The first day of Liam's heat passed almost entirely on the sofa.
Arik had expected restlessness, perhaps another temperature spike, or at minimum enough discomfort that the physician would insist on moving Liam back to the medical wing for observation.
Instead, once the morning examination confirmed that his glands were restructuring normally and the heat was progressing without complications, Liam decided the enormous cream sofa in their usual sitting room was apparently the only acceptable place in the entire imperial palace.
He occupied it beneath two blankets, wearing soft black trousers and the cream sweatshirt with the ridiculous bunny ears that he had once sworn he would never wear voluntarily.
Arik had made absolutely no comment when Liam chose it again.
His self-preservation remained functional.
He merely sat beside him and allowed Liam to curl against his chest while the wall display played one of Nuria's most celebrated films from the middle decades of the Gate.
