"I have been trying to find them myself," he said in a low and grudging . It was the voice of a man admitting something that cost him pride. "The one who can beat you at your own game. But I couldn't. Every group that had a hand in it was already dead."
Cassian's eyes narrowed further. The sword stayed at his throat. "And why would you care who was behind it?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Rafael met his gaze without flinching. "To shake their hand."
The honesty was so brazen it was almost admirable.
"Give me the empire," Rafael went on, "and I'll stay out of your life."
Cassian looked down at him. He was kneeling, bleeding, and bargaining. A demon on his knees, offering terms to the Devil, as though the Devil had ever once accepted terms from anyone.
"Cixi and the empire," Cassian said, "are both mine."
And without warning, he lifted the sword and brought it down.
