Chapter 365: Forever

Chapter 365: Chapter 365: Forever

Cecil left Edrava the following morning with considerably more enthusiasm than he had displayed upon arriving.

Not because he had forgiven Arik.

That, according to Cecil, would require several additional conversations and possibly financial compensation.

He was simply satisfied that his older brother had finally committed to visiting Agaron, and Frederik had apparently convinced him that remaining in Edrava to supervise Arik’s schedule was not a reasonable use of the Crown Prince’s time.

Liam disagreed.

He stood beside the waiting transport with his hands tucked into the pockets of his cream sweatshirt, watching Frederik supervise the loading of their luggage while Cecil continued giving Arik instructions.

"You are coming within the week."

"Yes."

"Not sending a representative."

"No."

"Not deciding Nuria has developed another emergency."

Arik raised an eyebrow.

"Would you prefer I ignore an actual emergency?"

"I would prefer your emergencies to become someone else’s responsibility for approximately seven days."

Liam nodded approvingly.

"That sounds reasonable."

Cecil turned toward him immediately.

"Exactly."

Arik looked down at his husband.

"Do not encourage him."

"I am supporting efficient delegation."

"You are supporting whatever annoys me."

"Those are not mutually exclusive."

Frederik approached before Cecil could congratulate Liam on the observation.

Their departure transport waited beneath the villa’s entrance canopy, its dark Agaronian hull reflecting the pale morning sky while the security team completed the final checks along the boarding ramp.

Frederik placed one hand against Cecil’s back.

"We should go."

Cecil glanced toward the aircraft, then back at Arik.

"Fine."

He stepped forward and hugged his brother, the movement considerably less aggressive than the previous afternoon.

Arik returned it immediately.

"See you soon," Cecil murmured.

"Within the week."

"You have learned."

"Apparently."

Cecil released him and turned toward Liam.

"I am glad we finally met properly."

"Likewise."

Liam stepped forward to embrace him.

Arik allowed it... For approximately three seconds.

Then his hand settled against Liam’s waist.

Cecil looked down.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"Oh, that is wonderful."

Arik sighed.

"Get on your aircraft."

"I haven’t said anything."

"You are about to."

Cecil pulled Liam into another brief embrace purely because he could.

Arik retrieved his husband.

Frederik laughed quietly and caught Cecil by the arm before the situation became a competitive exercise in royal possessiveness.

"Come."

Cecil allowed himself to be guided toward the transport, although he turned once more at the ramp.

"Liam, you should come with us."

Liam’s expression brightened.

"Actually, that sounds amazing."

Arik’s hand tightened.

"No."

Cecil laughed.

"We have room."

"I am aware." ℴ

"He could visit Agaron ahead of you."

"No."

Liam looked up at Arik with exaggerated innocence.

"I could help Cecil with the paperwork."

"You hate royal administration."

"I am willing to make sacrifices for family."

Arik stared at him.

Frederik finally pushed Cecil toward the aircraft.

"Before you convince Arik to revoke our landing clearance."

"He wouldn’t."

Arik smiled.

Cecil reconsidered.

"Perhaps later, Liam."

The transport doors closed behind them.

Liam watched the aircraft rise from the platform, its engines briefly disturbing the cypress trees before it turned eastward toward the relay corridor.

Arik remained beside him.

His hand had not left Liam’s waist.

Liam smiled.

That had been worth it.

—

By the following afternoon, most of their work in Edrava was complete.

President Sovan had agreed to establish a joint commission to examine the republic’s financial obligations and the conditions required for reintegration, while Nurian engineers had received permission to inspect the old ether infrastructure without waiting for another round of parliamentary negotiations.

Liam considered that second achievement considerably more important.

The first inspection teams had already identified several sections of the northern network that required immediate isolation, although the findings would need proper verification before anyone could determine how much of the damage came from neglect and how much Felix had deliberately caused.

Arik had spent the morning finalizing the security arrangements for Felix’s public identification in Nuria.

Liam had spent it arguing over infrastructure.

Both were ready to leave.

Their luggage waited near the villa’s entrance while Kamal coordinated the return convoy and Mezos reviewed the route to the Edravan relay station. Severin had already departed with the advance security team, leaving Arik and Liam alone in the private sitting room for what was supposed to be fifteen minutes.

Liam had other plans.

He stood near the windows, watching Arik finish a message on his tablet before casually asking, "Do you think Cecil has reached Agaron?"

Arik looked up.

"Several hours ago."

"Good."

"Why?"

"I was considering his offer."

