Chapter 4

"This is an absurd idea. No one is going to think I'm a prince of the realm." Yerial pulled at the collar of one of Simon's dress robes. "The minute I open my mouth I'm going to say something stupid."

"Nonsense, you've been at my side forever, there's probably not anyone who knows me better." He moved Yerial's long blond hair so it fell over his shoulders. "You look very handsome. And princely."

"Simon."

"You agreed, and it's just for the first couple of meetings. I want to see how he reacts to the requests I've made. It'll help me understand what I can expect from him as a husband and if I need to make arrangements for after the wedding."

" Arrangements ?"

He had to be pragmatic and he wasn't the sort to leave things to chance. "I may have to accept Robin will be happy to fulfil the contract but nothing further. I need to make plans if I don't want to be on my own."

Yerial's eyes widened. "A harem?"

"Maybe." He didn't know what he'd do. Robin had been in his dreams for decades but the reality was, when he'd investigated a few months ago, Robin was as wild and free as he had been fifty years before. Simon might have to accept that the connection would only be enough for Robin to do his duty and then he'd fuck off. Seventy years of fucking some of the most beautiful men available didn't lend itself to Robin wanting to play happy ever after with Simon. "I don't think it'd be too hard to assemble a few decent individuals who would wish to keep me company."

"Fuck me." Yerial groaned. "The queues to bed you will stretch halfway around the kingdom, I'll have to put up some sort of security perimeter to ward them off."

Simon fastened the heavy cloak he'd borrowed from Yerial. "I think you exaggerate my appeal."

"You're a fucking prince. Pretty, powerful… if I liked sucking cock, I'd sign up myself, but Sacha might kill me."

"Your wife would have good cause. And the means to do so." He was delighted Yerial had found his happy ending with a captain in the guard, but Simon wasn't convinced he was going to get his.

"I think she might end me if she finds out what I've agreed to do for you."

"Only if you actually fuck Robin, and then you'd have to worry about me before Sacha got the chance."

"You're an arsehole."

"That's you're an arsehole, Your Highness, to you."

Yerial shoved him and Simon laughed. They were waiting in an antechamber for Robin to arrive. His father said he was leaving Robin there to wait and not interfere and Simon had insisted on placing a privacy charm, which had been accepted because Yerial was with him.

The leather jerkin he was wearing was too stiff, he'd tried to spell it to be more comfortable but he couldn't do much if he wanted to look authentic. A crackle of static electricity alerted him to a portal being opened nearby—he could tell his father's magic anywhere. It was time to meet his future, or rather have Yerial meet it and him stand around at the back and watch. "Ready?"

"As if I have an option not to be," Yerial said and huffed.

Simon laughed. "Come on, Your Highness."

He pulled open the door and with a low mock bow waved Yerial through, he took a moment to clear his mind and followed. Robin stared at him as if he were a deer trapped in the headlights, barely giving Yerial a second glance. Seeing him again after all these years made Simon's head spin and he had to remind himself that this was Robin Flint, vampire, chief manipulator extraordinaire, whose idea of a committed relationship was paying for dinner.

Yerial cleared his throat, jolting them both. Simon stepped to the side. "Mr Flint, this is Prince Simon and Dark Viscount of MacLove."

He knew it was important to give Yerial both of his titles, his membership of the House of Cartwright was what had appealed to the House of Hewel, not his fae heritage. "Mr Flint," Yerial croaked. "Please sit. I assume I can call you Robin."

Good grief Yerial was a stilted actor, at least he was meant to be nervous.

"Of course."

"Great." Yerial waved behind him. "That's Yerial, he's our chaperone. I take it you've no objection to him staying."

Robin smiled and sat down. "I was told we'd not be left alone. Apologies, I was distracted, I did not mean to be so discourteous on our first meeting."

Yerial sat opposite Robin in awkward silence, neither knowing how to talk to each other. He'd seen less wooden performances in some of the bad porn he'd watched. Simon thought he should help matters along. "Let me pour you both a drink."

Robin's gaze followed him as he collected two goblets of ambrosia. Yerial was squirming in his chair, the collar of his robe still annoying him. Simon didn't know whether to be happy Robin was so taken with him or annoyed that he didn't seem to be paying attention to the man he was supposed to be marrying.

