a sickly sourness fills the room

He knows what they say about the Quaestor; that he is an opportunistic, at times slimy man, unfaultable in his devotion to his work and beliefs, yet somewhat unpleasant all the same, despite simply being a man of conviction.

Zettar cannot deny any of these things, about either Amalthus or he himself as High Prince. He also cannot deny that he is, in an unwanted, perverse way, attracted to the Quaestor: his mind and his stature alike. The eloquent speech, the slim posture, all appealing.

He finds beauty in well-placed things, appropriately accorded. And consortion with the Quaestor is, well...