Dinner ended quietly. The servants cleared the plates, and chairs scraped against the marble floor; others drifted towards the study room, their voices echoing faintly down the corridor.

Only Veyr and Matthias stayed behind, Veyr still seated at the far end of the table, silent and expressionless, eyes fixed on nothing, while Matthias got up to leave.

Lioren stayed where he was, eyes fixed on the table, until Matthias passed behind him.

"Matthias —wait." His voice was low, almost swallowed by the clinking of glasses being gathered by the staff.

The older man paused, polite curiosity flickering across his face. "Yes?"

Lioren stood, sliding out from behind his chair.

"Can I speak with you?" he glanced at Veyr, then back to Matthias, "privately."

Matthias's gaze flickered towards Veyr, who remained at the table like a dark, quiet shadow. He blinked in approval.

"All right," he replied.

They stepped a little away from the table to the shadowed side of the hall. The din of the household dulled here; only the faint ticking of the wall clock remained. Lioren kept his head slightly bowed, fidgeting with his fingers.

"Please", he said quietly, "Don't tell Kael about me. Don't tell him where I am."

Matthias's expression hardened. "But why are you hiding from him? From what I've heard, the rumors say you suddenly vanished a month ago and that your father and your fiancé, Kael, are searching for you desperately. Don't you miss your father?"

"I..." Lioren swallowed. I have my own reasons for being here in the lower city. Personal reasons, I can't— He cut himself off, shaking his head. "I just can't have them knowing. Not yet."

For a moment, Matthias didn't answer. But his gaze was sharp. "I thought you loved Kael, you know, he's been asking around about you more than your father."

"Please, kindly respect my privacy. I have a lot going on in my life," Lioren said softly, his voice polite but firm. "I'm asking you this as someone who admires your personality."

Matthias was stunned by how bold Lioren's personality was; he had been rumored to be a golden Omega whose scent could drive any Alpha to madness, and judging by how desperately Kael Arclayne was searching for him, those rumors were not exaggerated.

"I'm not asking you to lie, Lioren said quickly. "Just—don't volunteer anything. . Pretend you don't know. Please.

Behind them, the faint scrap of a fork made Lioren glance over his shoulder. Veyr still sat at the table, apparently absorbed in playing with forks.

Matthias exhaled. "Very well", he said at last. "For now, I'll keep your secret. But you have to tell me something too", Matthias finally asked what he wanted to ask.

"As long as it's not about my private life," Lioren replied.

"What are you doing in this house?" Matthias asked, his voice low but edged. "How do you even know Veyr? How exactly did you meet him, that he'd bring you here?"

"Wait—wait. First of all, I don't even know that guy. Second, I was unconscious when I was brought here; nobody asked my permission. Third, why don't you ask him yourself? Isn't he your friend? And he's not even letting me leave this place!" Lioren shot back.

After a long pause, Matthias gave a brief nod. "All right. I won't tell anyone your location."

His eyes shifted to Veyr, who was still absently playing with his fork and knife. "And... forgive his behaviour," Matthias added quietly. "He's not a bad guy. I'm sure he has his reasons for keeping you here."

"Thank you," Lioren said, his voice tight, "but I don't even know him. He's a stranger. What reason could he possibly have for keeping me here?"

He glanced at Veyr, unease flickering in his eyes. "Don't you people find it strange and scary that he's completely scentless... and those eyes...they feel  like they've seen everything already."

Matthias's eyes hardened, his tone dropping to something cool and edged. "What makes you so sure he has no scent, Mr. Valethrone?" he asked. "I think you've forgotten that other people have a personal life too. Just as you don't like sharing yours, his is none of your concern. And when you leave this mansion..." His gaze sharpened, almost like a warning. "You'd do well not to spread rumours about someone else's private life."

Then, suddenly, Matthias's expression softened, and a polite, almost casual smile appeared on his lips. "I think... this is the end of the conversation, right, Mr. Valethrone?"

Lioren became nervous and slightly stunned. What's with him? he thought. One moment Matthias's eyes were cold and sharp, and the next... polite, almost casual. Is he... bipolar or what?

Matthias went to the study, and Lioren slid back to the table. Veyr's eyes lifted as Lioren sat down. For a heartbeat, Lioren thought he caught a flicker of curiosity there—but it vanished so quickly he wondered if he had imagined it.

Lioren's plan was set. He stayed at the table, waiting for Matthias to finish his conversation in the study. He was certain they would let him leave with Matthias—after all, they are his friends.