Page 16 of Searching for the Prince
“I’m a vampire-fae, Hyax, there are things I can do because of the combination of my genetics, but I’m sure Hylei told you, we think you’d be able to access a part of the same branch of magic because of your connection to Gwilym Hilt.”
He’d sort of understood, but it wasn’t as straightforward as Hylei had made it sound. “I’ve been studying texts that Tobias Flume and the Vampire Council have given me access to. I’m not sure what I’m looking for, but I have a potential option.”
“It’s not easy magic, and it’s gone unused for centuries as there aren’t many vampire/fae pairings that are compatible enough to utilise it. You have been given a rare gift. Not one you should advertise too widely, and keep the knowhow close to your chest.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because most won’t understand, will think it’s akin to necromancy as Gwil is undead.” His warning sounded like something Hyax’s mother might say. “I’ll deflect if asked, it’s up to you who you tell your secrets to.”
“I’ve only done it once, but it was special. It allowed me to use my magic in a way I’ve never been able to before.” Hyax could still recall how different it felt, darker, rich and tantalising, he’d channelled a spell through Gwil, and he’d be lying if he didn’t want to do so again.
“Do you have the book here?” James asked.
“Yes.”
“Then let’s see it.”
Hyax scrambled to his feet, far from his usual graceful self, and raced to the bedroom where a copy ofMagical Concepts Not for the Faint-Heartedsat on his nightstand. He returned and flipped open the book at the spell he’d found and handed it to James.
“Ah, you don’t see many of these. I have a copy and a few others that I don’t think Flume has that might be of interest in the future. If everything works out.”
Hyax would be glad of the chance, but he sensed he would have to prove himself to James before any library privileges were granted. He tapped a passage. “This was what I thought might be useful. It’s a weaversnipe. It should knit strands together in the bond and then we can trace it back.”
James wrinkled his nose as he read. “I tried something similar and it didn’t do the trick. Robin’s not a magical creature so there’s no energy source at his end to pull on.”
“I didn’t think of that,” he said, annoyed at himself.
“You’ve no reason to.” James flicked through the pages and handed the book back. “There are a couple of potentials. This is one of the ones I had in mind. It’s called a mirroricom.”
Hyax had spotted the spell but had dismissed it. “Surely it’s just a mirror spell, I don’t see how it’ll work.”
“The sigils are the key, you paint them on Gwil and Robin and push your magic through them. If it works, the spell should carry through the bond to Simon, who’ll see Robin in a reflection, or a dream, depending on whether he’s awake or not.”
Hyax read the spell again, taking more care. “I suppose if there is something left of the bond tethered in both of them it’ll work.”
“You’ll need to probe Robin for that. I’m sure there’s something but I couldn’t trace it. My conjecture is our familial link is interfering and my magical signature is too similar so I can’t distinguish between myself and Simon in this situation. I hope you’ll be different.”
“And if it’s there then I…” he read the additional instructions and grimaced… “need to paint sigils with harpy blood on their skin.”
“Not the nicest stuff but then you’re not exactly using the light side for this spell.”
James pointed out a couple of other potential options that used different techniques. One included something similar to the blowjob method he’d used before, so he’d have no issue to get Gwil’s buy-in, but he didn’t think it would be as useful in this situation. “Depending on what you get out of the bond when you read Robin, these might also be a possibility. But they all rely on Gwil’s undeadness in one way or another. For themirroricom the harpy blood is just a carrier, the others have similar preparations you’ll use that are a sliding scale of grim.”
“But you’re a vampire, why can’t you use your own undeadness?” He had several questions, and he wasn’t sure how much James would tell him.
“I was born a vampire, I’m not dead as such. And Hylei is a fae and so I can’t access this spell in the way you can through your undead partner.”
He could understand now why James had requested his help. James seemed to be one of the rare royal faes who was committed to his spouse and didn’t have a collection of lovers. Since he didn’t have a vampire bit on the side and couldn’t do this with his wife, he wasn’t in position to help himself. But there weren’t many people who had known about what he’d done before with Gwil. “How did you know I could work through Gwil? Did Flume tell you?”
“He didn’t tell me as such. I figured it out after a couple of comments he made, and then remembered the stories I heard about how Prince Hyax was dating a vampire—I wasn’t about to forget those given what I am. Let’s just say, Flume wasn’t so forthcoming to start with but after I threatened to pull out his fangs he saw my point of view.”
“I’d have thought he’d have wanted to help.”
James smirked. “He did, but he wanted to make sure it was seen as a debt, and I’m in no mood to play. All of a sudden, he’s spouting about vampire camaraderie and that bullshit. He’s not my House, or Robin’s, so his allegiance isn’t a given and I’m not about to take risks.”
Hyax hadn’t even scratched the surface of vampire politics, Gwil had explained some of it, but he wasn’t a high-ranking member of their society so wouldn’t know the nuances like James. “Sounds like vampires don’t like each other any more than other people like them.”
“Very true.” James smiled. “Talking of not liking vampires, I’ve heard that your parents aren’t keen on you keeping your pet fang. The whispers are they want to marry you off to another tribe.”
