Chapter 586 Next in line.

The Crown Prince Palace was quieter than the restaurant had been.

By the time their cars passed through the private gates, Theo had recovered from his brief sleep and apparently decided the night was still young enough for additional entertainment. He climbed out of the car with the wooden dragon tucked beneath one arm, accepted Sebastian’s hand without protest, and immediately began looking toward the illuminated gardens beyond the entrance.

Dean noticed.

"You are supposed to be tired."

"I slept."

"For twenty minutes."

Theo considered that sufficient.

Nero came around the other side of the car, his long white-blond hair loose now after removing the clasp he had worn to dinner. He handed something to one of the household staff before taking Theo’s small overnight bag himself.

Arion watched him.

"You should practice."

Nero glanced over.

"With luggage?"

"With succession."

Dean stopped beside Sebastian.

Nero’s expression became very still.

Arion smiled.

"Otto is sixty-seven. Dax is what, five years younger?"

"Approximately," Sebastian said.

Nero looked at him as though betrayal had occurred.

Sebastian’s mouth curved faintly.

Arion continued toward the entrance with the satisfied pace of a man who had discovered an excellent target.

"You may be next."

"My father is not retiring."

"That is exactly what I thought three weeks ago."

Nero followed him inside.

"Your father apparently developed a late-life obsession with leisure. Mine enjoys tormenting ministers."

"So did Otto."

"Dax enjoys it more."

Dean laughed under his breath.

They crossed into the main reception hall, where warm lighting reflected off pale stone and dark polished wood. The palace had none of the overwhelming ceremonial weight of the main Sahan residence. It was still unmistakably royal, but more personal: low seating areas, art Nero had apparently chosen himself, books left on tables, and several enormous windows opening toward private gardens.

Arion handed his coat to a waiting attendant.

"I’m only warning you. Retirement can happen without symptoms."

Nero narrowed his violet eyes.

"You are enjoying this far too much."

"Immensely."

Dean barely heard the rest.

Sebastian had slowed beside him.

Dean glanced sideways.

Sebastian immediately looked forward.

That was suspicious.

Dean had been waiting since Draxil to see what Sebastian was hiding.

Not the tiger. He and Arion had already seen that particular disaster in Draxil and laughed enough about Sebastian receiving his own dangerous animal to last several years.

The secret had appeared later in the family chat.

There had been hints from Lucas, an extremely suspicious message from Serathine, and one photograph Dean had nearly opened before Sebastian deleted it from the conversation.

Then Sebastian had privately informed everyone that nobody was to send Dean anything.

Because Dean was coming to Saha.

Dean had taken that personally.

He stepped closer.

Sebastian looked at him from the corner of his eye.

Dean lifted one eyebrow.

Sebastian’s expression hardened immediately.

That confirmed everything.

Several steps ahead, Nero stopped walking.

Dean and Sebastian froze.

Nero looked back.

"What?"

Dean smiled pleasantly.

"Nothing."

Nero’s gaze moved directly to Sebastian.

Sebastian’s face became perfectly neutral.

That only made Nero more suspicious.

Arion caught Dean’s eye and immediately understood that something else was happening. He glanced between the brothers, then toward Nero, and wisely returned to removing his gloves.

Nero remained where he was.

"You two are doing something."

Sebastian walked past him.

"You are becoming paranoid before your own wedding."

"I have excellent instincts."

"You have intrusive hearing."

Nero turned and followed.

Dean waited until Sebastian was several steps ahead, then caught his brother’s attention in the reflection of one of the tall windows.

He pointed subtly at Sebastian.

Then mimed fabric falling from his shoulders.

Sebastian nearly missed a step.

Dean’s smile widened.

Sebastian glared.

Dean mouthed, Robe?

Sebastian’s eyes sharpened.

Correct.

Dean had to bite the inside of his cheek.

So the rumors were true.

Sebastian Fitzgeralt—who had spent most of his life dressing like every piece of clothing required military approval—was planning to appear at some point during the wedding in a traditional omega robe.

And Nero had no idea.

Dean understood immediately why photographs had been forbidden.

Nero would ruin the surprise within seconds if he saw even part of it.

Sebastian made a sharp cutting motion with two fingers.

Stop.

Dean tilted his head and widened his eyes in exaggerated innocence.

Sebastian looked ready to strangle him.

Nero stopped again.

This time he turned directly toward them.

Dean looked at a sculpture.

Sebastian examined one of his cufflinks.

Arion covered his mouth with one hand.

Nero’s eyes narrowed.

"I can hear your heart rates changing."

Dean looked at him.

"That is deeply unsettling."

"It is useful."

"For hunting?"

"For Sebastian."

Sebastian closed his eyes briefly.

Dean looked delighted.

No wonder his brother had become paranoid.

Theo tugged on Sebastian’s hand before Nero could interrogate anyone further.

"Can we see the tiger?"

Everyone looked down.

Theo had apparently retained exactly one important detail from their previous visit.

Sebastian’s expression relaxed.

"At this hour?"

Theo nodded and lifted his dragon slightly.

"He hasn’t seen her here."

Dean stared at the wooden toy.

"The dragon already saw her in Draxil."

Theo looked offended by the suggestion that location did not matter.

"This is her house now."

Arion crouched beside him, smoothing the back of Theo’s small jacket.

"Five minutes."

Theo immediately brightened.

Nero was already turning toward the garden corridor.

"She’ll probably still be awake."

Sebastian gave him a look.

"You know her sleep schedule already?"

"She lives here."

"It has been days."

"That is enough time to learn basic information."

Dean followed them toward the southern wing.

The doors opened onto a broad covered terrace warmed against the November air, with stone steps leading toward the private gardens. Beyond the hedges, the reinforced enclosure was softly illuminated beneath discreet ground lights.

Theo moved faster until Arion caught the back of his jacket.

"Walking."

Theo corrected himself.

The tiger emerged from beneath the trees before they reached the enclosure.

White fur caught the lights first, followed by pale silver stripes and those unmistakable purple eyes.

Theo pressed closer to the barrier.

"Hello."

The tiger gave a low chuff and approached.

Dean smiled.

He had already seen her, but somehow she looked different here.

Settled.

Part of the place.

Nero crouched beside Theo, one hand resting lightly against his back while the child showed the tiger his wooden dragon through the fence.

Sebastian stood several steps behind them.

Dean moved beside him.

For a few seconds, neither brother spoke.

Dean angled his face toward Sebastian without looking directly at him.

His fingers mimed flowing fabric once more.

Sebastian’s hand closed around Dean’s wrist and forced it down.

Dean nearly laughed aloud.

Sebastian leaned closer, voice so low it was barely breath.

"You ruin this, and I will kill you."

Dean’s eyes widened with delight.

Across the garden, Nero’s head lifted.

Sebastian immediately released Dean.

Nero stared toward them.

Dean looked back with perfect composure.

Theo saved them again by announcing, "Tiger likes Dragon."

Nero returned his attention to him.

Dean slowly turned toward Sebastian.

His smile became unbearable.

Sebastian glared hard enough to communicate murder without sound.

Dean decided the wedding had already become much more interesting.