"No," Mathew said quietly, into the dark.The word came out steadier than he felt saying it, smoothed over by years of practice at hiding things he didn't want seen. Silius's breath caught for the briefest moment a small, wounded sound, more felt than heard."Oooh," Silius murmured, and even in that single syllable Mathew could hear the disappointment folding itself carefully away, tucked back beneath the surface where Silius kept everything he didn't want anyone else to carry."Don't worry about him," Mathew said, pressing his lips briefly to the back of Silius's neck. "He'll be fine."Silius only nodded, silent, and let himself be held.It was a lie. Mathew knew it the moment he said it — knew it with the same flat certainty he knew his own name. Because earlier that day, at his office, across a desk cluttered with contracts and unopened mail, his brother had already told him otherwise.**Earlier that day — At Mathew's office**Micheal Volkov didn't bother knocking. He never did.H
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