Page 4 of Searching for the Prince
“That is not how politics work and you know it.”
He wasn’t a naïve fledgeling, and as this was her second dig at his maturity Hyax didn’t think he could win by continuing this line of defence. “Mother, this is ridiculous. You can’t possibly marry me off when I have a love match. Are you so willing to see me miserable and ignore the precedent set through the generations to appease a few muttering harpies? We abandoned arranged marriages centuries ago if one of those involved had a partner.”
“Precedent has never included a prince marrying a common vampire, or any sort of vampire for that matter.” She took a deep breath. “Hyax, I am not here to destroy your happiness, far from it. You know there are examples of fae being cast out when their loyalty was questioned. I will not see that happen to you if I can prevent it by relatively simple means.”
He’d never thought anyone would denounce him as a traitor, nor would he describe a forced arranged marriage as a simple solution. “Iamloyal, but I can be loyal to my people and the man I love.”
“With your marriage to the right fae, you would have a way to show outwardly that you are committed to your realm. I’m not a monster, Hyax, I truly believe who we have chosen for you will be suitable and a good match for political stability.”
“Mother—”
“It’s not like you have to give up Gwil. While he cannot be your husband, he can be a favourite lover, one who you bestowyour affection on and that would be accepted without too much issue.”
Gwil wouldn’t stand for that, and he shouldn’t have to. Hyax would need to find a way out of this. “I don’t wish to marry someone who isn’t Gwil. It’s not enough for him to be a side piece when he’s my everything.”
“It is a matter of obligation, Hyax, and you’ve never been one to shirk your duty. Our joining with the Elementa tribe through your marriage will be a perfect message.”
The Elementa tribe could mean only one person, Metra—an old boyfriend his parents hadn’t known about. The truce between their two tribes was too recent to risk on an affair that had been over fifteen years ago, and he hadn’t intended on admitting anything to his mother unless he had to. But that would be a last resort, and given the way Talia was talking, it wouldn’t help, and might make her think they were more suitable for each other and could work past their differences. Fucking ridiculous as Metra was a cheating arsehole, but Hyax’s sensibilities wouldn’t be taken into account.
“You would send me off to be miserable for a message? How could you do that to me?” he asked, hoping it would be the guilt-ridden dagger to the heart he aimed for.
“I am not saying you need to be miserable. Metra will have to accept your right to keep Gwil, you have to accept that you cannot have Gwil in the way you want. Most royalty do not have the option of a love match. Me and your father grew to love each other in our own way.”
Both his parents had a harem, but that didn’t mean he wanted one, even if it was a harem made up solely of Gwil.
“I do not want Metra as a husband.”
Her expression was stony. “Arrangements of this type are not based on want but need, the need for duty and sacrifice to benefit the realm. Gwil will understand, and if he truly loves youas you say, he will support you in what you must do to protect your tribe.”
“You would ask him to stand by and witness me take another as a husband, while he knows full well that I do not wish to?”
“If your love is as strong as you claim, he will not desert you.”
He couldn’t believe she was asking this of him, or Gwil. “I won’t do it. I refuse.”
“You have to. Queen Vaness has made it clear that for the peace we brokered previously to stand, we have to demonstrate that the Tasharick are committed to our relations with the Elementa. It is at her insistence that you marry her son.”
The last thing he had heard from Metra’s mother, she was far from convinced Hyax was a suitable husband for her precious baby boy because of his connection to Gwil. “She wasn’t so insistent last time we talked. She called into question whether I would be fit to marry him.”
“We have had several conversations about your suitability, and she is now convinced you and her son would be a good political match. Metra believes it could be more in time, but I think that is unlikely.”
He snorted. “No fucking way.”
She scowled at his language but didn’t reprimand him. “Hyax, the reality is we cannot afford to be at odds with the Elementa, we do not want another war, or the destruction that comes with it.”
Hyax wasn’t going to buy into her dramatics. “Come off it, me not marrying their smarmy prince wouldn’t result in us going to war.”
“They have also found out about the Stone of Ljin.”
The stone was one of seven on the Coronet of Asphodel, a powerful artefact the Tasharick tribe were entrusted with keeping. The jewel had been stolen by a group of rogue elves who used its power of transmutation for illegal drug manufacture.Now it was back where it was supposed to be. Hyax thought he would need to investigate how the Elementa had found out as they had gone to great pains so the other tribes wouldn’t uncover the issue, especially as the matter had been resolved. If the stone were still missing or had been destroyed, he might understand the implication and why his mother might bow to the Elementa’s request.
“I didn’t think that was common knowledge.”
“We all have our ways of determining information. They aren’t aware of all the details but know enough.”
“What if they do?” He wasn’t going to accept this at face value. “There’s no longer a concern on that front. And Gwil was one of the people we have to thank for ensuring its safe return—that should count for something.”
“I do not contest Gwil’s involvement and have thanked him for his part. But you must realise the position we are in. We need to make a statement of our intent. Your hand in marriage will demonstrate that you are not allied to the vampires even if you keep Gwil as a close companion. Also, it shows we are not shirking our commitments when it comes to the future safety of the coronet or the peace agreement between the tribes.”
