Roman's heart hammered hard against his ribs, each beat so loud it echoed in his ears, but his face gave nothing away. "What is this, Father?" he asked, lifting his gaze to meet Magnus's. "Don't tell me you're having second thoughts."
Magnus didn't blink, but his grip remained firm around Roman's wrist, his expression carved from stone. "Just one question," he said, his voice too calm. The kind of calm that made cold crawl up Roman's spine, keeping him rooted, unable to move or speak. "Why are you suddenly so compliant?"
For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint hum of the air conditioning and the quiet tick of a clock somewhere behind them.
Roman let out a slow breath through his nose, his posture still slightly bent over the desk, their hands locked between them. "I had no idea obedience was a problem," he said, his tone carrying a dry sarcasm. "Or would you prefer I go back to resisting?"
