Page 73 of Searching for the Prince
Hyax and Metra grasped hands and the strand weaved around their wrists, it danced and flickered and Gwil found himself mesmerised by its motion as it finally settled in place.
“With the power invested in me, I pronounce you married. Blessings be.”
Hyax all but snatched his hand away and offered Metra his arm to take, which he did without hesitation. Gwil knew it was another sign, there was no way Hyax would give an indication he was in any way submissive to Metra.
He’d never been to a wedding like it. Even vampire marriages where the couple had no intention to remain monogamous pretended for the duration of the ceremony they gave a shit about each other. Gwil had thought he’d be an emotional messafter watching Hyax marry someone else, but he’d been more jealous watching Hyax dance in clubs before they’d got together.
Jovial music accompanied the grooms as they walked down the aisle and out of the great hall. Simon let go of his hand and scratched Meddi under the chin. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“No, I…”
“Come on, we should go and mill around the reception. Hyax will need to keep his hands off you.”
They joined the others shuffling out of the hall but before he could enter the stateroom where the feast would be held, Talia appeared at his side. “Mr Hilt, do excuse the interruption, but could I ask you to come with me? I think Hyax would prefer his audience with you to be a private matter.”
Simon sniggered as Gwil let Talia lead him into a portal. He stepped into a bedroom, although that wasn’t a grand enough word for it, more like a boudoir, with a giant four-poster bed with rose petals strewn across the surface of the mattress. There was an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne and a platter of delicate canapés and sweet treats. This must be the honeymoon suite.
“Hyax will join you soon.” She winked and disappeared through another portal.
Meddi, who had tagged along, jumped down and settled onto the bed. Today had been fucking weird but at least it looked like the night would make up for it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Hyax had zero interest of being in this room, being paraded around by a man who was technically his husband but in reality, was a piece of shit he wouldn’t care if he never saw again. If he didn’t need to find out more about the reasoning behind their marriage, he’d have fucked off already and would be balls-deep in Gwil, which was his endgame for the evening, the thought of which was helping him survive the small talk.
At least the food was good, and the waiters were bringing platter after platter of the traditional wedding favours, there would be no sit-down banquet. The guests would get plenty, and the quality of the food and drink was unsurpassable, but Hyax had no patience to sit for three hours pretending he was happy to be there. If he’d have had his way, they would have parted company after the ceremony, but that was never going to be accepted and in order for the Elementa not to insist on some of their more convoluted customs, there were others he’d included for appeasement.
Metra had already downed three glasses of ambrosia, but Hyax had been deliberate in his decision not to overindulge, which would be for later, once he was reunited with Gwil. Hesipped his drink and offered another mindless thank you for attending to someone he didn’t recognise.
King Daha, Metra’s father joined them. “Gentleman, it is time for the sipping of the ladle.”
He’d promised he’d remain for the traditional elements, but he had limits. He offered Metra his arm, just like he’d done as he’d left the great hall, the message clear he was the dominant partner, fake relationship or not. Metra tutted but took his arm and fell into step behind Daha who escorted them to a plinth where a silver bowl was waiting, filled with a deep red liquid. This was an Elementa tradition, his own tribe weren’t big on this sort of rubbish.
Daha picked up a silver ladle and stirred the liquid twice then held up the full ladle. “Drink deep from the heart and all other matters will follow.”
He made sure to take the first sip, not wanting to share any more bodily fluids with Metra than he had in the past. The drink was pleasant, fruity and non-alcoholic, which was a pity as a bottle of vodka would have done it the world of good. Metra took his own sip.
A servant picked up the bowl, the tradition would continue with the other guests being offered a drink from the marriage cup.
“As fun as this has been, I have somewhere else to be,” Hyax said.
“You can’t leave yet,” Metra said, grabbing his arm.
“I think you’ll find I can do what the fuck I want. Take your hands off me.”
“What will people say if you leave your husband so abruptly?” Metra insisted.
“The truth, that I only married you because of protocol and I would rather be shagging my sexy vampire boyfriend.”
Metra’s expression changed to contempt. “You’re so in love with your fucking vampire, yet it’s one of his own that’s behind this marriage.”
They’d heard rumours but Hyax shouldn’t be aware of anything, and maybe Metra would spill his secrets if he were to pretend to be surprised. “What the fuck does that mean?”
Metra paled. He glanced over his shoulder. “Not here. Give me five minutes of your time in private. I’ll explain what I meant, and I’ll even escort you out so we can look like we left together, and you can go wherever you want.”
Hyax didn’t know what Metra was playing at, but he was far too curious not to listen. He’d also not factored in leaving with Metra, but this way he wouldn’t have to answer questions on the consummation, as it would be assumed. “All right. Five minutes.”
There was a private balcony for the reception room they were using but it was roped off as it was too small to host more than a couple of guests at a time. Hyax unlocked the doors with a flick of his fingers and led Metra outside. Ostensibly, it could’ve appeared as if they were having a moment alone in the romantic sense, not something Hyax would encourage but it couldn’t be helped.
