Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

H yax fumed as he made his way downstairs. He'd specifically told his parents the reason why he was coming and that the sole purpose of the visit was for them to meet Gwil. Both as his boyfriend and for the investigation. Instead of a private meeting, where he could keep Gwil away from the wider circle of arseholes on the Ruling Council, they'd been met with most of the main politicians, plus an armed guard. He could've coped with that bullshit if they'd informed him of the reception he had to attend as part of his royal duties. If he'd known, he would have arranged a different time to introduce Gwil, but he suspected whenever he'd brought Gwil home, there would've been something arranged to make it clear how unwelcome Gwil was. For now he would have to grin and bear it, but he would have to speak to them at some point. Gwil might not be his real romantic partner for now but he harboured the hope that one day he would be.

"Hyax!" Cikla stepped out from an alcove.

He wasn't aware she was planning to be at the castle. "I didn't know you were coming."

"I'm here for trade talks starting in the morning but I came early as I heard something and didn't think you'd appreciate being ambushed."

" Ambushed ?"

"My brother told me he'd been summoned as part of a suitor engagement meeting."

"Maili? Good goddess, since when was he on the list."

He'd suspected his parents would try something but not with Maili—an ex with whom he'd managed to stay on good terms after they'd split. Maili had never been considered a suitable suitor by his parents before.

"He was added last night. He called me in a complete state. Honestly, this has to be in response to you announcing your thing with Gwil. And by the way, I can't pretend I'm not a bit miffed you didn't tell me about him yourself."

He would have told Cikla the truth, and would now do at a more suitable time when he wasn't standing in the middle of a hallway.

"Things sort of snowballed. Sorry, Cikla, when we're both home we'll talk properly. I'm assuming this reception is going to be like some fae bachelor gameshow, except I've no intention of selecting anyone to go through to the next round."

"I think your parents have a different expectation about how this is going to play out. You must have realised they wouldn't have sanctioned you marrying a vamp. Pretty much any other species would have been preferable."

"So how many non-fae will be paraded in front of me tonight?"

She snorted. "You already know the answer to that, Hyax."

"I can't believe they are doing this, my parents have never been this unreasonable before."

"You'd know better than me if there was more to it."

Of course there fucking was, the stone was driving this, not his choice of boyfriend or spouse, but if Cikla knew about the stone she wasn't letting on.

"I could suggest that I marry you. Since your brother's now an option so would you be."

"Hardly believable though, Unless you've suddenly forgotten your devotion to cock." She laughed. "I'm not invited to your reception, as I said I only came to make sure you were warned."

Her friendship meant the world to him. They had a different dynamic to him and Gwil but it was a cherished bond they'd had since childhood.

"I better get downstairs before I'm sent for."

The castle had several staterooms, some capable of holding hundreds of guests, but the Iliad room was used for smaller occasions of less than fifty. Still not an intimate gathering but it did mean he wouldn't be able to lurk in a corner and would be missed if he tried to sneak away. Not that either was an option as he would be the guest of honour.

Hyax braced himself for what was waiting for him behind the door. He would be on display, a piece of meat to be salivated and fought over. Or that was what some of them would think. But he was not the type to be intimidated, and just because a man had managed to get themselves on a list his parents approved of did not mean he did. The fact Maili and Metra were there was testament to that, and while there were different reasons they had split he had no intention of entering into a relationship with either of them again.

He threw open the door and strode in, head high and with as much arrogance as he could muster. He looked good, better than good, and he should have men begging for his attention, and this evening he would expect no less. No matter what his parents might have him do, he would not simper like someone desperate. If all went well, he would be able to remove several names from the list by citing their poor actions, or inability to hold his interest. The thing about the suitors list was it was possible to take people off as well as put them on.

There were three chairs situated on a dais where his parents were already seated and dressed in full regalia. He'd taken the hint and it was why he was wearing his official princely headdress he didn't much care for. The point was they were playing up the tradition, that this was important and should be respected. Glancing around, he could see the guests were also richly attired with lavish robes and more jewels than should be situated together outside of a safe.

Hyax bowed to his parents, not as low as he should have done, but he had only limited ways to express his displeasure, then took his seat. He waved away a servant who tried to offer him a drink, another signal he had no interest in being here. His mother raised an eyebrow at him but he stared coolly back.

As predicted, there was a small gathering of around forty to fifty people. He spotted Maili and his parents talking to a member of the security council, another potential suitor. Metra and his mother were there as well—he smiled and raised his glass but Hyax did not respond. From last recollection there were ten on the list, but that was before he knew of Maili, and he then saw another ex-boyfriend, one his parents also had reservations about. A quick scan of the room made him realise there were eleven potential suitors.

