Page 43 of Pining for the Prince
Left alone again, he investigated the contents of the tray. There was a basket of bread and some soup that must have had a charm over it to keep it warm, a selection of colourful fruit and a flask of blood. He picked it up, strangely warmed by his host’s consideration because, while Hyax had said he’d be looked after, he hadn’t expected the fae to provide him with human blood and he doubted they would offer up fae. He popped the cork and sniffed it, it was fresh but didn’t smell right, maybe it was fae but it was unlikely. There was a spoon on the tray and he poured a small quantity of the blood into it and took the smallest sip he dared. The shudder of disgust rolled through his body, it wasn’t human, it was some sort of animal and not pig or sheep, or anything else he’d eat or could cope with as a poor second to the real thing. There was a tingle of dirt and squalor and an echo of where it came from hit him, rat. The fuckers had given him rat blood. If that wasn’t a message he wasn’t who they’d want as a son-in-law nothing was.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Hyax fumed as he made his way downstairs. He’d specifically told his parents the reason why he was coming and that the sole purpose of the visit was for them to meet Gwil. Both as his boyfriend and for the investigation. Instead of a private meeting, where he could keep Gwil away from the wider circle of arseholes on the Ruling Council, they’d been met with most of the main politicians, plus an armed guard. He could’ve coped with that bullshit if they’d informed him of the reception he had to attend as part of his royal duties. If he’d known, he would have arranged a different time to introduce Gwil, but he suspected whenever he’d brought Gwil home, there would’ve been something arranged to make it clear how unwelcome Gwil was. For now he would have to grin and bear it, but he would have to speak to them at some point. Gwil might not be his real romantic partner for now but he harboured the hope that one day he would be.
“Hyax!” Cikla stepped out from an alcove.
He wasn’t aware she was planning to be at the castle. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I’m here for trade talks starting in the morning but I came early as I heard something and didn’t think you’d appreciate being ambushed.”
“Ambushed?”
“My brother told me he’d been summoned as part of a suitor engagement meeting.”
“Maili? Good goddess, since when was he on the list.”
He’d suspected his parents would try something but not with Maili—an ex with whom he’d managed to stay on good terms after they’d split. Maili had never been considered a suitable suitor by his parents before.
“He was added last night. He called me in a complete state. Honestly, this has to be in response to you announcing your thing with Gwil. And by the way, I can’t pretend I’m not a bit miffed you didn’t tell me about him yourself.”
He would have told Cikla the truth, and would now do at a more suitable time when he wasn’t standing in the middle of a hallway.
“Things sort of snowballed. Sorry, Cikla, when we’re both home we’ll talk properly. I’m assuming this reception is going to be like some fae bachelor gameshow, except I’ve no intention of selecting anyone to go through to the next round.”
“I think your parents have a different expectation about how this is going to play out. You must have realised they wouldn’t have sanctioned you marrying a vamp. Pretty much any other species would have been preferable.”
“So how many non-fae will be paraded in front of me tonight?”
She snorted. “You already know the answer to that, Hyax.”
“I can’t believe they are doing this, my parents have never been this unreasonable before.”
“You’d know better than me if there was more to it.”
Of course there fucking was, the stone was driving this, not his choice of boyfriend or spouse, but if Cikla knew about the stone she wasn’t letting on.
“I could suggest that I marry you. Since your brother’s now an option so would you be.”
“Hardly believable though, Unless you’ve suddenly forgotten your devotion to cock.” She laughed. “I’m not invited to your reception, as I said I only came to make sure you were warned.”
Her friendship meant the world to him. They had a different dynamic to him and Gwil but it was a cherished bond they’d had since childhood.
“I better get downstairs before I’m sent for.”
The castle had several staterooms, some capable of holding hundreds of guests, but the Iliad room was used for smaller occasions of less than fifty. Still not an intimate gathering but it did mean he wouldn’t be able to lurk in a corner and would be missed if he tried to sneak away. Not that either was an option as he would be the guest of honour.
Hyax braced himself for what was waiting for him behind the door. He would be on display, a piece of meat to be salivated and fought over. Or that was what some of them would think. But he was not the type to be intimidated, and just because a man had managed to get themselves on a list his parents approved of did not mean he did. The fact Maili and Metra were there was testament to that, and while there were different reasons they had split he had no intention of entering into a relationship with either of them again.
He threw open the door and strode in, head high and with as much arrogance as he could muster. He looked good, better than good, and he should have men begging for his attention, and this evening he would expect no less. No matter what his parents might have him do, he would not simper like someone desperate. If all went well, he would be able to remove severalnames from the list by citing their poor actions, or inability to hold his interest. The thing about the suitors list was it was possible to take people off as well as put them on.
There were three chairs situated on a dais where his parents were already seated and dressed in full regalia. He’d taken the hint and it was why he was wearing his official princely headdress he didn’t much care for. The point was they were playing up the tradition, that this was important and should be respected. Glancing around, he could see the guests were also richly attired with lavish robes and more jewels than should be situated together outside of a safe.
Hyax bowed to his parents, not as low as he should have done, but he had only limited ways to express his displeasure, then took his seat. He waved away a servant who tried to offer him a drink, another signal he had no interest in being here. His mother raised an eyebrow at him but he stared coolly back.
As predicted, there was a small gathering of around forty to fifty people. He spotted Maili and his parents talking to a member of the security council, another potential suitor. Metra and his mother were there as well—he smiled and raised his glass but Hyax did not respond. From last recollection there were ten on the list, but that was before he knew of Maili, and he then saw another ex-boyfriend, one his parents also had reservations about. A quick scan of the room made him realise there were eleven potential suitors.
He turned to his mother. “I would have hoped you could have respected my wishes. But it appears you have instead dragged me here to be displayed.”
