Chapter 29

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

G oya looked at him as if he were crazy, which was an improvement compared to his usual expression when he talked to Gwil. "Hidden in the British Museum?"

"Hyax consulted the oracle and it came up with an image of the frontage."

"Right, so if His Highness is so convinced why hasn't he gone storming in there already?" He raised an eyebrow. "Or is he in there now on Christmas Eve helping himself?"

"I'm pretty sure a fae prince would take exception to being tarred with that sort of brush, inspector. He would want permission to access the special antiquities of the museum."

"Don't play games with me, Hilt. I know what you pair did the other week."

"I don't know what you're talking about. And even if I did, if you had any evidence that I'd committed a crime, you'd have me in custody and I'd not be here looking to you for help in recovering a stolen fae crown jewel."

"Ha, fucking, ha. So I assume you're asking for permission to do a magic sweep in a popular London building that houses artefacts known to bite?"

"Pretty much. Hyax said he can work in segments but he can't narrow it down further until he's in there and allowed to use the full range of his magic—so the shield would need to be lifted. Since it should be closed for the holiday, it would be the perfect opportunity."

Goya glanced at the clock in his office. Gwil could tell Goya wasn't best impressed he was in his office at nearly five o'clock on Christmas Eve and, although in theory the paranormal branch of the Met wouldn't close, it was still a tight deadline if they wanted to make the most of the human holidays. "This will need clearance from the top. I'll see what I can do and get back to you in the morning."

Gwil was happy to wait until tomorrow, he'd enjoy the evening and most of Christmas Day with Hyax. "We can't wait too long, it's only closed for a couple of days."

"And here was me thinking that a lost fae crown jewel that's being used to mass-produce tainted illegal drugs could sit a while."

Gwil thought he did well not to react. "I will await your correspondence."

Goya growled under his breath and Gwil took that as his cue to leave. He checked his phone.

Hyax: Will be home in a couple of hours. Don't forget Midnight needs kibble.

Hardly a romantic sentiment but he was happy he was going to get Hyax for Christmas, and he'd be lying if he wasn't pleased Hyax seemed to like his cat as much as he did. Gwil had spent the last couple of years on his own at Christmas, and hated it. There was something about the holiday season that pulled at his emotions, a link back to his life before he'd become a vampire. His sister didn't have the same sensibilities, hadn't wanted anything to do with a holiday she'd no care for and had thought him pathetic for harking back to a time that had never really existed to begin with. But he would make new memories now.

Gwil should have saved the cash, instead he caught a cab home after calling into an express supermarket to pick up a few things in addition to the cat food, although given the day and time, the pickings were slim. He did find a nice box of chocolates and a bottle of prosecco Hyax might drink if he was desperate and couldn't be arsed to open a portal to fetch something better.

He let himself into the house, filled with a sense of happiness he couldn't remember feeling for years. Although he was being a bit sentimental, he couldn't help it—the idea of spending Christmas with the man he loved made him giddy. He might even drop the L-word if he got too carried away by the season's cheer. Pity he hadn't been able to get a Christmas pudding.

The staircase glowed softly and Gwil realised there was a trail of shining flowers lighting the way, he pushed open the living room door and saw a Christmas tree decorated with boughs of holly and silver bells. Midnight was eyeing up an ornament made of feathers and Gwil turned to see Hyax holding a sprig of mistletoe. "I didn't have time to go the full festive shebang but I hope you liked this small offering of yuletide greetings."

"Oh, Hyax, it's brilliant."

He raced over and pulled Hyax into his arms, Hyax holding the mistletoe over their heads. "I have no idea why humans stuck with the idea of kissing under a poisonous parasite, but I thought we could uphold the tradition with our first Christmas together."

Gwil couldn't begin to say how much this meant to him, but it was as if Hyax already knew. "Thank you."

He kissed him, the pleasure of kissing Hyax not something that would wane any time soon. He groaned with delight as the thrill of Hyax's magic washed over his skin when he held him close.

