Page 36 of Pining for the Prince
Hyax huffed. “I hadn’t factored Metra into the equation. He’s incensed that we’re together and, while I could’ve predicted a bit of grumbling given his family, I hadn’t expected such a reaction from him.”
“I can understand it’s an added complication. When I first met you things had been pretty intense between the pair of you, and you broke up not long after, so if the reason for your split has been removed, then it’s only natural to re-evaluate what happened.”
He hadn’t known Gwil well enough at the time to confide in him about what had happened with Metra, and while the past relationship had come up now and again, he’d felt embarrassed to admit that his boyfriend had cheated on him.
“If it had only been our parents objecting we would have found a way. This outburst of Metra’s isn’t real or he’s channelling the general dislike some of the fae leaders have for vampires. Metra’s kinfolk in particular are anti-vamp. Ifhe really wanted me, as you pointed out, he would have done something a few years back.”
“It’s all right to be upset.”
He didn’t want Gwil to think he was harbouring the idea of getting back together with Metra. “I found him half naked with a friend of his. He claimed, still does, it was just for show, that nothing happened and it was part of the cover to stop us being discovered.”
“Oh, Hyax, I’m sorry. That’s fucking a shitty thing for him to do, and you can’t help still having feelings for him.”
“I thought I was in love with him.” Hyax rested his head on Gwil’s shoulder. “But that was a long time ago now, and I don’t think I really was.”
“I’ve had all sorts of things happen to me a long time ago, doesn’t mean they don’t matter.”
Gwil placed his arm around Hyax’s shoulders. Hyax shifted closer. It wasn’t as if he wouldn’t have done this even if people weren’t thinking they were together. Gwil felt good against him, and it was important he remembered this was all for show. Being in love with his best friend sucked pixie scrotums. And that wasn’t the worst thing about the whole situation.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Gwil sat on the sofa of their new living room, the furniture from his old place having been delivered the day before, adding to the pieces Hyax had conjured. “Before you do the hand-waving and the muttering, Penelope said something the other night about how I might be able to go out in fae daylight.”
Hyax shrugged. “Highly probable, but we won’t know for sure until we try. We don’t exactly get a lot of vampire visitors to my tribe.”
He wondered if he should say something about the Dark Earl of MacLove, but he didn’t know much about either side of the MacLove story. “I heard that there is a connection between the Vampire Council and the seventh fae tribe…” He worried his bottom lip. “And I was thinking that they might be part of the reason your folks aren’t so impressed with us dating.”
“I heard King James was also a Dark Earl. But we don’t discuss the Calanti much. They separated from the other six tribes a millennium ago and contact is minimal. My mother might know more but she doesn’t confide in me.”
Hyax wasn’t answering his question. “So it’s feasible that’s why they would be against us being together?”
“There’s a lot of anti-vampire sentiment everywhere, but add that to a vampire being the king of an excised faction then it’s not exactly going to help our case.”
“It would make sense if it were true… at least about me being able to see the sun because the Dark Earl of MacLove must spend time there. I admit it would be nice to feel sunshine again, but I’ll settle for not being fried by a portal.”
“I’m sure you’re safe with the portal. Spellcraft science has come on a lot in the last hundred years, so it’s become obvious that the portal works differently depending on the destination.”
It was a pity Hyax couldn’t ask the Calanti, but it was obviously not an option and now was not the time to push. “I didn’t think spellcraft was a science.”
“Yes, well, your opinion hasn’t been driving magic innovation, which is a good job because I can only imagine the inanities you’d have developed… warming soup spoons, blood thinners, and automatic cat food dispensers.”
On clue, Midnight jumped up next to him on the sofa and butted her head against Gwil’s hand. “I swear she can understand the words cat food.”
“What are you doing with her when you’re away?” Hyax scratched Midnight between the ears.
“Nella is going to pop in. I said she could stay here if she wanted, I think her aunt gets a bit overbearing at times.”
“Just as long as she doesn’t leave puddles everywhere.”
He wasn’t sure what had crawled up Hyax’s arse this time. “Do you have a problem with her staying?”
“I do live here too, you could have asked first.”
“You’re being awfully pissy over someone doing me a favour to feed my cat.”
Hyax huffed. “No I’m not. But I’m surprised she’d be willing to do it now you’re officially no longer single.”
Nella was a good friend, but she’d never crossed into potential lover territory. “What’s that got to do with anything? We’re friends, she’s got about as much interest in me as you have… without the request to pretend to be her boyfriend.”
