Nero waited until the military conference room had emptied before calling Dean.
Dax had already left with two generals, taking the political map of Draxil and most of the room's remaining patience with him. Staff moved quietly through the dark command chamber, shutting down projection screens one by one until only the map above Nero's tablet remained illuminated.
He should probably have allowed Otto to inform Arion first.
That would have been respectful.
It would also have been considerably less entertaining.
Nero loosened the collar of his black shirt, left his jacket over the back of the chair, and opened the secure line.
Dean answered on the third ring.
His pale face appeared far too close to the camera.
"Nero."
"You look tired."
Dean immediately moved the tablet farther away. "You called after midnight."
"That does not explain your neck."
Dean's violet eyes narrowed.
