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CHAPTER TWELVE

H yax stood with arms crossed over his chest in a reception room at Crofton Hall. He’d returned from visiting the fae realm to find Karl waiting for him with a message that Gwil had been collected and would he be so kind as to join them at his earliest convenience. Meaning immediately.

He’d arrived through a portal into what he’d describe as an ambush as Alex was waiting for him, alongside a warlock of exceptional calibre. He could taste his magic, and a good measure of his capability even though he’d never met him before. Not to mention he wasn’t bad-looking, with black hair and bright eyes behind wire-framed glasses.

“What’s going on?” he demanded.

“Prince Hyax, I’m Senior Warlock Ashley Niven.” He held his hand out to shake, which Hyax did, Ashley’s magic making his own prickle. Ashley’s eyes widened and he cleared his throat. “Well, that explains why you were asked.”

“I haven’t been asked anything yet. I said I would help where I could with Prince Simon, but up until now there’s not been much said other than the vampires were likely to rush in like a bunch of idiots.”

Alex spluttered. “I don’t think we put it quite in those terms.”

Ashley laughed. “Although accurate. I’m Lord Crofton’s partner, I’m more than aware of how idiotic a vampire can be, but thankfully this isn’t Ben’s mess. The supreme pointy tooth, Sebastian Hewel, has made demands, and since most of us don’t want to suffer horribly at the hands of a creative amateur torturer, we’re pulling together.”

He’d met Sebastian at the wedding, nothing more than a courtesy greeting but Hyax knew enough not to want to get on his bad side, a few discreet enquiries had told him all he’d needed to know. “I guess I’m here to add a bit of fae magic into the proceedings. I’ve never tried to blend fae, elf and warlock energies—it might not be the outcome you were looking for.”

“Actually, I think it’ll be perfect. Our signatures will effectively block each other out and the potion will work better for the additional flavours.”

Hyax thought he was still missing the basics. “A potion for what?”

“Sebastian is convinced that there’s no way we can get into a facility guarded by a lich and extract Simon from the outside. He thinks we will need to infiltrate and that will require who we’re sending to have a little facial reconstruction so as not to be recognised.”

The plan was more sensible than he’d expected, liches lived long lives by being able to avoid being found in places they didn’t want to be. “Most transfiguration potions are short-lived. By adding our magic to the mix it would prolong the effects as well as mask them.”

“Exactly. And the familial connection won’t hurt either.”

Hyax didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean?”

“Well, Ben’s brewing the potion and Robin is one of his closest friends and House member. Jack, who will be going undercover as a porter, is my ex, and you’re banging Gwil.”

“Gwil? He’s not going anywhere near a lich deranged enough to think kidnapping a fae prince who’s also a dark viscount is a good idea.”

The door swung open, and Robin arrived, Gwil with him. “Ah, excellent, His Highness is here.”

“I’m about to leave and take my fiancé with me.” Hyax scowled. “I’ve just heard of a ridiculous scheme where you think Gwil is going to take an untested potion and swan into a lich’s lair.”

Gwil hurried over. “I’m more than happy to be part of this, Hyax. You said yourself we should help if we can.”

“I did not mean putting you in danger. How on earth do you think you’ll even get in?”

Robin stepped forward. “We’re in the process of concocting a backstory. The lich goes by the name of Dr Ralph Mettle. We believe he accepts patients on the basis of them having something useful, so in our case, we’re working on us being a couple, with some sort of sexually transmitted disease.”

Ashley bounced on his toes. “Oh, I’ve a good one for that. A nasty dose of a spectral infection contracted through a spell while shagging. There’s a version of the Nosferatu virus that’d be perfect.”

Hyax blinked several times as he processed the information. “Robin is going to give my boyfriend the ghost pox? You have to be shitting me? Absolutely not!”

“Of course I’m not going to give Gwil anything, I have a husband, and you know yourself about our bond.” Robin looked as angry as Hyax felt. “This will be part of the cover.”

Hyax bristled, he didn’t have an issue with Gwil pretending to be Robin’s boyfriend—it was the danger they were willing to put Gwil into without due consideration for Gwil’s safety. “It should have been pre-discussed.”

