The Englishman was well aware of that glimpse of utter defeat upon his husband's face as he opened the door to Dorian's office. That exhaustion, however, was quick to transform at his very presence, though whether it was simply that Dorian was glad to see him or his lover's attempt to hide the stress from him, Sebastian hardly knew. It was almost...unfortunate, really, that he was not presently seeking the fae King to ease his lover's burden but to instead, likely increase it. There was a hint of gentleness to his tone, one the Incubus hadn't noticed he took up when addressing his husband alone as he spoke of his desire to introduce Dorian to someone. That fleeting look of surprise too hardly went unnoticed - if only Dorian knew just how surprised he was about to be, and just how astonished Sebastian had been, in turn, at William's return. For all the attentiveness he paid to his lover's every movement, the vampire was entirely unaware of what his own physique gave away. There was a certain sort of tenseness to his shoulders, one that had lingered ever since William had expressed for him a love that Sebastian could not return. It was one that still lingered even now, the vampire wholly aware of how...important this meeting was.

He stepped over the threshold and further into the office at his lover's admittance, only to pause and briefly gesture William in behind him. Sebastian moved to stand to the side of Dorian's desk - his very place by right. The navy hue of his irises shifted back towards his childhood friend, finally providing both men with a proper introduction - one that followed the etiquette of court from his own day, albeit with some shortening of titles in which his husband had acquired over the centuries. He watched as William straightened ever so slightly, those years spent within England's courts overran the fear and anxiety that were near palpable to the vampire. How very much William smelled like prey to him, from that quickened beat of his heart to the way his gaze seemed to rove the office, searching for a means to escape. Even so, William was quick to offer a near courtly bow, the Duke insisting it was a pleasure to meet Dorian. Oh, how Sebastian was certain those words were merely uttered out of civil politeness! Such thoughts, however, hardly lingered long upon his mind before that Italian lit sought for his attention. The due hue of his gaze shifted towards his husband and silently, his head dipped in agreement.

Dorian, it seemed, had hardly forgotten Sebastian's first engagement, nor the story the vampire had regaled the King with of William's reaction and their shared fated death...or at least, their shared transformation into something else. He watched as that surprise he had expected afflicted his husband's features, Dorian finally seemed to understand exactly who stood before him. It was that cool, cordial Italian lit upon his lover's lips that caused Sebastian's brows to furrow. That tone was not one Dorian frequently used with their close acquaintances. In fact, it was most often reserved for politicians that had, for one reason or another, managed to insult the Italian King. He said little of his current observations, however, those queries best left for behind closed doors when William was not present. At the very least, his childhood companion hardly seemed perturbed by that tone as the Dark Hunter offered them a weak simper, that jest one Sebastian was quick to pick up on. "Only the best." He insisted with a warm smile of his own. How aware the vampire was of the iciness from his lover, only for Dorian's attention to return to him.

That veiled query from the fae King was one he was quick to pick up on as the vampire's gaze deviated from his lover to instead eye the notebook upon Dorian's desk. "Not quite, no." He commented with a soft sigh. Though something had clearly displeased his husband, perhaps he could appeal to the Monarch's empathy, if nothing else. At the very least, perhaps the unfortunate circumstances of William's situation might at least prompt Dorian to forgive him for going against the fae's subtly suggested wishes. "Will informed me that his disappearance had been the result of a kidnapping from other Hunters. He is in need of sanctuary and...a bit lacking, financially. I offered him a place on our security team and he accepted. I was hoping that..perhaps...Alexander might help with giving him sanctuary from the Hunters that are after him." The dark, navy hue of his gaze slowly turned upwards towards his husband, watching acutely for any hint of a reaction from the fae King that might tell him his lover's thoughts on the matter.

Sebastian Ellington-Aragona

His Royal Highness, Prince of Italy