Valerian turned his back on the hall as though the conversation itself had already been concluded in his mind. "I've said what I want to say, Soren," Valerian said at last, his voice cutting through the space between them with a quiet finality that allowed no argument.
Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and resumed walking across the banquet hall as though the conversation had already been buried. "She is mine and only mine."
Soren watched him go for half a second before letting out a soft, almost amused breath, slipping his hands into his pockets with an ease that bordered on reckless comfort.
"Well," Soren began lightly, trailing after him with unhurried steps, "I am genuinely relieved to hear that, brother. Truly. No hard feelings whatsoever."
He tilted his head slightly, as though considering something far more entertaining than the present conversation.
