Zarius was already marching down the corridor the second the chamber doors closed behind them. His footsteps echoed loudly through the marble hall while Elios and Flio followed a careful distance behind, looking very much like men trying not to get caught in the blast radius of his mood.
They ducked into the designated noble waiting room, a lavishly furnished space intended for lords to compose themselves before formal banquets. The moment the door closed, isolating them from the rest of the palace, Zarius didn't sit. He began pacing the length of the room like a caged beast, his jaw clenched so tightly the muscles in his face jumped.
The meeting was technically over, but the torture wasn't. Because of imperial protocol, they were required to stay for the formal luncheon with the Solaric delegation.
