It was rather boring living in a basement, but Radu didn't mind too much. He slept most of the day anyway, and his husband had provided him with mounds of books to read by lamp light. And Radu couldn't really be ungrateful. Thanks to Jezebel, he was alive - even if he didn't deserve to be. And he was safe, even if that safety was likely to be fleeting in the end.

He looked up as he heard the footsteps on the staircase, identifying it from the sound as Jezebel's, and put his book aside. He rose, smoothing his jacket and running a hand through his hair.

Lord he wanted a cigarette, but he didn't dare smoke when someone might smell it and wonder where it came from.

"I'm here, Iubitul," he murmured.