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Chris wanted Jack to be here now, he said he would be coming soon, and he’d been told by the surly guard that he was supposed to be getting visitors. They’d spoken a couple of times via the jar, but it was no replacement for having a real Jack he could touch. He wanted a kiss and cuddle. Chris was wondering if they could get a damn sight more as he did have a serviceable bed when the door opened and the guard showed in Prince Simon and Jack.

He was sure he’d never moved as fast in his life as he ignored Simon and flung himself at Jack, who just about managed to stop them both from toppling to the floor.

The guard tutted. “You’ve fifteen minutes. Then Counsel Marqu is expecting Counsel Webb.”

Chris didn’t care, he’d had a brief meeting with Marqu. She’d thought him inferior to herself, and she was very pretty, exactly like every other fae he’d met.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Chris said, clinging tighter.

“I’ve missed you too,” Jack replied, his face buried in Chris’s hair.

Only once the guard had left did Chris pull back and kiss Jack, and they broke apart panting at the sound of Simon clearing his throat. “Gentlemen, as wonderful as it is to see two lovers united, we don’t have much time.”

Chris dragged Jack over to the bed and sat as close as possible, his wings getting in the way, Jack seemed entranced by them. “They’re beautiful. They’ve got a blueish hue.”

“Not as pretty as Simon’s,” Chris said. “His are silver.”

Jack didn’t appear to know what to say to that and Simon came to his aid. “We all have our favourites. Now, we need to discuss the trial.”

“Have you details, because I have to say they’ve not been telling me much,” Chris admitted.

“I was told you spoke to Counsel Marqu,” Simon said. “She would have had information she could have shared.”

“I didn’t ask as I figured she’d only bend the truth and I wouldn’t be much wiser whatever she told me.”

Jack laughed. “You’re probably not wrong.”

“We haven’t been given long to prepare, and they’ve begrudgingly granted you a meeting with your counsel, and that’s because I’m here to keep an eye on you. The fae are trying to find just reasons to condemn you and put you back in your jar. We need to make sure we have counterarguments.”

Chris had expected something of this nature and with little else to do, he’d been able to give his potential defence some thought. “You said my jar would be evidence, I don’t think I would have been allowed to leave it if I were still considered dangerous.”

“Yes, and you were once tethered, being able to leave it as a spirit and when you were corporeal you didn’t need it at all,” Simon said. “You’ve been sentient for a long time, and over the years evolved and not caused further problems.”

“I think we need to consider first principles here,” Jack said. “Are we going to contest that Chris is Christopholous? Because from a legal standing, Christopholous is considered a myth and his actions are therefore also legends… meaning they are not provable and therefore could be non-admissible.”

Chris loved how Jack’s mind worked.

“It could be one argument,” Simon said. “But based on what I’ve heard, we’d be better off not denying Chris was who he used to be. Although there has been no suggestion of using a truth spell. If they were to consider he was lying they could, and when it came out that wouldn’t cast him in a good light. I recommend concentrating on the premise that Christopholous has evolved into Chris, the light elf, and has served his sentence. He is repentant and would not repeat his actions.”

Chris had thought it would be tricky for him to deny who he was, he wasn’t that good at lying as he’d not needed to learn, and he was worried about the approach if they were to catch him lying. “What if they think I’m still a danger? I have magic, and while I have no intent to cause harm, that doesn’t mean I couldn’t.”

“There is part of the punishment they could argue hasn’t been completed,” Jack said. “You’ve not been bound to someone, and if you were bound to me then I would be the one to prevent any potential nastiness you could do with your magic.”

“I’m more than happy to be yours, Jack.” Chris loved him. “I’d consider it an honour as long as you want to bond to me and not just out of duty.”

“I’d bond to you to keep you safe, but I’d bond to you even if I didn’t have to.”

Jack stroked his wings and a bolt of pure lust charged through him. “Ooohhhh.”

Simon laughed. “Our wings are super sensitive, I would avoid any touching of his wings in public, or if you want him to concentrate on anything other than getting laid.”

Jack smirked but moved his hand. “Sorry.”

Chris took several long breaths to will away his erection. He’d be adding wing play to their bedroom antics as soon as it was feasible.

