Page 15 of Pining for the Prince
“I can’t imagine they’d have been able to help.”
Hyax put his tea on the side then grabbed Gwil’s chin and stared into his eyes. “I’m no medic but I think your eyes no longer having streaks of purple lightning running through them is a definite improvement.”
“Good call. Explains the strange echoes when I blink, but I expected more of a headache.” He rubbed the back of his neck, working out a stiff muscle. “What happened? I remember some strange shit went down in the museum, you were having trouble with your magic and the portal almost fried me alive.”
“I don’t know. I’ve never felt anything quite like it before—as if my magic was being pulled in many directions and wouldn’t do as I commanded it. It was as if an external force was trying to shift its pattern.”
Gwil hadn’t the first clue what Hyax was going on about. “You know me and magic, I don’t know what any of that means. But how are you feeling now?”
Hyax shrugged. “Fine, once we were out of the British Museum it returned to normal. I’ve not contacted home to see if anyone has had problems since I would have had to explain it.”
Gwil thought Hyax would have been hauled off to justify himself. “You mean you’ve not already been asked about your illegal portal use?”
“No. Actually, there’s something else going on at home. I don’t know what, but not being pulled up for this infraction seems odd and maybe related.”
Gwil knew that while Hyax could be a bit of a prima donna in many things, he didn’t over-egg a political issue. “You’ve no idea?”
“All I know for certain is Goya visited my mother and her security council. She won’t tell me anything else.”
His fangs extended at the name and he had to control his reaction. “Goya?”
“Your favourite person. I’m trying to find out more, but for now don’t overreact.”
Easier said than done. “All right. You’ve no need to rush off now, though?”
Hyax smirked. “How about we watch some terrible television? Oh, we can watch the one about the aliens—no the ghost hunters, and laugh about how wrong they get it?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Come on then, you lazy sod, get out of bed.”
He’d much prefer Hyax to get into bed with him, but for now he’d take what he could get. A friendship like this was hard to find when you were dead.
CHAPTER NINE
Tobias turned the watch over in his hand and smiled. “I knew you were the man for the job. I didn’t think you’d manage it this soon though.”
“I did have the right incentive.”
Tobias removed a long rectangular envelope from a briefcase and handed it over. “This was it, I suspect. Check the details and once we’ve both signed it’s yours.”
He removed the document and read through the contents. Like most vampire contracts the language was obtuse and archaic, but Gwil had read enough of them in his time not to be put off and there it was, a townhouse in Spitalfields. Smack bang on the Heliman Ley Line.
“It will need a little work to bring it up to par, but in reality it’s not the actual property you care about. And it’ll only be a few hours’ work for that pretty pixie you work with.”
“He’s a fae.”
Tobias flapped his hand dismissively. “Same difference.”
Gwil didn’t wish to be staked through the heart so he wouldn’t be passing on that comment. “Nice doing business with you.”
“Actually, Gwil, while you’re here and we’re on the topic of the fae.”
He did not like the sound of that. “Yes?”
“I wonder if you’ve heard any rumours about the Met either having the fae assist with their enquiries or them helping out our sparkly friends?”
He was not about to admit he knew anything. Firstly, Hyax would remove his head and douse him in holy water for betraying a confidence, and secondly, he didn’t want Tobias dragging him into anything to do with Goya. “Not that I’ve come across. There’s been a number of raids but I’ve not heard them linked to anything specific.”
