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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

H yax had left a few hours earlier, close to tears and unhappy. Gwil had pottered around the house, filling his time with small jobs and paperwork that occupied him but didn’t need him to expend too much brain power. Part of him wished he’d taken up the offer of not attending, but if he was feeling this way, he could only imagine how shit Hyax felt. Someone would be coming to collect him for the ceremony, he wasn’t sure who, but he knew he needed to be ready and Prince Simon would be waiting.

He showered and had just put on his boxers and socks when a portal opened and Hyax’s mum stepped through. He squeaked and managed to grab the duvet to cover himself. “Ah, Gwil, I didn’t mean to catch you unawares.”

Talia laid a suit bag and a box on the bed. “Hyax was worried you wouldn’t have something suitable to wear so I’ve brought you this. Get changed and make sure it fits in all the right places.”

“Er…”

She laughed and gestured to the door. “I’ll wait through there.”

She was dressed in a gold flowing robe and shimmered as she left, which made him think she was ready for the wedding, which then begged the question of why the fuck had she turned up in their bedroom. Gwil stood motionless for a moment, not sure what the fuck was going on. Surely Queen Talia, Mother of the Groom, hadn’t come to collect him.

Gwil opened the suit bag, its contents were no human three-piece but a fae robe made of cloth that made him think of the midnight sky, with silver embroidery in exquisite detail. He’d seen some of Hyax’s fanciest clobber, and this was just as nice. The suit he’d intended to wear was long forgotten as he slipped the robe on over his head, the feel of the silk next to his skin was delicious, although the length and the wide sleeves might take a bit of getting used to. He didn’t think his usual shoes even his best ones, were going to cut it, although that had been thought of as there was also a pair of black boots in the box.

Gwil stood in front of the mirror. He looked fucking amazing. He’d always liked clothes and had mourned the passing of Victorian fashions, but if being the Prince’s Beloved meant he got to parade around like this, he would be demanding to be taken out at every opportunity. The high collar was a little tight but he could cope.

Talia was waiting in the lounge, petting Midnight. “She is a lovely creature.”

“Yes, and she knows it.”

She smiled. Talia was a beautiful woman and it was clear who Hyax had inherited his looks from. “Don’t we look the very picture of a partner to a prince?”

“I’m pretty sure you weren’t that keen on me taking up such a mantle.”

She tapped a finger to his high collar and muttered something and the material shifted, more fitted in some areas and his neck was now freer. “I have lived a long time, Gwil. And I intend to live a lot longer, if I hadn’t learnt to accept that I am capable of being wrong, then it would have been a poor existence.”

“So, you’d be fine with me marrying Hyax?”

“Eventually, your social position is on the rise. You’ve a little way to go yet, and we’ll need to remove Metra first, but I don’t see him hanging around for too long.”

This was as close as he’d ever got to a welcome-to-the-family speech. “I won’t order the matching towels yet.”

She laughed. “You are a funny one, Gwil.”

A scrambling noise came from the blocked fireplace and it was followed by frantic banging. “Fang Face, let me in!”

“That’s Copperpipe. He’s an associate of mine.”

“What’s he doing in the chimney?” she said while clicking her finger and thumb and opening the hearth.

Copperpipe tumbled out in a flurry of arms, legs, and swear words. Talia took a step back and from her expression, she didn’t know what to make of him, which was a pretty standard response.

“Copperpipe, what are you doing here?”

Copperpipe dusted himself down, although it was more like adding new smears to his sacking. “I have information about your pretty prince’s future in-laws and an old flame of yours.”

Copperpipe stared him up and down and then realised Talia was there and let loose a long whistle. “Ooooh, you are dressed up nicely. And this must be your not-mum-in-law. Hello, Queenie.”

“The correct address is Your Majesty,” Gwil said. He turned to Talia. “He’s not one for formal niceties.”

“You don’t need to be nice when you have information.”

Copperpipe wasn’t wrong, but he’d never thought he’d have to deal with him in front of a Fairy Queen. “Go on. Tell me what you’ve got and your price.”

“I’ve discovered there’s something called chocolate-covered custard creams. A biscuit. I want many packets and good tea.”

Gwil was pretty sure he could find them easily enough on the internet. “Deal. Now spill and hurry up as I’ve somewhere I need to be.”

“Your ex-boyfriend has been acting odd, even by his weirdy-nerdy standards.” Copperpipe sniffed. “Giving fae lots of money in exchange for bags of shiny chalk.”

“Chalk? Is that a euphemism for something?” Gwil asked. White powders in various guises were a well-known commodity, although Oliver had never been the type to partake as he said it ruined his thought process. Also, he didn’t need the money and Gwil couldn’t imagine him lowering himself to be a dealer.

Copperpipe gave Talia a side-eye. “No, white rock out of the ground in the fae realm. Dunno what it is though.”

“Oh, we had heard that the Elementa had new mining complexes.” She pursed her lips. “Thank you, strange potato person. I am grateful for your information.”

