Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
G wil was excited for their first visit to Bled as a couple.
He had the earrings secreted away in a pocket of the new suit he’d received from Hyax’s tailor and wanted the evening to be perfect.
He had suggested Hyax might like to dress to impress, and his partner had taken his words as a challenge.
Gwil whimpered as Hyax emerged from their bedroom in a perfectly fitted navy suit and red shirt he’d not seen before.
“Maybe we should stay in,” he said, his cock hard.
“Oh no. We’re going out. You look fucking glorious, Gwil. I want the world to see whose arm I’m on, and I’m intrigued by what I’m going to experience in this trendy vamp club.”
Gwil was beginning to regret offering to take Hyax to Bled tonight. “You’ll be hit on by everything without a pulse. There won’t be a vampire who won’t want to see if they can lure you away.”
“You know they won’t be able to, so you can puff yourself and strut about with me glued to your side.” Hyax kissed him, but it was brief, and he wouldn’t let Gwil pull him closer. “Can we portal in?”
“Not the first time. They’ll need to tune to your signature, so we’ll have to go in the normal way this time. You should be able to portal to just outside, though.”
“Might be good to be seen making an entrance.”
He’d expected more pushback. “Ready?”
Hyax opened a portal, and they stepped out in front of Bled.
This wasn’t the sort of place where people would queue to enter; the vampires who came here would expect to be allowed in when they wanted, with no arguments, and those who weren’t members wouldn’t be stupid enough to try to get in without an invite.
Gwil held the door open. He wanted Hyax to like Bled; here was somewhere Hyax would be his guest. Unlike the Jyndarin Society, which he’d got membership in part because of Hyax, Bled was purely because he was now considered to be the right kind of vampire.
And he was going to milk this harder than a dairy farmer with a supermarket deal.
They were greeted on entry. A beautiful female vampire bowed to Hyax. “Your Highness. Mr Hilt. Welcome. I’m sure we can find you one of our very best tables for the night.”
“If I decide I like the place, I was informed there would be a way to portal directly inside.”
“For you, we can make that happen. Before you leave, I can have one of the hosts come over and ensure everything is set up for your next visit. Let me help make sure you wish to return. Please follow me.”
Vampires were known for their opulence, and Hyax loved to be spoiled.
Being backed by Robin meant Gwil would be guaranteed good service, but bringing a prince along would further increase his importance to the owners of Bled.
In a society where it mattered who you knew, being the partner to fae royalty gave him an edge over every other sucker in the club.
Nowhere in Bled was a bad place to sit, but there were sections best avoided if Hyax didn’t want to be accosted by a vampire having their dinner via a live feed.
Their hostess was savvy enough to know where not to seat Hyax, and she escorted them to a corner table with a high-back love seat, perfectly oversized for two to curl up together.
“Thanks,” Gwil said, as they sat. “I should open a tab.”
“You’re all set, Mr Hilt.” Last time, they’d given him a poker chip. “As one of the platinum members, we’ll take care of everything. Now, if you would do me the honour, I’d like to surprise you with one of our speciality drinks from the chief mixologist.”
“I don’t drink blood,” Hyax said.
“We’re not the sort of establishment that makes blood-based cocktails. Our rhesus collections are too good to dilute, so you’re in no danger, Your Highness.”
There were plenty of vampire clubs that made all sorts of nasty concoctions with blood, and Bled not doing so set them apart. “Prince Hyax does love ambrosia, but I’d love to challenge your bar staff to come up with something he’d like even more.”
“I think you’ll both be happy.”
Left alone, Gwil slid up as close as he could on the seat. “So, what do you make of the place?”
“Not bad for a watering hole of the undead. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this is quite chic. As nice as some of the high-end fae places I go to.”
“Nowhere that Robin Flint drinks is going to be too rough.”
“True, I probably should not have lowered my expectations so far. I could see myself coming back here, every so often.”
For Hyax, the admission he’d return was high praise.
Gwil glanced around the bar. They were drawing interested glances, several openly coveting Hyax.
He had expected a bolt of jealousy, but instead, he was smug.
The beautiful bastard was his, and while the others could look, only he could touch.
Their host arrived carrying a tray with two martini glasses.
“Gentleman, this is a golden lemon drop martini. In the style of the traditional recipe, but the vodka is from a Russian still that dates back to the last Tsar, and the glass is edged with lavender-infused sugar and edible gold-leaf-wrapped lemon peel.”
“I’m a sucker for a good martini,” Gwil said.