“Surely it’s Gwil’s decision if he wants to be involved,” Robin insisted.

“Don’t give me that,” Hyax snarled. “He’s a vampire, he can’t say no to his sire or family members of the Houses.”

Gwil placed a hand on his arm. “I’m grateful you care, and you’re right. So, I have to do it.”

Gwil’s expression asked him not to push this further so Hyax would drop his argument for now, then once they were alone, he’d be having words. “Then it’s a good job I’ll be involved so I can make sure my magic can protect you.”

He knew part of his reaction was not about the way the vampires treated each other, but the guilt he was carrying over Metra. He’d thought his parents would back off eventually, but they hadn’t and now there were more potential issues, and he had a duty to undertake, much like how Gwil must be perceiving his situation in recovering Simon.

“The potion is in preparation,” Alex said. “Lord Crofton is the principal brewer, and Ashley and myself are assisting.”

“When will it be ready?” Hyax asked.

“Tomorrow. Which means we’ve that long to perfect the magical blend and be ready to cast.”

They had barely any time. “That’s an aggressive timeline.”

Ashley huffed. “Tell me about it. We don’t have longer, I’ve just received word the meeting Gwil and Robin need to be at is in two days.”

“I’m not sure it can be done.”

“We’ve no choice. Sebastian is not someone you disappoint. Add in Liam Cartwright and you’ve the perfect storm on a homicidal power trip.”

He’d not had much to do with Liam, but he was James’s sire and while in theory it was the fae angle through James that had meant Hyax was helping, by the sound of it, Liam was another vampire he didn’t want to upset.

“Then the sooner we start the better,” Hyax said, admitting defeat.

“I’ve had a room made up for yourself and Mr Hilt,” Karl said. “I can collect any items from your abode if you should wish so.”

No way he was letting a demon rifle through his things. “I’ll go myself, a little later, there may be some other items that only I’ll be able to access depending on the discussions.”

“I’ve set up a workroom, I would suggest a light meal and then we get down to business,” Alex said.

“Gwil and I would like to freshen up, we can eat together and then I’ll join you.” He wanted some time alone with Gwil before the chaos started.

“Perfect,” Ashley said. “I’m going to discuss a few things with Jack and start the wheels rolling on a backstory, the sooner we have that, the sooner Gwil and Robin can make sure they know who they’re supposed to be.”

Robin excused himself. Hyax could see how losing Simon was affecting him. Most vampires were pale and drawn, but there was a bone-deep weariness about Robin that wasn’t due to being physically tired.

Karl escorted them to a lovely room overlooking the lawn, and he realised the sun was up. “Are the windows treated?” he asked Karl.

“Yes, the household is in the main nocturnal, but Lord Crofton has been known to keep odd hours when he’s experimenting.”

Karl disappeared in a cloud of black smoke and Hyax took the opportunity to pull Gwil into his arms. “I don’t want you getting hurt,” he said, brushing his cheek against Gwil’s hair.

“I’ll do my best not to. I know you worry, but I can make my own decisions.”

Karl reappeared and they stepped apart as he laid out a table. “I’ll leave you to it, if you need anything click your fingers and say my name and I’ll be here directly.”

Gwil picked up the bottle he’d been left and let loose a low whistle. “Danish, 27. Not had one of those before.”

“Does the age and country make that big a difference?” Hyax said, sitting at the table and spotting a selection of delightful-looking breads and a bottle of ambrosia.

“Massive variety. Oliver realised that he could blend the poor quality ones for a mass-produced product but then make a fortune on single vintages, and he mapped out the geographies and age profiles—he loved that side of it.”

Oliver Hoffman was Gwil’s ex-boyfriend and, although Hyax had never met him, he didn’t like him on principle. “And the Danish is good?”

“Supposed to be. Can’t imagine the Dark Earl of Crofton settling for shit blood.”

“You tend to get packs, not bottles.”

Gwil poured himself a glass. “Those are the blends. You might have missed the memo, but I’m not one of those posh types. I keep the nice blood for special occasions. Besides, I thought you’d be more grossed out by the idea, so I don’t exactly put them on display.”

“You have to eat, Gwil. I’ve always known you were a vampire. You don’t need to worry about the money, I can cover our expenditure.”

