Lucius took a steady breath, brushing himself off with a quiet confidence. Though everyone else had been left a little rattled by the intense display of Tahir's power, he remained composed. Standing tall, he watched as John gently placed Tahir on the long cushion, his expression showing only mild surprise.
John turned to Lucius, his tone firm but not accusing. "Care to explain what happened here?"
Lucius held his gaze, meeting John's question with calm sincerity. "I had no part in provoking him," he answered. "Mark acted on his own. We had no intention of forcing anyone's hand." He glanced at Mark, who shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, then added, "I'll ensure this doesn't happen again."
Kris took a step forward, his voice steady as he addressed Lucius. "Good. Let's get this straight—if we're going to talk about an alliance, it's got to be an equal one."
