Second Assault — Bond And Treason — novel Chapter 23

ALEXEI

—What? — My lungs suddenly seem to have forgotten to do their job properly —. Xander... What are you talking about?

—I'm sorry, Magnus — he mumbles nervously —. With everything that's happened, I've forgotten — I notice his hands are shaking slightly and the eyes are wandering across the room, avoiding mine.

He's scared and now I'm anxious to know what he has to show me. I stroke his cheek gently, sliding my fingers across his skin, down the contoured chin, lifting his face up, getting him to look at me again. His pupils are dilated and constantly chews on his lower lip, leaving it red and shiny with saliva. I swallow a sigh and try to concentrate on the subject.

—Tell me, kitty. Talk to me, I'm here for you — I try to keep my voice low and serene, I don't want him to feel pressured to do anything he doesn't want to do.

—I have... I mean... — his hands are clinging tightly to my shirt —. If my equipment wasn't disconnected during my... Absence — his gaze goes down in sorrow, before reconnecting it to mine —. I may have evidence from inside Dimitri's mansion — I press my grip around him unconsciously, my body is stiff and immobile as I watch Xander trapped in my arms.

—What are you talking about? — my tone a little more hostile than I intended, but I couldn't help it. If what Xander says is true, we'd have a huge advantage over Dimitri.

—My piercing... My eyebrow piercing — he points with a small finger at the silver ring piercing in the left eyebrow —. It's a camera.

—What?! — I immediately regret my reaction when Xander is startled —. I'm sorry, kitty. Forgive me — I rush to soothe him, running a hand through his hair repeatedly and leaving soft kisses on his face —. But, Xander...

—I know. Believe me, I know — Looking away again at the revelation of my unspoken words.

The possibility that everything and I mean everything, has been recorded through that tiny camera on his eyebrow is incredibly high, and the possibility that he is willing to expose that traumatic and humiliating part of his recent past makes me incredibly proud.

There is no doubt about how brave and strong he is to be capable of facing it, especially so soon.

—I have to check my equipment first to be sure — he says after a moment of silence —. Didn't you unplug it while I was gone?

—No. Everything was left as it was, except for when we had to do it before we came here — he nods and slowly separates from me.

—Will you come with me? — A bit shy and insecure —. I don't want to do it alone.

—Of course, kitty. You don't even have to ask — I watch his Adam's apple move up and down before turning, dress up quickly and head for the exit. I rush to follow him and now we're heading for the office I set up for him.

Anxiety flows through my entire body, although I try to suppress it as much as I can since I don't want him to feel it through our bond. By the time we get there, the room is in absolute darkness, so I hurry to turn on the light as Xander initiates the computer. We both sit at the desk and stare at the startup logo until he finally enters the main menu screen.

—Videos are deleted at the end of each month due to a setting I established — his hand rests on the mouse and moves it, clicking on a series of encrypted and password-protected folders. I make sure to save all his movements in my memory, just in case they are needed in the future —.if you ever need access, the password is "MagnusCooky38".

—MagnusCooky38? — I ask with a laugh —. Really?

—Yes, you idiot — he stops to playfully punch my arm, but the smile on his face reveals to me that he is not truly angry —. Don't mock, it's clever, no one would think of it — he turns and puts his attention back to the screen.

—No, you're probably right — but I'm still laughing, relieved to have released some of the tension in the air.

—Here they are — announces after a few seconds, pointing to a large number of videos with serial numbers as titles. There are about fifteen, maybe more —. The recordings are automatically cut at midnight and resumed at one o'clock in the morning.