Then his hand moved, gripping Eric's shoulder with firm pressure.
"Raise your head, Eric," Alaric said quietly. "You're a king. You don't bow to anyone."
"I'm your friend before I'm a king," Eric replied, straightening to meet Alaric's gaze. "And friends apologize when they're wrong."
The duke's expression softened fractionally. "You were protecting what you thought needed protection. I can't fault you for that, even if I disagreed with the method."
"Then we're..."
"We're friends," Alaric confirmed. "We always have been. Though next time you want to have my son 'retrieved,' perhaps send a formal invitation instead of your attack dog."
Eric's laugh carried relief mixed with genuine humor. "Noted. Though I suspect Jack would have ignored a formal invitation just as thoroughly."
"Probably," Alaric agreed with a slight smile. "He's got his father's stubbornness."
