Chapter 33

Simon's eyes flew open, he was hot, too hot, his body burning. His upper jaw ached and he had never been so hungry. His heart thundered, his teeth throbbed, and he needed something… a desire rumbled in his belly, a need so great he couldn't think of anything else.

Robin stirred beside him, he looked so perfect, delicious even. "Simon?"

"Hungry," he growled.

Robin hoisted himself up into a sitting position. "It's time then?"

His magic crackled across his fingertips, he'd missed it, and would play again as soon as he'd slated his hunger. "Time?"

"We're supposed to go back to the fae world, your father would prefer it."

He didn't understand why Robin was talking about his father, he had nothing to do with what Simon wanted more than anything else. "No, here, now. You guide me, husband."

His fangs descended, the slow slide wonderful but it would be nothing compared to how it would feel when he sunk them into Robin.

Robin smiled. "Come here then."

"Mine?"

"Yours. I promised I'd guide you through this, wherever it's done."

Robin tipped his head to one side, exposing the pale column of flesh. Simon lurched forwards, but Robin caught him. "Take your time, vampire blood direct from the source is different to what you've drunk before. It'll be far richer and thicker in consistency, and you won't need to drink as much."

"You talk a lot."

"No word of a lie. That doesn't mean it's not something you need to hear."

Robin was strong and once he relaxed his grip Simon was able to get closer. Robin's smell was intoxicating, and he latched onto his neck. He felt Robin's hand cup the back of his head and he sank his fangs into the soft nirvana of Robin's neck.

"That's it, now suck." Robin hadn't even flinched as Simon bit down and he continued to pet him. The action should have felt alien to him but instead it was as natural as breathing, Robin's blood tasted like nothing else he had ever experienced: rich, deep, dark. The ache in his fangs abated, replaced with a joy that only a sexual climax had come close to emulating.

"Ease up a little," Robin said.

He obeyed, reducing the suction so he was now sipping the sweet elixir. A wave of pure contentment swept across him, he'd never felt so happy or complete as he did wrapped in the arms of the man he loved. He withdrew his fangs and collapsed against Robin's chest.

"Everything is going to feel a little intense right now, just go with it, there's nothing wrong, you're adapting."

Robin had been turned into a vampire, but it was different for Simon, his vampiric heritage had always been there waiting for this moment. His fae side not like any others of his tribe, and now his body was thrumming from a cascade of changes. He'd been drinking blood for decades, never fresh from the source, and that wasn't driving the adaptions, no, it was his magic, connecting and fusing with the side of him it had never had access to before.

Over the years he'd discussed what would happen with his father. He'd had an idea of what to expect but somehow he'd thought it would involve pain but there was none, and instead it was if his body was stretching and flexing. Unlike Robin, his heart hadn't stopped, he would not be like his husband, and he was not like his father either.

"Can I feed from you?"

Simon smirked. "It would be rude if I said no."

"I only want a taste, just a sip."

Robin kissed his neck and Simon tilted it to give him better access. His fangs were sharp and barely registered as he pierced his skin. Robin was true to his word and withdrew after a few seconds, licking his lips.

"Never tasted anything as sweet," he said, grinning.

They shared a languid kiss, and Simon was up for another round of sex.

Robin tensed and Simon turned to see what caused it, only to see his father standing at the side of his bed. "You were meant to bring him home."

"I'm sorry, James, he wasn't having any of it. The cuffs came off and his fangs started to descend, when he woke up it was time… and he wouldn't be argued with."

Simon pushed himself to sit up. "Father?"

"Come home with me, there are things we need to do."

He knew what was needed. "Yes."

They dressed, James waiting and surprisingly patient. His brain raced, there were so many things to think about, new ways to explore, he needed to show his father, make certain he was doing everything he needed to.

"It might be better if you stayed here, Robin," James said.

"I want to be with Simon."

"I know, and he'll be back in a day or so, but you're better off here… I don't think he'll be much company for you until his brain stops spinning. And you're not long recovered, I'm not sure a dose of the portals would do you well."

"You had no issue before—why not now? Because I've done what was required and I'm no longer needed?"

James's look was cold. "Let's get this straight, Robin. You've done the duty we asked you to do, and if you were collateral I'd have shoved you into a perpetual portal and left you to dry into a husk. Since you're a wee bit important to Simon, I suggest we don't risk it. Stay here."

