14. Hiero

Chapter fourteen

Hiero

T he pointy ears were my first clue.

As I’ve mentioned before, the fae rarely made an appearance at Church and the elvish were even rarer. Both were known to have a peak to their ears, like the stranger sitting at the bar presently. This fella was alone too, wearing a long black cloak that could hide any manner of weaponry, including a sword or a crossbow, both of which were banned inside Church. But surely Frankie had patted him down outside the entrance. It was what I paid him for after all.

Possibly, he was a wizard, though their sort tended to be more somber and generally had a wizened air about them. This bloke was slugging back ale like it was his job. And most concerning, his eyes kept swinging toward Skylar, tracking his every move. Thus, I concluded this character was either Skylar’s ex or a spy sent to report back on his whereabouts. Either way he was about to get his ass bounced right back to Emrallt Valley .

“So, where you from, stranger?” I asked as I set down his third pint of ale, a classic opener that no one could dispute as being too nosy, unless they had something to hide.

The man stiffened and glanced over at me before clearing his throat. Suspiciously, I might add.

“Nowhere in particular,” he said.

“You look fae,” I remarked.

“Is that a problem?”

“Only if you make it my problem.” I narrowed my eyes and he glared back. We were off to a great start.

“How long has the fae been working here?” He jerked his thumb to where Skylar was balancing a tray of shots while winding his way through the crowd.

“What’s it to you?” I asked.

“Fae living outside of Emrallt Valley must register their absence with the Guild.”

“How do you know he hasn’t?”

That stumped him for a moment. Then he doubled down, puffing up his chest like he had some authority. Well-muscled and broad-shouldered, he had a build that suggested soldiering. His dark golden ringlets and blue eyes made him handsome enough to dislike even more. His straight nose looked primed for breaking, especially if I was correct in assuming this was the asshole ex who’d broken Skylar’s heart.

“Anyone caught trafficking in fae will be prosecuted by the Guild’s Enforcement Division,” he said .

“They gonna come down here and arrest me? For what crime exactly? Offering a job to a man trying to make a living? From what I understand, your kind don’t take care of your own very well.”

Something like guilt flashed in the fae’s stormy expression, and he went back to drinking his ale, draining it to the bottom before ordering another. I thunked a full tankard in front of him and said, “That’s your last one. Finish up here and leave.”

With a thunderous look, he grabbed hold of the pint, nursing it slowly this time. Even while serving other customers, I kept him in my periphery.

But the crafty fae must have been waiting for me to turn my back, because a moment later, I found the mug empty and the man swaggering across the floor to where Skylar was taking a four-top’s order. Skylar’s expression was stunned–clearly he recognized the man–then my boy was making hurried conversation to his customers and steering the stranger forcefully toward the front door.

Had Skylar been fearful that the man might make a scene? Would he become violent or try kidnapping him? Fuck if I was going to let some wet-behind-the-ears pompous ass hurt my precious boy.

“Mind the bar,” I told Frito, then grabbed a baseball bat from where it was kept underneath the counter, a relic from when humans had inhabited the Arcane Isles. We’d organized an inner-clan softball league a few years back and still played from time to time, but more often the bat came in handy for dealing with rowdier types.

I didn’t see the pair of them when I walked out front, so I looked to Frankie, who jerked his thumb to the side of the building. “Be prepared to back me up,” I said.

“You got it, boss,” was his reply.

Stalking around the corner, I found the two of them in the middle of a heated argument. Rather than interrupt, I hung back and listened in for a spell. Skylar was trying to keep his voice down, but my hearing was exceptional. He had every right to have it out with this jerk, and I wasn’t going to interfere unless the other man got nasty.

“...I told you before, Cedrych, it’s over between us. You’re going to be married soon, and I don’t want to be your piece on the side. I’m worth more than that,” Skylar said.

“You’re overreacting, Sky, as usual. It’s a diplomatic arrangement that my mother is forcing upon me. I doubt I’ll even be fucking him, and if I do, I definitely won’t enjoy it. The only person I want to be fucking is you.”

“Exactly! That’s all it ever was between us. You, wanting a convenient place to park your dick when the mood suited you. I want more out of life than to be your paid whore. I want someone I can build a life with. Maybe even start a family.”

That last bit got me right in my feelings.

“Start a family? You? Since when?” Cedrych scoffed, sounding appalled. Lord, did I want to knock his block off .

