"Oh, good. I would hate for it to be simple."
"Liam."
"No. I am still horizontal and medically pathetic, so you have to let me be angry."
Arik looked pained. "You should not strain yourself."
"I am going to strain myself emotionally, then physically if needed."
"That is not how recovery works."
"It is how my recovery works."
Arik's eyes flickered with fondness, but he managed to hide it almost immediately. Liam saw it anyway.
He softened despite himself, which was deeply inconvenient.
Then he remembered Felix's voice under the portrait and hardened again.
"Who is he to you?" Liam asked.
The question entered the room and stayed there.
Arik's gaze dropped briefly to Liam's hand on his chest.
When he answered, his voice was lower.
"Me."
Liam went still.
Arik's hand tightened slightly at his back.
