"I don't like it," he said.
Dean's tone stayed light, but not careless. "The rumor?"
"That. And the assumption under it."
"That you'd just accept being handed a person because the bloodlines line up."
Nero turned his head slightly. "Among other things."
Dean let out a slow breath. "Well. That's reassuring, at least."
Nero frowned. "Reassuring?"
"Yes. I'd hate to find out I'm being unwillingly courted by a monarchy."
That nearly pulled a real laugh out of him.
"Unwillingly."
Dean's mouth twitched. "I enjoy attention on my own terms."
"Of course you do."
"I'm a delight."
"You're a problem."
"Those overlap."
Nero let that sit between them for a second. Then, because if he was already miserable, he might as well finish the thought properly, he said, "You also deserve better than being treated like a strategic answer."
Dean went quiet again.
This time it felt different.
