“Out,” Cason replied, not facing the man. “I didn’t realize you were friends with Remont.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to know such a thing when you never bothered to join me in my work.”
He rolled his eyes, still turned away. “Lord Remont isn’t home. Where is he?”
“Out.” Thierry’s chair groaned. “You didn’t respond to my letter. I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
“I wasn’t expecting to come.” Cason turned and leaned against the bookcase, folding his arms with considerable effort. “Why is it that after all these years, you reach out now?”
His father grinned with amusement. “Why is it that after all these years, you agreed to meet me?”
Because I might as well add pain to this miserable excuse of a day.
They stared at each other for a long, tense few minutes, neither willing to break the silence. But Thierry didn’t know Cason had been practicing his staring with Brela for weeks. His father didn’t know that there were other ways to win.
Cason shook his head. “I happened to be in Rooke with a free afternoon, if you are so curious as to why I’m here. Now, are we going to keep poking and prodding for weaknesses to exploit or can we get on with something productive?”
The emotion that flashed behind Thierry’s blue eyes was new, at least directed at Cason.
Pride.
He hated it.
“You’ve learned some politics from your prince,” his father said, leaning back casually in his seat.
“He’s a good man,” Cason replied, shifting to the seat in front of his father’s desk.
Thierry merely nodded. “I like him a lot more than the man who currently sits on Severina’s throne. At least he has the guts to stand for something, even if he doesn’t actively participate in the raids.” Cason fought the clench in his jaw. It was a good thing his father didn’t have sun-blessed senses to pick up on it. “Honestly, I’m surprised that spineless king delivered my message.”
“Can we not do this?” Cason asked, waving his hand in disinterest. “Your family had the same issues with thespinelessleadership of Severina long ago, so you left. Let’s not argue things we can’t change.”
“It’s your family, too.”
“Yes, but Serill has been better family to me since mother died,” Cason snapped.
Thierry’s nostrils flared. “Family is blood.”
Family is forged, not by blood, but by love.
Brela’s words. Some of the first moments of vulnerability she’d shown him. It was the first time she’d truly offered her hand in kindness, and he’d taken it. He’d believed it.
All fake, he reminded himself. All a trick.
Brela, I love you.
I’m sorry.
Cason moved to stand. “If you are only here to insult mybrotherand friend, I’ll leave.”
“Sit,” Thierry groaned.
Cason nearly sighed in relief. That small movement to stand had been incredibly painful. He might not be able to get out of this chair again.
His father sighed, studying Cason. “You look like shit.”
That’s what a noglida barb and fractured spine will do to you.“You’re doing really great in this conversation. Please, continue. See how far that gets us.”
Surprise flashed in Thierry’s gaze. “Sarcasm? I didn’t think you were capable of that.”
