Chapter 355: Tonight

Chapter 355: Chapter 355: Tonight

The estate Mezos and Severin had secured for them sat outside Verera proper, far enough from the capital that the surrounding hills swallowed most of the city noise but close enough that tomorrow’s drive to the Republican Palace would take less than twenty minutes.

Liam approved of it immediately.

Not because the building was particularly beautiful, although the long stone villa had clearly once belonged to someone wealthy enough to consider three terraces and a private lake reasonable necessities, but because the security perimeter was visible only if someone knew what to look for.

Vehicles entered through a narrow road lined with old cypress trees, passed one discreet checkpoint beneath the estate wall, and disappeared into an underground garage without ever exposing the imperial delegation to the main house.

By the time Liam stepped from the car, Mezos already had personnel moving through every entrance.

Severin stood near the garage lift speaking quietly into an earpiece, while Kamal had somehow acquired another tablet and was reading something with the expression of a man personally disappointed by all available information.

Arik came around the vehicle behind Liam.

The fabric ears on Liam’s hood had survived the entire journey.

Unfortunately, so had Arik’s interest in them.

Liam caught his husband’s hand before it could reach the nearest one.

"Do not."

"I was helping."

"With what?"

"It was crooked."

"It is an ear made of fabric."

"It can still be crooked."

Liam released him and headed toward the lift.

Arik followed, smiling.

The residential floors had been prepared before their arrival, but Liam barely noticed them during the first inspection.

His attention remained on the northern mountains visible through the tall windows.

Felix was there.

Somewhere beyond the city, hidden beneath a region whose ether consumption exceeded its declared output by enough that Liam no longer believed in coincidence.

He stood in front of the glass with his arms folded while the others gathered in the main sitting room behind him.

"We should go now."

Silence answered him.

Liam turned.

Mezos had stopped halfway through removing his gloves.

Severin was looking at him over the rim of a water glass.

Kamal had lowered his tablet.

Arik was merely watching him.

Liam frowned.

"What?"

Mezos spoke first.

"You have a meeting with the president tomorrow morning."

"I am aware."

"You are wearing a sweatshirt with ears."

"That is irrelevant."

Severin’s mouth twitched.

Liam pointed toward the mountains.

"Felix is there. We know where he is. I do not understand why we are standing here discussing tomorrow’s lunch menu."

"We are not discussing lunch," Kamal said.

"Good. Then we can leave."

Arik crossed the room.

Liam knew exactly what he intended the moment those gold eyes softened.

"No."

Arik reached him anyway.

Liam took one step back.

Arik caught him around the waist and pulled him against his chest.

"This is manipulation."

"Yes."

"You could at least deny it."

"Why?"

Then Arik kissed him.

Liam had prepared several objections. Most of them disappeared.

Arik’s hand settled at the back of his neck while the other remained around his waist, holding him close enough that Liam had to tilt his head farther than before the Gate changed his husband’s height.

The kiss remained brief.

Arik pulled away before Liam could decide whether being distracted was worth remaining annoyed.

"Soon," he murmured.

Liam stared at him.

"How soon?"

"Tonight."

Liam’s expression sharpened.

"We are leaving tonight?"

"Yes."

Mezos walked toward the table and activated the estate layout above it.

"After midnight. The Edravan security detail assigned to the diplomatic residence will believe the imperial party remains inside until morning."

Severin joined him.

"The convoy that entered Verera stays here. We use two local vehicles from the eastern service route instead."

Liam looked between them.

"You already planned this."

Arik’s thumb moved once against his waist.

"Obviously."

"And nobody told me."

"You were threatening the infrastructure ministry from inside the car."

"I was criticizing their numbers."

"You called their accounting criminal."

"It is."

Kamal looked down at his tablet.

"No one disagreed."

Liam returned his attention to the projection.

The route north avoided the main highway entirely, following old maintenance roads toward the ether network where Felix’s tether had resolved.

"How long?"

"Two hours if the roads remain clear," Mezos said.

"And if they do not?"

"Longer."

"That was very useful."

"I try."

Liam studied the route for another moment, then exhaled.

"Fine."

Arik released him slowly.

Liam remained close anyway.

For weeks, perhaps months, Felix had existed as a constant unfinished problem beneath everything else. Every answer seemed to end with Felix standing somewhere behind it.

Liam looked toward the darkening hills beyond the windows.

"I want him dead already. I want to have a normal life."

The room went still.

Liam noticed only after the words were out.

Mezos looked at him.

Kamal did too.

Severin’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

Arik said nothing.

Liam stared back.

"What?"

Kamal was the one who answered.

"Nothing."

"That was clearly something."

Severin looked toward Mezos.

Mezos looked toward Arik.

Arik’s mouth was threatening to curve.

Liam narrowed his eyes.

"Oh, for gods’ sake."

Severin finally laughed.

Liam crossed his arms.

"I am serious."

"We know," Mezos said.

"That is the problem."

"What problem?"

Kamal’s expression remained perfectly composed.

"You are Empress Consort."

Liam stared at him.

"Yes."

"You just announced, while standing in a foreign republic awaiting diplomatic negotiations with its president, that you would like a man dead."

"He tried to hollow out my soul."

"No one is disputing your reasoning."

"He used Amara’s body for seventy-seven years."

"Also true."

"He wants Agaron’s Core."

"Yes."

"And we are pretending my statement is somehow socially inappropriate?"

Severin covered his mouth.

Liam looked at Arik.

"You agree with me."

"Completely."

"Then why are you looking at me like that?"

Arik came closer again.

"Because you said you wanted a normal life."

Liam’s irritation faded slightly as he indeed said it more than just today.

A life without ancient souls trying to consume him. Without missing empires. Without people using his body as a key to systems designed thousands of years before his birth.

He wanted mornings where the most irritating thing waiting for him was Arik stealing his coffee. Work he had chosen. A house that did not contain trial chambers.

Maybe eventually children, assuming Kamal stopped making the subject sound like a government procurement requirement.

Liam looked toward the mountains again.

"I do."

Arik’s hand settled on his shoulder.

"Then we finish this."

Liam covered Arik’s hand with his own.

"Tonight."

"Tonight."

Mezos cleared his throat.

"Before the emperor and empress consort become inspirational, there are practical matters."

Liam turned.

Severin grinned.

"See? That sounded very imperial."

Liam looked down at his sweatshirt.

The small ears on his hood leaned slightly to one side.

"Do I have to change?"

Kamal did not even hesitate.

"Yes."

Arik sighed.

"I disagree."

Three heads turned toward him.

Liam stared.

Arik reached up and straightened one fabric ear.

"It may frighten Felix."

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Severin started laughing.

Liam slapped Arik’s hand away.