Chapter 44: Delayed

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Delayed

Sebastian was pissed that he had to change into another set of Nero’s clothes before leaving the aircraft.

He had seriously considered whether freezing to death on the runway might be preferable to stepping into Saha dressed entirely in clothing that belonged to the man currently trying to marry him, but Nero had ruined even that possibility by threatening to call Trevor and Lucas the moment they reached the villa and inform them that Sebastian had refused a coat out of spite.

It had been an exceptionally effective asshole move.

Hale had been equally unhelpful.

No external devices, no personal calls, and no access to the public network until they were inside the secured perimeter of the residence. He had delivered every refusal with the calm patience of a man who had spent more than thirty years managing Dax Altera and therefore considered Sebastian’s irritation a relatively minor occupational hazard.

Sebastian had finally stopped arguing.

Then he saw the villa.

Or what Saha apparently considered a villa.

The main residence occupied a low rise beyond the private landing strip, built from pale stone, black metal, and enormous panels of dark glass that reflected the surrounding forest and the late-afternoon sky. Two additional wings extended behind it around landscaped courtyards, while another detached structure sat farther down the slope beside what looked suspiciously like a private medical facility.

Sebastian stopped beside the waiting vehicle.

"That is not a villa."

Nero, standing beside him in a long black coat with his pale hair caught by the wind, followed his gaze toward the building.

"Yes, it is."

"It has more square footage than several government ministries."

"That seems unlikely."

"It has its own road system."

"That is for security."

Sebastian looked at him.

"Why are you objecting so much when you are also extremely wealthy?" Nero asked, sounding genuinely curious rather than defensive.

Sebastian narrowed his green eyes.

"I don’t like overpaying for things."

Nero hummed thoughtfully.

"But I didn’t overpay for it. It was planned and supervised by Chris."

Sebastian paused.

That complicated the insult.

Christopher had been a civil engineer long before becoming Royal Consort of Saha, and even after decades inside the royal family, he had never entirely abandoned the habit of personally involving himself in major infrastructure and construction projects.

Nero smiled when Sebastian failed to respond immediately.

"Nothing?"

"I’m adjusting my criticism."

"Take your time."

"I still hate it."

"There you are."

The transfer from the runway took less than five minutes, mostly because Nero refused to allow Sebastian to walk farther than necessary once the aircraft stairs were behind them. Sebastian had been permitted to enter the armored vehicle under his own power only after threatening bodily harm, but Nero sat close enough during the short drive that their shoulders remained in contact.

The villa’s main entrance had already been cleared.

Duncan Crone stood beneath the broad stone portico with several security officers positioned discreetly behind him, dressed in a dark suit without visible insignia and looking exactly as Sebastian remembered him from previous Sahan security operations: severe, observant, and entirely unimpressed by everyone.

Sebastian stepped out of the vehicle.

Duncan’s gaze went over him once.

"Marquis."

Sebastian looked at Nero.

"No."

Nero had not even spoken. His expression remained innocent.

Sebastian pointed at Duncan.

"You assigned him to me."

"Yes."

"That was not a question."

"I know."

Duncan, to his credit, did not appear remotely uncomfortable.

"I was informed this morning," Duncan said.

Sebastian looked back at him. "Against my will?"

"His Highness described it as an enhanced protective detail."

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.

Nero approached before he could answer, one hand settling against Sebastian’s lower back with a familiarity that would have irritated him considerably more if the contact had not also steadied the strange weakness still lingering through his body.

"Duncan is a dominant alpha," Nero said. "He has sworn his loyalty directly to me, and he is one of the few people I trust to remain near you if your control deteriorates."

Sebastian’s gaze shifted to him.

Nero did not smile this time.

"He isn’t here because I think you need someone following you through hallways," he continued. "He is here because if you begin going berserk while I’m not beside you, I need someone capable of surviving long enough to clear everyone else out and get me to you."

That took some of the argument out of Sebastian.

Not all of it.

"You assigned your security officer to contain me."

"To protect everyone around you until I can contain you."

Sebastian’s face flattened.

"That distinction is not especially comforting."

"It isn’t supposed to be." Nero’s thumb moved once against the small of his back, the touch almost absent-minded despite the seriousness of his expression. "You are a military commander. I’m sure you understand exactly why he is necessary."

Sebastian glanced toward Duncan, taking in the other dominant alpha’s stance, the distance he maintained, and the complete absence of anything that might provoke an unstable dominant unnecessarily.

Unfortunately, he did understand.

Far too well.

"I do," Sebastian said. "I just don’t like it."

"I didn’t expect you to."

"That makes one of us."

Nero’s mouth twitched.

Sebastian immediately pointed at him, but he never once retreated from Nero’s touch. "Do not look pleased because I agreed with you."

"I’m not pleased."

"You are."

"I’m relieved."

"That expression looks suspiciously similar."

"It often does on me."

Duncan remained silent beside them, apparently having concluded that surviving his new assignment would require learning when not to participate.

Sebastian looked back at him.

"If I start losing control, your first priority is evacuation."

"Yes, Marquis."

"Not restraining me."

"Unless evacuation becomes impossible."

Sebastian considered that, then nodded once.

That was the answer he would have given his own officers.

Nero’s hand remained against his back.

Sebastian glanced sideways at him. "And you?"

"If Duncan calls me, I come."

"Regardless of where you are?"

Nero looked at him as though the question itself were ridiculous.

"Sebastian, you already know the answer to that."

Unfortunately, he did.