Page 135 of Golden Eagle

“This is a man who impaled his own people. He enjoys violence.”

“Val said that the story was a lot more complicated than the history books make it out to be.”

“So is every story. But why should I believe that Vlad let Val go out of love?”

Sasha’s gaze flicked toward him again.

“What if this is some plot? What if he sent Val and the le Stranges up here after us?”

Sasha blinked, his face going blank. “Why would he do that?”

“Maybe he’s mad we got away. Maybe he wants you back so–”

“Nik.” Sasha exhaled hard through his nose, nostrils flaring. The first signs of irritation touched his features. “Vlad doesn’t want me.”

“He did before.”

“Yes, and, well, clearly his plans have changed. I’m just one wolf. You can’t convince me I would make any kind of difference to anyone’s war.”

The Soviets wanted you forourwar, he thought.

“Then why is Will Scarlet here?” Nikita snapped. “With his business cards and his steak dinners and trying to recruit you, huh? If you’re just ‘one wolf,’ then why is everyone in the whole world trying to get hold of you?”

“It’s just flattery–”

“It’s true! You’re special – you’ve always been special. And no one’s ever going to leave you the hell alone.”

Sasha stared at him a long moment. Then, softly, “And yet you won’t do the one thing that could change that.”

He was on his feet before he registered moving, a growl building in his throat. “Not this again. No. Just – stop.”

He heard Sasha breathing behind him, fast and open-mouthed. Then: “Do you love me?”

Nikita whirled. “Yes. You know I do.” But Sasha’s expression was tortured, so he went back to the couch, as if magnetized, and got down on his knees on the rug, hands latching too hard onto Sasha’s thighs. “Sashka, look at me, yes. More than anything.”

“I know.” Sasha voice wavered. He laid his hands over Nikita’s, and they trembled. He kept his head bowed, hair falling in platinum curtains on either side of his face. “But how could you think that doing this would hurt me? I know you love me. But I wish you trusted yourself enough. You don’t, and I…I don’t know how to show you that it would be okay.”

Nikita searched for an answer.

He didn’t find one.

---