At the Bar VI

"Yuliang Davos. He works with you, right?" Lorcan drawled.

Emil took another sip of his drink. "Yes. He's one of my interns."

Lorcan arched an eyebrow with the less than forthcoming response. Usually, Emil was more than happy to share(rant) about the people he worked with. So, for him to not immediately jump the gun to share was a rare occurrence.

"Why are you asking about him?" Emil asked, peering at him with narrowed grey eyes.

Lorcan paused, carefully considering his next words.

For all, Emil was a good friend of his, his loyalty lay with the Belmonts. Just as Lorcan's lay with the Rydels.

So to ensure the maintenance of their friendship, they avoid discussions about their families and personal interests when possible.

"Mere curiosity," Lorcan settled for saying. "His name's been all over the news recently. Doesn't help that he's Elys' teacher either or how enamoured my brother is with him," he confided with a twitch of his lips.

Enamoured was an understatement.

The manner and reverence in which his youngest brother often spoke of his instructor bordered on obsession.

His younger brother's mannerisms and speech, which had once been refined and elegant had slowly morphed to become more clipped and brash.

A change Lorcan could only assume to be due to the instructor's influence.

It was a subtle change, one that his parents had yet to take notice of. Or something they had taken note of but turned a blind eye to. Since they too seemed to be quite preoccupied with the man.

Lorcan had even heard his notoriously judgemental father speak fondly of this mysterious Yuliang with his friends in the parlour when they had dropped in to share a drink recently. Last night, Lorcan had even heard his father complaining about how the omega and his brother hadn't visited their house in recent days.

Even Seth had something to say about the omega.

Visits that Lorcan had missed due to often being out for work.

Lorcan was burning with curiosity at this point.

Emil sighed, and rubbed at the bridge of his nose, "What do you want to know about him?"

"What's he like?"

Emil scoffed, "Arrogant. Says and does what he wants how he wants. Hard-working. Does whatever task given to him beyond the best of his ability. Independent to a fault. He's incapable of completing tasks that include anyone else's involvement. He's also extremely talented and capable. He's the first person that I've met since Mikhail, that had displayed such skill in Healing."

The description evoked a vague memory of fierce amber eyes and a smell of citrus.

A brief impression made months ago, by an unfortunate encounter, that he carried to this day.

Lorcan laughed, "Sounds like an interesting guy."

"I guess. I feel bad for whoever would have to put up with such a wild omega in the future." Then much quieter he adds, "Probably would have been me if he had been another five or ten years older.

Lorcan blinked at his friend in surprise.

Emil was studying his glass thoughtfully as if he hadn't spouted the most unbelievable thing Lorcan had ever heard.

In the years that Lorcan had known the man, Emil Belmont had been married to his work. Never had Lorcan ever heard his friend even mention the idea of any omega or woman concerning marriage.

"You-"

Seeing the disbelief in Lorcan's face, and belatedly realizing the implications of his statement, Emil was quick to backtrack, face twisting in disgust. "Don't get me wrong. I have absolutely no interest in him. I'm just in debt to his grandmother and it is only logical to consider courting him. Not that I have any plans for it." Emil looked increasingly flustered with each word, and Lorcan found himself biting back the urge to laugh. The older man huffed, before confidently declaring, "Honestly, Yuliang Davos is the last person on earth I'd want to marry. Like I said before, I'd feel bad for whatever poor man that would end up with him. He's the least attractive omega I've ever met."

"Appreciate the honesty, Professor," a vaguely familiar voice grumbled from behind him. "But can't say I appreciate being the topic of gossip in a fucking bar."

There was a smell of citrus in the air and Lorcan felt his heart skip a beat.