“I know, but I much prefer it to be done this way. It leaves no records of our meetings to anyone who should investigate. And I have a lot of eyes on me with the dealings I make.”
“One of these days I’m just not going to open the door to you.”
“That would be a mistake.”
The smile became evenmoresinister if possible. Cyrus boiled with anger. His father really wanted to show everyone who was boss here. He wanted it clear that Cyrus had no power, that he operated only at the whim of a powerful dragon.
“So…” Aleera stepped in this time. “What kind of deal do you want Cyrus to make this time?”
“My potential daughter-in-law has a brother who is keen to visit the fight pit. With one of their own fighters, whom they’ve been using in other circles. It is… very important that we impress such people when they enter my world. And how better than to introduce them with a fight against… my mysterious son? A fight, that they, of course, willwin.”
Cyrus hissed, hands clenching into fists. “No. This is not part of the deal. I will not bow to some rich family just because you want me to.”
“If you do not, then this arrangement is at an end. You have been undefeated so far. Seven fights, and a few of them appropriately challenging… yet not challenging enough. Because you’ve been holding back your strength, haven’t you?”
Cyrus said nothing, though it was the truth. He had faked troubles in at least four of his fights to make the audience think he was not all-powerful – that others had a decent chance to beat him. But he planned to be undefeated. To dip into the arena and leave it without ever suffering defeat. That record would vanish under his father’s determination tohumiliatehim. That accursed bastard.
“Why is it important to do this with your son?” Sasha spoke up now, and all eyes turned to her. “I understand that you want to show the power you have over him. He is excluded from meetings, and from important arrangements with the family you hope to join forces with. Though he fights, he makes sure he is anonymous because, for some reason, he still respects you, even though you keep spitting in his face.”
Torag’s eyes glittered as he examined Sasha, but he said nothing. She stepped closer, and Cyrus braced himself, ready for defense.
“It might be best if you avoid antagonizing him in this way. Because if you do, you might find that your power ends up blowing up in your face. Arrange this deal with some other agent you have under your thrall. Don’t humiliate your son just for the sake of it.” Then Sasha smiled. “Wouldn’t it be more interesting if your son won?”
“How so?” Torag said, in a deathly low voice. “What will I have to gain out of humiliating an important member of such a powerful family?”
“That you’re no suck-up. That he may have power, but you will not manipulate things to keep them in your good graces. That if they want to win in your arena, they mustearnthat victory. And, if there ever comes a point where Cyrus is never beaten, never shown any losses… then if he is revealed, imagine the uproar that’ll happen. Perhaps there would be no need to be ashamed of your son anymore. Or the daughter that ran the operation next to him.”
Cyrus held his breath. Wondering if his father found Sasha insolent and stupid. Cyrus didn’t. He found her words weaving a future he never imagined. One where his father would actually accept him as he was rather than dwell in perpetual disappointment of his children – the freak and the hybrid.
Torag puffed himself up, looking as if he wanted to scream at her. Then he said, “How… interesting. You presume that I actuallywantto be nice to my son.”
“Well, it doesn’t have to be out of the goodness of your heart. It would still speak of your control – that you allowed him to fight in secret, destroying all the competition – and to let the whole of the underworld see that the best fighter was at your hands. You could claim he was trained by you. That even if your new, rich little family wants in on the arena themselves – that they should expect no concessions from you. That this is your domain, your absolute power.”
Aleera looked toward Cyrus, and mouthed,she’s good. Dayam.
It seemed that stroking his father’s ego had the desired effect.
“You know what? This isn’t the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” Torag’s powerful stance softened, and his smile became more welcoming. “Of course, you are trying to make sure my son and daughter get the most out of this but presented in a way that shows it as only a benefit to me. And… I cannot deny that benefit. I see why you were chosen.” He stalked to the cupboard and took out one of the expensive whiskeys Cyrus stored. “Let us talk more. Just you and me. The others will not be here.”
“Absolutely not,” Cyrus snarled, but his sister placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Let’s go to my apartment,” she said. “Let them have their talk.”
“The blood witch can stay,” Torag said. “If you want to ensure protection for the human.”
Cyrus wanted to protest further. Leaving Sasha with his father seemed like a recipe for disaster. Sasha didnotdeserve to be exposed to such ire. Yet, his sister, with a smile, tugged him out of the apartment –hisapartment – and into her own.
Since she lived opposite Cyrus, it wasn’t exactly far. Her apartment sported a very different theme from his own modernistic, simple designs. She preferred vibrant colors and hues, and her bedroom had a dark blue, pink, and purple ceiling with glow-in-the-dark stars affixed to it. He sat on her dark blue velvet sofa, sweating bullets. “Are you sure the right decision is to let Dad attempt to eat her alive?”
“Right now? Yes. Imogen can protect her if things get really out of hand, but I don’t think Father’s trying to be a complete dick this time. I think he’s genuinely intrigued by her.”
“But he doesn’t like… humans…”
“Ahem.” Aleera pointed to herself. “I think I’m living proof that he doesn’t think humans amount to anything more than a light snack. Otherwise, I wouldn’t exist.”
“Yeah, but…” Cyrus’ voice trailed off. Come to think of it, he’d never really heard his father express an opinion about humans. He’d heardotherfamily members make their feelings known about humans, and his own mother wasn’t exactly fond of them either. His father, though, never offered up a particularly strong opinion. He mocked them, sure, but he mocked everyone.
That wasn’t the same thing. “You have a point,” he conceded after finding no other fault with Aleera’s reasoning. “But still… I don’t trust that he won’t try to manipulate her in some way.”