Page 54 of Searching for the Prince
“I would imagine so, but then I wouldn’t be able to comment.”
Solivatus laughed. “I do like you, Hyax. It explains a few things I’ve been hearing.”
“Meaning?”
“Don’t be pissed off at Gwil, but I did offer to have a little mooch about.”
Gwil wouldn’t have been able to tell Solivatus no, but he should have mentioned his conversation with his sire. “Do I want to know in what direction your mooching took you?”
“I’m still digging, but you might be surprised to hear that the royal treasury of the Elementa tribe had been running rather low.”
He’d never considered something as base as mere money being behind the move to marry him to Metra. There’d been no talk of either side providing a dowry. “How low are we talking?”
“It’s not the level that’s concerning but rather that there’s no longer a problem. Which suggests to me that whatever deal they struck has now paid out.”
“A deal such as getting one of their princes married off?”
Solivatus shrugged. “If I was a betting man, I would put a large stake on there being an even bigger payment planned for when the nuptials are completed.”
“But why would they be accepting money for Metra to marry me, and who would be able to do so?”
“Your mum’s not exactly a fan of your dating habits, perhaps she set it up?” Solivatus was taking the piss and Hyax knew it. “But that doesn’t fit her style. Besides, it wouldn’t explain why they had no money to start with.”
“It must be recent because it wasn’t that long ago when Queen Vaness was touting the line that I wouldn’t be suitable for her son, given my associations.” If Hyax was to go poking around it might cause more troubles, but the vampires would have a cause to on paper. Hyax was about to upset one of their own by marrying Metra. “If you wouldn’t be averse to the idea, perhaps you could continue to keep an eye open for reasons why.”
“I could do that. For Gwil. As a not-a-wedding present.”
“I guess it’s difficult to get a card that says ‘sorry the man you love is marrying someone else’.”
“Do you think there’s a market? I could start a range.” Solivatus stood, grabbing a leftover poppadom as he did. “Joking aside. I get the political pressure you’re under, but if you hurt Gwil, I will pull off your wings and drain you dry.”
Solivatus left and Hyax was in no doubt that his words weren’t a threat but a promise.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Gwil didn’t like waiting. He had plenty of work to be getting on with once he was home, and he was missing Hyax something fierce. No amount of suggestive text messages and flirty calls could fill the void left by not being able to hold him in his arms and he knew Hyax would feel the same.
He threw the newspaper he was reading to one side and took out his phone to reply to Hyax’s last text, which had been a veiled reference to what he’d like to do with his tongue. His phone beeped with an incoming message:
Jack:Another orderly has been called to collect Simon. We need to act. Robin’s getting Catlin. Make your way to the lower ground floor outside the linen supply room. Let your friend know. We need to get Simon out now.
Gwil had suspected it would only be a matter of time before Mettle made a move to ensure Simon didn’t leave. He was a rechargeable magical battery and there was no way a lich would want to lose him. Robin would be going spare, he wasn’t the most level-headed when it came to Simon. If Simon had been taken to the lower floor, there were a series of treatment rooms there and they had a small advantage as Gwil had been able toget a recce when he’d accidentally followed a nurse into the area before being chased out.
Gwil:Will do. Coming.
He was prepared for this to be an extraction and he hadn’t brought anything with him to the facility that couldn’t be replaced if they had to leave in a hurry, but they hadn’t yet mapped out all their potential exits so he would need to think on his feet. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d had to act on a half-arsed plan, but at least this time he wasn’t on his own and Jack was someone he’d want on his side.
He tapped out a message to Hyax.
Gwil:Could be home sooner than we thought. Might need to be ready to leave Rob on short notice. Can you get me some things together?
The text needed to be vague enough in case they were caught and needed to remain, but also provide the information to give Hyax time to react and have the blood stocks he’d need. He didn’t have much mobile phone coverage, it was spotty inside and he was grateful he’d been able to be in contact with Hyax at all. But it also meant he wouldn’t know whether it had got through and they might be on their own.
Gwil left his room—he needed not to look obvious and was lucky the corridors were quiet. Since it was late and most of the residents weren’t nocturnal it was less of a risk but he still needed to be careful. Robin was collecting Catlin and she was down a different corridor. He’d not spoken to her much. Robin was a link to her sired brother but Gwil didn’t have a way to earn her trust so had left it to Robin, given he wouldn’t be shepherding her out on his own. He took the stairs down to the ground level and peered around the door to one of the main hallways. He would need to cross this intersection and then head to the back of the house. There were cameras, but from what they’d been able to ascertain not all were monitored to the sameextent though being the sole one out and about could lead to him attracting attention.
Jack, Robin and Catlin were waiting by the storage closet as he arrived. They were in front of a set of doors with keypad access, and Gwil assumed that was where Simon was and it was the place he’d been able to get a glimpse into.
“We ready?” Gwil asked.
