsteps. Ellisandre entered the room with a plate and a mug of warm water. They pushed an ottoman over with their boot and set the plate of food and the mug on its surface. “Vast, eat.” They gestured at Lisa. “You, clothes, on.”

Lisa gave Ellisandre a short nod and pulled himself to one foot, hopping towards the bedroom. Ellisandre sat on the upturned end of the broken coffee table. Sevastyan started in on the water first, holding it with both hands.

Ellisandre leaned forward, elbows on their knees, hands clasped together. “I’ve ordered antibiotics and pain meds along with the blood. I’ll have to go out to pick them up soon. Or you can trust me to have someone deliver them.”

Sevastyan tensed. “Who?”

“Ash, Richard Reevesworth’s pet hacker. I won’t have him come past the door. I’ll hang a sheet over the end of the entrance. He’s already been on one mission with me. Him and Alice.”

Sevastyan’s eyes widened at the mention of his half-sister. “She’s a kid.”

“She’s the same age you were when we met and already tangled with the Merchari. She’s good. Unlike your father, she’s worthy of sharing your blood.”

Sevastyan winced. “Have her deliver it.”

“No. She’s guarding Dana right now. But you will meet her. Your course with her will have to be chosen soon.”

Sevastyan shook his head. “She and Collin are better off thinking Anton is dead. I should never have said what I said to Jun. I hope he forgot.”