“Our chief mixologist trained the bar staff at the Jyndarin Society; he’s something of a legend.”
Gwil took a sip of his drink. The tartness of lemon, with the floral undertone of the lavender sugar, made his tongue dance with joy. “Wow. That is amazing!”
Hyax made a low cooing noise. It was rare that something like a drink could render him speechless.
“I’ll leave you to your evening. There’s a button under the table if you need anything.”
Gwil was keen to be left alone with Hyax. “I wonder what our next case will bring us.”
“Hopefully not another dragon.”
“We’ve had worse cases, and at least I didn’t have to drink the potion this time.”
Hyax’s eyes shone with excitement. “Who knows what I’ll be able to brew with a consultation with the Alchemist. It’s going to take me ages to narrow down the ones I want to try.”
“Well, I’m more than happy to bleed for you again if you need me to.”
“And me for you. Within reason.”
The club had a soft jazz beat. Gwil relaxed, sipping his drink and enjoying the moment. He would’ve never believed how well his afterlife would turn out. But here he was sitting in the best club in London, next to a beautiful fae prince who he could call his own.
“I could get used to this.”
“There’s no reason why you shouldn’t. But be prepared, your social engagements are only going to increase. Once you’ve completed your etiquette lessons, you’ll be expected to be even more present.”
He’d only had one and hadn’t thought Opali would be keen to do more. “Do I really need them?”
“You need to be seen to have had them. Opali can tutor you in fae history and politics. There are a few specific things that wouldn’t hurt you knowing, such as solstice banquet behaviour and holiday traditions.”
“I don’t mind, but you’re going to be king one day. Surely, you can get me out of some of it?”
Hyax chuckled. “I wouldn’t go banking on that for a while. Let’s see if my mother goes off the idea. She’s not scared to make big changes, but this will need to be well-vetted.”
Gwil had been surprised at Hyax’s reaction to the suggestion. “You sound like you wouldn’t mind either way.”
“It’s more like I’m not going to worry about something until it happens. We’ve enough going on without getting hung up about what might happen centuries from now.”
“Sometimes I forget you’re not a blond bimbo.”
“Cheeky fucker!”
Gwil leant in, stealing a kiss. He loved kissing Hyax, but he had other plans, so he would need to control himself a while longer.
“You know I’ve been wanting to get you something special.” He removed the silk-wrapped packet from his inside pocket. “I worked with a designer and a specialist craftsman. I hope you like them.”
He was excited to see what Hyax would think of his gift, and worried in case he’d missed the mark. Hyax had so many beautiful things, and Gwil didn’t want these to be just another something gathering dust.
Hyax untied the ribbon and peeled back the silk cloth, laying it out on the table. He let out a gentle oh as he saw the earrings. He picked one up. “Gwil, they’re beautiful. Oh my god! They’ve got little fangs.”
Gwil knew Hyax would have appreciated the humour behind the specific design feature. “You won’t find another pair like them.”
Hyax removed the earrings he was wearing. “Help me put them on.”
The fae loved to adorn themselves with pretty things, and their ears were special. Gwil carefully slid the platinum backbone over the shell of Hyax’s ear and positioned the fangs so they were prominent. He did the same on the other side.
Hyax conjured himself a mirror pane and admired his new additions. “They are superb, I love them.”
“I know they’re not practical for everyday use, but I thought they might make a nice statement, y’know, whenever you had to be seen out with Metra.”
“Marked by my vampire, eh?”
“Possibly.”
Hyax smiled. “Hopefully, there won’t be many future events.
My parents will be hosting the Calanti tribe soon, so this is our chance to put your plan into action to have King James challenge my marriage.
My arranged, loveless marriage is an insult when I have a vampire as my Prince’s Beloved and I’m his Eternal. ”
Hyax had told him of the conversation he’d interrupted with his mother and King James, and he had thought it the perfect opportunity. “Do you think it will happen soon?”
“My mother intimated it could be as soon as a matter of weeks.” Hyax slid his hand onto Gwil’s cheek. “Then I will be a divorcee with an open position for a husband.”
“No open place. That’s mine.”
They shared a kiss. Gwil moaned softly into the embrace.
There was a light at the end of the tunnel when it came to Hyax’s marriage to Metra, and he would be at Hyax’s side to support him through whatever crazy changes Queen Talia would make.
He stared into Hyax’s eyes and fell even further in love.
He was one lucky bastard. And he would relish every day he had with Hyax, the highs, the lows, even the weird bits as there was nothing he wouldn’t do for his prince.