He turned to his mother. "I would have hoped you could have respected my wishes. But it appears you have instead dragged me here to be displayed."

"I am trying to save you from a mistake."

"No. You have decided that I cannot be trusted with knowing my own thoughts and needs."

They kept their voices low but Hyax would not be averse to making a scene if needed. He was not a fledgling, he was not wet around the wings and had done his duty without complaint for years. He deserved to be shown respect, not subjected to this farce.

"This goes beyond what you want, or what you think is good for you. You should have considered the realm's needs."

She was being stubborn but the argument wouldn't work on him. "Even if I weren't so far down the succession list that it would not matter, making allies outside of the fae is good for the realm."

Talia snorted. "If you were so convinced by his great benefit why did you exaggerate his credentials."

"Because I wanted you to like him, and to be receptive to the one I had chosen. Yes, I massaged his history, but I hoped that you would have forgiven that later once you had got to know him."

His father leant over. "Now is not the time. You could at least have presented him alongside your suitors."

"Never has that been the requirement. You chose to interpret the rules as you see fit."

"Enough!" Talia smacked her hand on the arm of her chair. "You will receive your suitors as per protocol."

"Fine. But don't expect me to accept any—protocol does not dictate that I must."

When he'd been younger, the idea of choosing a consort from a pre-approved list had not bothered him. He expected he would have an official partner and be free to take other lovers as part of a harem. Metra had been the first of his boyfriends to make him challenge that thinking, not that they'd discussed it or that their relationship hadn't been hidden, more he didn't like the idea of being with someone who wouldn't care what he did or with whom. He wanted to be important, be loved and cared for, and at one point he thought that might be Metra. He still couldn't believe how wrong he'd been.

The suitors and their families were being arranged by name order, lined up to come forwards to meet him. It was ridiculous as he knew several of these men, three of them in such a way that if he accepted them they could have already considered their pairing consummated.

First was Vina and his parents, the son of one of the Ruling Council members and an arrogant prick on a good day—that wasn't the only reason he wouldn't be suitable. Hyax thought he was fairly patient, at least in comparison to his fellow fae, but he was in no mood to play nice.

"Councillor Yint, I thought it would be obvious that I would in no way consider your son as an option."

Yint managed to keep his expression neutral. "I do not recall any reason why that would be the case."

"He's promised to be married already. To a woman. And I have never known him to be attracted to a man. I would not be willing to engage in a sexless marriage and neither would I want a partner who failed to find me sexually attractive."

There were many rules and the key ones were around consent and coercion.

"Is that correct, Vina?" Talia asked. Hyax knew his mother would stand by the principles, and would not force anyone into marriage.

"Yes, Your Majesty. But I know Hyax is beautiful for a man, I am sure I could adjust."

Hyax clicked his tongue. "You think by that I will submit to you? How about the other way around—does that make you less inclined?"

Vina shuffled his feet. "It would not be something I would actively pursue."

"Then you're not suitable and do not meet the criteria on the list." Hyax turned to his mother. "I thought the point was they have all been vetted?"

She looked furious. "There are many different ways to interpret the criteria. You said you didn't want a harem because of your… friend. Not that you objected in principle, so a political match could be acceptable."

"I would expect any future spouse to wish to share our marital bed." He turned back to Vina. "I would not put you in a position that would be tantamount to marital rape. You will be removed from the list, and I thank you for your interest, it is of course a pity."

If that hadn't been an excuse he'd have found another. He was hoping there might be at least one other he could remove in a similar fashion, the idea being to whittle down the list as far as possible knowing there was meant to be a minimum number for him to choose from.

The next in the queue was dismissed quick enough as he was too short, an ancient criteria he'd thought stupid when he was younger but was now happy to insist upon. His mother had tried to get him to waive it but there'd been no chance.

Maili was next up and Hyax thought he would give him the benefit of the doubt. His parents were ambitious, but they would have been better off focusing on his closer friendship with their daughter than trying to use their son. "Maili, you cannot possibly wish to shackle yourself to me. We know we are not compatible in the sense of a peaceful longevity."

They'd not dated for long, the sex had been explosive and passionate but outside that they had annoyed the fuck out of each other.

"We are older now. You might be a of a sweeter disposition," Maili said with a smirk.

Hyax could tell he was no more willing than himself. "You know that not to be the case. I fear for both our sanities, that while I will always think of you with the highest regard that is with the caveat that we remain friends. Nothing more."

"Perhaps you are being a bit harsh," Talia said. "It has been some time since you were together."

