Despite the apparent fear in the prince's expression, the young man's responses were sharp enough, and Asbel doubted Frey was truly frightened. Though his rapid breathing and the rioting pulse beneath the phoenix's fingertips suggested otherwise. What was the prince so afraid of, if not Asbel? Why would the bully, the brute, the [i]insufferable child[/i] be afraid of anything?

"What I want doesn't matter," he retorted, tone smooth even as Frey's sought to cut. "I owe the debt of a lifetime to your family, and even if you are a brat and a nuisance, I cannot go back on my word." His fingers tightened around the prince's wrist -- hot as his temper flared, if not hot enough to blister. The corona of light around his body brightened momentarily, though he did not seem to notice.

"And you lie to me. If you wanted only money, you would be happy. Yet you make my life and your siblings' lives miserable. A happy man does not spread discontent." Asbel pushed the prince back a step, squeezing his wrist in unrelenting intensity. Neither one of them would leave this room until this mess was sorted. "So tell me plainly, [i]prince[/i] -- what do you want? If not friends or fellow kindness, then what?"