“Given my physiology,” Simon began, and Chris had to try really hard to listen, “I’ll be asked to perform the bond. Something to entwine your magic, and it’ll anchor via your cores.”

“Warlocks don’t bond to people in general,” Jack said. “I’ve seen several ceremonies and read extensively on the matter, but how would what you cast for me and Chris differ from if we were being bonded for a more romantic or matrimonial reason?”

“To be honest, there’s not much apart from the starting point. With other bonds, their entwining has usually already commenced on some level and the celebrant is encouraging the final grafting.”

“I’m sure our magic is compatible, it might just take a little longer, by the sounds of it,” Jack said.

“As long as a bond won’t cause Jack any damage,” Chris said. “I won’t have him hurt.”

“There’ll be a bit of tugging on both sides, but I’m not expecting anything painful,” Simon reassured him. “But bonds aren’t unidirectional, they might favour one partner but there’ll be some level of reciprocation on Jack’s part.”

Chris hadn’t thought it would work both ways. “He’d be able to control me in case I go rogue.”

“Yes, and in return if he goes to the dark side, you can reel him back to the light,” Simon said. “Not that I’ve seen any evidence of that, although I’ve heard Jack’s not afraid to navigate the grey spaces for the greater good.”

Chris liked that Jack had layers, and knew he was the sort of man who would do what needed to be done, even if it wasn’t the easiest or the nicest path. “Then I’ll be in good hands, the old me did some terrible things, and if there is any chance I could be heading that way again, I’d expect him to take action to prevent it.”

The door swung open and the guard returned, Chris didn’t want Jack to leave. “It can’t be time yet.”

“Calm yourself,” he growled. “I have been requested to ask His Highness if he has a moment, Adjudicator Quint would like to discuss something.”

Simon stood. “Yes, I’ll go to the office I was assigned, he can visit me there.”

Simon was very regal as he swept out. He did have lovely wings, but Chris wasn’t going to be distracted now he had Jack on his own as they wouldn’t have much time.

Jack must have read his mind, or at least had the same idea as he returned the kiss Chris landed on him with equal ferocity. Chris whimpered as Jack’s hands caressed the edge of his wings. “Oh fuck.”

The wave of lust made it hard to think and then Jack slid one hand into his trousers and over his arse. His hips had a mind of their own and he rutted against Jack as he continued to run his fingers up and down the edge of Chris’s wings.

Chris’s mind seemed to short-circuit. He knew he’d had plenty of sex in his past life, although most of it wasn’t about love but about fucking and power, and he didn’t remember his wings ever being treated with such reverence. His whole body felt as if it was trapped in a cascade of pleasure and he cried out as his orgasm hit, collapsing forwards and burying his face in Jack’s hair.

He lay there for several moments, Jack holding him and kissing the top of his head. He pulled back and he felt a rush of embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come like that, or use you.”

Jack chuckled. “I have no problem with you using me in that manner, it’s a joy to watch you fall apart and see you bliss out.”

“I promise, the first chance we get, I will make you feel as wonderful as you make me feel.”

They untangled themselves, and Jack performed a quick cleaning spell that left Chris with a pleasant tingle. “I need to go, it’s best I don’t antagonise the prosecuting counsel.”

“Do you know them? Marqu?”

“No, the fae, and to be fair most species, don’t tend to open their legal processes to the outside, while I’ve met a few members of their legal hierarchy, Marqu hasn’t been one of them. I know of her though, she has an excellent reputation. The fae are using their best.”

“But then I’ve got you, and so I’ve got the same.”

Jack kissed him and rolled off the bed. “I probably won’t see you again before you appear in court. If I can, I’ll contact you via the jar.”

Jack hammered on the door and the guard let him out. Chris was alone. He curled up on the bed and breathed in Jack’s lingering scent. Once all this was over, he would never want to be parted from him again.

* * *

Jack had gone into the legal profession for many reasons. He liked the research and putting together strategies and sound arguments. He enjoyed defending people who were being wrongly accused, and most of all he liked wiping the smiles off arrogant arsehole’s faces.

“Counsel Webb, I know you are well-versed in the legalese of your own realm, but this is the fae world, so if there’s anything unclear, please let me know and I will try to explain it down to a suitable level.”

