Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

" I heard you were leaving early, what a shame." Metra was leaning against the door to Hyax's bedroom. Gwil had been escorted to the end of the corridor but his guard had disappeared the minute he'd spotted Metra. "Need any help with your packing?"

"I'm more than capable, thanks very much. So why don't you fuck off and annoy someone else."

He carried on past him and into the room, Metra following. "I notice it's only you leaving. Hyax finally come to his senses?"

"I believe he did that a while back, since he's no longer dating you."

Gwil started collecting his things and he hoped he'd get a chance to see Hyax again before he left rather than being shoved through a portal and sent on his way.

"You should know there's no way his family will let him keep you. If you're lucky you might be allowed to join his harem but they'll make sure you'll be the least attractive of the group."

If he were Hyax's boyfriend it might have stung, but he could hardly get upset over something that wasn't real, and it meant he didn't react to Metra's jibe. "Yeah, well, shows how little you know him."

Metra smirked. "I think I know him better than most."

"No, you used to date—and you can't even call it that since no one of consequence knew."

"There were extenuating circumstances."

"I don't give a fuck. He told his parents about me, a vampire. Even a rival fae would be higher up the pecking order if I listened to you lot. Yet, he didn't say a word. So you didn't know him then, and you certainly don't know him now."

"That can change."

He wasn't standing for this. "He told me you were a smarmy twat last night. Be grateful I'm not the sort to fight my partner's battles or I'd break all your fingers."

"As if."

"Listen to me, you sparkly-winged cock, I'm not some fluffy fairy you think you can run off." He bared his fangs and Metra took a step away. "I prefer human blood, but I could drain you dry in a heartbeat."

"You wouldn't dare."

He licked his front incisor. "Not here I wouldn't, but you come near me or Hyax in my realm and I'll break your neck and feed you to the local werewolf pack."

"You're not going to win this."

"Hyax is not a prize to be won. The reason he doesn't want you back is you never wanted him, or you would never have cheated. Now you want the prestige for you and your kin marrying into another royal family.

"Not true on either count."

He was in no mood to continue this conversation. "I've already made it clear that I don't care what you say. Now, I've asked you to leave as nicely as I'm going to."

Metra walked back towards the door, calling over his shoulder as he left: "Whatever happens you'll still be a vampire, and not worthy of touching him."

Unfortunately that was something he couldn't change. He finished packing and was zipping up the bag when Hyax arrived.

"I need to stay tonight, but I should be good to leave tomorrow."

"Have you some babies to kiss? Hospitals to open? Other royal pursuits?" he asked with a grin, deciding best not to bring Metra up for now.

"No, they want to discuss the situation with the elves, but not with you. I have no idea why not as I'll be filling you in when I see you at home." Hyax sighed and sat on the bed. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

"No, it's fine. I'll head back, see if Copperpipe's come up with anything and when you come home tomorrow, I'll get us a takeaway and a bottle of wine and we can get pissed and worry about something else for a while."

"Thanks, Gwil. I don't know what I'd do without you. You've come to mean a lot to me."

As a friend. As a business partner. But not a lover, and Gwil was going to have to accept he'd never be more, and that would be all right as long as he could keep Hyax close. However, from what he'd seen, Queen Talia might be trying everything she could to prevent that from happening.

Back underground, Gwil found he preferred the sewers to the fae castle. At least down here the only shit was in the water and not members and guests of the royal family. He trudged through the tunnels, having sent word to Copperpipe that he'd be here, and he hoped he had answers and a sample of Stardust.

A grate was dragged to one side. The potato on legs wriggled out and landed at his side with a splash. "How were your adventures in fairyland, Fangface? Romantic break to visit the future in-laws?" Copperpipe made a number of disturbing kissing noises.

He didn't think the news about his pretend love life would have reached down here. "How'd you know about that?"

"Not much I don't know or can't find out, otherwise I'd be a bit of a useless informant."

"True, I suppose. But it's none of your business. I asked you about the Stardust."

"Seems like the elves have got themselves a new supply route. No one knows much, but the goods aren't as clean. Been customer complaints and well, punters aren't keen on risking their sparkly bits for a high. Bad for business."

"I wouldn't have thought the elves would've cared if it allowed them to make a bigger profit."

"Too many whispers. Goya can't turn a blind eye anymore. Not when the last one to end up having their lungs vacuumed was the mayor's niece."

"Ah."

Copperpipe nodded vigorously. "You see now? Poor merch makes for bad deals. Elves are getting jumpy, and the last thing you want are them lot flipping out."

"Elves are bastards whatever." He wasn't going to agree outright with Copperpipe, but he had a point. "Did you get me the sample I asked for?"

"I did." He scrunched up his features in distaste, and it made him look even more like an old potato. "I am still not sure this is a good idea. Your pretty fairy might go bananas."

"We appreciate your concern, but Hyax is adamant that he knows what he's doing, and he's a stubborn bastard."

"Makes two of you." Copperpipe dug around inside the sacking he was wearing and Gwil thought it best not to think where the little plastic bag that emerged had been hidden. "Here. If anyone asks, it wasn't from me. I don't want no angry fae coming my way."

"Don't worry. You'll remain my anonymous source. You're too useful to me to lose your services if you're vaporised into sparkly dust."

"Fuck you, Fangface." He held out his hand. "Payment now."

