"I have selective restraint."
"That is just lack of restraint with branding," Dean said.
Mia lifted her glass slightly. "Branding is important."
Arion's mouth curved, but the amusement did not reach the colder place behind his eyes. His phone had already buzzed twice while they spoke, both notifications from the secure channel attached to Otto's office. The Vale family was in place. Andrea was isolated from his parents. The first recovered fragments from the attempted leak had been copied into the imperial evidence system.
The morning was no longer waiting politely.
Dean noticed before anyone had to say it.
His gaze moved to Arion's phone, then to Arion's face, then to the careful stillness beneath the man's polished calm. Arion was still beside him, still present, still warm where his hand had settled near Dean's shoulder, but part of him had already turned toward the secured wing where Andrea Vale remained foolish enough to think technicalities could protect him.
