Dean and Arion returned to the gala in time.
Barely.
And only because Nero had killed the mood completely.
It was difficult to continue being seduced against a wall when one's childhood friend and new cousin-by-marriage had appeared outside the door to announce that infected beasts had crossed the perimeter and that he would handle it because he was, apparently, the best cousin Arion had.
Dean had still been irritated about that.
Not because Nero was wrong.
That was the problem.
Nero was very often right in the most intolerable way possible.
So Dean changed with Sylvia helping him into the second formal outfit while very obviously trying not to look at his mouth, which had become a little too red for a man who had simply been 'changing clothes.'
"Not one word," Dean said.
Sylvia fastened the shoulder chain very solemnly. "I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking."
"I do that sometimes."
"Stop."
"I'll try to become stupid for your comfort, Your Highness."