"I'm sure His Highness is keen to get to know you." He gave Yerial a pointed stare as he'd briefed him on a number of questions. "How about you ask Mr Flint something you've been dying to know?"

From Yerial's expression, Simon was pretty sure he would find some way to make Simon pay for this, prince or no prince. "There's just so much to find out about each other, I hardly know where to start."

"It is a little daunting. I could tell you about myself," Robin offered.

"Sounds good."

Robin seemed confused and Simon wasn't surprised as he knew Robin had been told his future husband was an intelligent, erudite young man, not a jelly-brained horsetoad.

"I'm a vampire, nothing new there, and officially recognised in the succession for future Dark Viscount Whetford. I reside in Los Angeles for most of the year, and I suppose I spend my time oiling the wheels of Hollywood. I can make the most unassuming individual a movie star, or I can prevent it."

Yerial was a solider and wouldn't be impressed but he was supposed to be a prince. "I'm sure it's very exciting. If you like that sort of thing."

"LA is a fun place to be. Something for everyone."

Simon's life at the fae court wasn't dull but he'd not had the freedom others of his age had been allowed and thought Robin's life must be exciting—the glitz and glamour, all the parties and beautiful people. Why would he want to give that up for him? The last thought hit Simon hard, harder than it should have as this wasn't new, and he took a step back, needing to shake the idea from his head. Robin must have noticed. "Are you all right?"

Yerial was out of his chair and at his side. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Go sit, my lord ," he said pointedly. Yerial should not be acting this way towards a palace guard.

Robin's expression was stony. "Before we go anywhere further with these discussions, I would like an honest answer about the nature of the relationship between you pair."

Yerial scowled and his wings vibrated in annoyance.

"I assure you, Mr Flint, there is nothing more than bodyguard and the man he protects," Simon said. "We have known each other since Prince Simon turned ten, which is over sixty-five years, but there is nothing untoward."

"Really?"

Yerial stood tall and put his hands on his hips—he could be an intimidating bastard, even when he was done up like a pretty prince. "You need not worry, you'll get a virgin on your wedding night."

Robin raised his hands. "I apologise. I misread your friendship, forged over many years, as something it wasn't. As far as I'm aware, your virginity is being maintained for other reasons and not for me."

"That's right," Yerial said. He'd balled his fists and Simon thought he'd be happy to punch Robin.

If Robin had known he was chaste then why had he reacted to Yerial's concern? He wasn't aware that vampires were possessive over their spouses, and all he knew about Robin suggested he wouldn't give a flying fuck if his future husband had other lovers. The only reason was if Robin was searching for a reason not to go through with the wedding, and if Simon was shagging Yerial that'd be a perfect excuse, as he was meant to be a virgin.

"Again, I apologise."

Yerial was not happy and had taken offence on Simon's behalf. "Perhaps I should ask you if there's someone waiting for you back in LA? Is our marriage an inconvenience for you?"

"There is no one special." Robin stared at Simon and Simon couldn't interpret his expression. "Not in LA."

Simon thought that was a strange way to say it and had to bite back the question of where he might have someone if not in LA. "Let us start the conversation over," Simon said, keen for Yerial not to try to fight a battle that wasn't his to fight. "I am sure it is a difficult time for you both."

Yerial sat and took a drink of his ambrosia. "The fae court is probably not too different to LA, I guess you'll see that sooner than later."

"Depending on what happens, I would like to be a regular guest, but my work means I need to be based in LA, and not the fae realm. The contract stipulates we need to discuss this sort of thing. We haven't anything agreed on what will happen once the consummation has occurred and your vampire side is triggered. As it stands, the morning after the wedding is an open book."

He would need to correct Robin at some point, because it would take a few days after the consummation for his fangs to descend and be able to feed from Robin. Yerial wasn't in possession of many of the facts, nor could he push either way for Simon's preference as up to yet Simon didn't have one. The fae realm was home, but then he was also the Dark Viscount of MacLove and would have an important place in Robin's world when he became the Dark Earl at an as-of-yet unspecified point in his future.

"A conversation for the next meeting," Yerial said. "We should try and find some common ground, a pastime that we both share."

Robin nodded but Simon didn't think it an easy ask. "I will be honest, that at times LA does become a little superficial, but I have close friends in the UK I like to visit—fellow members of the House of Hewel plus others. Then there's the love of art I've developed over the years."

