I'm sorry," said Damen.
Laurent gave him a strange look. "Why
would you apologise to me?"
He couldn't answer. Not with the truth.
He said, "I didn't understand what being
King meant to you."
"What's that?"
"An end to fighting."
Laurent's expression changed, the subtle
signifiers of shock imperfectly
repressed, and Damen felt it in his own
body, a new pull in his chest at the look
in Laurent's dark eyes.

Author: C.S. Pacat