““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.””