Page 6

CHAPTER SIX

H yax sucked on a lavender bonbon. Gwil had been buying him them for years, but had just recently realised they were little love tokens and he thought there must be something he could do for Gwil. The last few days he’d been conversing with Hylei via the encrypted channel but there was only so much she could share and Hyax was second-guessing a few things, which had made his progress slower than he’d have liked.

Also, he was trying to be extra nice to Gwil. He’d been a prize shit over Solivatus, and the Metra thing hadn’t helped, so he needed to make sure Gwil knew how much he meant to him. The trip to La Pina had been a good start but he could have done without Sitial turning up and trying to convince Gwil that Metra wasn’t a lying sack of shit.

He flicked through a couple of case files Gwil had asked him to look over while Gwil had gone to visit a client. Nothing challenging—the one with the poltergeist ferret haunting a gnome burrow might need a special potion, which helped keep his mind occupied while they waited to hear about the MacLove case.

A portal began to open, he didn’t recognise the signature from its silver-blue tinge, but it was fae by the feel of it. He got to his feet and his jaw dropped as King James of the Calanti tribe stepped through. “I do hope I’m not disturbing you, Prince Hyax. But we need to talk.”

Hyax managed to get over his surprise to bow, as a rival tribe or not James was still a king. “Your Majesty, I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Why would you? You’ve been talking with my wife, not me, and she explained she’d been in touch over our situation. I thought it would be better if I gave you my insight and maybe some information best not written down.”

James threw himself into a chair, he was weary, the worry over his son hung around him with no relief in sight.

“I understand that there are things you’d rather not divulge.”

“No shit, but we’re beyond that now. Listen.” James spoke with a soft Scottish accent, which seemed to amplify his weariness. “What I am about to disclose is not common knowledge, and I am relying on your honour and discretion. Understood?”

Hyax suspected he might end up as a drained husk if he fucked James over. His royal status wouldn’t save him. “I’d be willing to be put under a magical oath if that would make it better.”

“Not really, but I’m grateful you’re willing to talk to me. Solivatus said he mentioned that Simon has a bond with his husband. I doubt he’d have explained it well, but ultimately it is through that bond he will be able to access his vampire side. After intimacy with his bonded, his fangs will come through, but he will need to feed from Robin to complete his metamorphosis. As it stands, Simon is in a state of flux, his magic will be erratic and it is our belief that he has been taken because of it, in crude terms, he’s a battery that could be constantly drained.”

He’d wondered about vampire-fae, some thought they were a myth but as he now had one sitting on his sofa, it was safe to say Hyax thought them real. This bond was the key to turning Simon from a fae prince to a scary motherfucker who, the rumours said, were some of the most powerful creatures to inhabit either realm.

“But who would know to take him? How would they know what you’ve just told me?”

“There’s a thought that it could be a lich, an ancient creature who might have been waiting. We don’t know how it found out about Simon, but I think it’s probably the most likely culprit.”

Hyax only knew the basics about liches—they were remnants of powerful sorcerers who had managed to achieve immortality, and almost as rare as vampire-fae because they could hide in plain sight and use centuries of knowledge to avoid detection.

“Knowing what is behind the abduction is a start, but Queen Hylei said she thought I could help, although I wasn’t sure what I could do that she or you couldn’t.”

“I was sceptical at first but then I realised it’s not you, or rather not you on your own.” James reached out and held Hyax’s wrist then he let go almost immediately and smiled. “You can help.”

“What do you mean?” James was powerful, even without contact Hyax could tell and James must’ve noticed something when he’d grabbed his arm.

“I’m a vampire-fae, Hyax, there are things I can do because of the combination of my genetics, but I’m sure Hylei told you, we think you’d be able to access a part of the same branch of magic because of your connection to Gwilym Hilt.”

He’d sort of understood, but it wasn’t as straightforward as Hylei had made it sound. “I’ve been studying texts that Tobias Flume and the Vampire Council have given me access to. I’m not sure what I’m looking for, but I have a potential option.”

“It’s not easy magic, and it’s gone unused for centuries as there aren’t many vampire/fae pairings that are compatible enough to utilise it. You have been given a rare gift. Not one you should advertise too widely, and keep the knowhow close to your chest.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because most won’t understand, will think it’s akin to necromancy as Gwil is undead.” His warning sounded like something Hyax’s mother might say. “I’ll deflect if asked, it’s up to you who you tell your secrets to.”

“I’ve only done it once, but it was special. It allowed me to use my magic in a way I’ve never been able to before.” Hyax could still recall how different it felt, darker, rich and tantalising, he’d channelled a spell through Gwil, and he’d be lying if he didn’t want to do so again.