Counsel Marqu would have been a beautiful fae, but her snide and unnecessary comments left a nasty taste in Jack’s mouth. He could have still been with Chris, enjoying his spaced-out expression and playing with his wings, but instead, he was having to play nice with an individual who was so far up her own arse she could see her own tonsils.

“I assure you I have no concerns with such a simplistic legal system. Nor have I any issue with understanding mythology, supposition and fantasy, or the need to tweeze apart the facts and whatever fallacy has been manufactured to the detriment of my client.”

“Your client is not all that he seems, and you should be as wary of him as he is hiding more than he is admitting to.”

Chris wasn’t hiding anything, he had done as Jack had suggested and answered the questions they’d asked and not been forthcoming with additional truths that hadn’t been directly requested. He’d first thought outright denial might have been an option, but Simon was right and there would be better ways to win Chris’s freedom. That didn’t mean he would rise to Marqu’s bait-and-switch tactics.

“There are several things at play here. Firstly, is whether my client is the mythological warlord known as Christopholous. Secondly, if found to be Christopholous without reasonable doubt, then the source material against which he will be charged is equivalent to the Big Book of Made-Up Tales for Kiddiewinks . And thirdly, if the charges are to be upheld, and he is deemed to be Christopholous and committed those charges, he would have served the original sentence and repented for his crimes. Meaning there is no way that my client should not walk out of the fae realm as anything other than a free man.”

Her nostrils flared. “I do hope you will keep this hyperbole out of the judging chamber.”

“You’ll find I’m only just getting started. This whole trial is a complete farce.”

She sniffed and her wings vibrated. “I happen to agree with you.”

He had intended another long follow-up sentence, but her words took the wind out of his sails. “I beg your pardon.”

“You are correct in your summing up of the situation. This whole case is ridiculous and an embarrassment to the fae legal system.” She pursed her lips, annoyed. “Having interviewed your client, I believe it is the case that he was Christopholous at one time but when he came out of the jar, he was most definitely Chris. His magic is that of a light elf, and as such he must have repented for his crimes.”

Maybe she was playing with him, to throw him off his game. “Then why is this trial going ahead?”

“Because no matter what realm, politicians will use this sort of nonsense for their own devices.” She scowled. “This is an insult to my profession, and I would much rather have come up against you in a proper trial.”

“I don’t know what to say to that.”

“I don’t particularly like warlocks, but I do respect you,” she said, without a hint of sarcasm. “Your record is quite impressive, and Chris couldn’t have hoped for better counsel.”

Time to change tactics, she wasn’t taking the piss as far as he could tell and she was annoyed at the position she’d been put in. “So, what happens next?”

“We go through the motions of a trial. I will represent the fae tribes as requested but I won’t be forced to play stupid games. I can’t promise you the judges or Adjudicator Quint will do the same.”

“You’re not a fan of Quint?”

Her wings vibrated again. “No. He’s been promoted into a role he has no business being in. I believe the humans have the term nepo baby.”

“I’ve no time for those sorts of individuals. I’ll try not to enjoy myself too much as I win the case.” He grinned. “Maybe at a later date, you’d like to help me write a case study for a peer-reviewed journal.”

“If I have my way, I will have my name expunged from being associated with this drivel.”

Jack doubted this would ever become public record. “I look forward to meeting you in court, Counsel Marqu.”

“I bet you do. Just don’t be too smug.” She opened a portal. “I’m afraid you’ll have to leave now. And for the record, I know you’re more than his counsel, and under fae law, there’s no stipulation against representing your lover. Don’t let anyone tell you any different.”

Jack stepped through the portal and into the reception hall of Crofton Hall. Ashley raced downstairs. “So, how did it go?”

He realised that much of what he’d done had been fuelled by adrenaline, and a wave of tiredness hit. “I’m not taking anything for granted but I’m a lot happier than before I went. Any chance you can brew me another one of those nexus-level energy quench-thirst guzzlers? I’m going to need a boost before the trial.”

“Of course. Now, how about we have Karl get you some dinner and draw you a bath.”

He needed to switch off for a few hours, a bath and something to eat would be perfect, and then he could get some sleep and be in the best condition to make sure he brought Chris home.