Page 34 of Pining for the Prince
“Well, I know better now.”
“And a word of advice, don’t fuck flower fairies who have banged the mother of the prince you’re in love with.”
“I didn’t fuck him! You’re as bad as Hyax—I have some sense.” Why did some of the people in his life think he was an idiot?
She took a sip of her blood and stared at him over the rim of the glass. “Jealous was he?”
“I wish.”
She laughed. “Hyax is a good man, and you could do a lot worse than him as a partner if you both got your heads out of your arses. Now I’m sure he’ll be worried about where you’ve got to, so don’t let me keep you. Send him my regards.”
That sounded like a threat. “Leave him alone.”
“I’ll behave as long as he does. But if he breaks your heart, I’ll drain him dry myself, and we’ll see if he makes a pretty, sparkly corpse.”
God, she was melodramatic at times. “There’s absolutely no need for that.”
She smiled. “We’ll see, and I hope you haven’t forgotten about our other little chat.”
“It’s underway, when I hear back I’ll let you know.”
Penelope waved him off and he was keen to get back to Hyax, if nothing else to see if he had been aware the Vampire Council was involved in his family’s business. They’d known about the police, Goya’s visit and the recent raids had been searching for the stone not a relic, but the vampires getting involved was a whole different matter, especially considering the MacLove angle. As he approached where he’d been sitting he saw Hyax was no longer alone. Instead, another fae was sitting next to him, a bit too close if he were honest, and they were having what he’d describe as an earnest conversation. He had jet-black hair, the sides woven with red ribbons, making his features even more stunning, and then Gwil realised it was Metra, and his heart sank. The ex-boyfriend Hyax had been dating when they’d first met. Another royal from a different tribe, who at the time hadn’t been on good terms with Hyax’s lot, and it’d had been like fuckingRomeo and Juliet, but with less death and more drunken monologues.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Hyax finished his drink and ordered another one. Tonight had been almost like a proper date. He’d loved being so close to Gwil, being able to touch and flirt. People had gawped at them and it wasn’t just because he was obviously dating a vampire but because that vampire was fucking hot. Gwil had looked amazing in his suit and Hyax had exerted more self-control than he thought possible.
But he must have overstepped a line because Gwil had hightailed it to the bathroom. He’d been gone a while and Hyax wondered if he should go and find him.
“Hyax, I thought it was you.”
He glanced up, knowing the voice and not being pleased to hear it. “Metra.”
His ex was a beautiful man, pity his personality didn’t measure up. Hyax didn’t need him interrupting tonight, nor any other night for that matter. They’d been good together for a while, when their relationship had been secret and forbidden because of the animosity between their families. It had taken him far too long to realise it was the sneaking around that had been the source of the excitement and not his attraction to the arrogant prick.
Metra sat without being invited. “I must be seeing things, or maybe one of us has had too much to drink, but it looked awfully like you and your vamp business partner were a lot friendlier than would be expected.”
“My personal life is no longer anything to do with you.”
“Something that could be rectified. Our tribes are now on good terms. If we wanted we could pick up where we left off. You were my world.”
“I don’t want to. You had a funny way of demonstrating how important I was to you—I caught you in the arms of another fae.”
Metra tried to grab his hand but Hyax snatched it away. “I told you, it was just for show. If we’d have been discovered our parents would have gone ballistic, we’d been careless and he was a friend who played along.”
What Hyax had witnessed was far too realistic to have been an act. “You’re a liar, Metra.”
“I just wish you’d give me the chance to prove myself to you. I’m on the official suitors list, your parents think me suitable.”
Hyax tutted. He’d been none too happy when he’d discovered that little fact. His parents had added Metra to the list after their tribes had buried their animosities because trade deals were far too lucrative to be passed over due to a royal squabble or two. He’d learnt it had been part of sweetening the new standing between their tribes, but there were several others who were equally as unsuitable.
“That’s because they don’t fucking know you.”
“Please. I can make this right. We could have a remarkable future together.”
“I have a partner. Nothing you can do or say will change that, so take it as a hint and leave me alone.”
“Partner? He’s a vampire, not a future husband for a prince.”
