Page 76 of One For my Enemy

“I want you to take me to the realm of the dead,” Dimitri replied.

“Okay, not the response I was expecting,” Bryn remarked, betraying only the tiniest degree of surprise, “but it’s certainly an interesting proposal.”

They each took sips of their drinks. Whisky, Dimitri realized, but not mortal whisky. It occurred to him for half a second that perhaps he was being poisoned or drugged; maybe not all fae worked with blades. But then Bryn sighed, shaking his head.

“I wouldn’t drug you,” Bryn said, correctly interpreting Dimitri’s hesitation. “What, and let my curiosities go unsatisfied? Never. I love myself too much.”

“Fine.” Dimitri set the glass down. “Yes or no?”

“What business do you have with that realm?” Bryn replied, which was neither a yes nor a no.

“My brother is dead,” Dimitri said.

“Not Roman.”

“No,” Dimitri said through gritted teeth, “not Roma,”although it should be.

“Family drama,” Bryn noted. “This seems like a you problem.”

“Theproblemis I have a dead brother when I don’t need to,” Dimitri growled in retort. “If Marya Antonova is alive, then surely Lev can be returned. I need to know how Marya did it.”

“What makes you so sure Marya did it?” Bryn asked.

Marya’s heart thudded once, twice, three times against Dimitri’s chest.

“Seems like,” Bryn estimated slowly, “I’m not the one whose answers you really want.”

“Maybe not. But you’re the one who can help me,” Dimitri said, “so name your price, Bridge.”

“Well, much as I do love this sort of bargain, even I can tell this one is wrong,” Bryn replied, crossing one leg over the other. “Don’t you know the fun of bargaining is in the struggle, Fedorov? You’ll have to offer me something. A blank check leaves too much room for creativity, and I’m really not the imaginative type.”

“What do you want, then?” Dimitri asked.

“What is most precious to you?” Bryn countered.

Marya. Lev. Roman, on a good day.

Dimitri’s name. His reputation.

His magic, whatever was left of it.

None of which he could give.

“Nothing,” Dimitri said eventually. “Nothing is precious to me.”

Bryn smiled slowly, letting it tease across his face.

“Ah, Dimitri Fedorov, we both know that’s not true,” he said. “Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to bargain with a liar.”

“Why not?” Dimitri asked. “You made a deal with my brother.”

“Ouch,” remarked Bryn, insincerely. “Sad Roman’s not here to appreciate it.”

Dimitri’s mouth tightened.

Then he rose to his feet, shaking his head.

“I don’t know why I came here,” he said, turning to leave, and Bryn laughed.

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