Page 19 of Searching for the Prince
“Prince Hyax and Mr Gwilym Hilt,” Karl announced.
“Please call me Hyax,” Hyax said, holding out his hand to shake, which Robin did.
Gwil wasn’t cowed per se, more a bit starstruck by Robin being who he was. He also knew his place in vampire society, and he would act accordingly. “Mr Flint,” he said while bowing his head. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d prefer to be called Gwil.”
Robin shook his hand. “There’s no need for the formality, Gwil. You may both call me Robin. I can only thank you for your willingness to help bring Simon home.”
Hyax sat and Gwil waited for his cue from Solivatus when he took the place next to Hyax. He saw Solivatus nod, acknowledging Gwil’s deference to his sire in front of Robin. Hyax would just have to deal with it, and to Gwil’s surprise Hyax managed to keep his expression neutral, which was a definite improvement.
“Solivatus has explained to me about the bond you have with Simon,” Hyax said, without a hint of a barb. “I have also had some written discussions with Her Majesty Queen Hylei, so I can comprehend how special your connection is.”
Hyax had told him he wasn’t going to mention King James’s visit. He hadn’t wanted his mother getting wind of their interaction and he also didn’t think it was something the vampires needed to have the details about.
“I must admit I still don’t see how you can help but Simon’s parents can’t,” Robin said, echoing his and Hyax’s original thoughts.
“Because while Queen Hylei is pure fae, King James is not pure vampire and, as such, he can’t use a branch of magic that I can with my betrothed,” Hyax smiled fondly at Gwil. “It is an additional benefit Gwil and I have recently discovered.”
Hyax had been interested in using their connection again, helping Robin was a nice excuse to do so, although the technicalities were lost on Gwil as his eye’s tended to glaze over when Hyax started on magic theory. He was happy to sit back and let Hyax suck his cock in the pursuit of magical science.
Robin wrinkled his nose. “How did you come across this knowledge?”
Robin hadn’t achieved his success by rushing in without testing the waters. He didn’t know them, they might have come recommended by other important people but trust between vampires was relative. Gwil suspected he wasn’t used to going cold into a situation and anything he could glean would help.
“Gwil and I were investigating the theft of an important fae artefact and Tobias Flume, a well-connected individual in his own right, showed me a way to help. It came from a volume in his personal library, and he shared several others.”
“That seems a bit too altruistic for the Tobias Flume I know,” Robin drawled.
He should have known Robin would have been aware of Flume, and he had a fair point since Flume had helped only because it had suited him, which was pretty much standard for most vamps.
“I’ve taken a number of cases for him over the years,” Gwil said. “The fae object had been stolen by a group of rogue elves and they were up to no good, so he was keen to support.”
“I appear to have an elf problem too.”
For all the talk of a bond, Gwil hadn’t been sure what Robin’s feelings for Simon were, but he did appear shaken at the thought of his husband being in the hands of the elves. They were horrible bastards and even if it were an arranged marriage, no one deserved that fate.
Hyax shook his head. “If the elves had Simon, then you’d have found him by now. I believe Lord Crofton’s secretary is an elf—they have a way of tracking each other. A bit like the fae. None of it technically legal, but that wouldn’t stop him if he’d been able.”
Robin appeared sceptical. “But you think you can?”
“I don’t know. At a minimum, I should be able to use the bond from your end to try and tether you back together, even for a few minutes. If we’re lucky then I might be able to follow the bond to where he is, but I’m not sure that will work.”
Robin leant forwards, his eyes shining with a sense of hope Gwil hadn’t seen until now. “If I can speak to him, then he can tell me where he is.”
“Maybe. But that will depend on where and how he is being held. First things first is to confirm he’s alive, as we’re making the assumption that he’s being kept for his magic.”
Hyax’s consultations with Simon’s mother had led him to the conclusion that, because Simon hadn’t fed from Robin and transitioned into his full vampire state, he could be being used like a battery, his magic syphoned off to be used by someone else.
Hyax hadn’t wanted to give false hope but would do all he could to help, and Gwil knew he’d try his best and would be disappointed if he couldn’t.
“When can we try?” Robin asked.
“I can cast now and see the state of the bond, but then I’ll need to determine the next steps, whether it would need a tailored spell or potion, so that will depend on what I find.”
Solivatus stood. “Why don’t me and Gwil leave you to do this bit?”
Hyax’s eyes flashed gold. Gwil didn’t want to leave with Solivatus, but he was being put in an awkward position between his lover and his sire. He didn’t think Solivatus would want to do anything more than talk, but Hyax’s insecurities were at a peak at the moment.
“You can go, Solivatus,” Hyax said, his tone even. He really was trying. “But I’d rather Gwil remain, because of his involvement in the procedure..”