"We will continue this later, but first ambrosia and champagne, I've got you these blood clusters that I was told was the vampire treat everyone was going mad for at the moment, and some amazing chocolate. And you better feed the cat before she destroys my lovingly crafted tree."

He laughed and stepped away, Midnight weaving between their legs.

Gwil picked her up. "Come on, you furry menace."

Cat fed, he returned to the living room to see two glasses waiting for him and the blood clusters, which he'd been interested in trying but had never been able to justify the cost of for himself. They were shaped like anatomically correct hearts and were dark, almost black.

"Did I do good?" Hyax said, almost nervous with expectation.

Gwil picked up one of the blood clusters. "It's brilliant. It's Christmas and it's been ages since I celebrated in any real sense of the word."

He popped the blood cluster into his mouth and groaned in pleasure as the superb quality blood crashed over his tongue. "Those are amazing."

"They're supposed to be made from the first bleed of the premier feeding collection, but I honestly didn't want to know the details."

"I hate to tell you this, Hyax, but the me-drinking-blood-to-survive thing isn't going to go away."

He grinned. "I know, and there's some pretty questionable fae habits that are as bad, so I'm not judging you."

"There are?"

"We're not nice. There's an idea that because we're pretty and sparkle that we're the good guys but we both know that's not true. So just because we don't literally drain the blood out of others, doesn't mean we don't do it figuratively."

"I've heard you lot can be quite creative with iron as punishments."

"Very much so, but I'd sort of planned an evening on the sparkly side with maybe a bit of sex and fun, so let's not discuss the invention of the molten iron enema."

"I'll try not to break the mood."

Gwil curled up next to Hyax who was looking very pleased with himself.

"I've got you a present." Hyax smiled and reached over the side of the sofa. "I believe the custom is presents are meant to sit under the tree but that's too weird for me. You don't leave things of value under conifers, they droop, and drop their needles, and the bloody imps would strip them before they touched the ground."

Gwil laughed. "I didn't get you anything."

"This isn't my holiday, but you should know that if you miss my birthday or midsummer I'll pull out your fangs."

"What am I meant to get a fairy prince? You have everything you need."

"I'm sure you'll think of something."

He thought Hyax was joking but he made a mental note not to risk it. Hyax handed over a fairly heavy box about the size of a football. The wrapping reminded him of Hyax, beautiful and shimmering, and the bow reminded Gwil of his wings. If they hadn't made the move from friendzone to lovers and he'd been given this, it might have been the final straw that would have had him running out in the middle of the day and putting an end to his misery.

"I know it's a pretty box, but the gift is inside it," Hyax teased.

"What is it? Fairy lube?"

"If you want more sparkles up your arse you only have to ask, Gwil." Hyax wriggled his fingers and lights danced at their tips.

He remembered the tingle. "Maybe later."

Gwil tugged at the bow, thinking that Hyax would look very nice wearing it as a way of tying him naked in place, then he opened the box.

"What the fuck is this?" He lifted an object out of the wrapping. He had to use both hands as it was made from a heavy black metal cast in the shape of a bat with a green glass bulbous stomach that might be some sort of light source. It had chains attached to its wing tips which he guessed were for hanging it up.

"It's a bat lamp. It's French from the 1930s, I saw it in an antiques shop when I was in Paris a few months back and I couldn't resist."

Gwil was caught somewhere between touched and incredulous. "You know I can't turn into a bat."

"All the more reason for us to have one in our home."

"You blond fucker."

Hyax smirked. "I think I'm more of a vampire fucker."

"You make me doubt my sanity for loving you, you git."

Hyax cupped his jaw. "You love me then?"

He wondered if he should deny it, say it was just a slip of the tongue but he was too old and dead to play those sorts of games. "Yeah, I do. Have done so for a while. Don't worry, I don't expect you to say it back."

"You really are the dumbest thing on legs some days." Hyax laughed. "Of course I fucking love you. Do you think I'd put up with all your bullshit if I just wanted to get laid?"