Page 5 of Pining for the Prince
The Christmas shoppers were out in full force and there was something about the season of tidings and joy that made Londoners the most miserable fuckers on Earth. The confectionery shop had been at the same spot in Fitzrovia for the last two hundred years, with somehow no one noticing it was able to remain open, and financially viable, between high-end clothing boutiques and art galleries. Or that Madame Filliary hadn’t aged a day in all that time, not that she tended to the shop often these days, as she had a collection of nieces and daughters who answered the call.
The old-fashioned bell rang as he entered the shop, activating the scanner informing the staff he was the type ofcustomer who wouldn’t be concerned about being served by a dripping-wet naiad with her feet in a bucket of cold water.
“Hi, Nella.”
“Evening, Gwil. What have you done to upset Hyax this time?” she asked, her neck fronds quivering in amusement.
“I don’t just come here for lavender bonbons,” he replied, but realised he’d never bought anything else. He scanned the shelves. “I might want some of the lemon swizzle thingies for me.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “No you don’t. They’re toxic to vampires.”
“Why are they toxic to vampires?”
“They’ve silver in ’em. It’s what makes them swizzle.”
They were definitely out, and not worth the risk of having them in the house and him forgetting until he was halfway through the bag. Not a deadly reaction but sloughing was not pretty and he took ages to grow flesh back. “But I could be getting them for someone else. Maybe Hyax. Might be a nice change from the lavender soap sweets.”
Her nostrils flared. “I wouldn’t think you’d want to take the risk.”
He had no idea what she meant by that, the fae weren’t allergicto silver as far as he knew. “What risk?”
“The silver can carry into fae sperm, so when you’re shagging you might get an arse or face full.”
He thought he did well not to swallow his tongue. “Thanks for your concern, but we’re not shagging.”
She bit her lip and gave him a look of the utmost pity. “Oh, you poor bastard. Unrequited love sucks golem balls.”
He closed his eyes and counted to ten. He’d known Nella for over a hundred years, stopped her doing stupid things with dust bombs when she’d been dumped by a beautiful human boy, and she thought she had a right to interfere in his life. “I’ll have toleave the expert knowledge of golem balls and sucking them to you. I’ll have two hundred grams of lavender bonbons.”
She sniggered and floated up, past several rows of sweet jars sitting on dark mahogany shelves, and selected the one containing the purple glowing spheres. “So what have you done to upset him if it’s not because you’ve caused a wrinkle to your love life?”
“Just work. Nothing I can discuss.”
She sniffed as she weighed out the sweets. “Maybe you should make it about romance, at least you’d be happy if giving him sweets finally sorted it out.”
“He’s my friend, and not interested in being anything more.” Hyax could have any man he wanted, even outwardly straight men weren’t averse to a little bit of fae action.
She gave him another pity smile. “Look, a few of us are going out tomorrow. Down to the Dock Club, we can all drink too much of our poison of choice, sing show tunes and pretend the pretty things in our lives didn’t exist.”
“It’s tempting, but?—”
“But you’re going to use work as an excuse. We’ll be there from seven, we’re starting early because the closer we get to the equinox… well, y’know.”
He did know, the winter equinox in particular could be a trying time for many. “I’ll think about it.”
Before he could be harangued further he left, tucking the sweets into the inside pocket of his jacket. He picked up cat food and chocolate on the way back home and returned to find Hyax lying on the sofa readingAesop’s Fables.
“Good night?” he asked, but not wanting the details.
“Poor. He must have used up all his interesting qualities chasing the little leather ball around the pitch. Thought I’d be impressed by him sending a car and moderately expensivechampagne. I’d give him a three—only because he did have nice legs.”
“Right.” He hurried into the kitchen, almost tripping over Midnight, his British Blue cat, who let out a yowl of complaint. If he hadn’t wanted to know, he shouldn't have asked.
“Gwil? Is there something wrong?” Hyax stood in the door, just in jeans and a T-shirt he was still as sexy as fuck.
“No, just juggling stuff. Did you get to the Lucas case?” he asked, flicking on the kettle. “Oh, I got you these.”
He fished out the lavender bonbons and handed them over. Hyax beamed.
