Page 84 of Bleeding for the Prince

Hyax made a low cooing noise. It was rare that something like a drink could render him speechless.

“I’ll leave you to your evening. There’s a button under the table if you need anything.”

Gwil was keen to be left alone with Hyax. “I wonder what our next case will bring us.”

“Hopefully not another dragon.”

“We’ve had worse cases, and at least I didn’t have to drink the potion this time.”

Hyax’s eyes shone with excitement. “Who knows what I’ll be able to brew with a consultation with the Alchemist. It’s going to take me ages to narrow down the ones I want to try.”

“Well, I’m more than happy to bleed for you again if you need me to.”

“And me for you. Within reason.”

The club had a soft jazz beat. Gwil relaxed, sipping his drink and enjoying the moment. He would’ve never believed how well his afterlife would turn out. But here he was sitting in the best club in London, next to a beautiful fae prince who he could call his own.

“I could get used to this.”

“There’s no reason why you shouldn’t. But be prepared, your social engagements are only going to increase. Once you’ve completed your etiquette lessons, you’ll be expected to be even more present.”

He’d only had one and hadn’t thought Opali would be keen to do more. “Do I really need them?”

“You need to be seen to have had them. Opali can tutor you in fae history and politics. There are a few specific things that wouldn’t hurt you knowing, such as solstice banquet behaviour and holiday traditions.”

“I don’t mind, but you’re going to be king one day. Surely, you can get me out of some of it?”

Hyax chuckled. “I wouldn’t go banking on that for a while. Let’s see if my mother goes off the idea. She’s not scared to make big changes, but this will need to be well-vetted.”

Gwil had been surprised at Hyax’s reaction to the suggestion. “You sound like you wouldn’t mind either way.”

“It’s more like I’m not going to worry about something until it happens. We’ve enough going on without getting hung up about what might happen centuries from now.”

“Sometimes I forget you’re not a blond bimbo.”

“Cheeky fucker!”

Gwil leant in, stealing a kiss. He loved kissing Hyax, but he had other plans, so he would need to control himself a while longer.

“You know I’ve been wanting to get you something special.” He removed the silk-wrapped packet from his inside pocket. “I worked with a designer and a specialist craftsman. I hope you like them.”

He was excited to see what Hyax would think of his gift, and worried in case he’d missed the mark. Hyax had so many beautiful things, and Gwil didn’t want these to be just another something gathering dust.

Hyax untied the ribbon and peeled back the silk cloth, laying it out on the table. He let out a gentleohas he saw the earrings. He picked one up. “Gwil, they’re beautiful. Oh my god! They’ve got little fangs.”

Gwil knew Hyax would have appreciated the humour behind the specific design feature. “You won’t find another pair like them.”

Hyax removed the earrings he was wearing. “Help me put them on.”

The fae loved to adorn themselves with pretty things, and their ears were special. Gwil carefully slid the platinum backbone over the shell of Hyax’s ear and positioned the fangs so they were prominent. He did the same on the other side.

Hyax conjured himself a mirror pane and admired his new additions. “They are superb, I love them.”

“I know they’re not practical for everyday use, but I thought they might make a nice statement, y’know, whenever you had to be seen out with Metra.”

“Marked by my vampire, eh?”

“Possibly.”

Hyax smiled. “Hopefully, there won’t be many future events. My parents will be hosting the Calanti tribe soon, so this is our chance to put your plan into action to have King James challenge my marriage. My arranged, loveless marriage is an insult when I have a vampire as my Prince’s Beloved and I’m his Eternal.”

Hyax had told him of the conversation he’d interrupted with his mother and King James, and he had thought it the perfect opportunity. “Do you think it will happen soon?”

“My mother intimated it could be as soon as a matter of weeks.” Hyax slid his hand onto Gwil’s cheek. “Then I will be a divorcee with an open position for a husband.”

“No open place. That’s mine.”

They shared a kiss. Gwil moaned softly into the embrace. There was a light at the end of the tunnel when it came to Hyax’s marriage to Metra, and he would be at Hyax’s side to support him through whatever crazy changes Queen Talia would make. He stared into Hyax’s eyes and fell even further in love. He was one lucky bastard. And he would relish every day he had with Hyax, the highs, the lows, even the weird bits as there was nothing he wouldn’t do for his prince.