Gwil shrugged. “I could switch over. I don’t pay a mortgage any more since Flume signed over our place, but I spent so long being frugal that it’s a hard habit to break.”

He would need to spend some effort adapting Gwil to the finer side of life. As the Prince’s Beloved he should expect to receive the best, and Hyax would make sure of it. “Once we’re done finding the fairy prince, we’ll put some things in place.”

“I’m not going to stop working,” Gwil said, defiant. “I’m not with you to be a kept fucktoy.”

The conversation was not going in a direction he’d expected. “I don’t see you like that, and I enjoy working cases with you. That’ll never change.”

“You’re also not my keeper, and you overstepped earlier trying to stop me from going undercover. I don’t need you to fight my battles. Especially when it’s related to the vampire side of things.”

“I don’t want you hurt.”

“I won’t be. But it’s not just that, you’re still hung up over Solivatus, and I appreciate you’re trying not to overreact, and you know he’s my sire, I can’t change it.” He knocked back his blood. “Just like I have to accept you’re going to marry Metra.”

Hyax picked apart a bread roll filled with dried fruits and chewed slowly on small chunks, the silence sitting between them. He didn’t know what to say that would make things better. “I love you. I’m sorry for the Metra shit.”

“I love you, too. We’ll deal with it, but we need to work together. I’m not important to the likes of Robin Flint, but I can be useful and if we can get the support of those sorts of people it’ll help my reputation. Then maybe your mum might stop thinking I’m something she’d want to scrape off her shoe.”

“She isn’t that bad, and if she really wanted rid of you, you’d have disappeared into a fae portal, your vampire friends be damned.” He’d not told Gwil how she’d defended him.

“I don’t think that’s as reassuring as you think it should be.”

Hyax laughed. “Seriously, Gwil. She’s accepted you as the Prince’s Beloved, there’s never been a non-fae with the title before, and she even told Vaness you were here to stay and our involvement was non-negotiable. Now with all the suspicions relating to Elementa, I think we can capitalise on the situation.”

“If I were to be the one to find key evidence, that might help.”

Hyax had been thinking the same thing. “Half the rhetoric around you not being the right person for me is that I could be seen as being disloyal to my people, but helping uncover the ill intent of another tribe, that has to help them see you as a suitable partner.”

“I get your mum would know, but I doubt it’d ever be allowed to be public knowledge.”

“We’ll take what we can get.”

Gwil yawned, his nocturnal algorithm would be kicking in, whereas Hyax’s fae metabolism meant his need to sleep could be curtailed for much longer. “Why don’t you get some sleep? I’ll go and start working on whatever they’re cooking, and I’ll pop home and bring us back some things.”

“All right, there’s not much I can do to help with the hocus pocus unless there’s more of the dark stuff, especially if there’s blowjobs on offer.”

Hyax laughed. “I doubt it, balancing normal fae magic will be a challenge enough, adding in a vampire would release the chaos monkeys.”

“Heaven forbid.” Gwil stretched. Hyax loved the way Gwil’s body moved, but he wasn’t in the position to let his libido take charge. “I’m gonna have a shower and crash, wake me when you get back. I’m sure you’ll have a load of magic-fuelled sexual tension to work out if your reaction to Ashley was anything to go by.”

Hyax choked on the mouthful of ambrosia he chose that moment to drink. “What do you mean by that?”

“I could tell by the way you interacted that you were drawn to him. I don’t mind, I trust you not to act on any nice tingles, and I’m more than happy to pick up the strain.”

“It doesn’t work that way. I appreciate his magical prowess, nothing more.” Gwil was smirking, he didn’t understand. “I mean it. Don’t go confusing mutual respect for me wanting to jump someone’s bones.”

Gwil raised an eyebrow and Hyax got the distinct feeling he’d walked into a trap. “Same for my sire. I get we have a history, but my past is very much my past, and you’re my future.”

After a kiss to remind him he was Gwil’s and no one else’s, Hyax left him to get some rest and made his way downstairs to what he hoped wouldn’t be a day of magical mayhem. Given it would include an elf and a warlock, he could only hope it didn’t devolve into the punchline for a bad joke.