"Bro."
Roarke truly wanted nothing to do with this. Not because he had anything better to do, he didn't, but well… because he felt unbelong. This was the Dawnoro Family's trip. Though just the father and son.
Roarke had no place here.
He caught Arkai's eye. His voice dropped to a whisper, his mouth barely moving, his expression helpless, running out of excuses.
"Add bonus to my salary."
Arkai's face didn't change. His hand moved between their seats, his fingers forming the ok sign as if signing a treaty.
Roarke sat back. Crossed his arms. Accepted his fate.
The carriage lurched forward. The wheels began to turn. The Dawnoro estate receded behind them, and Roarke Raul, right-hand man to the heir, unwilling participant in a family trip he had no stake in, watched the walls disappear and wondered what, exactly, he had just signed up for.
Across from him, August finally opened his eyes.
"Good," August said. "You're both awake."
