Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

G wil sat on the sofa of their new living room, the furniture from his old place having been delivered the day before, adding to the pieces Hyax had conjured. "Before you do the hand-waving and the muttering, Penelope said something the other night about how I might be able to go out in fae daylight."

Hyax shrugged. "Highly probable, but we won't know for sure until we try. We don't exactly get a lot of vampire visitors to my tribe."

He wondered if he should say something about the Dark Earl of MacLove, but he didn't know much about either side of the MacLove story. "I heard that there is a connection between the Vampire Council and the seventh fae tribe…" He worried his bottom lip. "And I was thinking that they might be part of the reason your folks aren't so impressed with us dating."

"I heard King James was also a Dark Earl. But we don't discuss the Calanti much. They separated from the other six tribes a millennium ago and contact is minimal. My mother might know more but she doesn't confide in me."

Hyax wasn't answering his question. "So it's feasible that's why they would be against us being together?"

"There's a lot of anti-vampire sentiment everywhere, but add that to a vampire being the king of an excised faction then it's not exactly going to help our case."

"It would make sense if it were true… at least about me being able to see the sun because the Dark Earl of MacLove must spend time there. I admit it would be nice to feel sunshine again, but I'll settle for not being fried by a portal."

"I'm sure you're safe with the portal. Spellcraft science has come on a lot in the last hundred years, so it's become obvious that the portal works differently depending on the destination."

It was a pity Hyax couldn't ask the Calanti, but it was obviously not an option and now was not the time to push. "I didn't think spellcraft was a science."

"Yes, well, your opinion hasn't been driving magic innovation, which is a good job because I can only imagine the inanities you'd have developed… warming soup spoons, blood thinners, and automatic cat food dispensers."

On clue, Midnight jumped up next to him on the sofa and butted her head against Gwil's hand. "I swear she can understand the words cat food."

"What are you doing with her when you're away?" Hyax scratched Midnight between the ears.

"Nella is going to pop in. I said she could stay here if she wanted, I think her aunt gets a bit overbearing at times."

"Just as long as she doesn't leave puddles everywhere."

He wasn't sure what had crawled up Hyax's arse this time. "Do you have a problem with her staying?"

"I do live here too, you could have asked first."

"You're being awfully pissy over someone doing me a favour to feed my cat."

Hyax huffed. "No I'm not. But I'm surprised she'd be willing to do it now you're officially no longer single."

Nella was a good friend, but she'd never crossed into potential lover territory. "What's that got to do with anything? We're friends, she's got about as much interest in me as you have… without the request to pretend to be her boyfriend."

Hyax bristled and Gwil was even more confused.

"She must want something in return," Hyax insisted. "Have you promised to turn her?"

"No, I haven't. She's a bloody water nymph. They're not exactly short-lived to start with. Hyax, are you sure there's nothing wrong? You're being a bit odd. Do you want me to get someone else to feed Midnight?"

"Don't be silly."

He wasn't going to argue with him, not when Hyax was going to be casting magic in his direction. Hyax had his moments of irrational grumpiness, although it wasn't usually directed at his friends.

"Right then, shall we try the casting?"

Hyax rubbed the red stone on the bangle he wore, which sort of acted like a wristwatch for fae time. "Are you all packed for our visit? Because I think we could go straight away, once we're done."

He'd expected this. Hyax had been itching to get back to the fae realm to investigate, and he had to admit he was super curious too. "I've a bag packed and a cool box with supplies for a couple of days."

" Supplies ?"

"Blood. I do eat food, but you know it's blood that keeps me… well not alive but you know what I mean."

"My parents will have thought of that, Gwil. Bring it, but it would be an insult if you weren't catered for." Hyax picked up Midnight and shooed her out of the way. "Let's not get the moggy covered in magic, don't need cat hair interfering with everything."

"How do you want me?"

"Stand up and make sure I can move around, I want to make sure you get full coverage. This might feel a little different than the previous time you've experienced my magic. The spell is protective and specifically keyed to you."

"Should I be worried?"

Hyax's demeanour changed and he gave him one of his genuine smiles that always made Gwil melt a little. "Not worried, it might feel… nice."

