To be clear, I have no intention of abandoning this once their game has ended. I would have gladly remained outside of it, had I not been named, and you, and Louis shortly thereafter.

[ But now, his hand has been forced, and as suspicions rise, the likelihood of their being judged, and blamed, and trussed up without reasonable cause only grows. ]

And I would rather make allies of our kind, whatever our differences may be, than enemies.

[ He presses his lips together — tempered, somewhat, by Alexei’s assent — and then reaches to begin rolling up the sleeve of his dressing gown. ]

Let us seal our agreement properly, then. In blood.