Page 59 of Pining for the Prince
“They’ve an oracle in Moorgate that is closely guarded—if I had access to it I’m positive I could locate the stone if it is in this realm.”
He suspected that was Goya’s thinking too. “I’ll go back to DCI Dickface tomorrow. Explain you’ve been informed of the connection, and let’s see how slow the wheels move. Don’t expect anything soon, the warlocks do nothing quick.”
Hyax bit his lip and Gwil had the urge for a nibble too. “I don’t suppose you’d mind if I ask another question… about vampire hierarchy?”
He shrugged. “No skin off my fangs. Go ahead.”
“I never really understood where your sire fitted in—Solivatus wasn’t a dark duke, earl or viscount, yet he’s highly venerated.” Hyax looked uncomfortable asking and it wasn’t something they’d discussed, probably because it inferred there was an element of illegitimacy, which was frowned on by both fae and the vampires.
“He was the son of Deveraux—born a vampire and not turned. His father was a vampire Deveraux had sired who wasn’t a council member or her husband, plus he was the son of a warlock. So his ancestry mingled to make him rather powerful and impressive. Trouble was, he didn’t belong to one of the three families in the House of Deveraux since he was a bastard child, but he was too influential to ignore, so a bit like a Fitzroy.”
“I didn’t realise vampires are born. I thought the bitey-bitey was a given.”
“Nice descriptor, arsehole.”
Hyax laughed. “Oh come on, you’ve said worse to me. By the sounds of it, your sire was born the wrong side of the blanket and already a bloodsucker.”
“Pretty much. As far as I know, there’s only a handful of instances where being a vampire was inherited through birth rather than siring. Crofton, Whetford and Marchent all sire their heirs for the House of Hewel, same with the other Houses, but the only exception I know of is the Earl of MacLove, from the House of Cartwright, who is rumoured to be born not bitten.”
“King James of the Calanti is also the Dark Earl of MacLove, but I don’t know much about him,” Hyax said.
“I’m not sure many people do, the MacLoves are a highly secretive Scottish family. Even Penelope hasn’t met him.”
“I should probably dig into the MacLove situation, there’s must be more I can find out but it’s complicated .”
“I daresay, if it wasn’t complicated your parents wouldn’t have such a big issue with me.” It was as good a segway into the other side of the conversation. “Vampires aren’t that bad.”
Hyax smiled. “Some of you aren’t.”
Gwil slid a little closer to Hyax on the sofa. “Hyax, can I ask you something now?”
“I’d be a bit of a shitbag if I said no after you’ve answered my questions.”
This was far more awkward than his sire’s pedigree. “It’s about what happened after you snorted the Stardust… are you sure you don’t remember anything after you took the hit?”
“No, I told you I don’t.”
“Nothing, not even an inkling?”
Hyax scowled. “I told you I didn’t. Gwil, you’ve been acting really weird since then so I must have done something wrong. Tell me what it is and I can try to make it right.”
It was now or never. “The thing is I’ve realised what you did isn’t actually a problem but I had thought the Stardust had made you do something you didn’t want to.”
“Do vampires deliberately try to be as obtuse as possible?”
Hyax was impossible at times, but it didn’t stop Gwil from wanting to snog him senseless. “If you would let me finish. According to Goya, taking the drug will just lower your inhibitions to do whatever it is you want to do.”
Hyax’s brow crumpled. “I don’t understand.”
He reached over and took Hyax’s hand. “Don’t overreact, okay?”
“That suggests I might have reason to.”
“No, definitely not.” He stroked the back of Hyax’s hand with his thumb. “After you took the hit you got a bit flirty and you climbed into my lap and kissed me.”
Hyax’s jaw dropped and he tried to snatch his hand away but Gwil wouldn’t let him. “I’m so sorry, Gwil. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
Now was not the time for more words, he’d waited over fifteen years and he wasn’t going to wait any longer. He leant forwards, grabbed the front of Hyax’s shirt and kissed him. He poured all his longing and desire into the kiss. He braced himself to be pushed away but instead Hyax’s hands were in his hair and he was moaning.
