Liam had been with his family for almost an hour before anyone mentioned Ray.
Considering the people gathered around the small terrace table, that was probably a record.
The eastern gardens stepped down from the palace in broad levels of dark stone and silver-leafed trees, with narrow channels of water running between flower beds that had survived seventy-seven years behind the Gate without ever learning what abandonment meant. Beyond the balustrade, Deira stretched toward the mountains, bright beneath the late afternoon sun.
Enia sat beside Liam with one hand curled around a cup she had forgotten to drink from.
Henry occupied the chair on her other side, his jacket open now that they were away from reception officials, while Mirelle had settled opposite them with her shoes tucked slightly beneath her chair.
Rex stood near the railing.
He had been there for several minutes, looking over the city rather than at any of them.
Liam watched him.
"You can say it."
