There had been malaise in his brother over the last few years, but nothing Konstanin had ever thought of as being serious, and to look at now he seemed…well defeated sprang to mind, but it somehow did not do justice to quite how Ari looked. Was he truly unwell?

A private institution, made his blood chill. There was little doubt in his mind that it was Ari’s polite way of saying he had gone mad, but he could see no more madness in his brother’s eyes than there had ever been. He had always been Ari. Perhaps it had been there all along?

“We will,” he said curtly. “Without question or condemnation.”