Valis couldn't shake the thought: what if the Finger Cutters Gang really came for Reggie's debts? But he had no intention of waiting for them; he decided to find them first.

The very next day, a plan began to form in his mind, a way to deal with them. Of course, he could simply hunt them down and kill them, but that would be too easy. They had to suffer, just like he and Reggie had suffered, and regret ever treating another human being that way. He needed to lure them out of hiding, and for that, Reggie would have to help him. But could Reggie really face his tormentors again? Valis decided to talk to him.

He gathered Reggie and Adam in his office and laid out his idea. Adam, unaware of who those people really were, frowned.
"Finger Cutters Gang? Who are they?" he asked.

Valis and Reggie exchanged a glance. Neither could bring themselves to tell Adam what connected them to those monsters.
"Just someone we need to eliminate for the greater good..." Valis said calmly. "Reggie, if it's too much for you, we can find another way. You don't have to be involved."

Reggie, however, had already decided. If there were anything he could do to prevent anyone else from being kidnapped by those butchers, he would do it. Valis smiled faintly, impressed by his resolve, and began outlining the plan.

The first step was to spread a rumor: a bounty for the capture of a red-haired boy named Reggie. The contract came with a clause; the target must not be harmed, not a single hair to fall from his head, and he had to be kept alive and conscious. Valis hoped such a job would tempt them. To make sure of it, he added another zero to the bounty, just in case. All that was left was to send Reggie out in public and wait for the fish to bite.

The guild hall was filled with strange tension. Perhaps everyone could sense their leader's unease. Reggie paced through the corridors, sweeping the floors in his new boots, looking completely distracted. Adam seemed buried in trade contracts, face unreadable as usual, though anyone observant would notice his frequent, stolen glances toward Reggie.

Valis was tense. He didn't know what to expect from the meeting. He tried to keep himself busy all day, but his mind kept returning to that damned man. Eventually, he decided to go early and wait at the tavern. He dressed exactly the same as before, left the business in Adam and Reggie's hands, and walked toward the Queen of Hearts Tavern.

This time, he arrived first. He went straight upstairs to the same room where they had met before, as instructed last week. It was empty. He took off his coat and sat in a chair by the table in the corner, drumming his fingers on the wood, trying to keep his mind occupied. After a moment, he reached for the wine bottle on the table and a small glass. He barely managed to twist the cork when the door opened and Raven walked in.

"There you are, little bird," he said with a smirk.

Valis hesitated; his hand was hovering over the bottle. He reached for the cork again, but Raven stopped him with a gesture.

"No, go ahead. Pour yourself a drink, and one for me, too," he said, pulling out the other chair and sitting down casually.

Valis poured two glasses of wine. Without ceremony, Raven asked bluntly,
"Why are you whoring yourself out?"

Valis flinched. He wasn't prepared for such a question. Slowly, he set the glass down. Instead of answering, he asked his own:
"Why did you betray me?" he demanded, meeting Raven's eyes.

Raven raised an eyebrow and smiled mockingly.
"Did I betray you? Why are you not answering my question? Or should I toss you a few more gold coins to buy your words?

Valis's voice was cold. "Coins are better for buying silence, not words."

"Fair enough," Raven said, his tone smoothing into something controlled. "Then let's make a trade: one answer for one answer. You get your truth, and I get mine. Deal?"

Valis gave a short nod.

"Good." His smile faded. "Then let's start again. Why did you start selling your body?"

Valis's thoughts were completely tangled. What should he say? That he wasn't doing it at all? Or should he stab back, tell him no single man could ever be enough? He forced his mind to focus on the goal. Finally, he whispered, with his voice slightly cracking,
"I was deceived. I trusted someone and they betrayed me."

Raven studied him, suspicion flickering in his eyes as though he were trying to decide whether to believe him, and wondering who might have tricked him. For a moment, a shadow of disappointment passed through his gaze. But the deal was the deal: one question each.

It was his turn now. Valis hesitated for a moment, unsure what he truly wanted to ask. Finally, he straightened in his chair and, looking him straight in the eye, coldly hissed:
"Why did you try to kill me?"

Silence fell between them. Raven stared at Valis, as if making sure that was really the question he wanted to ask. Finally, unable to hold it in, he burst out laughing.
"I never tried to kill you. Is that what you've been telling yourself for the past seven years? How ironic, now you're playing the victim?"

Valis's heart pounded violently. He was furious with himself for showing his hand; deep down, he wondered if he had made a mistake. Could Raven truly have never tried to kill him? 'No. Impossible. Don't let him manipulate you.'

Raven looked at him with a mocking glint in his eyes, still smiling.
"You look like you want to kill me... but what you really want is for me to whisper your name."

"Do it, and see what happens," Valis challenged him.

"Not yet. Let's deal with other business for now. But next time... let's play this game again. It was fun."

You think this is a game? Just wait until you realize the rules here, Valis thought to himself, but said nothing aloud.

Raven slid his chair back and slowly walked to Val, extending a hand toward him.

He understood. To the very end, Valis kept hoping they would skip this part of their "meeting", but in vain. He swallowed hard and let himself be led to the bed.

Valis's heart was already pounding as they sat down. Raven approached him slowly, like a predator circling its prey, watching him with wide eyes until their lips finally met. Valis shivered and closed them, as if defending himself against an unwanted intruder, but this made no impression on the dark-haired man. He placed a hand on the back of Valis's neck so he couldn't escape, and slid his lips over his mouth. After a moment, Valis felt the wet, hot tongue gently tracing his lips, and as soon as he slightly parted them, Raven sucked his lower lip into his mouth. The kiss was lazy, slow, as if Raven wanted to savor Valis's flesh for as long as possible. Eventually, he gently slipped his tongue inside. When the hot tongue licked the roof of his mouth, Valis shivered, feeling his entire body ignite.

When their mouths separated, Raven looked deep into Valis's eyes for a second, then his mouth moved down to his chin and neck, leaving a trail of kisses lower and lower, towards his chest. Valis trembled, completely unaware that he had been gripping Raven's shirt in his fists for a long time, as if trying to anchor himself in reality. The stimulation, however, was overwhelming.

Only Raven's abrupt words broke him out of this state:

"What is this?"

The dark-haired prince stared at one of the ugly scars on his chest, now visible with his shirt open.