Chapter Thirty One
Jaq
They got just over three weeks together in their Folkon haven. After the night where he was introduced to intimacies, Jaq was woken to morning hand jobs. He surprised himself by climaxing in spectacular fashion – with two different hands on his cock, it seemed rude not to. Jaq took it upon himself to do some exploring of his own and was pleased to find that despite differences in size and shape, Serron’s and Patin’s cocks worked the same way his did, which he felt was handy to know.
Outside of the bedroom the three men quickly settled into a gentle routine. After eating, Serron would meet with the king’s advisers for an hour – something he felt honor bound to do, despite his mother’s insistence he take a holiday. However, due to his father’s decline, Serron felt he should at least have some idea of what he’d be facing when the king passed.
That solitary meeting idea lasted for all of one day. Visibly upset, Serron had stormed into the library after the men had left, asking if Patin and Jaq would attend future meetings as well. Apparently, two of the king’s more mature advisers were insulted by Serron’s marriage to two men and had been making noises about keeping Jaq and Patin out of sight.
Greeting the advisers in his library the following morning, Jaq made sure they knew he was someone to be respected when he sternly reprimanded one of them for not only daring to smoke a cigar in his space, but the man had flicked his ash on one of Jaq’s books.
Patin was equally commanding when the other adviser had the audacity to order Patin to bring him a fresh glass for his water. “Do you always speak to your crown prince consort in such a derogatory fashion?” he demanded in a voice so deep it sent shivers down Jaq’s spine. “The kitchen is out the door, turn left three times, and you’ll find yourself there. I suggest you respectfully ask the chef when you get there if you may have a stool in the corner while you wait for your colleagues to be finished.”
Jaq had wanted to hug Patin so badly after the adviser shuffled off – his husband was seriously finding his feet as a consort. He also knew Patin and Serron were already researching new advisers to be appointed once Serron became king.
The rest of the day would be spent riding, playing cards, and occasionally going out. Serron accepted two of the numerous invitations he’d received, proudly escorting Jaq and Patin to the smaller events. Jaq found it easier to simply nod and leave one of his husbands to answer the annoying questions some people felt compelled to ask.
The highlight for Jaq was seeing Serron and Patin dance together. He’d already danced with both of his husbands individually, and they were as caring and attentive to him as they were with each other. But seeing the two men swaying softly to music, totally oblivious to everyone in that moment except each other, brought a tear to Jaq’s eye. I did that, he thought proudly. Apparently, Serron and Patin must have been thinking something similar, because when they came off the floor, they both kissed Jaq with slightly more affection than was considered suitable in public. Not that Jaq minded.
But the moment Brian came in while they were having dinner toward the end of the third week, bringing a message from the castle, Jaq got a lump in his throat. The message was trimmed in black, handwritten by Queen Sophie, and was short and to the point.
I’m sorry you didn’t get more time, my sons. The king passed at fifteen bells. It is time to come home.
Serron dropped the fork he was holding, raising his hand to rest over his mouth. He blinked once, then again, before dropping his hand and saying quietly to Brian, “Please inform Jackson at the stable to have our horses ready for immediate departure. Let Hunter know we’ll require four guards to accompany us.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Brian bowed low, and as he stood up again, Jaq could see tears in his eyes too, before Brian hurried from the room.
The moment the door closed, Jaq jumped out of his chair, running around and hugging Serron close, Patin on the other side of him.
“It’s going to be all right,” Patin said gruffly. “We’ve got each other. We’ll be all right.”
Serron could only nod as the tears flowed.
/~/~/~/~/
The days passed in a blur of preparations. The night they arrived at the castle, Queen Sophie greeted them all warmly, explaining the king had passed peacefully, attended by Mortrin and Tinker. She refused Serron’s pleas for her to stay at the castle. “It’s time for me to leave,” she said quietly. “Your father prepared a sweet estate for me, not that far from Folkon, so be sure to visit when you spend time at your holiday home. Frankly, I’ll be glad to be done with all this. I’m looking forward to spending quiet time reading and watching my roses grow. I might even have time to look after a dog. I’ll stay until the coronation.”
The World Council had already been in and ascertained that the king’s death had been a natural one. They also verified Serron as the natural heir, so the coronation was being held two weeks after they arrived at the castle.
It was the coronation preparations where Jaq came into his own, not because he had any idea about place settings and who had to do what, but because the advisers were struggling with how to incorporate two spouses in the official event, especially when only one consort was listed on Serron’s marriage contract.
Jaq quickly drafted up new rules and protocols, more in keeping with two consorts instead of one, and then worked to get the advisers to understand.
“It’s all perfectly simple,” he said at last when he’d been pestered with questions over the silliest of things. “My husbands and I have already discussed the naming order. King Serron clearly comes first, then because I was a prince before I became consort, I am named second, and then Patin as consort is named third. All hail, King Serron, King Consort Jaq, and King Consort Patin. How hard is that to understand?”