Simon didn't think his father was wrong, but could see Robin was hurt. "I'll be back, wild horses couldn't stop me returning. I won't need long, but if I go to the fae realm I'll cause less damage, I sense my magic might get a little rambunctious."

Robin pulled him close. "I can't lose you again."

"You won't." Simon placed his hand over Robin's heart. "I love you. But I need to do this, and when I return I'll want you at my side when I destroy Mettle."

"You promise it won't be another fifty years?"

"I swear. You're mine, Robin Flint. I won't let another have you again."

James opened a portal and Simon kissed Robin, soft and gentle, he conveyed his devotion through the caress, then stepped away and followed James back to the fae realm.

Despite the situation, it was good to be back, Simon's magic bubbled excitedly and he stretched his wings, they'd been hidden for so long. He meant it when he told Robin this wouldn't be an extended stay, but he would need to concentrate and Robin was a beautiful distraction.

"They've started to turn," James said.

Simon glanced back, the edges of his wings were now a deep purple colour and they were more silver than gold in their luminescence. "They look like yours."

"Yes, but with your own individual flavour."

They'd emerged into James's private office, only a handful of people were allowed in here, and Simon had visited often to hide away when he'd not wanted to be bothered. He poured Simon a glass of blood. "You will be hungry for a while, and I reckon you'll need to drink plenty of blood."

"You turned after feeding from my mother, who's not a vampire, I assume there must be differences."

"We're born with our tendencies, I have more vampiric ways than fae. My mother gave birth after she had been turned by Liam Cartwright while she was pregnant, he recognised that I was born a vampire but my mother was a fae. He took me under his wing, and when I was older made me the Earl of MacLove. He realised that I would need more when I was still a babe in arms."

"But the bond with Mother?"

"Formed when I was born, your grandparents on your mother's side tracked me down and like Robin held you as a bairn, she held me and there was no argument."

Simon huffed, he knew most of the story, but it was now more pertinent. "She waited?"

"It was similar to you and Robin, she had her lovers while I had to grow up, and she is my only love. There is no other for me." He smiled at Simon. "We didn't know the same would happen for you, but I do hope you have that gift with him."

"I miss him. Even when I didn't know who I was there was a hole. My memories are returning from when Mettle took me, and I know I never believed Mettle's story about Robin being who I was running from."

"Then I think you are blessed. But now I need to help you align your magic, to release your full potential."

He hadn't used his magic since he'd felt it return, yet he could sense there was already a change, a subtle difference from before. "But I've not long got the cuffs off, I'm not sure it's fully back yet."

"I appreciate that, but your magic won't be the same as before, your body will be adapting to your new ways. Let us work through a few simple things, this might even be a blessing in disguise that you can relearn your magic in this way."

He'd studied under some of the best minds in the kingdom, he still had fond memories of most of them, Albdin in particular had coached him to do things beyond what the average fae could do. "I don't want to spend another lifetime relearning everything, though."

James laughed and grasped his shoulder. "You have no need to fear that, I can feel your power, all you will need do is refocus and connect. Put your hands up."

He'd done this when he'd been younger around the times he'd had spikes in his magic that signalled a step up in his power was on the cards. He pressed the palms of his hands to James's and as his father counted down from twenty, he anchored himself and breathed deeply. His magic was a bright light at his core, and where it had previously had a slight bronze tinge with a fuzzy edges, now it glowed gold and it was sharp like a perfect diamond.

His old knowledge had been swept away, and now he knew every facet, could taste every molecule. The energy hummed and a note so crisp shot through him, radiating power and strength, he was linked with a visceral connection he would never doubt again, and no one would be able to sever.

His eyes flew open and he saw the expression of pride on James's face. "You can sense the difference now? How you're not just fae?"

"I knew something of it before, but now it's clearer, and it's building."

"Give your magic time and you will outstrip my gifts. You're already at my level, but you are also your mother's son and the mix is truly astonishing."

"It's… perfect."

James looked delighted. "Now, Captain Yerial has been asking after you, so I'm sure you'll be happy to receive him."

He knew Yerial would have been worried. "I hope he did not blame himself for my disappearance."

"He has been your guard for a long time, but he had some vengeance of his own as he's been involved in mopping up a few elves. But I'm sure he'll fill you in. As for you, rest and let the magic come. Just being in this realm will help."

He could sense that, but he had other things to consider. "I need to return to Robin."

"He'll be waiting, and a day or so is all you need. Then when you return, you'll hunt together and bring down the lich. Think of it as the start of your honeymoon."