Liam looked at him more closely.
Rex looked exhausted in the way of a man who had spent the night turning a dead king's rot into actionable policy and had discovered, somewhere between frozen bank accounts and emergency salary disbursement structures, that sleep was a luxury rulers inherited only from competent fathers.
"You look awful," Liam said.
Rex's smile widened. "I was going to say you look beautiful, but now I feel less charitable."
"You should have started faster."
"I missed you too."
"Stay in line."
Rex glanced at Arik. "Still first?"
"By seniority of betrayal," Liam said.
Arik looked down at him with a raised brow. "That is a formal category now?"
"It has excellent administrative potential."
Rex's expression briefly brightened. "Can I use it for the treasury audit?"
"No," Arik and Liam said at the same time.
Rex sighed. "Romance has made both of you selfish."
Before Liam could answer, Enia reached him.
