Arik had kept his rut under control, and Liam did not know whether he resented it or was impressed.
Mostly impressed, though he preferred not to examine that too closely, because it was the morning of their engagement, two garment bags from Andreas had been placed across the sitting room sofa, and Liam had an ominous feeling about his dignity.
"Why are you so hesitant?" Arik asked while fastening the gold cufflinks he had chosen to wear until he changed again for the evening reception.
The prince was already dressed with effortless ease. Liam found it offensive in people who made beauty look like an administrative function: gray suit trousers, a black belt with gold accents, and a dark red silk shirt that made him look less like a man recovering from several days of suppressed rut and more like a state threat with too much money.
Liam stood in front of the garment bags.
He did not touch the second one.
"Experience," he said. "Andreas is competent, which makes him dangerous."
