Chapter 1
New Allocation
The servant whose eyes started tearing from Orel's flick rushed to the door. Orel didn't stop him, and the man happily slid out of the room. Nikto laughed; Orel looked at him questioningly, then laughed, too.
"You are laughing at the flick I gave him?" he asked shaking his dark head. "Aren't you?"
"Yeah." Nikto sat down on the edge of the bed, lacing his vest put on his nude body.
"Nik, it's cold outside," Orel poured some coffee and lit a cigarette.
"Are you afraid that I'll freeze?"
"Yes, I wouldn't want you to."
"My leather coat has thick fur."
"Thick fur," Orel repeated smirking and shook his head. "Do you want some coffee?"
"Yeah, give me some." Nikto got onto the bed with his legs and sniffed. Orel poured a cup of coffee for him.
"Be careful, it's hot." He took Nikto's wrist and put Nikto's forefinger between the cup and its handle. "Hold it? I'm letting go."
"Yes."
Orel took his hand away. Nikto drank coffee in a few gulps and put the cup on the tray by touch.
"Come on, eyes, come on," he drawled in exasperation.
"Do you want more?"
"You're kidding!"
"You don't understand anything."
"Fine with me."
Orel yawned, narrowing his eyes like a cat, then smiled slyly, quietly stretched his hand to the right and suddenly slammed his fist against the wooden back of the bed. Nikto flinched, turned around – his reaction was instant. He threw his hand forward and managed to grab Orel at the last moment. Orel hissed in pain. Nikto yanked him closer, twisting his wrist. Orel fell on his side, nearly overturning the tray. Nikto leaned towards him, blinking and touching his face with his free hand.
"Why did you do it?"
"Nik, let me go, I'm holding a cigarette!"
Nikto passed his hand over Orel's long dark hair.
"So soft," he said. "Soft and smooth."
"Ni-ik, let me go! I can't stand it…"
Nikto let his hand go and Orel pressed it to his chest.
"In the candlelight it shines and glitters when you shake your head turning up your nose. I've never seen such hair – fine, soft and thick at the same time. It's probably a sign of your breed." Nikto paused. "You were very beautiful until you mixed up with the Lower world."