“I am not a potato!”

Gwil hurriedly shooed him back into the fireplace. “I’ll get those biscuits to you asap, and I’ll see what others you might like.”

Copperpipe poked him in the chest. “You need to start hanging about with better people. People who don’t call others tubers!”

He was gone, more scrabbling and a definite bollocks later, Gwil turned to Talia. “Sorry about him. He’s too useful to annoy.”

“Right. Come on. Time to get you on the arm of a different fae prince for the evening.” She smirked. “Oh, maybe you’ll be thought of as the Prince’s Beloved of Simon as well. That would be smashing.”

Gwil did not want to encourage people associating him with Simon in such a way as he was sure Robin would come and pull out his fangs, shove them up his arse and remove his head.

“Let’s not overcomplicate matters.”

“True, and Hyax does have a possessive side.”

Apart from Solivatus, Gwil wouldn’t have said that Hyax was the jealous type but he’d not given him any reason to be and he wouldn’t want to risk it with Hyax’s current mood. Talia opened a portal and he followed her into a small sitting room where Simon was sitting drinking a glass of champagne.

“Gwil, good to see you. I apologise I didn’t have the chance to thank you myself before you left Crofton Hall, but I hope my being here today is a small indication of my gratitude.”

“I am going to see how Hyax is holding up,” Talia said. “A servant will be here in a moment to escort you to your seats.”

Gwil, left alone with Prince Simon, felt a bit awkward. “You didn’t have to do this, Your Highness.”

“Please call me, Simon. You of all people have earnt that right. And I am happy to be here. I would prefer to be watching you marrying Hyax, but I don’t believe this will ultimately prevent that.”

Before Gwil could reply a servant arrived wearing clothes far grander than usual and they followed him out and into the halls. As they emerged into the main part of the castle, he could see the building had been dressed for the occasion. Soft lights guided them to a room he’d never visited before, large and reminding him of a cavern where chairs had been arranged row after row. Most of the seats were taken and he received stares of interest and confusion as they passed by towards the front where two chairs waited for them.

Gwil sat next to Prince Simon as instructed. He wasn’t sure which of them was getting more attention. Gwil, who was one of the groom’s favourite fucktoys who had the balls to show up and watch his boyfriend get married, or the future king of a tribe they weren’t on the best of terms with.

“You’re not used to the spotlight, are you?” Simon said. He was more observant than the average royal.

“I’m able to do my job because most of the time I can hide in plain sight because no one cares I’m there.”

“No chance of that today.”

“Perhaps I shouldn’t have come.” He knew Hyax had wanted him to make a scene but now he was here he was no longer as convinced.

“Bollocks to that. You being here is a statement, you are supporting Prince Hyax, and you will be at his side no matter what. It is far more powerful than being pretty on his arm in a club.”

“I guess.” He couldn’t argue with the sentiment even if he didn’t like it much.

He glanced down to see a furry creature, akin to an overly large cat, stick his head between his ankles. He hadn’t expected him to be allowed out to roam the castle during such an important occasion.

Simon noticed. “Oh, is that a talkist?”

Gwil leaned down and scratched Meddi between the ears, setting off a loud purring noise. “This is Meddi, he belongs to Hyax.”

Simon laughed as Meddi jumped up and settled into Gwil’s lap and would not be moved despite Gwil trying to push him off. First time he’d met the furry git, he’d got into bed between him and Hyax, expanded in size and held Gwil in a bear hug.

“Another message,” Simon said fondly, tickling Meddi between his long pointed ears. “Those are like witches familiars to the fae, and here is Hyax’s talkist showing everyone who he favours.”

“My cat likes Hyax too.” Gwil thought Simon might be over-egging the proverbial pudding as Meddi was almost a fan of anyone who gave him bacon.

“But they’re traditionally used as collar bearers in a wedding ceremony, but not in this case it seems.”

Hyax had said he wasn’t going to exchange collars. “They’re not doing collars. Hyax said something about a bracelet.”

“Oh, that is interesting. I exchanged wedding rings with Robin, which is a vampire custom because they’re not keen on things getting in the way of a jugular, but it’s rare for fae not to have collars.”

“Hyax was insistent, said he wouldn’t do it. He said he wanted me to have his collar.”

“Best check it’s not silver, that’s the traditional metal,” Simon said, and it struck Gwil he was not keeping his voice down and anyone around would be able to hear. If anything, he was speaking louder than necessary. “But it’s another statement, Gwil. This ceremony is nothing more than a business transaction.”

“I am honoured to know my place in Hyax’s heart.”

Simon smiled, the tips of his newly acquired fangs just visible. “As it should be as the Prince’s Beloved. I do believe it will not be long before I am invited to your nuptials.”

There was a definite twittering from the other guests, Hyax’s plan to set the cat amongst the pigeons had worked. Gwil had been dreading today, and now he was going to sit back and enjoy being the reason behind the chatter.