“Do you have the book here?” James asked.

“Yes.”

“Then let’s see it.”

Hyax scrambled to his feet, far from his usual graceful self, and raced to the bedroom where a copy of Magical Concepts Not for the Faint-Hearted sat on his nightstand. He returned and flipped open the book at the spell he’d found and handed it to James.

“Ah, you don’t see many of these. I have a copy and a few others that I don’t think Flume has that might be of interest in the future. If everything works out.”

Hyax would be glad of the chance, but he sensed he would have to prove himself to James before any library privileges were granted. He tapped a passage. “This was what I thought might be useful. It’s a weaversnipe. It should knit strands together in the bond and then we can trace it back.”

James wrinkled his nose as he read. “I tried something similar and it didn’t do the trick. Robin’s not a magical creature so there’s no energy source at his end to pull on.”

“I didn’t think of that,” he said, annoyed at himself.

“You’ve no reason to.” James flicked through the pages and handed the book back. “There are a couple of potentials. This is one of the ones I had in mind. It’s called a mirroricom.”

Hyax had spotted the spell but had dismissed it. “Surely it’s just a mirror spell, I don’t see how it’ll work.”

“The sigils are the key, you paint them on Gwil and Robin and push your magic through them. If it works, the spell should carry through the bond to Simon, who’ll see Robin in a reflection, or a dream, depending on whether he’s awake or not.”

Hyax read the spell again, taking more care. “I suppose if there is something left of the bond tethered in both of them it’ll work.”

“You’ll need to probe Robin for that. I’m sure there’s something but I couldn’t trace it. My conjecture is our familial link is interfering and my magical signature is too similar so I can’t distinguish between myself and Simon in this situation. I hope you’ll be different.”

“And if it’s there then I…” he read the additional instructions and grimaced… “need to paint sigils with harpy blood on their skin.”

“Not the nicest stuff but then you’re not exactly using the light side for this spell.”

James pointed out a couple of other potential options that used different techniques. One included something similar to the blowjob method he’d used before, so he’d have no issue to get Gwil’s buy-in, but he didn’t think it would be as useful in this situation. “Depending on what you get out of the bond when you read Robin, these might also be a possibility. But they all rely on Gwil’s undeadness in one way or another. For the mirroricom the harpy blood is just a carrier, the others have similar preparations you’ll use that are a sliding scale of grim.”

“But you’re a vampire, why can’t you use your own undeadness?” He had several questions, and he wasn’t sure how much James would tell him.

“I was born a vampire, I’m not dead as such. And Hylei is a fae and so I can’t access this spell in the way you can through your undead partner.”

He could understand now why James had requested his help. James seemed to be one of the rare royal faes who was committed to his spouse and didn’t have a collection of lovers. Since he didn’t have a vampire bit on the side and couldn’t do this with his wife, he wasn’t in position to help himself. But there weren’t many people who had known about what he’d done before with Gwil. “How did you know I could work through Gwil? Did Flume tell you?”

“He didn’t tell me as such. I figured it out after a couple of comments he made, and then remembered the stories I heard about how Prince Hyax was dating a vampire—I wasn’t about to forget those given what I am. Let’s just say, Flume wasn’t so forthcoming to start with but after I threatened to pull out his fangs he saw my point of view.”

“I’d have thought he’d have wanted to help.”

James smirked. “He did, but he wanted to make sure it was seen as a debt, and I’m in no mood to play. All of a sudden, he’s spouting about vampire camaraderie and that bullshit. He’s not my House, or Robin’s, so his allegiance isn’t a given and I’m not about to take risks.”

Hyax hadn’t even scratched the surface of vampire politics, Gwil had explained some of it, but he wasn’t a high-ranking member of their society so wouldn’t know the nuances like James. “Sounds like vampires don’t like each other any more than other people like them.”

“Very true.” James smiled. “Talking of not liking vampires, I’ve heard that your parents aren’t keen on you keeping your pet fang. The whispers are they want to marry you off to another tribe.”

“How did you know that?” The Calanti tribe were supposed to be ostracised by the rest of the fae realm, and he wouldn’t have thought the details like his parents’ view of his marriage would be readily available to James.

James laughed. “I make it my business to know things. I might be a fae king, but I have connections with the vampires, meaning I heard about your betrothal to Gwil. Why do you think he was your plus-one for the wedding? Gwil’s sister is a dark countess and she’s ever so proud of her big brother banging you.”