Hyax didn't give him the chance to ask what he meant by that and then he gasped as Hyax's magic engulfed him in a cocoon of pure bliss. Nice was too gentle a word to describe the sensation of being immersed in a magical embrace. At first, it was like being held by a lover who wanted to protect him, cherish and keep him safe, but it changed into something more erotic, tasting of heat and desire. He had to bite his tongue to stop the moan from escaping, especially as his cock was as interested as the rest of him. It was somewhere between a whole-body massage and a hug. He'd never experienced anything like it and that included the sexual thrill from the few times he'd slept with his sire.

Hyax moved behind him. "Nearly done."

The magic dissipated and Gwil was left with a thrumming in his head. He swayed on his feet and Hyax placed a hand on his shoulder to steady him.

"You weren't wrong about it being nice," Gwil croaked.

"Sorry, I should have warned you about that. I read it can be a bit intimate, I hope it wasn't too intrusive. I've never had to cast it before."

He'd have much rather Hyax had made his balls tingle in the traditional sense, but seeing this might be the closest he was ever going to get, he wasn't about to complain. "No worries, like I said it was nice. I've had worse things done to me that were meant to be for my own good. And it's not like you didn't buy me dinner first."

Hyax punched him in the arm. "Fucker. Go get your stuff and we can go."

He collected his bags, chuckling as he did, returning to see Hyax had opened a portal and was talking to someone on the other side. "I've informed my parents I'm on my way. Ah, here he is."

"You're sure this isn't going to have me on my back."

Hyax smirked. "No, we'll save that for later. You're travelling into fae space with the fae realm being the destination, not passing through, so the energy signals are different. If my research is correct, you'll be fine."

Gwil hoped Hyax was right because he didn't want another episode like after the British Museum. Hyax disappeared into the portal and Gwil followed.

He prepared himself for the journey across the barrier to be similar to the other portals but with a better ending, and, despite the enchantments being in place, he'd expected the experience to hurt or at least sting a bit. But as he stepped through, following close on Hyax's heels, the transition was nothing more than a pleasant shimmer across his skin.

A bright light blinded him, and for a moment he thought he was about to turn into a pile of ash, and Hyax and Penelope had been wrong about the effect of fae daylight on vampires, but instead his vision returned although the sight before him made him question his own eyes. Hyax was even more beautiful than normal, his skin seemed to shine and his hair reminded Gwil of a copper and gold halo, but he hadn't been prepared for the iridescent wings, like rainbows, tethered to Hyax's back. Unthinking, he reached out and ran a finger down the blue ridged edge.

Hyax hissed. "Gwil. What are you doing?"

He snatched back his hand. "Sorry, they're just so pretty. I haven't seen them before, and I couldn't resist."

"Right, well, our wings can be sensitive and they tend to be invite-only for touching."

He winced. "I'll keep my hands to myself."

Hyax smiled tightly. "I suppose you are my betrothed, so it would not be unexpected. Though not too often in public. It's usually more of a private matter."

He was clearly uncomfortable at the thought of Gwil touching him, or maybe it was the effect of having that part of his anatomy stroked. "I will remember myself. It might be better if I conduct myself as I did when I last courted someone. Victorian ways aren't so loose as modern standards and I treated Matilda like a proper lady, as she deserved."

He'd hated the restriction, the desire to touch and the intimacy curtailed by the need to be proper at all times, but he could do that for Hyax. He'd had lovers since those days but nothing like a courtship, even the years he'd dated Hoffman, and not to anyone of royal blood—of any species.

"We'll talk about it later. Protocol and etiquette was something else I probably should have mentioned."

"Your Highness," greeted one of a pair of guards. He flew up to them, hovering a few inches off the ground. "Her Majesty asked for you to address her immediately on your arrival. She is waiting in the Tithur room, sire. Along with the king."

"I did tell the other guard we were coming imminently." Hyax huffed. "Go on ahead, and we will follow, but on foot as my future consort does not have wings."

One of the guards saluted and flew off.

Hyax cocked his head to one side, and grinned at Gwil. "You can't turn into a bat, can you?"

"Not a gift I received from my sire. You'd have known by now if I could have turned into a little fluffy mouse with wings. My cat would have probably eaten me, and I'm not that cute."

Hyax stroked his cheek and bopped him on the end of his nose. "Of course you are. Now come and meet my parents."

He wished that touch wasn't for show in front of the guard. The idea of being thought of as cute should have rankled, but he knew if it were Hyax calling him it for real, he wouldn't have minded one little bit.