Chapter 115: Other Reasons

Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Other Reasons

Dinner passed with suspicious normality.

Sebastian had expected at least one political argument, several questions about tomorrow’s meeting with Sirius and Zion, and possibly another interrogation from Nero regarding the unnamed forces that had apparently contributed to keeping Sebastian away from him for seven years.

Instead, everyone mostly ate.

Theo was responsible for part of that.

The three-year-old had been exhausted before the first course arrived and should, by every reasonable standard, have been upstairs asleep. He had refused with the absolute conviction available only to very small children and sovereigns, insisting that he was having dinner with Godfather before leaving Altera tomorrow.

Arion had eventually surrendered.

Now Theo sat between him and Dean in a small chair adjusted with cushions, black hair mussed from rubbing his head against Arion’s shoulder earlier and golden eyes increasingly incapable of staying open for more than thirty seconds at a time.

"You can sleep," Dean murmured.

"No."

"You are sleeping."

Theo straightened with tremendous effort. "Eating."

The spoon in his hand remained suspended above his plate.

Nero watched him from across the table with obvious amusement.

"Little beast."

Theo blinked at him slowly.

"Godfather."

"Yes?"

Nothing followed.

His eyes closed.

Nero smiled into his wine.

Sebastian, seated beside him, felt something unexpectedly warm settle beneath his ribs at the sight.

The rest of the table had arranged itself without ceremony. Dax and Chris occupied one side with Nayra and Jax nearby, while Lucas and Trevor sat opposite them. Jax had apparently decided discretion was unnecessary regarding his newly acquired fortune.

The chronograph occupied most of his wrist.

Nero noticed approximately five minutes into dinner.

His gaze dropped to the watch and returned to his brother’s face.

Jax continued eating as though nothing unusual had happened.

"You’re wearing it already."

"Obviously."

"It doesn’t fit."

"It fits."

"It is sliding over your hand."

Jax pulled his cuff farther down. "Temporary issue."

Nayra leaned sideways to inspect it.

"You chose that?"

"Yes."

"Good choice."

Nero looked betrayed. "Do not encourage him."

"You told him to choose anything."

Sebastian smiled into his glass.

That particular argument apparently had no expiration date.

Jax turned toward Dax.

"I still think this demonstrates financial maturity."

Dax barely glanced at him. "You selected the most expensive object available to you without paying for it."

"Efficient allocation."

Chris laughed.

Nero pointed his fork toward Jax. "School tomorrow."

Jax’s expression immediately worsened.

Sebastian almost felt sorry for him.

"It’s Tuesday," Jax muttered.

"Yes," Chris said. "A traditional school day."

Nayra lifted her glass. "Petition Parliament for more holidays."

Dax looked at her. "Do not give him ideas."

Across the table, Lucas had been discussing tomorrow’s Fitzgeralt meeting with Trevor in low tones until Dax caught enough of the conversation to interfere.

"We are not agreeing to residency restrictions."

Lucas looked toward him.

"I didn’t say we were."

"You were discussing them."

"I was discussing why they are absurd."

"Good."

Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly. "I’m glad I have your authorization."

Dax’s mouth moved.

Sebastian glanced toward Chris.

Chris continued eating with the calm of someone who had survived this particular personality collision for decades.

Dax leaned back.

"I’m saying Saha will not accept a condition requiring Sebastian to reside permanently outside Saha once he marries Nero."

Lucas set down his fork.

"And Fitzgeralt will not accept a condition requiring its Grand Duke to live permanently in Saha either."

"Then we agree."

"We arrived there independently."

"Excellent."

Lucas stared at him.

Dax stared back.

Trevor sighed.

Chris reached for the bread.

Sebastian leaned toward Nero.

"This is civilized?"

Nero spoke without looking away from his father.

"For them? Extremely."

Lucas heard him.

"I can become less civilized."

Dax smiled. "So can I."

"Please don’t," Dean said from the other end of the table. "Theo has finally fallen asleep."

Everyone looked.

Theo had indeed surrendered, cheek pressed against Arion’s arm while Arion continued eating one-handed as though carrying a sleeping toddler through formal meals was entirely ordinary.

The argument died.

By dessert, Sebastian had almost relaxed.

Conversation moved to Dean and Arion’s flight back to Roslew the next morning, Nayra’s plans later in the week, Jax’s complaints about school, and whether Theo would remain asleep through being transported upstairs.

He did not.

The moment Arion stood, Theo woke enough to protest that he could walk.

He managed four steps.

Arion picked him up anyway.

Nero kissed the top of his godson’s head before they left.

Theo sleepily caught a handful of his white-blond hair.

"Come Roslew."

"I will."

"Tomorrow."

Nero glanced toward Sebastian.

"Not tomorrow."

Theo frowned with his entire face.

Dean rescued Nero by promising another visit soon, and eventually the family began separating for the night.

Lucas hugged Sebastian before leaving.

The gesture lasted only slightly longer than usual.

Nobody commented.

Trevor noticed.

He simply placed one hand briefly against Sebastian’s shoulder afterward and followed Lucas out.

Nero said nothing.

That should have warned him.

Instead, Sebastian allowed himself to believe he had escaped.

By the time they returned to their bedroom, Nero appeared to have forgotten the earlier conversation entirely.

He removed his watch, placed it neatly on the dresser, and disappeared briefly into the dressing room before returning with the first few buttons of his cream shirt undone. His hair had been released from the loose tie he had worn through dinner and now fell straight down his back.

Sebastian was halfway through removing his own cufflinks when Nero came behind him.

Two arms settled around his waist.

Nero rested his chin against Sebastian’s shoulder.

Sebastian continued with the cufflink.

"How worried should I be about tomorrow?"

"Moderately."

"That sounds manageable."

"It will involve Sirius, Zion, my fathers, you, me, and eventually several constitutional lawyers."

Nero nuzzled lightly against his temple.

"I’ve attended worse meetings."

"I’m sure you have."

Silence settled comfortably.

Sebastian removed the second cufflink and placed both on the dresser.

Nero’s hands remained loose over his stomach.

Then, very casually, he asked, "Who were the others?"

Sebastian’s fingers stopped.

He looked at Nero through the mirror.

Nero’s expression was perfectly pleasant, but that hardly meant anything.

"What others?"

"The people between us."

Sebastian turned slowly within his arms.

Nero smiled.

"I’ve been very patient."

"You lasted several hours."

"Exactly."

Sebastian stared at him.

Nero brushed his thumb along Sebastian’s waist.

"You said the political situation was one reason."

"I did."

"And when I objected, you said it was one reason among others."

Sebastian’s stomach tightened.

Nero tilted his head.

"The age difference, I know."

Sebastian said nothing.

"The family connection, the concern about what people would say, Fitzgeralt, my position."

His voice remained light, almost conversational, but his violet eyes sharpened.

"But you didn’t mean those."

Sebastian held his gaze.

Nero’s smile barely changed.

"So," he murmured, "who was standing between us, my moon?"