"Ugh..." Lukas peeked his eyes open, grunting at the dull ache in his side.
His vision was blurry, but the voice that reached him was clear.
"Good morning."
Lukas blinked until his vision cleared, focusing on the person seated casually on the couch.
Gustav.
Lukas frowned as he looked around. "Where am I?"
"Mainland."
The lines on Lukas’ face deepened as he turned to Gustav. He pushed himself up until his back rested against the headboard. His side hurt, and when he lifted his shirt, a bandage was wrapped around it.
"Damn," he breathed.
Last night, the mont Lukas got ho, he knew sothing was off. Before he could act, he was attacked from all sides. He managed to fight them off, but there were too many — enough to put him at a disadvantage — and he’d taken a bullet for it.
Fortunately, people from Dominion had co and pulled him out. But that luck only stretched so far. Deep down, being saved by those particular n was not a good sign. They were from High Chamber — the part of Dominion not completely under Lucian’s control.
And if they’d rescued Lukas, a debt would need to be repaid.
He looked at Gustav. "Weren’t you attacked last night?"
"I was fortunate enough to be pulled out before they reached ," Gustav shrugged, flipping through the magazine on his lap. "You should rest so more."
"Rest?" Lukas snorted. "You want to rest when I was just attacked, and I’m waking up in this place?"
He clicked his tongue and flung his feet off the bed. "If we’re here, they’re already consolidating power while the master is still unconscious. We can’t afford to waste a single minute. The longer we stay, the worse our position gets."
Gustav watched quietly as Lukas checked the drawer. A fresh set of clothes had been left for him. Lukas changed, winced, then turned.
"Why are you just sitting there?" Lukas said. "Don’t tell you’ve already made a deal with them."
"No, but I was offered one," Gustav resud reading, unbothered. "It doesn’t matter."
"What do you an, it doesn’t matter?"
"There’s no point in resisting."
Lukas stared at him in disbelief. Gustav looked like he was on vacation. "What the hell are you talking about? Gustav, you’ve lost your mind."
"First, you push that woman as the master’s proxy," he scoffed, dragging himself toward the door. "And look where we are. Even with all of this expected — if the High Chamber had any respect for her position, they wouldn’t have dared make a move like this."
Lukas grabbed the doorknob and pulled. It didn’t budge. He rattled it harder, but nothing.
"I told you," said Gustav without looking up. "There’s no point."
Slowly, Gustav raised his eyes. "We’re locked in until they co for us."
"What?" Lukas yanked at the door again, and the effort tore through his injury. "Fuck!"
He slamd both palms against the door, breathing hard. When he spun toward Gustav, his eyes were burning.
"Don’t bla ," Gustav said before Lukas could open his mouth. "As you said yourself — this was all expected."
He paused. "She warned us about this too. In Doctor Wesley’s office. She told us that within the master’s faction, you and I would be the most at risk — because we’re the ones who pose the greatest threat."
"You..." Lukas’ hands curled into fists. "What are you implying? That this is my fault for not agreeing with you?"
He turned fully to face him. "Gustav — what makes you think siding with that woman benefits us in any way? Aside from an empty title, what can she actually do? She couldn’t prevent any of this. If that title ant anything, we wouldn’t be standing here right now. Where is she, anyway?"
Gustav blinked. "I have no idea."
"Exactly," Lukas shook his head. "She’s probably sowhere in this building crying about how useless she is."
"Careful."
"What?"
"I said — careful."
Gustav set the magazine down and stood. He crossed the room and stopped a few steps from Lukas, eyes steady and hard.
"Watch what you say about her, Lukas. Your opinion of her reflects directly on my master, and until he wakes up, I answer to her. I’d appreciate it if you held your tongue around . I don’t have my usual patience right now."
Lukas’ face twisted, sothing cold flickering behind his eyes.
Gustav siding with Ashley was one thing. But standing there as if he were defending Lucian himself — that was sothing else. Ashley had done nothing for Lucian, nothing for Dominion. Whatever their differences, Lukas and Gustav had always shared the sa goal at the end of the day.
But this?
Lukas held his gaze. "Gustav, you —"
"Don’t make repeat myself!"
The tension in the room snapped at a faint shout from beyond the door. They both turned toward it, frowning.
"Is that..." Lukas trailed off, then his eyes went wide. "Nikki?"
"Open this door." Nikki’s voice ca through sharp and certain. "Or you’re not going to like what happens next."
Silence settled over the room. Then, a click echoed, followed by the door swinging open from the outside.
A woman stepped in wearing a suit, hair falling freely past her shoulders, eyes sharp and clear.
Lukas exhaled. "Nikki."
Nikki smiled at him, then glanced at Gustav. She let out a quiet breath.
"I’m glad you’re both all right."
*
*
*
"What did you say?" Lukas frowned. "They want our votes on who becos the next head of Dominion?"
Anger surged through him as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. He ground his teeth, jaw tight.
Nikki studied his reaction, then glanced at Gustav. Unlike Lukas, Gustav was quiet — his face giving nothing away.
"They already know the master’s condition is incurable," Nikki continued, her voice low. "And from what I’ve gathered, they intend to hold both of you responsible for failing to catch it sooner."
She drew a slow breath and straightened, eting their eyes. "I managed to buy you so ti," she said. "I argued with them throughout the night. They said... they’re willing to let this slide if the two of you cast your votes."
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