Page 28 of Bleeding for the Prince
“Hyax will look after me,” he said with a smirk. “He’s quite invested in keeping me out of danger.”
“I bet.” Solivatus sipped his whisky. “I do have another question for you. You’ve received your membership to the Jyndarin Society, but you’ve not gone yet; you need to show your face.”
Gwil had received the card, had been keen to acknowledge it when he’d been asked, and wanted to go, but he’d not yet worked up the nerve. “I’m getting there.”
“Go in, have a drink, read the paper, but for fuck’s sake, show your face before people will start saying you don’t belong there.”
“Will people say that? It’s only been a few days, and I didn’t think there was a time limit or that anyone would give a shit about me being there.”
“Gwil, you have been afforded an honour few get; you need to acknowledge and capitalise on the opportunity. Grab your pretty boyfriend and get over there. I recommend the martinis—the bar staff are brilliant.”
“I guess I’ll fit it in, I can use it to practise my etiquette lessons.” He hadn’t meant to mention them, but given Solivatus’s connections, he’d hear about them sooner than later.
“Your what now?”
“I hadn’t factored in the title of Prince’s Beloved being more than a side piece. It appears it’s a bit more important, and I’m going to have to learn how not to show up my royal boyfriend.”
“I sense there’s more to it, but they won’t hurt. Have they started?”
“Not yet.” He received a communication from Opali before he left, but he wanted to discuss the content with Hyax when he returned. “I’ve a tentative schedule and curriculum.”
Solivatus snorted. “You could do with a few rough edges removing, and not just from the fae side.”
He’d hoped Solivatus would be incensed that one of his own would be considered in need of training. “I know how to conduct myself.”
“Do you though? I’m thinking you’d benefit from being taken under the wing of the right vampire.”
He didn’t like this direction. “Not necessary.”
“You’ll be working with Daniel Moreton if you’re dealing with Squire. Daniel would be a perfect role model. He’s not a current named successor for Osbourne, but I’ve heard there are potential changes afoot.”
“It wouldn’t be right, Daniel’s almost like a client.”
Solivatus stood and winked at him. “Nonsense. You can’t end up too fae, you need to retain your vampire edge, and Daniel would be well-placed.”
Gwil wasn’t sure what had happened, as while the conversation had ended with him getting a new vampire mentor, he was sure that hadn’t been Solivatus’s initial intent. He would speak to Hyax when he got back from his night out with Simon. There was no hint of flirting or overstepping from Solivatus; it was almost as if Solivatus was just being a friend. Somehow, that didn’t sit right. He must be missing something, but he wasn’t going to stay here, and the idiots now onto their second carafe gave him the impetus he needed to go home to his cat.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Hyax’s capacity to drink was far greater than Simon’s, and after their second bottle of ambrosia, Simon had admitted he’d been a virgin on his wedding night and then run off to dance. Hyax thought it would be for the best if they called it a night before Robin reappeared to check on his husband. After coaxing Simon off the dancefloor, he’d made sure Simon had arrived back at the home he shared with Robin and opened a portal to see if Gwil was still up and willing to help him out of his clothes. Although he had a couple of things to discuss first.
Gwil was sipping on a blood pack when he entered the living room. “I thought you were switching over to bottled blood?” he asked as he stepped into their living room.
“I’ve been researching suppliers, but it’s a pretty steep jump, so I’m still thinking it over before I make the switch.”
“No, do it. We have the money, Gwil, and I want you to have the best.” He might not drink blood, but the red stuff was Gwil’s main sustenance and he knew that there were better versions than the ones Gwil currently bought.
“It’s not like you drink it.”
“You buy me pink wafer biscuits, and you don’t like them.”
Gwil grimaced. “They’re proper rank. And don’t cost very much.”
“If we couldn’t afford it, I wouldn’t suggest you switch, but we can. No more arguments.” He pushed Gwil’s legs out of the way so he could sit. “And while we’re on the subject of vampires, Simon said something that gave me a brain itch. What do you know about dragons?”
“Funny you should ask that, Solivatus told me Howard Squire was a wyvern.”
Hyax scowled and managed to stomp down on his initial reaction to demand what the fucker was doing and what he wanted from Gwil. “I hadn’t realised you’d seen him recently.”
