Arik's eyes changed the moment Marin spoke his mate's full name.
It did not move much on his face. He had been trained too well for that, raised by Damian Lyon and Gabriel Lyon, both of whom could make a court confess treason with a pause and a pleasant question. But Marin had known Arik since he was two minutes old and already being a menace with gold eyes.
Marin sighed. "You are already doing it."
"Doing what?"
"Preparing to be difficult."
"I am listening."
"No," Marin said, dragging the first file open with one elegant flick of his fingers. "You are listening like a crown prince, a soldier, and a newly bonded alpha all decided to stand in the same body and disagree on who gets to panic first."
Arik stared at him.
Marin smiled thinly. "Fortunately for both of us, I have survived your father."
"That is not the same thing."
"No. Your Damian becomes quieter when he wants to murder someone. You become polite. It is much more irritating."
