Chapter 162: Family Portraits

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Family Portraits

"One more picture with in-laws and I’m going to lose my ever-loving shit," Sebastian said while smiling pleasantly at some third-grade aunt of Nero.

The woman, thankfully, heard none of it.

Nero did.

His hand remained settled at Sebastian’s waist, fingers spread over the embroidered white fabric while the photographer adjusted the angle for what had somehow become the sixth variation of the same family grouping.

"You’re doing very well."

Sebastian’s smile did not move, though the muscle near his jaw tightened.

"I am considering murder."

Nero’s thumb rubbed once against his side.

"You still look beautiful."

"That will help tremendously at trial."

Nero ducked his head, hiding the beginning of a smile just before the camera flashed.

Sebastian held the pose another three seconds, released the aunt’s hand when she finally stepped away, and immediately rolled one shoulder beneath the weight of the robe.

He remembered, somewhere around photograph thirty, exactly why he had never cared about having a wedding.

The ceremony had been manageable.

Short, precise, legally useful.

Dax deserved considerable credit for having butchered the older Sahan wedding protocol.

Nero had inherited many things from his father.

Impatience with matrimonial delays was clearly among them.

The reception had none of that efficiency.

It sprawled through the enormous glass-roofed hall adjoining the palace gardens, where afternoon light washed across pale stone floors, silver detailing and suspended arrangements of white flowers mixed with winter greenery. Heated terraces kept the November cold beyond the open garden doors while guests moved between long tables, musicians and servers carrying trays of champagne and food.

Photographers moved with them.

Sebastian shifted his weight subtly from one foot to the other and flexed his fingers at his side.

Every time he thought he had escaped, another relative appeared.

Or diplomat.

Or old family friend.

Or person who had apparently known Nero when he was three and therefore believed themselves entitled to photographic evidence of the marriage.

Sebastian had begun categorizing them.

Actual family.

Political family.

People who claimed family status because they had attended enough holidays.

People Sebastian had never seen before in his life who nevertheless touched Nero’s arm and announced that they remembered him as a baby.

That final category was becoming dangerous.

The photographer lowered the camera.

"Wonderful. Could we have His Highness and Prince Nero with the bride’s family next?"

Sebastian closed his eyes briefly and drew one slow breath through his nose.

Nero leaned closer, his shoulder brushing Sebastian’s.

"You’re the bride. He was talking about your family."

Sebastian turned his head toward him with exquisite slowness.

"Say that again, and I will become a widower before dinner."

Nero’s eyes brightened.

Sebastian loved him.

A lot.

That remained the only reason Nero was still alive.

The next group gathered around them in stages.

Lucas arrived first with Trevor beside him. Dean and Arion followed with Theo between them, the child carrying his wooden dragon beneath one arm and a half-eaten pastry in the other.

Sebastian’s attention dropped to the pastry immediately.

Theo noticed and tucked it slightly closer to his chest.

"Grandpa gave it to me."

Sebastian raised one eyebrow.

"Which one?"

Theo’s face became thoughtful.

"Otto."

"Of course."

Dean stopped a few steps away, hands in his pockets, looking far too entertained by Sebastian’s current state.

"You look happy."

Sebastian’s pleasant expression returned.

He crooked two fingers toward him.

"Come closer."

Dean laughed and shifted half a step backward instead.

Arion caught the back of his jacket and pushed him forward when the photographer called for them.

Theo rescued Sebastian from committing fratricide by reaching up.

Sebastian took him automatically, bending enough to lift him without disturbing the robe. Theo settled against his side and hooked one arm loosely around Sebastian’s shoulder, the dragon wedged between them.

Nero moved in closer.

"You have parents."

Theo glanced toward Dean and Arion.

"They are there."

Arion covered his mouth with one hand.

Dean looked openly delighted.

Nero turned to Sebastian as though expecting support.

Sebastian adjusted Theo’s twisted clasp with two careful fingers.

