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“Wow, I forgot how hot that was.” Reno smirks once he’s managed to catch his breath enough to speak. “Thank you, Sir. That was great.”

God, the distress in his eyes… How can anyone see this and keep hurting him? I’m impressed by his will. I could never put on a show like that in his situation. I can tell from the way the Raiders laugh that they think it’s pathetic, but I disagree. I doubt most of them would fair half as well in his place. I know I wouldn’t.

Cirail puts the towel back on Reno’s face.

“Oh, again? Lucky me.” Reno moans, his voice muffled by the wet cloth, before more water is poured on him.

Chapter 6

Reno Thiers

Hunger gnaws at my stomach, but I’m used to it by now. At least this time, they’re letting us sleep. My chest is still sore from where that hell doctor removed my kidney a couple of days ago, but the good news is I don’t seem to be dying from it.

Actually, maybe it would be better if I was. Fuck, why do I keep changing my mind? It would be so much easier if I could just accept death or decide once and for all that I want to fight for life. My hand unconsciously reaches for Nasir’s kneecap around my neck, and I squeeze it tight enough that my knuckles go white. It doesn’t burn me anymore like it did in the beginning. On the contrary, it feels comforting in a twisted way, like an extension of Nasir’s arms around me when we sleep. Fuck, when did I become so weird?

Tyb barges into our cell with some of his men. They haul us to our feet and drag us out, not bothering to tell us anything.

“Hello to you too, gentlemen.” I grin. “I love how eager you are today.” Yeah… old habits die hard, I guess. My mind wants nothing more than to escape somewhere safe at the back of my brain, but fear of death is keeping me helplessly alert.

Nasir remains silent, obedient like always. He’s still hoping that they’ll let their guard down. I don’t know what I think anymore, but at least being obedient doesn’t get him hurt any more than he has to be. We’ve both been whipped and beaten since the kidney episode, and I doubt they're taking us out for a lovely little stroll.

They lead us to the mess hall once again. My heart is hammering in my chest. I don’t want to be hurt anymore. I don’t want them to hurt Nasir. I just want it all to stop.

Tyb shoves me to the ground against a stone wall and secures my wrists in rusty iron shackles. “Oh, kinky.” I lick my lips. I fucking hate myself, and I hate that Nasir keeps seeing me like this.

He’s shackled right next to me. His clothes are tattered and torn, but at least he’s still wearing some of them. Then again, they didn’t start raping me right away either. I don’t know how long he’ll stay safe from that. I wish I could do something to shield him. Anything.

The Raiders are setting tables, filling them to the brim with juicy meat, bread, potatoes, wine, and other mouth-watering plates. A delicious aroma fills the room, making my stomach growl. Is that the plan for today? Making us look at them gorge themselves while we starve? I hope so. It sucks, but at this point, as long as it’s not physical pain, I’ll take it.

Cirail walks in, followed by members of our council. My heart misses a beat, but I’m not truly surprised. Of course if they brought us back to the Raiders, it was because they hoped to continue the negotiations, and this time they’re sending the council directly as a sign of good faith. Dornao is with them, but not with his usual men. Could that mean he’s lost part of their trust? Yeah, one can dream.

One of the councilwomen, Anne, sends us a sad glance before sitting down. Well, I guess the look is mostly for Nasir. He’s her friend, after all. The others don’t even acknowledge us. Either they don’t care, or they don’t want to give the Raiders the pleasure of seeing them flinch. Because, let's be honest, this is not about us. Cirail just wants to flaunt his strength in front of the council and show them that he can do whatever the hell he wants and that he’s not scared of them. I’m not sure if we’re here as a threat, an insult, or both, but we’re not a welcome gift, that’s for sure. Except to Dornao, maybe.

“I want to thank you once again for agreeing to join us today.” Cirail bends slightly backward and opens his arms wide, smiling at the delegation. “We didn’t quite get to finish our discussion with your colleagues the other day, but I’m sure today will be more fruitful. Now, before any of you says anything, I understand that some of you might be hoping to get your doctor back. That’s not going to happen. He committed a grave act of treason, and if you even suggest taking him back with you, I’ll take that as a personal slight and end the negotiations on the spot. I trust that you understand.”

The way the Raiders move their hands to their weapons makes it clear exactly what their leader means by ‘ending the negotiations.’

“Of course.” Anne nods. “He needs to pay for what he did, and it’s only right that you’re the one to choose how since you’re the one who's been wronged. We’re here to discuss a potential alliance that would benefit both our people, not Nasir’s return.”

Nasir tenses beside me. I carefully nudge his good knee with mine. Talking would be a terrible idea right now, but I want him to know that I’m here, that he’s not alone.

He turns his head to me, and I hate the pain I see in his deep brown eyes. I’m used to people disregarding me, but he’s not. He’s supposed to have friends who care about him.

Nasir Ahmad

I know that Anne doesn’t have a choice. She doesn’t mean what she’s saying. Rationally, I know that. It doesn’t make her words sting any less, though. It’s not so different from when Reno was first taken, now that I think of it. She’s doing what she thinks is best for the Elign as a whole. She might not like it, but my life is an acceptable price to keep Elign safe, just like Reno’s.

I don’t listen to the negotiation. I don’t want to hear any of it. Instead, I focus on the warmth of Reno’s body near me, on the place where his knee is touching mine. He’s trying to comfort me. He went through so much, and yet, he’s still trying to comfort me. He’s amazing.

After a while, the negotiation seems to end. Laughter fills the room, and everyone starts drinking and smoking. Groups of Raiders approach us to beat me and have their way with Reno. I don’t understand why they never do the same to me, but I’m not about to ask. The torture is bad enough as it is. Dornao looks our way hungrily, but he doesn’t join them. Of course he doesn’t, not in front of the council.

Hours pass in a blur of pain and shame, until the room slowly empties. We’re left where we are, shackled to that cold wall. I guess I’m getting what I wanted, being left to sleep outside of the cell. I would laugh if I wasn’t so exhausted. How could I believe for one second that they would give us a chance to escape again?

“Hey, are you okay?” Reno whispers.

I still can’t believe how kind he can be when given the chance.

“I’ll live,” I whisper back. “You?”