Gwil hadn’t mentioned Penelope was in favour of their relationship. He thought she was more likely to hit him over the head with a shovel and bury the body if he were to hurt Gwil.

“That doesn’t explain how you know my parents aren’t happy.”

“I have people throughout the fae realm who keep their pointy ears open, for the right compensation. And even if I didn’t, there’s no way Queen Talia would be willing to marry off one of her bairns to a nobody. You’ll be important for political liaisons, which Gwil is not.”

He shouldn’t have been surprised about James’s connections or his astuteness, and there was no point denying the truth. “She would prefer me to marry Metra from the Elementa tribe. I don’t want to, but I’m not going to have much choice in the matter.”

“You can marry anyone, it doesn’t matter as it’s just a bit of paper and some words,” James said wryly. “But you can’t bond to someone unless there is a true connection, remember that… I don’t think this is a conversation your mother would be happy to know we’ve had.”

“I’m not going to tell her.” James was right, his mother wouldn’t be happy on many levels, but there was more behind James’s words. “Are you suggesting I marry Metra but bond to Gwil?”

“I’m not here to give you relationship advice or put ideas in your head, I’m here about my son,” James said, but his eyes danced with humour.

Hyax sensed that he wouldn’t get more out of James on this topic, and he didn’t need to. James’s suggestion was clear and Hyax was a bit annoyed he hadn’t thought of it himself. “So what do we do next? Should I practise the spell with Gwil beforehand? Maybe painting the sigils?”

“I wouldn’t recommend using harpy blood, it’s foul stuff and repeated applications aren’t a good idea. When you do the spell, your magic will siphon through Gwil into Robin in a way that prevents the nasty properties from damaging anyone.”

Hyax hadn’t thought of that, but it made sense, although he was a bit concerned about going in blind. “I could at least practise drawing the sigils with something else.”

“Aye, you could. Chocolate body paints are good for that sort of thing, but I don’t particularly want a peek behind your bedroom door.”

He laughed as James waggled his eyebrows. “I was thinking more sketching them out on paper.”

James shrugged. “Each to their own I suppose.”

He still had another problem with doing this, and it wasn’t just the mechanics of the spell. “If I were to help, I’m not sure how I would explain my involvement to my parents.” He had to be realistic that if he could be seen as being disloyal due to his relationship with Gwil, then speaking to the king of an exiled faction would be much worse.

“If you think it will help, I’ll write to Queen Talia, appeal to her as a mother, one who loves her son very much.”

Hyax snorted. “Maybe my brothers.”

James scoffed. “You might think she’s trying to ruin your life, but this shite with Metra is there to protect you, dating Gwil isn’t the smartest political move you could’ve made.”

“I didn’t get with him for political gain. I’m not going to stop seeing him.”

James stood. “And so you shouldn’t. But a word to the wise, I would strongly recommend trying to avoid consummating your marriage with Metra if you don’t want to fuck up your bond with Gwil. Your magic won’t like it now it’s had a taste of what it can do with Gwil.”

“That’s a whole different problem.”

“But one you’ll need to solve. I’m telling you, what you have with Gwil is special. Not in the cute hearts-in-your-eyes bullshit way, which I’m sure is lovely, but yours is a once in a half millennia opportunity to play with that branch of magic. Don’t fuck it up.”

“I don’t intend to.”

James opened a portal. “I’ll have you called to Crofton Hall. The Dark Earl of Crofton is supporting Robin, I’m sure you’ll know what to do. Hyax, I won’t forget this, I am truly grateful for any help you can give.”

The portal closed, leaving Hyax intrigued and confused. James knew about the magic he’d used with Gwil, and James had got the details out of Tobias Flume, not caring how he confirmed the information. He didn’t think Flume could be intimidated but James was something different. His vampire connections were one thing but combined with his fae side, he was a scary mother-fucker and Hyax hadn’t even seen him angry.

He wasn’t sure how he would explain it to his mother. James writing to her would help, but it wouldn’t be an easy conversation, although he knew she wouldn’t stop Hyax. His involvement would potentially be a useful political means to an end. However, if he had gauged this wrong, it could backfire.

Another thing—James had said he could appeal to Talia as a mother to help. For all her bullshit over Metra, Hyax did think she loved him and she wouldn’t wish to see another parent suffer if she could do something to prevent it. Hyax was sure he could use this to his and Gwil’s benefit, delaying having to announce his marriage, and anything that gave him extra time would be most welcome.

He sat cross-legged on the sofa and settled down to read. It was going to take some time to get his head around the spell and learn the sigils, but his magic hummed, happy at the prospect of getting to play with Gwil again. Something he could definitely get behind.