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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

G wil had succumbed to Penelope’s fine whisky collection and more of the amazing blood so had decided to spend the day. They’d talked, rambling conversations that were long overdue, some from before they were turned, others from during the time they were estranged. He’d been honest about how he’d pretty much put up with a whole raft of interfering parents if he got to keep Hyax. He’d woken up to a dead phone with a cracked screen that he couldn’t charge, and the need to do something useful, so he’d called in on a client on the way back to Spitalfields.

One pineapple-loving poltergeist ferret dealt with, he headed home, wondering if Hyax was back or if he was still playing wedding prep back in the fae realm. Somehow, he didn’t think he was going to see much of him for the next week or two.

He was surprised to see Hyax in the living room. Gwil was in no mood to fight. He just wanted to spend the time they had together and he thought it best to try to show an interest without being an arsehole. Hyax didn’t want any of this shit either. “How are plans coming along?”

Hyax shot to his feet as Gwil threw his door keys on the table. “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick.”

“I didn’t think you’d be back yet, not with all the preparations,” he admitted.

Hyax looked pained. “You could have told me where you were. I left the reception as early as I could. You weren’t here and not answering your phone.”

Gwil held up his phone. He needed to assure Hyax he hadn’t ignored him deliberately but tell where he’d ended up. “It’s buggered. Look, I needed to take my mind off a few things. Went out to a place to live feed and Penelope turned up and dragged me back to hers. I spent the day there and then went and cleared out the poltergeist ferret, did you know they liked pineapple?”

“No.” Hyax frowned, he probably wasn’t expecting the change of topic or that Gwil was being so reasonable. “Did you lace it with an exorcism potion?”

“Yeah, worked a treat.” He shrugged off his jacket, the conversation more polite than normal and he hated it. “I didn’t mean to worry you, I just needed a bit of headspace. Penelope was surprisingly understanding and even said that she’d like us to spend more time together. I’m worthy enough these days.”

“I’m sure she didn’t put it quite like that.”

“Near enough.” Her tone had changed a little over the evening, and by the end, he’d felt he’d been able to really talk to her. “But there’s not many people who can understand our situation, so it was nice to have a friendly ear.”

Hyax stepped closer, he was nervous and Gwil hated that Hyax would feel that way. “You know you can talk to me. I won’t keep anything from you I’ll tell you every last detail if that’s what you want.”

“Not sure I do,” Gwil said, sometimes it was better not to know everything, especially when once he was supposed to be the one who would be marrying Hyax. “It’s kinda hard to think about you preparing for a ceremony that I had hoped would be ours and not just yours.”

“There’s not going to be too many of the traditions, things are moving too fast and I won’t do things that are meant to have symbolic meaning with someone I don’t love.” He stepped closer and took Gwil’s hand. “We’ve yet to finalise the wording for the vows, but there’ll be no mention of love or devotion, or even a long-term commitment.”

They hadn’t had a chance to discuss what the ceremony would entail, but when Hyax had described the fae customs they might use the options had seemed limitless, and he supposed there would be something that would cover every reason for a couple getting married.

“Even if there were I know you wouldn’t mean them, though I won’t pretend it won’t be hard to hear them.” Watching Hyax say the vows to Metra might be the hardest thing he would ever have to do.

“I would understand if you’d rather not attend.”

He’d rather be anywhere else. He knew Hyax was trying to give him an out, but it would feel far too much like he was abandoning Hyax when he needed him most.

“I’ll be there. I won’t leave you to face this on your own, and as you’ve said, I’m the Prince’s Beloved, so being there is a statement in itself.”

Hyax kissed him and all Gwil wanted was to lose himself in his arms but they had too much to discuss before that could happen.

“I fucking love you, Gwil. I’ll make this up to you, I promise.”

“You have nothing to make up for—none of this is of your doing. Someone is manipulating the situation to get you and Metra together.”

Hyax pulled back. “Gwil… what have you heard?”

“Penelope has a theory, I think she’s crazy but I’m going to ask Copperpipe to have a root around.” He could hardly believe he was going to say this. “She thinks Hoffman is bankrolling the Elementa, and his price to do so is to get you married and out of the way.”

“Hoffman, as in your ex?”

He knew it sounded stupid, but it was a line of enquiry, and he would follow it through. “There aren’t too many people with the sort of money who could prop up a royal family, but he’s one.”

“But why?”

“This is why it’s a stupid premise. Because if you’re with Metra, then you’re not with me. I mean, there has to be another reason, or another explanation because, y’know, it can’t be because of me.”

Hyax shook his head. “You always underestimate your worth, Gwil. I’d tear the heavens apart for you.”

His relationship with Oliver was nothing like what he had with Hyax. “Hoffman and I parted ways years ago, he’s never hinted he regretted it and he dates models and actors. If he’s behind this, which I’m not convinced, then there’s more to it than him wanting to stop us being together.” He wouldn’t believe it until he got proof and even then he’d want it triple-verified. “But for now, we just need to get through the next week.”

Hyax stroked his cheek. “I spoke to Simon, he offered to be your plus-one for the wedding.”

Gwil didn’t know how Hyax would have got the chance. “Prince Simon? When did you speak to him?”

“He dialled into my mirror. Don’t ask me to explain how, just he’s got new gifts and he used them to let me know what happened with the lich and to offer his support.”

He liked the idea of having someone with him who was on his side. Not that he knew Simon, he was the Viscount of MacLove and therefore Gwil was nowhere near his equal. “He’d do that for me?”

“Yes. For both of us. We’re part of the reason he’s home, and he won’t forget that. Having him there will make waves, even without him being with you, because of his tribe, but adding you into the equation will cause an even bigger stir.”

Gwil laughed, realising the game Hyax was playing. “You want me and Simon to upstage your wedding.”

“Why not? It’s not like I care. I haven’t mentioned Simon’s attendance to my parents yet as all the tribes would have been sent an invite out of respect. They won’t be expecting the Calanti to accept but they can’t rescind his invitation. I just need to let them know he’ll be sitting with you.”

“Perhaps, since you’re embracing a new wave of honesty, you might want to tell her about you and Metra dating way back. Given all the other shit flying around, it’s barely worth a second whisper.”

Hyax nodded. “I had wanted to find a different way to sidestep the consummation, and if I’d had more time, I’m sure I would have found something, but I can’t see another option.”

“What do think your mum will say?”

“I’m not sure. The sneaking around and with an enemy of the tribe is far more akin to treason than anything I’ve done with you.”

Gwil had put Hyax and Metra’s fling in a category alongside Romeo and Juliet, but with less poison and daggers, but in reality, it would have caused a far bigger fallout at the time.

“Even with us marrying, I’m not sure it wouldn’t be an issue if it became public knowledge now.” He bit his lip. “I did think I could leverage it as a way to get out of the wedding but the clusterfuck it’d cause would be too dramatic.”

“What? Too dramatic even for you?”

Hyax shoved him and laughed. “Cheeky shit.”

He lunged forward and kissed Hyax, pouring his love and desire into his kiss. “Let’s go to bed. We can figure everything else out later.”