Page 187 of Hellbound

“Then survive.” Mirko’s hands were already working at her shackles, applying a salve with his gloved hand that began bubbling and dissolving the rusty metal.

“We can’t leave him here with Karsan!” Ksenia fought through the incredulity.

“He’s not going to die.” Mirko’s voice was steady. “The bolt missed anything vital, as we planned.”

She roughly threw the crumbling metal shackles against the wall. “Karsan will kill him—”

Her back collided against the wall next, making her teeth click. Mirko gripped her upper arms with deadly strength, the veins beneath her skin breaking from the pressure.

“Listen closely, operative. Bohdan coordinated this escape with us and insisted we strike him.”

Ksenia’s eyes flashed to his.

He was living his lie, like she had forced him to.

Mirko released his grip and stepped away. “If you stay here, he will die. North’s got the exit clear. We have seconds before the guards regroup. He made his choice—now make yours.”

North…?

Varka reappeared by the pair, hauling up a concealed stone slab along the path, a tunnel yawned beneath, torch-lit and waiting. North. This whole time.

Ksenia looked back. He was still close enough to reach.

Her hand tremored.

“Now, we’re even.”

“He’d better be alive when I come back.” Steel twisted through Ksenia’s voice.