Elian clicked his tongue and looked away.
The sound was a small, unconscious gesture of irritation that said more than words ever could. He turned his head to the side, his jaw tight, his eyes fixed on some distant point on the horizon. Anyone could tell Nicholas wasn't going to tell Soren about any of this.
Nicholas was a complete softie when it came to his husband. He could face down criminals and stare death in the eye without flinching, but the moment Soren was involved, he turned into something else entirely—gentler, more protective, more careful. He would carry this burden alone before he let it touch Soren's heart.
"Anything else?" Elian asked.
His voice was flat, almost tired. He had heard enough horrors for one day. They all had.
"Oh, right."
Nicholas suddenly looked like he had remembered something. His expression shifted.
"I almost forgot."
Elian and Kasteil simply stared at him as they continued smoking.