"I seem to recall you were not happy that we dated." The words not good enough and fine for fun , or could be a harem member but not suitable for more had been used several times. Maili's political status wasn't the reason they hadn't worked.

"I am capable of admitting when I am wrong."

"So am I, but in this instance I'm not. While being a past partner is not a justification in itself to remove someone from the list, concerns over long-term compatibility is."

Unfortunately, he couldn't find a way to get rid of the next two, a prince and a duke from different tribes, who he didn't know much about beyond polite conversations at social gatherings. He knew his mother would push for follow-up sessions, but he could worry about them later. His bigger problem was the next man, Metra. The beautiful bastard glowed as he stood between his parents.

Their families hadn't known they were together. It had been part of the attraction—not getting caught adding extra layers of excitement. They'd been sexually compatible, Metra a decent and generous lover, pity that he'd not been able to limit his generosity only to Hyax.

"Prince Metra," Talia said, after the formal introductions had been got out of the way, "I must say we were surprised but elated to see you had agreed to be placed on the suitor's list as part of the successful peace agreements."

"It was an honour to do so. I am sure Prince Hyax would make a worthy spouse for anyone. We do need to get to know each other first, it would be imperative to ensure we can stand each other for extended periods."

Hyax had known of arranged marriages where the couple had barely tolerated each other, where the match had nothing to do with them but the political games their parents wanted to play. Of the ones on the list so far, Metra would have been his parents' favourite, and there wasn't much Hyax could say to change that without giving away their secret.

"I would like to be able to more than tolerate my partner," Hyax replied.

"You are not alone in wanting that," Metra replied. "I am sure we will have much in common, can learn to accommodate each other's ways and pass the time in pleasing activities."

It was as if the bastard thought this could work. Hyax hadn't given him any indication since they'd split that he'd been willing to forgive and forget. Quite the opposite.

"There are other traits beyond holding an interesting conversation and playing chess. I care about honesty—trust is an important factor that is hard to earn and easy to lose."

"I know. And if I am found worthy I will do all in my power to prove to you I am capable of being just that."

He couldn't hold back the snort.

Talia tutted. "Hyax, your manners."

"Apologies, but I am aware of Metra's reputation. I would ask if he was such a perfect match for anyone, why he is not already betrothed elsewhere?"

Metra's mother, Queen Vaness of the Elementa tribe, placed a hand on her son's shoulder to stop him from answering. "It is the tradition in our lands to let our children grow up and leave behind their childish traits before they are wed. You are not the only one we have allowed to have the honour of being considered by our family."

He needed to tread carefully here. A misplaced word would be an insult too far even though she'd insinuated that he was a childish brat. "I am sure he is comforted that he has alternatives if we find ourselves unsuitable."

Metra looked pained, and Hyax couldn't believe his gall. "I think we will be. I ask you to give me the opportunity to prove that to you."

Bastard. He would not dignify him with a response, and he sat back in his chair and crossed his arms and legs. The message couldn't be clearer if he'd shouted it from the rooftops.

Talia smiled, but she was not happy. "As per tradition, there are several steps to allow the choosing of a suitor. There will be plenty of time for you to get to know each other."

"I should make it clear, that while tonight Metra is being presented as someone being worthy of Prince Hyax, it is by no means yet established that he is suitable for Metra," Vaness said, her gaze penetrating. "There have been some interesting rumours about the company Hyax keeps that will need to be further discussed."

Hyax had wondered if his connection to Gwil might raise itself. It would not be addressed but it would not take too long before it became widespread knowledge.

"You are not the only one who has that sentiment," drawled Talia. "But rest assured Hyax will do his duty."

"Very well. We will wait and see how things progress."

Hyax huffed a sigh of relief as they moved on. The final option was a member of the security council, twice his age and Hyax was sure he was only included as a threat of what could happen if he didn't pick someone suitable. But for now he was going to stick to the declaration he'd made about Gwil.

As the last of the formal greetings ended, Hyax couldn't maintain his impatience. "I have done as requested. As I said at the beginning, I do not accept any of the suitors and move to strike six from the list, meaning only five remain. As per protocol, a minimum of eight suitable candidates are required in order for me to have a worthy pool to choose from."

"I will not let you play games," Talia warned.

"You started it. I came to you in good faith, told you of my intention and how I had made a love match and you have continued to insist on this farce. I will fight you at every step but for now I will return to my guest. "

He was too angry to remain and thought he did well to act as reasonably as he had done. Gwil would understand the need to keep up their pretext, perhaps in time he might be able to persuade him it was not such a ludicrous idea for them to be together. He strode out of the reception room, no one stupid or brave enough to try to stop him.