The Reborn Sovereign of Ruin, Bound by His Star

Liam had never seen Agaron.

That realization became increasingly strange as the aircraft descended toward the imperial capital and the city spread beneath the windows in broad avenues, dark roofs, old stone towers, and crimson banners edged in gold.

For most of his life, leaving Wrohan had never been an option.

Enia had tried.

When Liam was younger, she had proposed schools abroad, specialist programs, exchanges, anything that could reasonably justify putting distance between her son and Felix. His grandfather had rejected every attempt with the same pleasant certainty, always finding another reason Liam needed to remain nearby.

Now Agaron would be the second.

Arik stood beside him near the aircraft doors, adjusting the fastening at Liam’s collar even though Rubis had already checked it twice before departure.

"You are fussing."

"I am correcting."

"It was straight."

"It is straighter now."

Liam glanced through the window.

The western reception terrace of the imperial palace was already visible below, lined with soldiers in black uniforms trimmed in deep crimson. Gold flashed at collars, cuffs, and ceremonial weapon fittings, while the wolf of the imperial house appeared across the standards hanging between the columns.

Behind the formal guard stood another security line dressed entirely in black.

Liam looked toward them.

"Shadows?"

Arik followed his gaze.

"Yes."

"They are subtle."

"They are not intended to be subtle today."

"That is reassuring."

Severin, standing a short distance behind them with several Nurian officers, looked amused.

The aircraft touched down smoothly.

Liam exhaled.

Arik’s hand found his.

"You all right?"

"Yes."

His answer was immediate, although his fingers tightened around Arik’s.

This was not fear.

It was simply strange to arrive somewhere he had heard about for months from a man who still called it home.

The doors opened.

Sound reached them first.

Applause rolled across the reception terrace as Arik appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in Nurian imperial black and gold, his long coat moving slightly beneath the afternoon wind. Liam stepped beside him in charcoal and muted gold, the mate stone fastened at his chest rather than a collar.

Below, Agaron waited.

Damian stood at the center of the imperial family in black formal wear marked with crimson and gold, the imperial wolf worked across the clasp at his shoulder. Gabriel stood beside him, elegant in a deep crimson coat embroidered with fine gold along the sleeves and collar.

Cecil and Frederik were there as well.

Then came the younger members of the family Liam had only ever known through calls, photographs, and stories.

Orfeo stood nearest Cecil.

At eighteen, he had inherited Damian’s black hair and much of the same severe structure through the face, but his pale green eyes came unmistakably from Gabriel’s von Jaunez family. He looked composed beneath a black formal coat lined in crimson, although the barely concealed curiosity in his expression made him appear considerably younger than the dignified posture suggested.

The twins stood near Gabriel.

Ophelia and Michael were six now and, unlike their older brothers, had finally decided to resemble their mother.

Both had Gabriel’s dark brown eyes and softer black hair, although Ophelia’s had been carefully arranged with gold clips while Michael’s was already escaping whatever styling had been attempted before the ceremony.

Liam smiled.

Arik noticed.

"Wait until they start talking."

"That sounds ominous."

"It is."

They descended together.

Agaronian guards presented their ceremonial weapons as the master of ceremonies announced the Emperor and Empress Consort of Nuria.

Liam was vaguely aware of the significance.

Arik had left Agaron as its Crown Prince.

He was returning publicly as another country’s sovereign.

The formal distinction survived approximately long enough for Gabriel to reach him.

"Arik."

Arik smiled.

"Mother."

Gabriel placed both hands against his son’s face, looking him over as though several months of communication somehow failed to prove he remained intact.

Then he embraced him.

The crowd applauded louder.

Arik bent easily around him, one arm settling firmly across Gabriel’s back.

"I told you I would come."

Damian approached while Gabriel still held their son.

His expression remained considerably more controlled, but Liam saw the way his gaze traveled over Arik’s face, shoulders, and hands before settling on the sovereign gold of his eyes.

When Gabriel finally released him, Damian stepped forward.

"Welcome home."

