Kasteil stood there smoking, slowly nodding.
The gesture was thoughtful, almost approving. He seemed to be considering Peter's answer, weighing it, measuring it against some internal standard.
He didn't look even remotely sorry.
Peter couldn't help wondering why Kasteil had bothered asking if it hurt when he clearly didn't care.
The thought was fleeting, quickly suppressed. Sometimes, understanding the Alpha King was impossible. His motivations were opaque, his reasoning beyond the reach of ordinary men. Peter had learned to accept that, to focus on his duty rather than on understanding the man he served.
"So what's going on?" Nicholas finally asked.
The question was directed at Peter, pulling him back to the present. The laughter had faded, replaced by a return to the seriousness that had brought him here in the first place.
Peter blinked.
For a moment, he had completely forgotten why he had come inside.
