Janka threw it down beside him and approached Hayde, a damp spot of blood widening across his shoulder wound.
“Oh, Hayde,” he said in that familiar voice, one that instantly set Hayde at ease. He remembered that voice on so many nights when they’d held each other and Janka had gazed into his eyes. He remembered wishing he and Janka could be more—that Janka would ask him to be his only. “I see why you think that he’s noble, but he’s tricked you. Don’t you see that? He’s a spy for the Leader. That’s why we did what we did. He’s doing the same thing you did to him. It’s all an elaborate charade so he can convince you to side with that monster that would have the realms taken from the Almighty’s control.”
Hayde gazed at Kinzer, who shook to his feet.
Kinzer didn’t defend himself, just looked back at Hayde, as if the sincerity in his eyes would be enough to assure him of his intentions.
And it was.
As much as he’d adored Janka, as much as he’d always wanted to be with him, he had a new love now… someone who cared deeply for him… perhaps even as much as he cared for Kinzer. He hadn’t thought it was possible to ever love an immortal as much as he’d loved Janka. But Kinzer had destroyed his notion of love and replaced it with something so much more profound than anything he’d understood previously.
Hayde shook his head. “I can’t believe that.”
Janka approached him, and Hayde felt all his weaknesses, his vulnerabilities return. He remembered the day when Janka had rescued him. He remembered all those loving nights, those soft caresses from his lover.
He knew he could convince this immortal of who Kinzer really was… convince him to let him live.
Janka wrapped his arm around him and held him close, keeping his sword pointed toward Kinzer to discourage him from taking the opportunity to attack.
He turned slightly to Hayde. It seemed he was trying to look Hayde in the eyes while keeping Kinzer in his periphery. He flicked his thumb across Hayde’s ear. Despite the bit of blood that he felt rush down his lobe, surely from when he was removing the dagger from his shoulder, Hayde remembered that touch, and it stirred a sweet sensation within him.
“Hayde, I care about you. You know that. I’m the one who’s been there for you. I’m the one who’s always been there.”
It was true, but that didn’t change Kinzer… or what he knew of him.
“Janka, please listen to me…”
Janka’s nostrils flared. He grabbed the back of Hayde’s neck and slammed his forehead into the doorframe.
CRACK.
Hayde’s forehead felt like a bomb had detonated from it.
His thoughts scrambled as he tried to process what had just happened.
Surely, Janka hadn’t just attacked him. Not the higherling who had been so kind to him, who’d helped him so many times, who’d made love to him so many times.
A part of him died that moment. This creature, who at one time he’d trusted more than any other, had betrayed him.
“Leave him alone!” Kinzer shouted, racing after them.
Janka wrapped his arm around Hayde’s throat and manipulated the other so the tip of the sword pressed into Hayde’s neck.
Kinzer stopped just a few feet from them, his eyes filled with horror.
Hayde was relieved to see Kinzer’s concern for him—concern which Janka clearly lacked.
“Do you doubt I would?” Janka asked, his words directed at Kinzer as he pushed the blade through Hayde’s flesh, drawing blood.
Hayde groaned.
How could he be doing this? How could the Janka I know be so awful?
Kinzer had been right about him. That was the only explanation.
He chided himself for having been so blind… so stupid.
Kinzer’s face twitched, as if he was having to suppress the impulse to attack. “No,” he said. “I don’t doubt you’d do anything heinous or cruel or wicked anymore.”
