Page 72 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘All right.’

‘Wait, really?’

‘If you take full responsibility for him and convince him that he’s ours until he dies, no matter what it takes, then yeah.’

‘Convince him how?’ Lachlan asks doubtfully.

Kade ignores him, kneeling before Seth, who is still crying like a child.

‘Seth,’ he utters, his voice shaking, but he has to be strong now, shore up his strength for Riley and for Seth, to give him this one last chance.

‘He’s dead if he’s not ours,’ Riley reminds Kade. ‘No limits to what he’ll do for us. That’s the only way.’

‘I got it, I know.’ Kade puts his hand atop Seth’s, focusing hard. He always tastes salt when he focuses. ‘Listen to me, man. You’ve gotta listen now, yeah?’

Seth’s crying abates enough for him to nod.

‘If we let you live, you have to swear to be ours, no matter what, forever. Faithful till the bitter end, nothing you wouldn’t do for Iron Star, for Riley.’

The bound man’s glassy sense of disconnection is short-lived, Kade’s words solidifying into visible determination.

‘Yes. I promise. I’m yours. I belong to Iron Star.’

‘And no more bullshit with Lachlan and this metaphobia crap.’

‘No more,’ Seth promises. ‘No more, Kade. I swear. I’m Iron Star’s, through and through.’ He looks up at Riley. ‘Yours.’

Riley isn’t looking at Seth. He’s staring at Kade, unreadable as ever.

But if Kade had to guess, he thinks he sees a little satisfaction.

‘Your responsibility,’ Riley reminds him, handing the knife back.

CHAPTER NINE

Riley has Kade looked over in Medical while he goes around to speak with the others who were hurt. The senior medic, Noah, gives Kade a quick once-over, nothing more, instantly dismissing him in a friendly way.

‘He’s always fine, this one,’ Noah tells a junior who seems poised to ask if Kade’s hearing should be checked. Noah pushes a hand through his thick black curls and looks up from his clipboard. ‘Oh, Kade, remember to come by next week so we can restock your reserve.’

‘Heard.’

Lachlan hovers in the background, up against a wall.

He’s been quiet ever since Riley told Seth he was confined to quarters for now. Kade isn’t sure how it’ll work moving forward.

‘Why is he asking for your blood?’ Lachlan asks when Kade joins him.

‘They take my blood once a month for storage, just in case.’

‘In case what?’

‘I have a rare blood type,’ he explains, looking at Lachlan. His dark hair is wild and loose. Even casually posed, he strikes Kade instantly as so very lethal. ‘Why?’

Lachlan shrugs, watching Riley go from person to person. ‘Your father used to take your blood too. I think he was using it for himself to make some kind of youth serum or whatever the godforsaken Helixx version is.’

‘Are you implying Riley is doing the same?’

‘I was just asking. You always hated giving blood.’