Page 53 of Searching for the Prince
Metra sighed. “Don’t be so naïve, you know why your mother agreed to offer your hand in marriage. No matter how much you love him, Gwil is not husband material for a prince in the eyes of most people.”
“I don’t give a fuck, I willnotgive him up.” He would stop this before Metra tried to suggest otherwise.
“He is the Prince’s Beloved, I accept that, and so do our parents. All I ask of you is extend me some common courtesy in public, and we can put on a good show.”
“I will be doing what I have to. That does not include being nice to you. I merely have to tolerate you, and nothing more.”
Metra stiffened. “Have you forgotten the wedding night?”
“No, I haven’t.” Something else he wouldn’t discuss. “Have you forgotten your inability not to be an arsehole?”
Metra, for his credit, didn’t react, which was a pity because Hyax was looking for a reason to punch him. “Hyax, what do I need to do to move us past this place of animosity so we can make our arrangement work?”
Hyax wiped his mouth on the napkin and threw it onto the table. If Metra truly wanted to set things straight, then therewas something he could do. “You can start with coming clean. Stop pretending Sitial was just a friend, and that he’s still just a friend. We were never going to be more to each other than we were, and I got caught up in the idea of a love match that wasn’t real. Now I have Gwil, I understand what love is. If you can do that, perhaps, we can get to a point where I can be cordial, but it’ll never be more.”
If Metra could stop lying, and admit what he did was wrong, then Hyax could see himself not loathing the fucker, but he would never trust him. It was unlikely, and even if he did admit wrongdoing, it didn’t help explain the reasons the Elementa had pushed for the marriage.
Metra pushed back his chair and stood. “I need to go.”
“I’m sure I’ll be hearing from you soon. Remember, Metra, if you want me to trust you, then you have to give me a reason to.”
Metra left, and Hyax congratulated himself on getting through the meal without lobbing anything at Metra’s head. He wasn’t sure if Metra would come clean, but if he did, Hyax could pretend to be magnanimous and call a truce, and a more civil relationship might have Metra letting his guard down.
He looked around for a waiter in order to settle his bill, but before he got the chance, someone dropped into the chair opposite. There were many people Hyax didn’t want to talk to and Solivatus was pretty close to the top of the list.
“I thought it was you, but then I said to myself, why is Hyax having dinner with another man when his own Prince’s Beloved is off putting his neck on the line to help mutual friends.”
Gwil had told him Solivatus had talked to him while he’d been playing in the cellar. “I believe you already know.”
“I do indeed, and I must say I ain’t particularly happy.”
“You and me both.” He wouldn’t be bullied by Solivatus. “I don’t have any choice.”
“But Gwil does, and I’m still on the fence on whether I should exert my influence in order for him to extract himself out of this mess.”
This had to be some sort of test and Hyax wasn’t about to give Solivatus the satisfaction of failing it. “Don’t you think I already offered him an out? I love him, I don’t want to see him hurt. But Gwil’s a stubborn bastard and he loves me, he refused to abandon me, and I’m more grateful than I can articulate with words.”
“He’s loyal, I’ll give him that. Despite my reservations, he seems to be thriving, which must be in part due to whatever you kids do for fun.”
“Are you giving us your blessing?” Hyax couldn’t help but be incredulous. “Not that I care either way.”
“You’ve been acting like a dick over me, so I think it would be best if we buried the hatchet. I have no intention of fucking Gwil unless you dump him, and then I’ll console him in my usual way.”
“Gwil isn’t interested in having you fuck him either. Just so we’re clear, I’ve no intention of dumping him.”
Solivatus smirked. “Good, but your connection is far better than you’ll get out of the pretty-boy fae. I bet you’ve enjoyed the taste of the dark side.”
He knew Solivatus was referring to the ways he could use his magic through Gwil, but others would say him dating Gwil was stepping into the shadows. “I enjoy everything I do with Gwil. Which is why there is no reason for you to be concerned about Metra.”
“You will have a wedding night, even arranged marriages need to be consummated.”
“At least in these modern times, no one will insist on watching.”
He saw a flash of fang as Solivatus sneered. “I’m the type who is happy to share my lovers, Gwil isn’t, and we’re heading back to where I came in and being concerned for his happiness.”
He wondered how far Solivatus would take this, he couldn’t do anything at the moment. Hyax still had a role to play in the extraction of Prince Simon, but afterwards was a different matter. “And I told you there is no need to be. I will not need to consummate my relationship with Metra.”
Solivatus gave him a considered look. “Now that is a specific way to put it. Hypothetically speaking, because two good little princes whose families were at war would never do such a thing, but say they had a fling when they were young and were thrown together again, would the pre-marital shagging count?”