Arik’s expression softened.

"Thank you, Father."

The embrace between them was brief but solid, Damian’s hand remaining against the back of Arik’s neck for a second longer than protocol required.

Then both men turned toward Liam.

For the first time since landing, Liam became acutely aware that this was not merely Arik’s return.

He was arriving as Arik’s husband.

Gabriel reached him first.

"Finally."

Liam laughed as Gabriel embraced him.

"That sounds very similar to Cecil."

"Cecil learned it from me."

"I heard that," Cecil said from several steps away.

Gabriel ignored him and squeezed Liam’s arm gently.

Damian greeted him next with considerably less physical enthusiasm, although the warmth in his voice was unmistakable.

"Welcome to Agaron, Liam."

"Thank you."

"You are family here. Ignore whatever Cecil tells you about needing formal permission for anything."

Cecil looked offended.

"I never said that."

"You considered it," Arik said.

Cecil narrowed his silver eyes.

Before the argument could develop, Orfeo stepped forward.

He looked at Arik first.

Then farther upward.

"You became enormous."

Arik sighed.

"Everyone has mentioned that."

"Because it is disturbing."

Damian’s gaze shifted toward him.

Orfeo straightened immediately.

"Respectfully."

Liam laughed.

Arik caught his younger brother by the shoulder and pulled him into a hug.

Orfeo returned it after only a fraction of hesitation, his hands tightening against Arik’s coat.

"You took too long."

When they separated, Orfeo turned toward Liam.

"We finally meet without a screen."

Liam smiled.

"Apparently that is the theme today."

Orfeo offered his hand, then seemed to reconsider and hugged him instead.

Liam blinked before returning it.

Behind them, Cecil said, "I did that first."

"Congratulations," Orfeo replied.

Then protocol collapsed completely.

"Arik!"

Ophelia ran.

Michael followed immediately behind her.

Arik barely had time to crouch before Ophelia reached him and threw both arms around his neck. Michael collided with his side a second later, forcing Arik to brace one hand against the stone terrace while laughing.

Liam watched the Emperor of Nuria lose an argument against two six-year-olds in under five seconds.

Ophelia pulled back first.

"You are late."

"I was not given a time."

"You were gone."

"That is different."

"It is worse."

Michael had already climbed halfway into Arik’s arms.

Arik lifted him easily and stood, bringing Ophelia up with the other arm when she immediately demanded equal treatment.

The twins looked very small against him.

Michael touched Arik’s face.

"Your eyes are still gold."

"They are."

"Cecil said they would be."

Cecil folded his arms.

"I am occasionally useful."

Ophelia ignored him.

"Did you bring my horses?"

Arik looked at her.

"We have been in Agaron for approximately six minutes."

"That is not an answer."

Liam covered his mouth.

Gabriel closed his eyes briefly.

Damian looked proud.

Arik adjusted Ophelia against his arm.

"We will discuss the horses."

"Three."

"One."

"Three."

"Your negotiation technique needs work."

"I learned from Cecil."

Cecil stared.

"I had nothing to do with this."

"You encouraged her," Damian said.

Cecil immediately looked toward Arik.

"So did he."

"That appears to be a family problem," Liam said.

Arik glanced at him over Michael’s dark head.

"You are enjoying this."

"Immensely."

Michael had been quieter than his sister, his cheek resting against Arik’s shoulder while one small hand held the gold embroidery at Arik’s collar.

Then he looked toward Liam.

"You are Liam?"

"Yes."

Michael studied him seriously.

"You married Arik."

"I did."

"Why?"

Silence fell around them.

Cecil made a choking sound.

Frederik turned away.

Even Severin’s expression failed.

Arik stared at his youngest brother.

Liam considered the question.

"He asked nicely."

Arik looked at him.

"That is not how it happened."

"It is the version suitable for six-year-olds."

Michael nodded, apparently satisfied.

Ophelia was not.

"Arik does not ask nicely."

Liam smiled.

"You and I are going to get along very well."

Arik sighed.