Nicholas POV
He called the meeting at seven in the morning.
Sebastian arrived first this time.
Came in looking completely rested for the first time in weeks. Sat down across the desk. Crossed his ankle over his knee. Looked at Nicholas with those dark eyes that were...different this morning.
Lighter.
The particular lightness of a man who had put something down that he had been carrying too long.
Nicholas noted it. Said nothing.
Lucian came in two minutes later.
And stopped in the doorway.
Because Lucian was smiling.
Not the smug performance of it. Not the mask he wore. Something real underneath....warm and satisfied and entirely genuine....and Nicholas looked at his youngest brother and felt something complicated move through his chest.
He had not seen that smile in months.
Lucian dropped into the chair beside Sebastian.
Leaned back.
Crossed his arms.
Still smiling.
Nicholas looked at both of them for a moment.
Then he opened the file on his desk.