Not a topic Yerial could talk on at length, but Simon could and it might be a nice common ground. "Are you a collector or do you produce your own?" Yerial asked, he was trying.

"Bit of both. I like to paint and have been told I have a reasonable enough talent. Over the years I've backed the odd artist and have a few pieces that bring me joy."

"I don't know much about human realm art," Yerial said. "But if you're willing, I dare say I can introduce you to some nice fae ones."

Simon cleared his throat. "Her Majesty, Queen Hylei, is a keen sponsor of the arts—something she passed to her son, and I am positive Prince Simon would be happy to explore what your realm has to offer."

"Oh, yeah, definitely," Yerial said. "What about other things too… poetry? Fancy food?"

Simon should have thought this through better, Yerial was a soldier, and while he had accompanied Simon on many of his official duties, he couldn't appreciate Simon's lifestyle.

"I do eat food, and it can be fancy," Robin replied, confused. "But as a vampire, my main sustenance comes from blood."

Simon did drink blood—his vampire side had started to need it a few decades back—but he didn't live feed, he didn't have the equipment yet. Yerial wasn't aware and he didn't want to handle the conversation if Robin were to ask about Simon's vampiric tendencies.

He needed to do something to stop everything going wrong, perhaps he should just admit who he was straight away, yet another part of him wanted to see how Robin might deal with the situation. He muttered a number of spells under his breath and a scroll materialised in his hand. "Prince Simon, remember you had written down a few of your hobbies for this situation. Maybe next time you could agree to discuss somewhere you could go once the negotiations at the palace are concluded."

Simon handed it to Robin who smiled and Simon's stomach did a little flip. "A perfect suggestion. Although I understand there might not be much time before the ceremony."

He had to retreat to the back of the room otherwise he would end up interrupting, and he spent the next twenty minutes watching in torture as Yerial and Robin exchanged small talk, skirting the big questions. Simon got the distinct feeling that Robin would do his duty but had no indication he'd want anything more.

The conversation was drying up but thankfully the time was coming to an end. "I think next visit, I will come with a list of proposals that benefit us both," Robin said, standing.

"Like what?" Yerial asked, also getting his feet.

"How we cohabit—or not—after the wedding. Ways to try and get through what we have to do."

Yerial scowled, insulted, and Simon thought he'd better get Robin back to his own realm before Yerial lashed out.

"I think our time is up. Why doesn't Prince Simon return to his rooms and I'll escort Mr Flint through a portal?" He saw Yerial about to argue he shouldn't be on his own. "I will be straight back, you'll not notice I'm gone. You'll be safe for a few minutes."

Yerial stomped off, hardly the actions of a prince, and Simon knew he would be waiting on the other side of the door. They were alone but for a second when Robin was in front of him and grabbed his hand. "Tell me you remember me."

"I…"

Robin looked so earnest, he pulled Simon's hand so it was close to his chest. "I've been waiting for you to return for fifty years. You came to my club, we talked and laughed. And kissed."

"You remember too?"

"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you. After all this time."

Simon didn't know whether he should tell Robin the truth. The idea that Robin remembered him, seemed still to want him, was wonderous and he would need to find a way to explain why he had pretended to be someone else. "We have to talk."

"Yes, next time. What a mess… you said you were in the royal household, but I didn't think you'd be my future husband's bodyguard."

"Robin…"

A bell rang and Simon knew it was Yerial making a point that he was waiting and their time was up. "I guess you have to go," Robin said. "James made it very clear that I only had a certain amount of time on the first visit to give me and Simon space to adjust."

Next time, he would tell Robin the truth. He opened a portal. "Just step through. I will see you soon."

Robin pulled him close and kissed him, his body thrummed like it had all those years before. "I will not let you go a second time. We will find a way."

Simon staggered backwards as Robin let go and disappeared into the portal. His lips still tingled from the kiss. He had so many questions and would need to understand what Robin envisaged for their future, but he would need to know the truth first. Until then Robin would be labouring under the pretence that he wanted to run off with his husband's bodyguard. Next time Robin Flint stepped through a portal Simon would welcome him wearing all his finery, show him who he was and the future they could have. Then he would need to keep his hands off him until they were married, the bond would complete and all would be as destined.