Permission arrived three hours after breakfast, which meant Marin had either been replaced by a kinder physician or had suffered a head injury.
Liam read the message twice.
Then a third time, because miracles required verification.
Limited laboratory activity approved.
No ether-channel exertion.
No direct contact with unstable artifacts.
No Gate interaction.
Supervision mandatory: His Highness, Lord Mezos, or Stanford.
Duration: two hours maximum.
Violation will result in sedation. — Marin
Liam stared at the last line.
Then looked up at Arik, who was seated across the room with a stack of reports and the expression of a man pretending he had not been watching Liam read every word.
"I have been permitted to work," Liam said.
Arik's gaze lifted. "You sound suspicious."
"I am suspicious. Marin agreed."
"He wrote six conditions and threatened sedation."
"By Marin's standards, that is a love letter."
Arik's mouth curved.
