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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

H yax reread the vows for a third time, making sure there was nothing hidden in the language that might be construed as romantic or a declaration of love. The words about loyalty weren’t directed to each other, but to their tribes, and the continued building of a relationship was about their people, not what they would experience.

“Hyax, if you keep reading that you’ll burn a hole through the page.” He was in his mother’s private office, going over several items and ensuring he was happy. She handed him another piece of paper. “Finalised guest list. When were you going to tell me?”

He looked down the list of names and saw Prince Simon with a note about Gwil and seating arrangements. “It’s only natural, given the service I performed, that Simon would wish to attend as a show of thanks and solidarity.”

“Right, and that he will be seated with the Prince’s Beloved?” She raised an eyebrow. “He is recently married himself. I would have thought he’d have brought his husband.”

“Robin’s a busy man. And Simon’s representing a fae tribe, not the vampires, which could be perceived to be Robin’s position.”

“If he is sitting with Gwil, then Prince Simon is broadcasting his allegiance loud and clear.”

Hyax smirked. “I suppose he is.”

“I see as well that you’ve vetoed having a collar bearer. That’s usually a specific role.”

“I’ve already stipulated I won’t exchange collars. We can do the ribbons and a bangle, and that’s coming off the minute the reception is over. I will not be marked as his or have him marked as mine.”

“Hyax,” Talia said, his voice softer than he’d expected. “You do need to make some compromises.”

“I’ve compromised enough by marrying Metra. I’ll be there in my finery, say the words and attend the reception, but that’s all I’m willing to do.”

“I know we are concerned about the origins of the request for this marriage, but Metra seems a reasonable young man. You might grow fond of him over time.” She sat and placed her hand on his arm. “We also need to discuss your wedding night. I know it is an uncomfortable topic, and I’m sure you’ve spoken to Gwil, but there is a consummation element.”

He had intended to tell her and now was as good a time as any. “I’m not going to fuck Metra and before you say anything, he’s not going to fuck me.”

“Hyax—”

“No, Mother, there’s something I need to admit to, and I don’t think you’ll be too happy about it. But it’s why I know I’ll never grow fond of Metra, I doubt we’ll ever even be friends.”

“I…”

“Just listen, because it is already mortifying to have to discuss my sex life with my mother.” He squeezed her hand. “It’s more than fifteen years ago now, and we were still technically at war with the Elementa, but Metra and I were seeing each other.”

“What?”

“It was a secret, creeping about trying not to get caught was part of the thrill. I thought I loved him, but in retrospect, I loved the excitement, and so I don’t need to consummate our relationship, as it’s already been done. I’ve checked every bylaw, caveat and covenant, and there is no stipulation that the consummation has to come after the wedding in fae law.”

She stared at him, and he had no idea which way this would go. He decided to stay quiet and let her process. “Before I say something I might regret, if you were so… cordial… with him before, why all the animosity now? And you having Gwil doesn’t explain it, because you could have been nice to Metra and shown empathy for your shared situation.”

His mother wasn’t stupid, and he thought she might have already guessed. “I caught him with someone else. Metra claimed it was him trying to cover our tracks, and only admitted he’d been unfaithful a few days ago. He even sent his little friend to talk to Gwil to have Gwil convince me I’d been wrong about him.”

“You thought you were in a committed and closed relationship?”

His parents had lovers, they cared for each other but there was no intent for them to be monogamous. “Yes. At the time I thought that once the tribes reconciled we could be together. I was in love, or thought myself to be, and it hurt a great deal.”

“I see. Obviously, this is a breach of protocol and not a matter for public consumption. Although, fortuitously, you could be considered to have no need for a wedding night with Metra.”

She was taking this far better than he’d hoped. “And you can understand, even if it wasn’t for Gwil, I wouldn’t want to partake in many of the traditional customs.”

“Of course. I liked your father a great deal, we love each other in our own particular way, but you would never have that with a man who betrayed you. It is one thing to make a mistake and be remorseful, another to lie for years and try and convince someone they were wrong.” She took back the sheet with names. “I think I will ask to ensure our special guests are a little closer to the front.”

She couldn’t be outwardly negative about his and Metra’s marriage but there were little ways she could show her support of her son.

“I’d like that.”

“I’m sorry we can’t stop this, and we will present ourselves as we must, but the more I think about it the more I am convinced we will find a way to get you an ex-husband soon enough.”

“Have you any more insights into why the Elementa were so insistent?”

“The concerns about going to war were false, there have been no escalations of ill will between the tribes, there have been some skirmishes on the borders, but they were staged, and then there appeared to be a huge deficit in their budget that has since miraculously gone.”

Gwil had said the vampires had discovered something similar. He’d agreed with Gwil that Hoffman being a candidate was unlikely, but someone had to be behind it. “Do we know what caused the deficit?”

“That appears to be post-war bad financial planning and poor return on investments. There had been a series of magic blights which led to more importation, and also over-borrowing. Governmental debt is not uncommon, getting rid of it so quickly is what’s suspicious.”

“I guess there’s only certain contenders for the role of good Samaritan.”

She pursed her lips. “Indeed. Your pointy-toothed friends are one of them, but I don’t believe it’s the vampires, they’re far too happy about you and Gwil.”

He held his tongue to say there were certain vampires who didn’t need the Vampire Council’s blessing. “So who else?”

“It could be the other tribes propping them up, but I don’t think they’d have made your hand in marriage to the Elementa part of the deal. The dragons came to mind, but again I’m having trouble finding a reason why.”

“Do the Elementa have any commodities so valuable they could have sold?”

She shook her head. “Not really. However, we are looking into a new mining facility they’ve opened. We’re not sure what it’s for as the areas are not known for ore deposits.”

The more Hyax thought about the situation the more he thought they were missing something, and this was the sort of thing Copperpipe could help with. “I’m going to head back. I’m having dinner with Gwil tonight. But I’ll be here first thing.”

This time tomorrow he would be exchanging vows with Metra, he’d deal with it, but at least he had his mother on his side.