"There he is."
Kamal's expression remained perfectly neutral, which meant he was absolutely satisfied with himself.
Mezos looked between them with the exhausted air of a man realizing he had accidentally walked into a reunion between two emotionally damaged disasters separated by reincarnation and war crimes.
Arik rubbed one hand over his face once, still smiling faintly beneath it all.
Then the smile faded into something quieter, more serious.
"What do you want to do now?" he asked.
Kamal's gaze sharpened immediately.
"That is a dangerous question."
"Yes," Arik agreed. "I asked it intentionally."
The older alpha studied him carefully.
Arik held the look without flinching.
For a moment, the saloon fell silent except for the distant hum of ether through the diplomatic palace's walls.
Finally, Kamal spoke.
"You have a country already."
"So did I last time."
"You have parents."
"I'm aware. Damian reminds me daily and Gabriel hourly."