He handed over the bag of lemon pear drops and a flask of ambrosia. He'd never get used to Copperpipe's random requests for payment. Last time it had been smoked almonds, and the time before, saag aloo.

Gwil trudged out of the sewers and home, and had been able to have a shower long enough to remove the residual pong before Hyax arrived. "Released from your royal duties, I see."

Hyax landed next to him on the sofa. "For now. My parents are being unreasonable. They've never insisted I do this meet and greet shit before, but now I'm expected to help entertain visitors. Not just the suitor bollocks."

"Must be a hard life having a family who can tolerate your presence for whole hours at a time." He waved his phone at him. "I'll order dinner. What you fancy?"

"Korean, pork bibimbap with extra sesame oil and bao buns."

"I don't know why I asked. You do realise there are other options in London?"

Hyax was a creature of habit in many respects, and he never understood what it was about Korean food that did it for him.

"Just get on with it. Then you can fill me in on your meeting with the dirt devil."

Thirty minutes later Hyax was making obscene noises as he ate and Gwil was trying his best not to make his erection obvious. "I would have thought you prince types would have been taught how to eat without sounding like a pig."

"Says the man who gargles blood." Hyax pushed half a bao bun into his mouth and moaned as he swallowed. "Now tell me what the sewer potato had to say."

"Copperpipe said that he thinks the elves have a new supplier—if they are using the Stone of Ljin that would make sense if the drugs were different." He dug out a little bag from his jeans pocket. "I got the sample. Are you still sure you want to do this?"

Hyax snatched it out of his hands. "Yes, the alternative would be using a lab or asking someone else to test it and that could expose us and make it obvious we're onto something."

"But surely there's a spell or something you could use instead?"

"If there were I'd have suggested it. Tracking its magical signature is difficult as it is, ingestion is the quickest way. I'm not averse to getting high for a few hours, and you're here to make sure I don't haemorrhage magic out of every orifice."

He'd knew Hyax wouldn't back down but he'd had to try. "All right. When do you want to try?"

"No time like the present. I'm at peak charge thanks to spending time back in the fae realm and I've eaten. So good to go."

The stubborn bastard wasn't going to be persuaded. "All right. What do I need to do? Is there something you need?"

"I should probably admit that I'm not what you'd call a stranger to white powders."

He'd never seen Hyax use, and would have never pinned him as having a habit. "How heavy a user are you?"

"Nothing to get all huffy over. The odd wrap now and again, it's never been a regular thing, purely recreational, and I don't have cravings."

His own past was chequered by episodes of addiction. If he'd not been a regular in the opium dens he'd have never met his sire, and decades later it was an acid trip that had led him to lose his inhibitions and end up in bed with Hoffman. "I'm not sure it's a good idea to put yourself in a position where you could trigger a change from recreational user to dependent. You don't know what this tainted shit could do."

"I know my own body and the precautions to take. Plenty of water before and then after I get the measure of the mode of action. That should flush my system. I'll use a spell to mop up the residuals."

"Hyax…"

"No, Gwil. I'm doing this and you can either help or fuck off and leave me to it."

Gwil knew when he was beaten, and there was no way he would leave Hyax alone when off his face. "Fine. Let me get you some water."

A few minutes in the kitchen gave him a brief respite. He grabbed two pint glasses and filled them from the tap, taking longer than strictly necessary.

Hyax had already cut the powder into two lines when he returned to the living room and he downed the first pint as soon as he was handed it.

"I'm going in."

Gwil sat and watched as Hyax snorted the Stardust. He remembered snorting cocaine, the way the powder would hit the back of his nose and the slow burn as the high crawled through him. They hadn't been sure how long it would take before Hyax would experience the effects, but he was not expecting an instant reaction. Hyax swayed a little and giggled.

"Are you all right?"

"Oh, this stuff is strong. I can feel it already. I've never had a hit like it before… so soon and so intense." He let out a low moan, his eyes hooded. "So pretty."

"What are you seeing?" Gwil asked.

"I can taste the colours. Blue is sooo… sweet."

Hyax turned to face him, his eyes wide, pupils blown. He was hit by the power of Hyax's projection and he had to dig his fingers into his thigh to stop himself from reacting.

"You know something else that would taste sweet?" Hyax asked, licking his lips.

"No."

"You."

Gwil whimpered as Hyax lowered himself onto his lap. He cupped Gwil's jaw and stroked a thumb over his cheekbone. "So pretty."

Hyax leant forwards and kissed him. Gwil moaned. Every fibre in his body wanted to deepen the kiss and hold Hyax closer, but he couldn't—wouldn't—do this. Hyax was high so this kiss was not freely given, and Gwil might be a blood-sucking member of the undead but he wasn't a monster.

There wasn't any justice in the world. How was it fair that one of his most vivid fantasies was playing out in front of him and he wasn't bastard enough to let it happen? Hyax was off his tits on whatever was in the Stardust, meaning he wasn't in his right mind, and as much as he wanted to hold on and make Hyax his, he would forever hate himself if he took advantage. He pushed Hyax away gently.

Hyax pouted and then giggled. His eyes rolled back and he collapsed sideways onto the sofa, out cold. For a moment Gwil stared in growing panic, wondering if he should call for a healer, then Hyax let out a loud snore. Gwil tutted, he'd get the sparkly git into his own bed, have a wank and try not to think of Hyax riding his cock.