Chapter Twenty-Three
Serron
“I don’t know if I should feel worried, relieved, proud, or furious, with that little display,” Serron said, running his hands through his hair as he stalked back into the suite he shared with Patin. “Not that Jaq gave me any time to react, just stalking off to his room and shutting everyone out. And what in the goddess’ name is happening around here? Someone trying to abduct the consort before the wedding guests had even left for the night? Who would do that? More to the point, what do we do now?”
He turned, expecting to see Patin sitting, getting a drink, or doing something, but the man was standing just inside the closed door, his face blank and his hands by his sides.
“Patin, what’s wrong? Don’t just stand there. Come and sit down. I need some advice here. I’m not sure what we should be doing going forward.”
“I should be packing, that’s what I should be doing.” Patin still didn’t move any closer, but he wasn’t heading for the closets, either. “I’m not sure if I’m meant to be packing your things or mine. Technically, this is my house, but you gave it to me, so one could assume you’d take it back now our secret is out, but then the castle probably won’t want you staying here with Jaq, so I should probably be packing your things so you can leave in the morning or…”
“Patin!” Serron strode over to his frozen lover, putting both hands on his shoulder and giving him a small shake. “What’s all this talk about packing? You’re not going anywhere. I’m not going anywhere. We need to talk about what happens next…that doesn’t include any of us leaving each other. Don’t you see?” He looked into Patin’s dark eyes. “As much as it was a huge shock and something I wasn’t prepared for, both seeing Jaq in the arms of that fiend and then Jaq’s reaction afterward, Jaq said the words I’ve wanted to say for you for years. Do you seriously want to throw away our opportunity to be together openly now Jaq has shown us a path to do so?”
“A path to what?” Patin seemed genuinely distressed. “Our relationship was never allowed. The damage this could do to your reputation now…”
“Patin, stop.” Serron inhaled, his breath shaky. “That isn’t true, not if you’re going with the letter of the law. Did my father have a preference for me marrying another royal? Yes. He always has done, and you and I both loved each other knowing that. But there’s never been a law against our relationship.”
“Not a law against you marrying a society family member maybe, but I’m a commoner.” Patin smacked his chest. “Everything I have is due to your favor.”
“I am not rehashing an argument we put to bed when we were in our twenties. Not just after Jaq almost got spirited away.” Serron glowered at his lover. “There has never been a law against me marrying a commoner. ” He stressed the word deliberately.
“Kings and queens all over the known world have done it for generations, and very few people have had issues with that. The only reason we kept our relationship quiet, a decision we made together, was out of respect for the king and queen who would’ve preferred I made different choices. But not until the king became ill did it ever become a concern, and I swear I believe it is only because of my father’s illness that he gave me the ultimatum he did.”
Turning away, Serron shook his head, blinking rapidly, his heart aching. “Not an hour ago we were celebrating our new marriage to Jaq – another decision you and I made together . Before Jaq, I would’ve left this life and gone on to be with you anywhere else anytime, if you had just asked. You have always meant that much to me. And now, when I thought you would be the most supportive, and there’s a splinter of opportunity we could be the throuple Jaq believes in, you’re talking about leaving again. Was I the only one who believed in the permanence of our union?”
“I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve that from me. I was just so scared and reverted to my idiot self.” Patin’s heavy hands on his shoulders filled Serron with relief. Patin would never touch him if he was genuinely thinking of leaving. “I was scared seeing Jaq being dragged off, then I failed him and you when the person responsible got away.
“I was gutted at Jaq’s response to our being dressed when we did rush to save him. He was right, too - I wanted to hug him and didn’t dare. I didn’t think I had that right because we were outside of our room. What’s worse is that short space of time spent throwing on our robes and pulling on boots just to keep our reputations intact could’ve been the difference between him being in his room now or spirited away to god knows where. If he hadn’t been fighting back…”
There’s the protector I know and love. Serron turned, sliding his hands around Patin’s waist. “Jaq has hidden depths,” he said managing a smile. “He is also, and he did warn us about this, one hundred percent honest in all things. He was clearly shook up by his experience…”
“He had every reason to be,” Patin insisted. “He should’ve been safe here.”
Serron had a sudden thought. “You don’t think… no, it couldn’t be possible…could it?”
“That Duncan had something to do with Jaq’s abduction as a means to push you to leave here for his estate?” Patin arched an eyebrow. “I had wondered the same thing, but it’s a stretch. Not impossible, but unlikely. Duncan’s not silly, and you mentioned to him that your father is ill. If Duncan could curry a stronger relationship with you, knowing you’ll be the next king, I could see why you’d think that. Especially if he then miraculously ‘found’ Jaq, putting you into a space where you’ll go into your rule always owing him, and therefore his family, a favor. But until the person is caught, we’ve got no way of knowing. The guards are searching in every direction from the estate, but whoever it was had their getaway well planned.”
“Which lends to it not being Duncan.” Patting Patin’s shoulder, Serron took his hand and led him back to the couch where they both sat down. “Guests were only given two days’ notice to attend. I don’t know anything about organizing an abduction, but I would assume it would take longer than that to do it effectively.” He sighed. “We’re talking around the main concern. Jaq’s revelation about our throuple made to guests, overheard by guards and staff was….”
“A shock. Scary. Could threaten your reputation…”
Serron noticed Patin never cared about his own reputation, even though he was very well liked by the people they interacted with.
“And honest – far more honest than you and I have been publicly about our relationship in all the years we’ve been together.” Patin stroked Serron’s hand. “I don’t know how I am meant to feel about any of this. Regardless of his health, and you know I have never wished ill on your father, he is still the king, and could still disown you.”
Rubbing his chin with his free hand, Serron said, “I am not sure that he can now. When it just involved you and me, then it could be said that he could take that opinion…”
“He did. That’s why you married Jaq.”
“And that was a good thing for both of us,” Serron reminded his lover with a smile. “I also think, Jaq’s intriguing personality aside, that politically speaking, my father risks a major confrontation with the Elembaum royal family if he disowns me now. Jaq married the crown prince of Monce. Part of that contract gives him the right to be the crown prince consort, and, in the fullness of time, the king consort of Monce. That contract is binding on my father, too. Imagine the implications if he disowns me, and renders the new crown prince consort to the position of… of…”
“One of the three dukes of Folkon?” Patin started to chuckle. “You’re right. I know you’re right. Anything your father does to you now will have ramifications for Jaq’s future, and that would be highly frowned on. Jaq’s honesty means he would tell anyone who asked, from the World Council or other authorities, that we didn’t try and hide our relationship from him before the wedding. In fact, knowing Jaq, he would tell anyone outright that he married us because we were transparent about how we felt about each other.”
“Something we’ll be sure to tell father’s advisers, because you know they’re going to be the ones who want to pontificate at length about how our ‘lifestyle’ is creating the wrong impression for our people.” Serron glanced at the door. “I do wish I knew how Jaq is feeling. I’m really worried about him.”
“He didn’t say he was going to leave us because of what happened. He just spoke his truth in public. I don’t think we should go assuming what he may or may not be thinking, especially when it’s likely he’s sleeping. It’s been an eventful day. We’ve both got some groveling to do in the morning, though.”
“We’ll start with breakfast.” Leaning over, Serron ran his fingers down Patin’s face – a face he knew as well as his own. “Do you feel better after your freak-out? Are we all right?”
“We’re solid.” Turning his head, Patin kissed his fingers. “Let’s go to bed. We’ll deal with tomorrow when it comes.”