Page 43 of Bleeding for the Prince
She shook her head. “It is a matter of respect. I just wish I hadn’t got so much splatter on the dress. I’m not sure it’s saveable.”
A bit like his sanity if he were to continue with this conversation. “I’m sure you’ve plenty of others.”
“That’s not the point. Now, less about me. Let’s pretend you didn’t call me for a specific reason and try some small talk before I get the good stuff out of you. How do you like Bled?”
He liked that he didn’t have to pretend with Penelope; she still let him lead into conversations he wanted to have. “It’s nice enough, I suppose. To be honest, it’s more about being allowed in than being in here, that’s the big thing for me.”
“True, you’ve gone from zero access to being welcomed in the good places in a relatively short timeframe. You should know you’re going to have to take me to the Jyndarin Society, or I won’t forgive you for getting membership when I’ll never qualify.”
She sounded light-hearted, but he wasn’t stupid enough not to realise she was serious. “You know I will.”
“Good. Now, how are the fairies treating you?” she asked, and he realised she wasn’t trying to be condescending but had just missed the mark.
“If you mean Hyax’s tribe and fae court, then I’m far more surprised there than being allowed to drink in a nice bar.”
She raised an eyebrow. “That does sound intriguing. I assume that’s why we’re here this evening. You know I’m keen to make sure my big brother is being treated well, especially as his lover went off and married another bloke.”
The fae might understand the importance of his new title, but part of his issue was that no one else would, and his sister had proved his suspicions. “Apparently, Prince’s Beloved is a proper rank, not just Hyax’s side piece.”
“Queen Talia has a harem, so I suppose it shouldn’t be too surprising that a favourite would be treated differently. Best little whore in the whorehouse. So to speak.”
“I don’t think the concubines get invited to swanky dinners,” he said, trying not to get annoyed at Penelope thinking what he had expected her to think. “They are treated well, get fancy clothes and expensive gifts, but they’re not asked for their opinion on issues of state or escorted around with the Security Council. At least from my experience.”
“Now that is different,” she said. “Have either of his parents got an equivalent of you? King or Queen’s beloved?”
Opali had told him the history of the title and how it wasn’t widely used. Hyax’s parents played a very public couple, andthey had rules around the harem members, but no one was as important as their spouse. But he’d not asked any questions about his boyfriend’s parents’ sex life. “No.”
“Then you’re special, Gwil. And you should find a way to capitalise on it.”
“I’m not sure I want to capitalise on fae politics. I like the idea of being more important in vampire society, but there is only so much I will achieve in the fae world without wings and magic.”
She pouted. “That’s debatable. Look at Robin Flint. But is this the problem? You’re worried that you’re only ever going to be the Prince’s Beloved and not his husband? I do know you’re at least making noises about being displeased with Hyax still being married to someone else.”
“He’s no happier than I am about Metra, but it’s not his current husband that’s caused the most recent friction.” He played with his glass. Penelope would be able to tell him if he’d overreacted, like he suspected, or if he was right to be annoyed at not being told Hyax’s history.
“Go on, spill.”
“Due to my position, I’m being given support to learn more about the fae ways. I was told Hyax was betrothed at birth to the future queen of one of the other tribes, but she died when they were both still kids by fae standards, and so he lost that chance to be king. I was annoyed at a couple of other things, and I asked him if he was making a big fuss over me to cover for him settling for a vampire when he could have had a queen.”
Penelope blinked several times, knocked back her wine and stared at him. “For fuck’s sake, Gwil, are you such a self-loathing prick that you actually believe that bollocks?”
He’d wanted her opinion, and he couldn’t complain now he’d got it. “I was being a knob, I accept that. My real issue is he didn’t think to tell me.”
“Right, how long ago was this? You mentioned him being young, so we’re not talking last week.”
“A few centuries back.”
Penelope poked him in the chest. “You are out of order and need to apologise.”
“Yeah, I know. Metra had turned up at a place we were at, and they were fighting, then someone else was the sister of an ex-boyfriend, and we were bickering. He was being pissy, and I threw this whole settling at him in retaliation.”
She shook her head. “Sounds like you’ve got a lot of things that are challenging your belief of what Hyax thinks of you. You’ve never been so happy as you are with him, and you’re seeing a risk to that happiness.”
She hadn’t reached her place in society by not being able to read a situation.
“You’re right, and I need to accept that being the Prince’s Beloved is as good as being his husband, but that’s difficult as it’s not how I was raised or how vampires behave.”
Her stance softened. “You’re still shaking off your Victorian sensibilities at times, and you often don’t think you’re worthy of all the good things that come your way. I blame our mother for that. But I think if you could get rid of Metra, that would help. I thought the marriage would be on the temporary side.”
