“I knew where you were,” Vlad countered, emotionless. “You were safe.”
“I wasneversafe.” His chest squeezed and his eyes burned and hedidn’t want to remember. When he dragged air down into his lungs, his body flared with phantom aches, old remembered wounds and indignities. He panted. “Don’t pretend to think I should be loyal to your cause. You were never loyal tome. Your own flesh and blood.”
“It was never about you.”
“No,” he agreed, bitterly, “not for anyone.”
Vlad turned his head, and gave a hand signal. Val hadn’t noticed there were human attendants lingering at the door, but they stepped into view now, carrying armfuls of things that Val didn’t want to look at, much less think about.
“What are you doing?” He hated how his voice wavered, but he couldn’t control it. His hands shook and he curled them into fists to quiet them.
Vlad sighed. “Hobbling you.”
They opened the cell with its key, and Vlad stepped inside, a stun baton in one hand. The techs came in, trailing equipment, and Val shut his eyes.
Mia, he thought, aching. He hadn’t gotten a chance to say goodbye.
