Lucian tilted his head. The candlelight gleamed off his dark hair, catching in the crimson velvet like blood on silk. "Friends?" he repeated, soft laughter slipping from his lips. "How generous of Your Highness. And how… unexpected."
He reached for his glass. The movement was unhurried, his fingers trailing across the rim before lifting it. He sipped slowly, lips lingering on the edge, then set it down with deliberate care. His eyes never left Alistair's.
"You doubt me, then," Lucian said, as if it were not a question.
Alistair's smile hardened. "I question loyalty. Ambition has a way of blinding men. And men who forget their place," he said, voice sharp despite its even tone, "are often devoured by this court."
