Page 102 of One For my Enemy

“Pleasure’s all mine,” she said, and he grimaced.

“You’re supposed to be dead.”

“Death doesn’t seem to stick in my family,” she replied. “Have to assume it’s genetic.”

At that, Dimitri spun to face the Bridge. “What is this?”

“An alliance, if you want it,” Bryn said. “More of an elaborate scheme, really, but alliance is a better word. You want my help,” he explained to Dimitri, “and so does she. But, considering who I am—”The Bridge,Dimitri registered with an internal grumble, “I always prefer outsourcing.”

Dimitri took a moment to calculate.

“What did you offer her on my behalf?” he asked The Bridge, who chuckled.

“Nothing,” he said. “The offer is yours to make.”

Dimitri turned to Sasha, who rose to her feet.

“Why should I not simply tell my father right now that Baba Yaga’s broken her end of the deal?” he demanded. “We could come for you easily. Tell me why I shouldn’t.”

“Because we both want your father brought down,” she said plainly. “Because I want him to suffer, and so do you.”

Dimitri stiffened.

“Bold claim to make to Koschei’s heir,” he said.

“It is, isn’t it?” Sasha agreed. “But still, hehasan heir, doesn’t he? A kingdom of sorts to pass along. Rumor has it even a worthy one. So, it seems like it would do you some good, doesn’t it, to have your father gone?”

“What makes you think I’m in any rush?”

She gave him a lovely look of boredom she must have learned from Marya.

“The Bridge tells me you’re troubled by dissatisfaction. Conveniently, I find myself in a similar situation. Our inheritance is not dissimilar, you know,” she told him. “An empire. A rivalry. Loss. Guilt. Bloodied hands on both sides.”

Dimitri glanced at Bryn, who shrugged, and turned back to Sasha.

“What do you want, exactly?” he asked. “Aside from the impossible.”

“The Bridge already told you,” Sasha said. “I need an ally. Someone I can trust. It’s a business proposal.”

“I don’t like deals,” Dimitri said.

“Well, you clearly came here to make one,” Sasha pointed out. “Something changed your mind?”

Marya’s heart pulsed against his chest.

“It’s one thing to stand against my father on my own,” Dimitri said stiffly. “Another to help my enemy.”

“I’m your father’s enemy, not yours,” Sasha corrected. “I want your father to pay. I want your brother to suffer. You? I can take or leave.” She gave a shrug to prove it. “I don’t know what kind of man you are, Dimitri, but I know what kind of man your brother thought you were. And I know there’s a place, however narrow, where your interests and mine align. So,” she said, stepping towards him, “all things considered, I’m your friend.”

Those were not words of friendship, Dimitri thought.

But neither were they entirely wrong.

“Give me something,” Sasha said. “Something to send Koschei reeling, to knock his empire out from underneath him. In return, I promise not to touch you.”

Dimitri scoffed. “And if I don’t agree?”

“I’ll ruin you,” she said without hesitation. “It may take me a little more time, but this isn’t a negotiation. I’ll bring down Koschei; I’ll look him in the eye and make sure he knows what he’s cost me,” Sasha said, unblinking, “whether you help me or stand in my way. But I’d be more efficient with a better partner, and I’m not in the practice of wasting my time.”

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