"You wanted more family photographs."

"I wanted you beside me."

"I am beside you."

"With Theo between us."

Theo shifted his dragon and looked between them.

"I can move."

Sebastian’s arm tightened around him.

"You’re fine."

Nero exhaled through his nose and placed one hand on Sebastian’s back instead.

The camera flashed.

For once, Sebastian’s smile was real.

It lasted through exactly two photographs.

After that, Theo was reclaimed by Dean, Lucas repositioned himself beside Trevor, Dax and Chris joined from the Sahan side, Nayra was called over, and Jax was eventually located near the dessert tables with a small plate he attempted to hide behind his back.

Somebody added Otto and Minerva.

Sebastian watched the group expand and slowly dragged his tongue across the inside of his cheek.

The photographer stepped back.

Then farther back.

Nero’s fingers returned to Sebastian’s waist.

Sebastian allowed it.

That had become another irritating truth of the day.

Nero had barely stopped touching him since the legal declaration. A palm against his lower back while speaking to ministers. Fingers closing around his wrist between photographs. Their shoulders brushing whenever someone moved them closer together. A thumb passing over Sebastian’s knuckles beneath the level of the tables while some dignitary talked.

Normally, Sebastian would have told him to stop hovering.

Today, every small point of contact kept some of the irritation from reaching critical levels.

Nero’s hand settled more firmly when Sebastian shifted beneath the weight of the robe.

Sebastian glanced sideways at him.

Nero was listening seriously to Theo explain why his wooden dragon deserved official portrait recognition.

Sebastian’s expression softened before he could stop it.

There was the problem.

He loved this man.

Enough to wear his colors.

Enough to stand under lights while strangers photographed him from twelve angles.

Possibly enough to survive the reception without throwing anyone into the ornamental pond.

A flash went off directly in front of him.

Sebastian blinked hard.

His shoulders dropped a fraction.

His patience died.

The photographer examined the image and smiled.

"That one is excellent. Perhaps one more with the immediate family only?"

Sebastian’s fingers curled slowly against Nero’s sleeve.

Dean noticed.

Arion noticed Dean noticing and turned his face away.

Theo leaned toward Chris and whispered with all the subtlety of a four-year-old, "Uncle Sebastian is angry."

Several people laughed.

Sebastian kept smiling.

"I’m surrounded by exceptionally observant people."

Nero leaned toward his ear, close enough that his breath moved a few strands of Sebastian’s hair.

"I can get you out."

Sebastian’s eyes shifted to him immediately.

Nero nodded toward the side doors without moving his head.

"Hale has the west terrace cleared. Ten minutes. No photographers."

Sebastian stared at him.

"You prepared an escape route?"

Nero’s hand slid from his waist to the small of his back.

"I know you."

Some of the tension left Sebastian’s shoulders.

He caught Nero’s hand and threaded their fingers together.

"Now."

Nero gave Hale a small glance across the room.

Hale moved almost imperceptibly toward the doors.

The photographer lifted the camera again.

"Your Highnesses, just one more—"

Sebastian was already walking.

The white robe swept behind him as he crossed the hall, Nero matching his pace beside him while the silver-heavy mantle moved in a darker line at his shoulder.

Behind them, Dean started laughing.

Sebastian did not turn around.

The moment they passed through the side doors and the noise of the reception dulled behind thick stone walls, his ceremonial smile vanished.

He stopped beneath the covered terrace, tipped his head back, and let out a long breath.

Cold November light filtered through the transparent screens around the garden, and the quieter air felt almost unreal after the reception hall.

Nero remained close, still holding his hand.

Sebastian looked at him.

"I love you."

Nero’s expression changed immediately, amusement softening into something warmer.

Sebastian tightened his fingers around his.

"If anyone points a camera at me for the next ten minutes, I am throwing them into a fountain."

Nero stepped closer until their shoulders touched.

"I love you too."