Chapter 431: Arrival

Chapter 431: Chapter 431: Arrival

By the time the imperial aircraft began its descent toward Alexandria, Liam had decided that telling Arik he wanted a child had been a strategic mistake.

He regretted the timing.

Arik had apparently interpreted I want a child as permission to suggest that they begin trying immediately, at thirty thousand feet, in a private cabin whose doors Liam knew were soundproof but whose existence still contained staff on the other side.

Liam had refused.

Arik had considered that negotiable.

Nothing had happened beyond several kisses that became increasingly difficult to classify as innocent, and Liam eventually escaped to the opposite sofa with his shirt slightly crooked and his dignity under pressure.

Arik had spent the remaining flight looking unbearably pleased with himself.

Now Liam stood near the aircraft door while attendants completed the final landing procedures, deliberately keeping the width of the cabin between them.

Arik noticed and decided to weaponize it.

"You are avoiding me."

"I am standing."

"Far away."

Liam adjusted the cuffs of his dark blue travel coat.

"You have an unusually flexible definition of personal space today."

Arik approached.

Liam immediately moved around the seat between them.

That only made Arik grin.

The old possessive edge had returned with alarming enthusiasm since their conversation, as though the possibility of children had awakened instincts Liam had spent years teaching him to keep civilized.

"You cannot chase me through an aircraft before we greet Rex."

"I am walking."

"Toward me."

"Yes."

Liam pointed toward the door.

"Behave."

Arik stopped close enough that smoky caramel reached him anyway.

"I am behaving."

Liam did not trust the expression on his face.

Fortunately, the door opened.

Cold Alexandrian air swept into the cabin.

Liam escaped first.

Wrohan’s capital spread beyond the royal landing field beneath a bright winter sky, dense stone districts stretching toward the distant river while the towers of the royal palace rose above the older center of the city. The cold here was softer than Deira’s, the snow already reduced to patches along shaded roofs and gardens.

Liam breathed in the air of his old home.

The official reception waited at the end of the landing stairs beneath Wrohan’s royal banners. Guards stood in formal formation while several palace officials waited behind them.

Rex occupied the center.

He looked considerably more respectable than he had on yesterday’s call, dressed in a tailored dark green coat with gold detailing at the collar, his hair neatly arranged and the exhaustion of wedding preparations hidden beneath practiced royal composure.

The moment Arik and Liam reached the ground, the formalities began.

"Your Imperial Majesties. Welcome to Wrohan."

Arik looked at him.

Rex looked back.

They lasted perhaps two seconds.

Then Rex smiled.

"About time."

"You scheduled our arrival."

"I regretted the slot halfway through the morning."

Liam laughed and accepted Rex’s brief embrace.

"It is good to see you."

"You too."

Rex stepped back, looked at him properly, and frowned.

Liam became suspicious immediately.

"What?"

Rex’s gaze moved from Liam to Arik.

Arik was standing half a step too close behind Liam with an expression that should have been illegal at an official reception.

Rex looked back at Liam.

"Oh."

Liam narrowed his eyes.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

"Rex."

The king leaned slightly closer.

"Are you pregnant?"

Liam choked on air.

Rex caught his arm while Liam coughed, and somewhere behind him Arik burst out laughing.

Several Wrohanian officials developed sudden interests in the architecture.

Liam turned red.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Rex looked genuinely confused.

"You both look strange."

"I look normal."

"You are avoiding him."

"I am not."

"You walked down the stairs fast enough that he almost had to follow."

Arik was still laughing.

Liam turned on him.

"You say one word, and I am sleeping in another room."

That stopped the laughter, but not the lingering smile.

Rex’s eyebrows rose.

"Oh, something definitely happened."

"Nothing happened."

Arik smiled.

"Yet."

Liam closed his eyes.

He was going to kill him before Gerard ever became an issue.

Rex looked between them and visibly decided he wanted no further details.

"Right. Welcome to Alexandria."

"Excellent choice," Liam muttered.

The reception began moving toward the waiting cars.

Then another voice entered from behind them.

"Arik."

Liam felt his husband’s amusement disappear before he turned.

Gerard approached from the diplomatic pavilion with several members of his delegation following at a respectful distance.

Two years had not improved him.

He wore a heavily decorated burgundy coat stretched tightly across his stomach, with enough gold embroidery along the front to make Liam wonder whether anyone in Lirya had ever told him restraint existed. His dark blond hair had thinned further, carefully combed across the top, and his expression carried the confidence of someone who had somehow survived every consequence long enough to assume survival meant superiority.

He walked directly toward Arik.

"My friend."

Arik stared.

Liam nearly laughed.

Gerard extended one hand as though they were old political allies rather than two men who had spent years quietly destroying one another’s plans.

Arik accepted it only because half the diplomatic reception was watching.

"Gerard."

"I was wondering when you would arrive."

"That is unusual. Most people check the schedule."

Gerard laughed far too loudly.

He apparently interpreted the answer as humor.

Then his attention shifted toward Liam.

"Empress Consort."

"King Gerard."

Liam offered exactly the amount of politeness required. Nothing more.

Gerard seemed not to notice.

His attention moved toward Rex, and something in his posture changed immediately.

"Your father’s palace looks better than I remember."

Rex’s expression remained pleasant.

"My palace."

Gerard waved one hand.

"Of course. Still strange seeing you sitting in his place. You were barely more than a child the last time I spent meaningful time in Alexandria."

Liam saw Rex’s jaw tighten.

Arik saw it too.

Gerard continued walking with them as though invited.

"Weddings are useful, though. Settles a young king. Makes the court feel there is finally an adult structure around the throne."

Rex stopped.

Gerard took another step before noticing.

Arik turned slowly.

Rex smiled. It was not a friendly smile.

"I have managed Wrohan without your supervision for quite some time."

"Of course, of course. I meant no offense."

Gerard placed one hand against Rex’s shoulder.

Rex looked down at it, so did Arik.

The temperature of the entire reception seemed to drop.

Gerard removed his hand.

He turned toward Arik instead, apparently seeking safer ground.

"We should have a drink before the ceremony. There are matters between our countries worth discussing privately."

Arik slipped one arm around Liam’s waist and drew him closer.

The possessive movement was casual.

Gerard’s gaze flicked toward it.

Arik smiled.

"I came to Wrohan for Rex’s wedding and Liam’s family."

"Business always finds time."

"Not this time."

Gerard’s brows furrowed in irritation, then he tried to smooth them into a smile.

"Another day, perhaps."

"Perhaps."

Liam knew that tone.

Gerard clearly did not.

Rex motioned toward the cars.

"Your rooms are ready. The family dinner is tonight. Formal events begin tomorrow."

Gerard immediately began telling one of Rex’s officials how his luggage should be handled.

Rex watched him walk away before moving his green eyes to Arik.

"Outside Wrohan."

Arik’s arm tightened around Liam.

"I remember."

Liam glanced between them.

Something was happening there.

He would ask later.

For now, Arik bent slightly toward his ear.

"You heard Rex."

Liam frowned.

"What?"

"He thinks you look pregnant."

Liam elbowed him hard enough to make Rex laugh.

The possessive emperor, unfortunately, only looked happier.