“Since now. The fact that you never even considered it is proof enough that you were never really serious about me. I want a man who’s going to take care of me long-term, not just for as long as I keep his dick wet.”

“But, but… I’m a prince,” Cedrych spluttered, clearly stupefied by the rejection.

Hold up, did he just say…

“I don’t care who you are. That’s not going to work this time,” Skylar said tartly.

“And I never treated you like a whore, Skylar. I always respected you, despite your past.”

“Despite being a guildless, unremarkable bit of fae trash?” Skylar hissed.

“I never said that. My mother is… my mother. I always defended you to her.”

“Did you, Cedrych? Or did you hide me away like your dirty little secret? You never invited me to any formal events at the palace, never introduced me to your friends. Goddess knows, when we’d pass each other in the square, you’d act as if you didn’t even know me. Do you know how hurtful that was? To watch you walk by without even a greeting, then have you come to my apartment right after and demand everything of me.”

The pain in Skylar’s voice made me want to soothe him, and I knew just the man to give him what he needed. (It was me. I was that man. )

“What else could I do?” the prince simpered. “It was a scandal even being seen with you. The Daily Scrolls were all over it. My mother was constantly haranguing me about you.”

“You could have made me legitimate,” Skylar said, practically pleading with him now. “You could have announced to society that we were together, but you chose not to. For two long years you made promises, and you never kept them.”

Huffing, the prince countered, “I put you up in that nice apartment. Bought you all those expensive clothes and jewelry–”

“You used money to control me, Cedrych, which is why I left all of that behind. I owe you nothing . You can give those gifts to your next lover or burn them for all I care. I don’t want them. I’m done with you and your mother.”

Good for you, I silently cheered. Kick that pompous prince straight to the curb.

“What do you think the Guild is going to do when I tell them you’ve run off with the prince’s property?” Cedrych said in a low, threatening voice.

“What property could you possibly mean?” Skylar asked.

“My heart, Skylar,” he wailed. Good Lord, this man was a manipulative shit. I peeked around the corner to see if the theatrics were working on Skylar, but he seemed just as pissed off as before .

“You are so full of shit, Cedrych. And you’d better not threaten me or anyone here. You never loved me. I don’t think you’re even capable of it.”

“Are you fucking someone else?” Cedrych asked.

“That is none of your business.”

The prince grabbed Skylar’s arm roughly, and by then, I’d had just about enough of his bullshit. I rounded the corner of the building, bat in hand, and slammed it against the stone wall beside Cedrych’s head. The prince startled and pivoted away, drawing his sword with the ease of a trained soldier. I’d need to have a talk with Frankie about somehow missing the huge hunk of steel stashed under the prince’s cloak.

We squared off in the alley, weapons drawn, dancing on the balls of our feet. I was itching for a fight, and I suspected the prince wanted one too.

“So, this is your new man?” the prince asked, eyes flashing. “Talk about a downgrade. I shouldn’t be so surprised to find you slumming it here in… oh wait, I forgot, this worthless town doesn’t even have a name.”

“This is my boss, Hierophant Wolfsbane,” Skylar said with stiff formality, stepping between us. “Trust me, Hiero, he is not worth the trouble.”

“There doesn’t have to be any trouble if you come back with me to Emrallt Valley,” Cedrych said. A quick glance at Skylar told me he was considering it. Keeping one eye on the prince, I reached out and pulled Skylar behind me. Over my dead body was Skylar going anywhere with this prick .

“He’s all bluster,” I told Skylar. “I know his type. Men like him like to puff themselves up like roosters because they’re cowards on the inside.”

“Who are you calling a coward, halfling?” The prince made a half-hearted jab with his sword. If he were any other mongrel off the street, I’d beat his ass black and blue, but this was a royal. Kicking his ass would have repercussions for me and my kin, so instead of taking a swing, I let out a long, loud whistle. Within a minute I was flanked on either side by a dozen of my shifter clan and a few wild wolves as well.

“Oh, so this is how you’re going to play it?” Cedrych asked, standing up straighter.

“You’re on my turf now, fae. You came to my no-name town and started some shit with one of my people. Now put away your sword and go on back to where you came from. Leave Skylar alone, forever. ”

“Do you know who I am?” the prince asked haughtily.

“Prince of Pain in My Ass?”

“Skylar, are you going to let him speak to me this way?” the prince demanded.

