Chapter 9 #2
Robin wrinkled his nose. “To be honest, I think Simon’s reaction hasn’t helped. I’ve been overly conscious of Dorian being around me, so maybe that’s why I’ve let my gaze linger. But as I said, it was fleeting, and nothing more happened. Simon should trust me.”
“You’re not giving him a reason to trust you,” Ben said.
“Bollocks. I’ve done everything he’s asked. Nothing’s going on between Dorian and me. Simon needs to get the idea out of his head. Dorian even offered to part company with me as his manager.”
More alarm bells went off in Alex’s head.
Robin was too important in Hollywood for Dorian to walk away without there being some serious shit about to hit the fan.
“I don’t mean to sound accusatory, but if all your dealings were innocent, it’s hard to think why Dorian would want to stop being your client. ”
“He said he didn’t want to be thought of as a homewrecker. I’ve told him Simon isn’t happy. I think this was him trying to help.”
“Dorian is a dragon,” Ben said, turning to Alex. “They have their thrall, but would he have the capability to interfere with Simon’s magic?”
Alex shook his head, and he wondered if they were missing the most obvious solution. “No, he wouldn’t. That’s not to say he couldn’t find help, but it would be complicated magic and difficult to master. Perhaps there is another solution.”
“Sounds like you have a proposal,” Ben said.
“Again, I am trying to be careful with my words so as not to offend, but you have said Prince Simon is unhappy. There are so many things we do not know about the vampire-fae; it could be his magic driving this. His insecurities over Dorian, on top of the situation with his tribe, mean this could be an autonomic stress response.”
“I’ve told him there’s nothing to worry about,” Robin said, sounding resigned. “We’ve had a few words, but we’ve always made up. If he is doing something I don’t think he’s aware he is, and as I don’t feel like I’m being negatively impacted, I don’t want to put more pressure on him at the moment.”
“He may not even realise he’s doing something,” Alex said. “I do think it would be better if you spoke to him.”
“I will. But not just yet, there’s a huge meeting happening a few days after Ben’s bash. Once that’s over, I’ll address it. I had thought that Simon might be more comfortable if he met Dorian properly.”
“Have they met before?” Ben asked. “Is this why you suggested adding Dorian to my guest list?”
“Yes, to both. But they only met briefly and not in a good way.”
Ben raised an eyebrow. “Meaning?”
“Remember when Simon turned up at my club in LA a few days before the wedding? We were working things out, and no one knew about our relationship, and Dorian had sidled up to me and put his tail around my waist. Which he does when he’s being a bit flirty. Simon staked his claim to me.”
Alex thought that the encounter and Robin’s past would be enough to piss most people off.
Simon wasn’t an experienced fae; he was young by their standards, less than eighty years old, and had never had a lover before he was married off to Robin.
This could be the equivalent of teenage jealousy.
“You think if they were to meet properly and Prince Simon saw there was no problem with him, it might resolve?”
“Yes. Simon is a rational man. I want him to understand I can keep business separate from pleasure and that Dorian is no risk to our marriage. As I said, if it’s Simon, he’s not doing it deliberately.”
Alex agreed. Robin and Simon hadn’t known each other before they were married and were still in the process of getting used to being a couple, which would only come with time.
His dealings with Simon had made him think he wasn’t the sort to overreact and was trying to navigate his relationship with Robin and the strong emotions accompanying their bond without the benefit of any relevant experience.
There was only so much court etiquette tutors could teach.
“How do you want to handle this?” Ben asked. “This is your problem, so we will be guided by your wishes.”
“I’ll introduce them at your event. Keep things civil and let Dorian turn on the charm towards Simon without coming across as wanting to bang me—or him.” Robin sneered. “Because if Dorian starts flirting with Simon, I’m going to be the one with the issue.”
“Best you don’t send out the vibe you’re up for a threesome,” Ben said, laughing. “I can imagine Dorian would be up for that.”
“There are some things that shouldn’t be joked about,” Robin warned. “Neither of us wants to bring a third into our bed. Even the thought of it triggers a rage in me.”
Robin had been an occasional visitor to Crofton Hall before his marriage, and Alex had seen his behaviour, and nothing would have suggested he’d have been a loyal husband.
He knew about the bond, but he’d been as surprised as everyone else when Robin had made it clear he wouldn’t partake in extramarital affairs.
“If Prince Simon is of a similar mind, and he is subconsciously worried about Dorian, then it makes sense that what I witnessed was a manifestation of his magic,” Alex said.
“I suggest we keep an eye on Robin,” Ben said. “And hope it clears up after Simon and Dorian have buried the hatchet. Otherwise, we may need to go back to the drawing board.”
Alex excused himself. He would report back to Karl with the plan and possibly brainstorm ways of making sure that any meeting between Dorian and Simon went smoothly and did not interrupt the celebrations.
Simon was at least a known entity, and Alex thought him not the type to make a scene unless provoked, but he had no clue about Dorian.
Add Robin’s colourful past and his and Simon’s recent squabbles, and Alex was going to have to be on high alert.