Arik looked at his watch while descending the marble stairs of the royal palace.
If he took the car now, he would have Liam by his side in half an hour, and then they would still have time for dinner before Arik's schedule continued with his duties for Agaron.
It was not ideal, but the important parts had been handled.
George was dead.
Ray was detained.
Felix had lost two pieces before lunch.
And Liam was waiting.
'My eshara,' Arik thought, and something warm moved through his chest, soft enough that it almost did not belong to the day.
He had chosen it for Liam and then promised him he would only say it when they were alone, because Liam was strange about tenderness in public, and Arik had no intention of doing anything that made Liam uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, they were never alone for long.
The thought irritated him more than it should have.
