Page 71 of Searching for the Prince
“Hyax was insistent, said he wouldn’t do it. He said he wanted me to have his collar.”
“Best check it’s not silver, that’s the traditional metal,” Simon said, and it struck Gwil he was not keeping his voice down and anyone around would be able to hear. If anything, he was speaking louder than necessary. “But it’s another statement, Gwil. This ceremony is nothing more than a business transaction.”
“I am honoured to know my place in Hyax’s heart.”
Simon smiled, the tips of his newly acquired fangs just visible. “As it should be as the Prince’s Beloved. I do believe it will not be long before I am invited to your nuptials.”
There was a definite twittering from the other guests, Hyax’s plan to set the cat amongst the pigeons had worked. Gwil had been dreading today, and now he was going to sit back and enjoy being the reason behind the chatter.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Hyax stared into the mirror, he was dressed to perfection, every inch of what a fae prince should be on his wedding day. There was no point in waiting for someone to race in and stop the proceedings, this marriage would have to go ahead. He’d been able to dictate the direction he’d wanted, with no talk of love or devotion. He had rejected anything that talked to commitment and the mentions of union and collaboration could be referring to their tribes and not him.
“I know this is not how you envisaged your wedding day to be, but at least try and enjoy some of it. Your Gwil is here, he’s very dashing in his consort robe.”
“Consort robe? You did that?” He turned to face his mother, not believing she’d have gone to the effort to have a robe made for Gwil.
“I did. In black and silver, I thought it would go nicely with your gold and he, well, black for a vampire seemed rather fitting.” She tucked one of his braids behind his ear. “I delivered him to where Prince Simon was waiting. They should be in their seats causing a stir.”
“You were so adamant that I could not have Gwil, yet here we are, you treating him more like my groom than Metra.”
“Metra’s a sneaky little mummy’s boy. Gwil has stood by you, I admit I didn’t expect him to and because of that, I’m willing to admit I was wrong. We would have been in this situation with the Elementa anyways, they have manipulated fae law to get what they want.”
“Have you found out something new?” Hyax asked.
“Not me, but a potato on legs.”
There was only one creature he knew of that could be described in such a fashion. “You’ve met Copperpipe? What did he say?”
“Something about Gwil’s ex buying a lot of fae chalk. It has to be related to the mining activity, but we won’t be able to find out more now. Let’s get the wedding done and we can investigate further. Maybe you can speak to Metra?”
“I think he wanted to tell me something at the announcement reception but changed his mind. I can pretend that I could potentially come to tolerate him as a friend, if it meant he’d speak to me.” He shuddered. “But if he puts his hands on me, I might break them. If Gwil doesn’t do it first.”
She helped him place his ear chain correctly. He liked the way the gold traced the shape of the point and down to the lobe.
“You should know that King James wrote to me once Simon accepted to attend in his place,” Talia said with a smile. “He not only vouches for your Gwil, he went so far as to suggest that it would be in no one’s best interest if you and Gwil were kept apart. Do I want to know the details that has caused His Majesty to offer such vociferous support of a lower-level vampire?”
“Gwil did help save his son,” Hyax replied, not meeting Talia’s eye.
“I can understand that but there must be more to it, and I can’t help but think this might be linked to James’s status as a vampire-fae. Hyax, have you been using your magic through Gwil again?”
“How would you like me to answer that? Fully? Or so you can have plausible deniability?”
She raised an eyebrow. “For once, I want an honest answer.”
He been vague when she’d asked before, but now was the opportunity to show his mother the potential he could have if he stayed with Gwil. “Then, yes. As you surmised, it started with the Stone of Ljin, but we used another spell to track Prince Simon. I’ve been given access to ancient volumes belonging to a certain senior vampire’s library and the promise of King James to share others he owns.”
She didn’t look surprised, but he’d long thought she’d have known there would be something along these lines going on.
“A word of warning, Hyax. This should not become common knowledge. You are dabbling in things nobody truly understands, it could be dangerous.”
“From what I’ve seen so far, working with Gwil in this manner will bring us only enhanced capabilities.”
“Capabilities that have not been used for centuries. We do not know the ramifications, both for you and the political climate. I am your mother, I do worry about you.”
Maybe, but he thought the political angle was more her concern, or he wouldn’t be standing here about to get married. “I have been able to handle everything so far, and with Prince Simon and his father as allies, thanks to my recent help, if I have problems I have somewhere to turn.”
He wondered if she’d take more exception with this alliance with Calanti than the darker side of magic he was using.
