Page 9 of Bleeding for the Prince
“Which I only wear when I have a joint engagement.” He held up his wrist. “Not wearing it today. If you want me to wear something to mark our relationship, you know I’m willing.”
“I’m still trying to decide what would be for the best. You’ve got a jewellery collection to rival the Tower of London.”
Hyax hadn’t pushed for something, but after giving Gwil his collar, he’d been waiting, and it sounded like he would be waiting a while longer. “If it were from you, it would matter more to me than all the other pretty trinkets I own. Now finish getting dressed before we’re late.”
Gwil in a suit was one of his favourite sights, and this was a great fit, but he would love to get Gwil into something bespoke. Maybe it wouldn’t be just his fae wardrobe he’d have his tailor work on, as Gwil loved clothes almost as much as Hyax did.
He pulled Gwil in for a quick kiss, not able to resist combing his fingers through the dark curls at the nape of Gwil’s neck. “You’re wonderful. I’m looking forward to showing you off.”
Hyax opened a portal, took Gwil’s hand, and stepped into a quieter part of the palace’s grounds so as not to appear smack in the middle of the other guests. Hyax had to give Gwil a little tug to get him moving and saw his apprehension. “What’s wrong?”
“The last one of these things I went to was to secretly thank us for recovering the Stone of Ljin, but now I’m here as arm candy.”
As a prince of the realm, he had certain duties, but Hyax wasn’t next in line to the throne, so he wouldn’t be running the place, and he wondered if Gwil had some twisted idea of his importance. Gwil had only limited exposure to the fae world—he’d visited a few times, but he hadn’t exactly been welcomed with open arms. Hyax thought he might be surprised at the reaction he’d get, and he’d not been to a formal event at Hyax’s home since the wedding.
“You’re an important guest, Gwil. Act like one, you’ll be fine.”
Gwil seemed to be able to speak to anyone to get what he needed for his job. He’d been undercover more than once and had been up against some dangerous people; he shouldn’t be nervous about eating canapés and drinking ambrosia. The fae world didn’t even fuck up Gwil’s anatomy, and he would be able to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine, which would have been impossible back in London.
Hyax spotted his mother and headed in her direction, guests moving out of the way and bowing as they passed. Queen Talia smiled when she saw them approach and kissed them bothin welcome. Although he didn’t miss her quick up-and-down appraisal of Gwil, he couldn’t read whether she approved or not of how he was dressed.
She was talking to several members of her security council, including a man called Rohi, one of her most senior ministers. Each of them bowed to him and then to Gwil. “We are pleased to see you could join us today, Mr Hilt,” Rohi said.
Gwil’s face was a picture, already on the back foot at being bowed to, he was now being addressed as if he were as important as anyone else here. “It’s always a pleasure to visit Prince Hyax’s home.”
“Well, as the Prince’s Beloved, this is your home as well,” Rohi said with a smile. “I understand further congratulations are in order regarding your recent membership of the Jyndarin Society.”
News travelled fast, and gossip of that quality would have reached supersonic speed.
“I was just recently accepted, so I haven’t had the chance to attend their premises in person,” Gwil said. “The last few days have been busy, but I have plans to visit later this week.”
Hyax was as interested as Gwil about getting inside the Jyndarin Society, not that Hyax was convinced anything world-shattering happened on their premises, but being allowed somewhere they hadn’t been before fascinated the fuck out of them both.
Several other people came over to offer felicitations to Gwil. Hyax whispered out of the side of his mouth when he could to give Gwil a chance to know who they were and their importance. Most of them Gwil wouldn’t recognise, but would be able to take a stab at their place in society by their rank or title.
Gwil was engaged in a lively discussion about the way to trace a missing person when magical options were limited, when Hyax’s mother tapped him on the shoulder. “Can you spare yourmother a few minutes? Maybe a stroll around the quieter parts of the garden?”
She must have had something she wanted to talk to him about, but didn’t want to leave her guests, so he offered her his arm. “The starry magnolias will be blooming soon. Let’s enjoy them together.”
She muttered something and he felt the ripple of a muffling spell wash over him. His mother wasn’t taking any chances, even though they were safely out of earshot. “Gwil appears to be enjoying himself,” she said.
“I think he’s surprised at the reaction the fae court has to him—he was expecting to be treated like my bit of fluff.”
“Based on his previous experiences, it’s not unexpected that he’d think that. And until he witnessed anything different, you wouldn’t have been able to persuade him otherwise. He’s almost as stubborn as you.”
“When you get to know him better, you’ll realise he’s more stubborn. I’m grateful he is, as we might not be together if he weren’t.”
She squeezed his arm. “I’m pleased you have found someone to make you happy. I know you wished to marry him, but his title of Prince’s Beloved doesn’t preclude you from doing so in the future… I have some interesting developments on a potential change to your situation.”
He’d fought her over his marriage, but the political pressure had been too great in the end. Metra had become his husband, and Talia had been apologetic and said it didn’t have to be forever. “In what way? Am I about to become a widower?”
“Not unless you have hired yourself an assassin. But with Gwil’s new credentials, he might have the capabilities to do so.”
When they’d first started working together, Gwil had taken cases Hyax hadn’t been involved with, and he suspected he would have the contacts already, but wouldn’t havedared use them for fear of repercussions. “You have always underestimated him.”
“You’re right. Although his rise in the vampire ranks is recent, perhaps he may need a touch of guidance to ensure he makes the most of his new opportunities. As I said before, it’s not that I didn’t like him, but he was unsuitable for your status. That’s not the case now, or won’t be for long.”
“Bit late for that. I’m married to Metra.”
