Chapter 393: The First Sign

Chapter 393: Chapter 393: The First Sign

Arik returned to the private imperial wing shortly after sunrise.

He had not slept.

Eight people were dead, the last of the executions completed before dawn, and by the time Arik left the secured eastern compound, sealed reports were already moving toward every noble house important enough to understand why they had received one.

There was no public announcement.

Only evidence, names, sentences, and the clear conclusion that attempting to infiltrate the emperor’s private office had been an exceptionally poor political strategy.

Severin had remained behind to supervise the final documentation. Mezos had gone directly to the security command center to make certain nobody connected to the dead attempted anything foolish in response.

Arik had gone home.

He wanted Liam.

The private rooms were quiet when he entered, carrying the particular stillness of an imperial palace before the majority of its inhabitants had begun the day. A few ether lamps remained lit against the early autumn gloom, their warm glow spreading across polished black stone and dark wood while gray morning light gathered beyond the windows.

Liam was not in the bedroom.

Arik followed his scent through the sitting room and found one of the terrace doors open.

Cold air immediately touched his face.

He frowned.

Liam sat outside.

The terrace overlooked the eastern side of Deira, where autumn had transformed the gardens below into deep gold, rust, and dark red. Wind moved through the trees surrounding the lower fountains, sending loose leaves skittering across the paths, while the mountains beyond the city had already acquired pale traces of snow along their highest ridges.

Liam occupied a cushioned chair near the stone balustrade, curled slightly sideways with a book resting against one thigh.

He looked sleepy.

His brown hair was tousled as though he had made only the most theoretical attempt to arrange it after waking, and he wore soft black trousers with a cream sweater that seemed entirely inadequate for the temperature.

Arik stepped outside.

Liam looked up.

His crimson eyes softened immediately.

"You’re back."

Arik’s irritation with the entire previous night eased at the sound of his voice.

"Yes."

Liam studied him briefly.

"How did it go?"

"Finished."

That was enough.

They had already discussed what Arik intended to do before he left. Liam knew who had been involved and what sentence Arik had chosen. There was no need to bring eight dead conspirators into a quiet morning unless something had gone wrong.

Apparently satisfied, Liam returned his attention to the book.

Arik approached him.

The wind pushed another strand of brown hair across Liam’s cheek.

"You are cold."

"I’m fine."

Arik looked at his bare hands.

They were slightly pink around the knuckles.

"You need a blanket."

"All right."

Liam set down his book.

He stood.

Arik froze.

Liam walked through the terrace doors, crossed the sitting room, and picked up the folded blanket lying over the back of the sofa.

No argument.

No complaint that he was not cold.

Not even an annoyed look.

Liam simply took the blanket because Arik had told him he needed one.

Arik turned on his heel so quickly that the hem of his black coat snapped around his legs.

Liam had already returned halfway across the room.

He stopped.

"What?"

Arik stared at him.

The fatigue disappeared from his mind.

Completely.

"Come here."

Liam came. Immediately.

He crossed the remaining distance and stopped directly in front of Arik, blanket gathered loosely against his chest.

Arik’s pulse jumped.

"Oh."

Liam blinked.

"What?"

Arik lowered his head and inhaled.

Saint’s breath. Familiar sweetness. Warm skin.

And beneath it, so subtle he might have missed it if he had not been expecting the change for days, something richer had begun to develop.

The first hormonal shift of a heat.

Liam watched him suspiciously.

"Why are you smelling me?"

Arik lifted his head.

His golden eyes had already darkened.

"Eshara."

Liam frowned.

Then understanding arrived.

His expression went blank.

"No."

Arik smiled.

Liam looked down at the blanket in his hands, toward the sofa, and back at Arik.

"You told me to get it."

"I did."

"And I wanted it."

"You were outside for almost an hour without touching it."

Liam opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Arik’s smile widened.

"That does not prove anything."

"Come closer."

Liam stepped forward. He stopped with barely any space between them. His expression changed.

Arik said nothing.

Liam stared at his chest.

"Oh, fuck."

A laugh escaped Arik.

Liam immediately glared at him.

"You promised not to enjoy this too much."

"I promised no such thing."

"You implied restraint."

"I am being restrained."

Smoky caramel had already begun spreading around them despite Arik’s attempt to keep his pheromones controlled.

Liam’s eyelids lowered slightly.

That reaction wiped the amusement from Arik’s face.

He reached out slowly and touched Liam’s waist.

"Are you feeling anything?"

"Tired."

"That started when?"

"This morning. Maybe last night."

"Warm?"

"A little."

"Restless?"

Liam considered it.

"Not really."

Arik nodded, his hands still on Liam’s waist.

"We call your physician."

Liam sighed.

"One physician."

"One."

"No Severin."

"I need to tell Severin I am unavailable."

"You can tell him that without telling him why."

Arik raised an eyebrow.

"He will know."

"Then let him know quietly."

"Fine."

"No increased guards."

"Normal guards."

"Yes."

Arik leaned down until their foreheads touched.

"And you stay with me."

Liam’s answer came instantly.

"Yes."

Arik closed his eyes.

That single obedient word went through him more effectively than any pheromone could have.

He tightened his hold, then deliberately forced himself to loosen it again.

Liam noticed.

A faint smile touched his mouth.

"You really are trying."

"You have no idea."

"I might soon."

Arik looked at him.

Liam’s smile faded into something softer.

There was nervousness beneath it.

Arik saw that too.

His thumb moved slowly along Liam’s side.

"You can still take the emergency suppressant."

"I know."

"Any time. And if you tell me to stop anything, I stop."

Liam’s crimson eyes lifted to his.

"I know that too."

Arik kissed his forehead.

This time Liam leaned into him before the kiss had even ended.

Another sign.

Arik swallowed.

"You are already clingy."

Liam stiffened.

"I am not."

Arik loosened his arms experimentally.

Liam immediately caught the front of his coat.

They both looked down at Liam’s hand.

Silence.

Liam frowned.

Arik bit the inside of his cheek.

"Do not laugh."

"I am not."

"You want to."

"Desperately."

Liam tugged him closer with visible irritation.

"That is not funny."

"No."

Arik wrapped both arms around him again.

Liam settled against his chest almost instantly, blanket still trapped awkwardly between them.

Arik smiled into his hair.