A flash of hesitation crossed Skylar’s face before he squared his shoulders and said, “Leave, Cedrych. Go back to your mother and your fiancé and your posh life in the palace. To your tea parties and fancy court dinners. I don’t love you anymore, and I doubt you ever truly loved me either.”

Cedrych blew out his cheeks like a tantruming child and sheathed his sword. The scrape of metal reminded me to unclench my jaw. Then he strolled right up to me and pointed his finger in my face. “This isn’t over, Minotaur.”

“I welcome the opportunity to break your royal nose, Your Highness,” I said with sincerity and gave a courtly bow for good measure.

“Your apartment is waiting for you, should you choose to come home,” he said to Skylar.

“I won’t,” Skylar replied coolly, and I was proud of him for refusing the prince’s empty promises.

The prince turned and stomped off into the night, cloak rippling behind him. I didn’t know how he’d arrived here, but I turned to Frankie and Frito. “Follow the fae prince to the edge of town and make sure he doesn’t cause any more trouble.” They nodded, stripped out of their clothing before shifting to make haste in their pursuit. The crowd dispersed and I embraced Skylar who was clearly upset but trying very hard to maintain his composure.

“I’m so sorry, Hiero. I have no idea how he found me,” he said, blinking up at me with wet, sparkling eyes.

“Word gets around. Hopefully he won’t be coming back,” I said as I rubbed his back.

“I’m afraid he will, though. Cedrych hates backing down from a fight. And he won’t be alone next time. He’ll bring his guards with him.”

“I’ve got backup,” I reminded him, wondering just how good the fae prince was at swordplay. The fight wouldn’t be fair, for there was only so much damage I could inflict on a royal without placing my neck in the hangman’s noose. The encounter also begged the question as to what Skylar had seen in that shallow, pompous brat in the first place. A meal ticket, maybe.

“You know what the worst thing is?” Skylar said bitterly. “I don’t think he ever wanted me. He just liked the way I made him feel. Even now, he doesn’t miss me, he just misses having me around. You know what I mean?”

“I do know what you mean,” I said because I’d been similarly used by past lovers. They didn’t see me. They saw a big dick and a set of horns and only wanted to give the freak minotaur a ride before moving on. “How did the two of you meet?”

Guilt flashed in his eyes, and I suspected he was thinking about lying to me.

“Tell Daddy the truth,” I said, touching his chin while invoking our tenuous bond.

He sighed with misery and said, “Monica and I were working at Templeton Square when he and his retinue passed through. I didn’t realize he was royalty, just saw that he had a fat coin purse hanging off his hip.”

“You pickpocketed him?” I asked, grinning at his fearlessness.

“I was relieving him of a small portion of his wealth, yes,” Skylar said primly.

“And then what?”

“He caught me red-handed and gave me the choice. Go before the Guild or…” Skylar hesitated. “ Join him for dinner.”

I inferred that the dinner proposal was a euphemism for sex, but I didn’t press it. “What would going before the Guild have meant?” I asked.

“They might have put me in a labor camp or cut off my wings.”

“That’s barbaric,” I said, aghast at the thought of such beautiful appendages being harmed for a few stolen coins.

“They’d grow back eventually, but never quite the same. It’s a very painful and humbling experience, to have your wings clipped.”

“So, it was that or date him?” Didn’t sound like much of a choice to me.

“He made me an offer that at the time seemed more than generous. And that’s why I didn’t mention to you that he was royalty, because then you would know that I was nothing but a gold digger and a prince’s whore. And I care what you think of me, Hiero.”

I took hold of his jaw and tilted his face toward mine. “I don’t care about the terms of your relationship with your ex. It’s none of my business. I’m only asking because I want to protect you should he come back. That’s what a good Daddy does for his boy, right?”

His lower lip protruded, tempting as a jewel, as he nodded.

“I want you to finish out your shift, and then you’re staying with me tonight where I can keep an eye on you in case he comes back. I can sleep on the couch. ”

“Or you could sleep in the bed with me? Just to keep me safe?” he said with a sly grin.

I shook my head at his very tempting offer and brushed a stray wisp of raven hair from his upturned face. “You’re irresistible to me, Skylar, you should know that by now, but I don’t want you to feel pressured the way you were with him. Sex isn’t a condition of my friendship or my protection.”

He swallowed tightly, pretty eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Thank you, Hiero.”

I nodded and tried to tame the wild beat of my heart. “You’re welcome.”