Chris froze too, just for a second.
Then Chris's mouth twisted into a grin that was too pleased, too familiar, and too old.
Ethan's stomach dropped.
He had seen that grin before. It was the grin Chris wore right before chaos.
Ethan's voice went cautious. "Why are you calling my child sweetheart?"
Chris popped another grape into his mouth and chewed like he had all the time in the world. "Because he's cute."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Chris."
Chris blinked at him innocently. Dax was not in the room.
That, somehow, made it worse.
Because whatever was going on, Chris was doing it on purpose.
Ethan shifted Zion higher on his hip and stepped closer, scanning the room instinctively like he expected an ambush.
There were no Dax or visible threats.
Just the TV's calm voice describing forensic evidence and Chris looking like he'd time-traveled back into his pre-royal life with a vengeance.
Ethan lowered his voice. "Rowan told me I'd find out. Find out what."
Chris's eyes gleamed.