“What about the crowning?” Hastings, the cigar smoking adviser complained. “One consort crown can’t be put on two people’s heads at the same time. This is all very unseemly.”
See how seemly you think all this is when you find yourself out of a job the moment the coronation is done, Jaq thought, but he was getting better at focusing on the important things when dealing with advisors. “There are two consort crowns. I know that because the dowager queen ordered them before the king’s death. You can either have two people in attendance who will crown Patin and me at the same time or follow the naming order. It really doesn’t matter to us.”
Clearly, that was the wrong thing to say, because Hastings ruffled his robe and said, “Well, it should,” before he stomped off, probably to go and find out why he hadn’t been told there were two consort crowns after all.
“How are you coping?” Patin and Serron came in shortly afterward, Patin coming around the back of Jaq’s chair to rub his tight shoulders.
“I am so glad you decided you didn’t want children,” Jaq said as he reached out and put his arm around Serron’s waist as he leaned into Patin’s strong hands. “Dealing with advisers is like running a nursery.”
It was the shared laughter that made dealing with petty hassles worthwhile.
The coronation was a long ceremony that involved far more speeches from officials than Jaq thought necessary, then came the crowning, and finally, Hastings ordered the attending royals from other countries, as well as society family members to be upstanding and pay their respects to “King Serron and King Consorts Jaq and Patin.” There was barely a hitch in Hasting’s voice as he mentioned Patin’s name, and Jaq took that as a positive. Patin looked glorious in his new consort crown.
The receiving line was long. At least Serron had insisted on chairs for the three of them. Jaq stood to greet his mother and father, and then again when his sister Evangaline and her husband came to pay their respects. Evangaline gave him a squeeze that probably wasn’t seemly and neither was her whispered, “Two husbands, Jaq? How did you find them living in the library?” Promising to talk to her later, Jaq just grinned.
Grinning with Evangaline was one thing, but Jaq did his best not to smirk as Crown Prince Rupert passed in front of them, bowing just low enough to be considered respectful. Glancing over at Patin and Serron, Jaq could see both of his husbands were glowering at the man, but the moment passed, and the line continued. I’m sure you’ll find a consort soon enough, he thought, but that was the only time Crown Prince Rupert crossed his mind.
There was one advantage to being a king consort. When it came to receptions where numerous people were in attendance, it was always expected that the ruling royals, in this case Jaq and his husbands, would retire early so that the rest of the partygoers could enjoy themselves.
“I am so glad that’s over,” Jaq said the moment Serron closed their bedroom door. Taking off his crown, Jaq put it on the table. “These things are so heavy. Here let me help you with yours,” he added to Serron. One of the gems in Serron’s crown had caught in his hair.
“I can’t believe Rupert had the gall to attend,” Patin said. He’d already removed his crown and his outer robe and was mixing them drinks. “The sheer audacity.”
“He had to come,” Serron said, smiling his thanks at Jaq as the crown finally came free of his hair. “Apparently, his parents don’t leave the Simigile Castle. More than one person mentioned this evening that Rupert has been ordered to find a spouse before he goes home, which is why he would’ve been here. Our coronation would have to be the biggest event on the northern country’s social calendar.”
“Well, we’re already married so he’s going to have to look somewhere else,” Jaq said, stretching out his arms as he yawned. “Oh, that’s a thought. Are there any special protocols for intimate conduct among people of the kingly variety?”
“Sounds like the title for another research paper,” Patin teased, bringing them all a drink. “How about we sit and relax for a moment so we can discuss it.”
“And then,” Serron suggested, his smile widening, “if discussing it doesn’t work, we can always hop into bed and see what happens.”
Raising his glass, Serron said, “I want to make a toast to my wonderful consorts. Patin, you’ve been a constant in my life when I didn’t realize I needed one. Your love and guidance mean more to me than words can say. Jaq, your honesty and clear way of cutting through the crap is refreshing and a joy to behold. The day you offered to help me and Patin set us all on a path we never imagined, and yet I, for one, would never want to be anywhere else. I love you both. I couldn’t do this without you, and I wouldn’t want to.”
“That’s what that color means.” Jaq’s eyes widened. “Your whole body is gleaming gold, and it’s not a reflection from your crown, because that’s on the table. And look, look” - he looked across at Patin - “you love me, too, because you’re glowing gold as well.”
“I do,” Patin said gruffly. “Perhaps more importantly, what color do you see when you look at yourself?”
Jaq looked down at his arms. “Gold.” His voice caught. “I see gold hovering all around my skin.” For some reason his eyes filled. “I’m in love with you both, too.”
“Much more meaningful than a toast,” Serron said with a chuckle as he came closer, folding Jaq into a hug. Seconds later Patin was there hugging them both. Jaq closed his eyes and just let all the gold seep in. It was glorious.