My prince. Like Sebastian belonged to me. Like I had any claim beyond the contract I'd signed and the lines I'd crossed.
Except I did. And Adrian knew it.
“You should tell him about the informant,” Sebastian's voice came from behind me.
I hadn't heard him enter. Hadn't heard the door open or close. He moved too quietly for someone who wasn't trained.
Or maybe I'd just been too focused on Adrian to notice.
Adrian's eyes shifted past me. Took in Sebastian standing in the shadows, still wearing the formal uniform from tonight's state dinner. Dark jacket. Perfect posture. Looking every inch the prince.
Except for the knife strapped to his thigh under the jacket. Except for the way his eyes tracked movement like a predator. Except for the fact that he was here at all when he should've been in his own quarters, safe behind locked doors.
“Your Highness,” Adrian said. Voice careful. Controlled. “I didn't realize you were present.”
“I'm present a lot these days.” Sebastian stepped into the light. “Viktor and I have been working together. Sharing intelligence. Following leads.”
“I see.” Adrian's expression didn't change, but I saw the calculation happening behind his eyes. “And what lead would that be?”
“Two nights ago, we intercepted a courier in Belmont,” I said. “He was carrying encrypted communications between cells. We... persuaded him to decode them.”
“Persuaded.” Adrian's tone made it clear he knew exactly what that meant.
“He gave us a location before he died,” Sebastian added. “Old rail yard outside London. Black market weapons exchange happening tonight. Members of the cell that attacked the motorcade will be there. Payment drop for completed contracts.”
“And you verified this information how?”
“I had my people watch the location yesterday,” I said. “Confirmed activity. Armed men. Military-grade equipment being moved. This is real, Adrian. This is our best chance to get names.”
Adrian was quiet for a moment. His fingers drummed on the desk. Then, “Finish it, Volkov. Whatever it takes. I want answers.”
The call ended. Static filled the silence, then nothing.
I turned to face Sebastian. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking entirely too comfortable in my quarters. Like he belonged here. Like this was normal instead of dangerous.
“You should not be here,” I said.
“You keep saying that.” His mouth curved. Small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. “I keep showing up anyway.”
“If someone sees?—”
“Nobody sees. I used the servant passages. The ones only I know about.” He pushed off the wall, moved closer. “Besides, you were going to leave without me. Don't deny it.”
I couldn't. Because he was right.
“This is not your fight,” I tried.
“Everything involving my family is my fight.” He stopped in front of me. Close enough that I could smell his cologne. Could see the faint shadows under his eyes from too many late nights. “And everything involving you is my fight now too. Whether you like it or not.”
“Sebastian—”
“Are we doing this or not?” He gestured to the door. “Because if we're going hunting, we should leave now. Rail yards are busiest between one and three in the morning. After that, they shut down until dawn.”
He was right. And arguing would waste time we didn't have.
I grabbed my coat from the chair. Heavy leather, lined with Kevlarpanels. Not enough to stop a rifle round, but better than nothing. “Where is your gear?”
“Already in the garage. I moved it earlier.”