Arik lowered the tablet.

Liam kept his expression innocent.

"The aircraft had plenty of room, and I could have arrived before you. Gabriel would have been delighted."

"No."

"I could have met the rest of your family."

"You will."

"And Cecil could have shown me around."

Arik stood.

Liam’s smile widened.

His husband crossed the sitting room with the patient expression of a man who had already identified the problem and was deciding how much effort solving it deserved.

"Liam."

"Yes?"

"You are doing this deliberately."

"Doing what?"

Arik stopped in front of him.

Liam looked up into those bright golden eyes and felt the familiar satisfaction of discovering that, despite everything his husband had become, he could still make the Emperor of Nuria visibly possessive with approximately three sentences.

It was a wonderful ability.

One Liam had every intention of using responsibly.

Eventually.

Arik placed one hand against the window frame beside his head.

"You wanted to leave with Cecil because you knew I would object."

"That is a very serious accusation."

"An accurate one."

Liam reached up and adjusted Arik’s collar.

"Perhaps I simply enjoy your brother’s company."

"You have known him in person for less than twenty-four hours."

"We had calls."

"During which you discussed forming an alliance against me."

"Family bonding."

Arik’s mouth curved.

Then he caught Liam around the waist and pulled him against his chest.

Liam went willingly.

That was another thing he enjoyed.

Before the Gate, Arik had been careful with him in ways Liam had not entirely understood. He had given him room, restrained his instincts, and resisted the possessive impulses that came naturally to someone with his dominance and complexity.

Liam had appreciated the restraint.

He still did.

But now, when Arik held him close and looked faintly offended by the suggestion that Liam might willingly travel away from him, Liam found himself wanting to indulge in the feeling rather than argue against it.

Arik studied his face.

"You like this."

Liam smiled.

"Very much."

"I noticed."

"Then why do you keep trying to hide it?"

Arik’s expression changed slightly.

He brushed his thumb along Liam’s waist before answering.

"Because you made it very clear what kind of partner you wanted."

Liam tilted his head.

Arik continued, "Someone stable. Someone who would not make every decision for you simply because he could, or turn possessiveness into an excuse to control your life."

"That is true."

"And I have been trying to behave accordingly."

Liam looked at him.

Then at the arm holding him.

"You are telling me that you have been controlling yourself."

"Yes."

"All this time?"

Arik raised an eyebrow.

"Did you think this was the full extent of it?"

Liam considered that.

His husband was a dominant alpha with sovereign ether, a completed mate bond, and enough possessive instincts that even Cecil had managed to notice them within minutes of arriving.

"No," Liam admitted.

"Good."

Arik kissed his forehead.

Liam caught the front of his shirt before he could move away.

"But something changed."

Arik looked down.

"What?"

Liam’s crimson eyes softened.

"I wanted a stable partner because I needed to know I could trust him."

Arik waited.

"And I do."

His fingers moved from Arik’s shirt to the back of his neck.

"You are my mate, Arik. Forever."

Arik’s expression became very still.

Liam smiled.

"And my husband."

"I am aware."

"Then stop looking as though I might change my mind because you want to keep me close."

Arik’s arms tightened around him.

Liam continued before his husband could answer.

"I like it when you want me beside you. I like knowing that you would rather have me in your arms than somewhere else, and I especially like making you jealous when you know perfectly well that I am not going anywhere."

Arik lowered his head.

"You are enjoying this far too much."

"I married you knowingly."

Arik laughed softly against his hair.

Liam leaned into him, allowing the embrace to become more comfortable before adding, "I still expect you to respect my decisions."

"Always."

"And I will still travel without you when I need to."

"I know."

"But you are allowed to tell me that you would rather I stay."

Arik pulled back just enough to meet his eyes.

"I would always rather you stay."

Liam’s smile softened.

"Then say it."

For a moment, Arik simply looked at him.

Then he kissed him.

Liam’s hands settled against his shoulders as Arik drew him closer, the completed bond warming beneath the small stone fastened at his chest.

When they separated, Arik rested his forehead against Liam’s.

"I would rather have you with me," he murmured.

"Good."

"And I still do not want you traveling with Cecil just to irritate me."

Liam laughed.

"That part is negotiable."

"No."

"Perhaps Frederik could convince you."

"Absolutely not."

A knock sounded at the door.

Mezos entered without waiting for permission, took one look at them, and stopped.

"The convoy is ready."

Arik did not release Liam.

Mezos looked toward the ceiling.

"Your Majesty, we have a departure schedule."

Liam smiled against Arik’s chest.