Page 195 of Golden Eagle

Alexei felt a moment’s inner trembling. He hadn’t expected to get this far, really, had thought Hannah and Carey might be sicced on him and he’d be forced to flee or fight. And he hadn’t expected the shock of Dante’s betrayal, this new revelation.

But if he gave in to panic, he’d crumble, and that wasn’t an option. Features still schooled in a haughty mask, he said, “Why are you working with the Institute? And don’t bother denying it.”

Gustav grew thoughtful, folding the handkerchief into neat little squares. “Well. It’s like you said before about Baskin: sometimes it’s necessary to have a friend of convenience. There have been rumblings for several years now, whispers through the immortal grapevine – which you’d know more about if you’d ever bothered to integrate yourself fully into the world of our kind. I suppose tsars don’t concede to friendships with – what did you say? – serfs, was it? No matter,” he said with a wave, before Alexei could protest. “Our kind in the city know about the Institute, and many know that the Institute has been searching for vampires to aid them in their studies. They had possession of the Romanian princes, yes, but you know how medicine works: the more test subjects, the larger the sample size, the more that can be learned. They’d gone about their business horribly, though: trapping immortals, caging them, chaining them, treating them like animals. The wolves they made” – he pulled a disgusted face – “you saw them for yourself. Ruined things without souls, hopelessly feral. I thought perhaps, with a strong hand from a vampire master, they might be brought to heel, but that wasn’t the case.

“I’m getting ahead of myself. I decided that, rather than wait to be scooped up and put in chains – and let’s face it, I’m not as strong as Prince Valerian of Wallachia. If they could hold him, they could hold me. I decided to go to them, civilly, and offer my cooperation in exchange for a small favor and a guarantee of freedom.

“Of course, they agreed. They couldn’t affordnotto. And so I’ve given them samples of my blood, performed some simple strength tests as demonstration, and executed a few…odd jobs, you might say.”

“Odd jobs,” Alexei deadpanned. “Like killing rejected test subjects?” Trina had relayed that information only an hour earlier, her findings about the victims that had turned up in bits and pieces lately.

Gustav smiled, and his eyes glittered. “Eliminating potential witnesses.”

“Your idea, or theirs?”

“Do you think those scientific cowards could safeguard themselves that way?”

Alexei swallowed. He’d killed before – every vampire had. Sometimes on accident, when he’d drank too much – too much to even allow a turning, after. And he’d killed in self-defense, flexed his strength when he needed it most. But the idea ofdevouringsomeone…of leaving only scraps of flesh and stray fingers…that revolted him.

“Naturally,” Gustav continued, “their slap-dash wolf mucked it all up. It was supposed to look accidental.” He grimaced. “Ferals really are useless.”

“They went after Trina Baskin.”

“Well, she was getting too involved, wasn’t she?”

Alexei breathed. In and out. Flexed his fingers. Rallied. “What was in it for you?”

“I already told you.” He cocked his head, as if curious. “Safety. Involvement on my own terms.”

“You could have avoided them. You could have left town. What wasin it for you?”

The breeze cut between them in a sharp gust, little flecks of pulverized gravel pelting Alexei’s face.

Gustav stared at him a long, passive moment. Then he said, “I wanted the chance to join the war. To serve in Vlad Dracula’s grand quest for revenge.”

“That’s a lie,” Dante said in a low, choked voice.

Gustav’s gaze flicked toward him, expression darkening. “You’d be smart to keep your mouth shut. I no longer have need of your services.”

“I’ve been inside his head,” Dante said, turning to Alexei. His gaze was palpable, and Alexei turned toward him unwillingly, hating the way that big-eyed, desperate look tugged at his gut. “He doesn’t care about the war – not about this one, at least.”

“Norrie,” Gustav said smoothly, “you have exactly three seconds to shut your mouth, or it will be shut for you.”

“Lex,” Dante said, stepping in close, reaching for Alexei again.

Alexei stepped just out of reach, and something in his expression broke. Cracked wide open. Alexei thought he might cry.

“Kaiser Wilhelm, who hated your father – Gustav worked for him. This isn’t about Vlad’s war. He wants revenge on your family.”

He remembered Papa. Remembered a letter open on his desk, and Papa massaging his temples and groaning quietly to himself, lifting his head and forcing a smile when Alexei appeared in the doorway.What’s wrong, Papa?

Oh, nothing, my brave boy. Only my cousin refusing to see reason again. He loves war, that man.

“How–” Alexei’s breath shivered out between trembling lips. “How do you know that?”

“I’m a dream-walker,” Dante said, voice heavy with regret and apology.

Gustav said, “Kill him.”

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