Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Besides seeing and riding a unicorn, which was something Felix would never forget even if he lived to be a hundred, Rainier finally fucked him that night while he was gagged.

Even better, not once did he feel uneasy or unsafe. Rainier had left his hands free of the paws, but Felix was sure he didn’t even need that again. Still, it made the Prince feel comfortable to take it slow, and he was grateful to have a lover who took such good care of him.

He still worried about the Prince.

Rainier never ate more than half of his meals on the way back, and Felix told himself he’d stop nagging. The Prince knew himself, and his Mum didn’t seem concerned, so if he kept asking, it would get particularly annoying.

But he was positive that even if the Prince had a poor appetite, that couldn’t be good for him over time. What if he got sick? Healers couldn’t make everything go away in a few seconds, and there wasn’t much to him.

He even looked tired although he didn’t act like he was.

He figured they’d go to bed early when they returned, and they arrived after dinner. They’d barely had time to do a thing when a servant came in.

“Your Majesty, Her Highness said I’m supposed to tell you that you’re to go see her as soon as you get back.”

Rainier pressed his lips together. “Is she hurt?”

“Not that I’m aware of, Your Majesty, but she was quite insistent that it’s important.”

Rainier let out a faint sigh. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“I’ll get a bath going for us, okay?”

Felix didn’t pay attention to the parchment packets on the side table once Rainier left. He took off his boots and cloak and spent a couple of minutes hugging and loving on Inky who had come in.

“Rainier will be back in just a bit,” Felix told the purring cat.

He wondered if maybe Mother had written again by now, so he decided to have a quick look. He could get the bath going afterward. The top packet had Rainier’s name and title, and he lifted it to look at the one underneath. She had written. He tore open the packet, pulled out the letter, and unfolded it.

Rainier found him sobbing on the couch. Felix had completely forgotten about getting a bath started, and Inky by his feet wasn’t helping him feel better.

“What’s wrong?” Rainier hurried over.

“Grandma’s sick,” said Felix. “She’s got a fever, and Mother was warning me it’s not looking good, and I should come. She could already be dead now! I was busy looking at unicorns while she was sick!”

Rainier wrapped him in his arms. “I’m sorry, Felix. You didn’t know. Maybe she’ll get better. If you want, you can take one of our carriages.” Felix sniffled as he drew back. “I know Yorn’s three days away if you only ride during the day. If two drivers go, they can take turns to go without stopping, and you’ll get there much faster.”

Felix wiped his face. “All right, but I don’t know when I can return. If Grandma died, I can’t just leave Mum after a few days.”

“I don’t expect you to,” said Rainier. “If your Grandma’s okay, stay with them for a bit. Your family needs you, and we have less than two months, but maybe it’s better if you go.”

Felix squinted. “Why?”

Rainier took a deep breath. “Mum demanded I kick you out before, but I refused. She’s written to some Baron from the northern edge without telling me. He’s already on his way with his wife so I can meet their son. She thinks she’s found me a decent husband, and I can’t get out of it now because they’re already traveling here.”

He blew out a breath and looked like he’d been told he’d have to marry a sack of shit.

Felix blinked at him. “She’s invited someone to meet you for that, knowing I’m here?”

The Prince pinched the bridge of his nose. “She doesn’t like me having a pet, and I’m sure the man she thinks is appropriate for me is probably also a prude. I can’t refuse to meet them unless I want to be horribly rude, and I’m also not comfortable doing it while my companion is living with me even though I’ve already decided the answer is no. I’m not marrying anyone just because Mum thinks I should. It’s fucking ridiculous that she’s gone and done this.”

Felix didn’t like that either. It was too awkward, and even if Rainier wasn’t going to marry some Baron’s son, the guy probably wouldn’t like it if he found out a whore was staying with Rainier. It was Queen Eliza’s fault, but who met a prospective match with a companion living upstairs? If Rainier said no, the Queen might say something about Felix to them to humiliate him.

Leaving early made his gut clench, but it wasn’t like this was forever anyway, and nothing more was going to happen between a whore and a Crown Prince. The Queen probably had someone else in mind, but he had no doubt that she’d be furious when he said no. She’d hound him and make his life difficult if Felix was still around or if he came back later to stay.

She probably wouldn’t wait too long to get another prospective husband on the way.

“I’m sorry about your Grandma, and I’m sorry Mum’s making things difficult. I’d love to have you come back if you wanted and things end up being fine at your home, but this probably isn’t going to be the last time she does this. I’m sure that we’ll end up fighting again, and-” Rainier cut off as he stroked Felix’s hair. “Go home and see your family. I’m sure when you get there, your Grandma will be better.”

Felix knew Rainier was saying that because he hoped so, but he didn’t have a good feeling in his gut. “Can I take the carriage tonight? I don’t want to wait until morning.”

“Of course.”

“I wish your Mum would…ease up.” Really, Felix wanted to say she needed to butt out, although that was rather rude to say about someone’s Mum.

“Me too.” Rainier hugged him again. “I enjoyed having you here, and not just for the kitten stuff. Everything. I loved taking you out and spending time with you.”

“I loved being with you too.”

***

Felix managed to hold back the rest of his tears until the carriage was rattling through Rosewood. Besides kissing Rainier goodbye and leaving him behind on the Castle grounds, he might come home to find Grandma had already passed and his Mother devastated.

He managed to doze in the carriage, and they only stopped a couple of times for pissing and to refill their waterskins. The two drivers had a large pail with food packed in it, and the servants had also given Felix a basket with stuff that would keep. He picked at the contents a little, but he was too worried all the next day.

It was early the next morning when they arrived, and he was wide awake when the carriage stopped in front of the house on the outskirts of Yorn. The glass tree by it was the same, and the house looked peaceful. Felix didn’t close the carriage door before he charged across the yard to knock on the door.

It didn’t take long for Mother to open it, and she was already dressed despite the early hour. At least that hadn’t changed.

“Felix! I didn’t think you’d get here so soon. Grandma’s better now. The fever broke a couple of days ago, and she’ll be fine.”

Relief flooded his limbs, but he still started crying again as Mother drew him in. “I was scared.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to worry you, but I also had to warn you just in case-”

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily! Where’s my grandson?”

Mother smiled and patted Felix’s back. “Go on. You won’t catch anything.”

He hurried across the sitting room and into Grandma’s bedroom to find her sitting up, dressed, and with her thinning hair combed. She was still an early riser at her age despite typically having nowhere to go and no baby to take care of anymore.

He rushed to hug her and breathe in her typical powdery smell.

“About time you came to see us.”

“I was so scared.”

“No fever’s going to kick my rear that easily,” said Grandma. “Are you still cleaning up at that whorehouse? When are you going to get a real job?”

Grandma was definitely better.

***

Habits from years of scraping by didn’t leave too easily, and when Felix brought in the basket of food, they decided it was all still good to eat. After he brought in the rest of his stuff, he sent off the carriage drivers since they couldn’t hang around for ages until Felix decided he was going home.

He wrote a hasty note and told them to bring it to Rainier. It said Grandma was better, and he’d write again later.

Felix knew he couldn’t keep writing to the Prince forever too, but a few last letters wouldn’t hurt so he would know everything was fine.