“Just Jon is fine, Your Highness,” the alpha said with a smile, picking up Jules’s hand and brushing his lips against his knuckles. “You look radiant,” he said softly. “I’m happy for you, kid.”
Jules’s mask of indifference cracked. He stepped forward and hugged him, uncaring that it wasn’t exactly socially acceptable to hug an alpha who wasn’t a relative at one’s own wedding.
Liam crossed his arms over his chest, his jaw tightening.
“We were worried for you, you git,” Jules said, pulling back.
“I’m sorry,” Anthony—Jon said, still looking only at Jules.
Scowling, Liam turned away, finally remembering that he was angry at that asshole and trying to squash down the needy voice whispering at the back of his mind, Why is he not looking at me, he’s mine, he should be looking at me, not Jules.
Gods, he’d forgotten what a whore for this man’s undivided attention he was. Even when he was angry at him, he wanted his eyes only on himself. It was sickening how quickly he’d fallen back into this habit despite the anger and hurt he was feeling.
You’re furious at him, remember? Stop giving the asshole moony eyes. It’s disgusting. Where’s your pride, idiot? He isn’t even looking at you.
Liam put on a smile. “Have you seen Michael, Ant? I think I’ll go talk to him now.”
“Michael,” Jon repeated.
“The Earl of Terlaine,” Ant clarified. “Liam’s suitor.”
Jon remained quiet, but Liam could feel his heavy, intense gaze finally settling on him.
It was as exhilarating as it was infuriating. So that finally got his attention?
“Liam,” Jon said, his voice gentle.
Ignoring the way his traitorous heart lurched at the sound of his name said in that voice, Liam gave him the coldest look he could manage and said in an equally cold voice, “I don’t recall giving you leave to use my given name, Lord Selwyn. After all, we’ve just been introduced.”
A grimace crossed Jon’s handsome face. “I suppose I deserve that.”
“You do.”
Ant sighed. “For fuck’s sake, Li. Don’t be too hard on him. I already told you why he did what he did.”
Liam nearly laughed. His brother didn’t know the half of it—of what his friend had done. Namely, Liam.
“Come on, don’t be angry at him,” Ant said. He clapped Jonathan on his back. “This one is my brother in all but blood. He’s family. I hope he’ll be your brother, too. This time for real.”
Liam hoped his face wasn’t as flushed as it felt. “Right,” he said awkwardly.
Unlike him, Jon didn’t seem flustered. But then again, of course he didn’t. He was a goddamn spy. He lied for a living. He had lied to Liam all the time. Was there something he hadn’t lied about?
“I didn’t expect you to come to the capital,” Ant said, looking at his friend curiously. “I’m glad you managed to… extricate yourself from your job.”
Jon shrugged, his eyes flicking to Liam before settling on Ant. He put his hands into the pockets of his dark trousers, the fabric stretching obscenely over his crotch. “I have some unfinished business here,” he said.
Unfinished business?
Liam looked around the ballroom, at the other guests who weren’t even trying to hide their curiosity. There were so many eyes on them. It was imperative for him to act normal. He knew that, but his gaze kept gravitating back to Jon. Fuck, he felt like a famished person in front of a delicious-smelling but poisonous feast he wasn’t allowed to touch.
“Thanks for coming to my wedding,” Jules said, glancing at Liam. “How long are you going to stay in the city?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” Jon said. “It depends.” His lips thinned. “I’ve heard about what happened to Eric. How is he?”
Ant’s expression darkened. “He’s crushed. He left for Kadar to wait out the scandal.”
“Did you deal with the asshole who did it to him?” Jon said.
Ant gave a clipped nod.
Liam frowned.
That was news to him. And what did that even mean? Did Ant beat him up? Or…?
Liam looked at Jon and barely caught him snatching his eyes away from him.
“Let’s talk about it later,” Ant said, looking at his friend. “Come to dinner tomorrow. There will probably be something to celebrate anyway.”
“Hm?” Jon said, raising his eyebrows.
“Li is going to accept Terlaine’s suit tonight.”
Jon’s face went blank.
“Is he?” he said, looking at Liam.
Ant nodded with a chuckle. “Yes. I come home, but all of my brothers are leaving the nest.”
Jon’s face was like stone, his eyes glinting with an unreadable emotion.
Annoyed with himself for the guilty feeling in his chest, Liam put on a smile that was probably a little too sharp. He had nothing to feel guilty about, dammit. “Michael has always been there for me these past few months,” he said, holding Jon’s gaze. “He’s very honest and dependable. Trustworthy. He never made me feel like a fool.”
A muscle worked in Jon’s lean cheek. His jaw locking, he looked away.