Chapter 14
Romilly
It had been hard to proceed with the day as if nothing was amiss after telling Archer the news of the supernatural world.
His little mate had put on a brave face, following Romilly around and doing whatever he felt comfortable with at the time.
Romilly could still sense there was hesitation in his boy's mind.
Curiosity, yes, but also a deep-seated need to know more.
While Romilly could have ripped the band-aid off and told Archer everything, he could have shared that they were fated mates. Could have told his boy about how they would be connected for all of eternity and that there was no force in the universe great enough to keep them apart.
He could have gone over all of the ways he intended to provide for his mate in the future. All of the plans he had to ensure their many, many years together would be fruitful and abundant.
There was just too much of a risk that Archer would be overwhelmed. Too big a possibility his boy would still run for the hills. Romilly knew logically the odds were low. He couldn't take the chance yet, though.
So he'd worked and worked, pretending as if nothing was different. When Archer had gone to bed, only then did he settle in his own space and send up prayers to Fate that he would get to keep his boy, that life wouldn't give him his mate and then take him away in a breath.
Romilly worried Fate wouldn't listen. After all, he had just pleaded for his mate's safety. Could he be given two wishes so close together? Was that how it worked?
He had a fitful night of sleep, for as much as his human side had come to grips with being patient, his dragon was restless. The animal clawed at him, begging and pleading to take their mate out, to claim him and be with him.
Romilly was getting ahead of himself, because he hadn't even told his mate that they were fated. That conversation still needed to be had, and as long as it was left as a secret there was no making long-term plans.
He wanted to wake Archer, wanted to check in on his mate and see how he felt after sleeping on it, but when he'd knocked on the door there'd been no answer.
Taking liberties he probably shouldn't have, Romilly stuck his head through the door only to find his cute little human snoring, still in a deep slumber.
It took everything Romilly had to not walk over and stroke a hand down the sweet boy's cheek.
It might have woken Archer, and that would be no good.
Romilly had turned around and gone to find food for himself.
He made a mental note to check in on Archer later to ensure his boy ate and drank his water and was overall still happy here at the castle.
Shea met Romilly at the door to his office with her clipboard in hand and a scowl. "There's a lot to be done."
He straightened his royal garb and proceeded through the doorway. She followed and listed off everything that needed attention. By the time Romilly was able to come up for air, the day had passed in a blur.
He hadn't even had a chance to check on his mate. Scrambling up from his desk, he ignored Shea telling him to come back. He moved through the halls, letting his dragon lead him until he would find Archer. When his senses led him to the observatory, Romilly questioned his ability to track.
What in the world would his mate be doing there?
The observatory, a place that his mother had cultivated through the years, was beautiful and luscious, thick with all manner of plants from both the human side of things and the supernatural community.
Romilly had enjoyed learning about them when he was younger, but as he grew older he spent less time there.
Stepping through the entryway, he wondered how he'd let himself get so far away from what he loved. How had he used his crown as a shield to forget what it was like to be whimsical?
He followed the sound of laughter down one of the walkways until he came upon a sight he didn't quite believe.
His boy was lying on his stomach, legs kicking behind him, hands braced under his chin, watching a family of Gnomes dramatically reenact a play.
He vaguely remembered the same creatures putting one on when he was younger.
His boy giggled and swayed side to side.
Eden and Hadrian were next to him, Eden positioned across Hadrian's back like a swooning Victorian maiden, while Hadrian was more loaf of bread than human with how still he was. Romilly thought he might have been sleeping, given the smoothness of his breaths and the way his eyes were closed.
A gasp echoed around them and Romilly shifted his gaze to the Gnomes, who had frozen on the spot, their eyes going to him.
"Your Majesty," they all said, bending at the waist.
Romilly held up his hand. "No need for formalities. You are in no way less than me, for you protect the plants, and that is important not just to my mother but to all of the people who are in the castle. I see you have met my little one."
The way the head Gnome looked at him proved he knew exactly what Archer was to Romilly.
Word had probably gotten around the castle more so than he intended, and his little mate was being taken care of in a way without Romilly even having to tell people.
He was blessed, surrounded by people who loved him and his mate, even if his mate didn't know that's what he was.
Romilly shook his head, smiling, and moved toward the group. "I only came because I was looking for Archer."
His little one had turned when Romilly first spoke and was gazing up at the other man with big wide eyes and pink cheeks. "You were looking for me?" he said, voice hitching higher, his Little side front and center.
"I was," Romilly said, dropping to a squat so his boy wouldn't have to stretch his neck so far. He tapped a finger to the tip of Archer's nose. "And I have found you. Have you eaten today? How long have you all been out here? I want to make sure that you are hydrated as well."
Archer turned to look at where Eden and Hadrian were. Hadrian was still knocked out, but Eden was biting his bottom lip. "Well, you see, we got him and then we came in here and then we listened to stories and then — we didn't do any of that other stuff."
Romilly had to fight the growl that moved through his chest. "You have not eaten all day?" he clarified.
Archer shook his head slowly from side to side.
"Then we must rectify that." Before his boy could protest, Romilly picked up Archer and slung him over his shoulder.
Archer squealed, kicking his legs and waving his arms, shouting, "Oh no! I've been taken! Someone save me!"
Eden scrambled to stand and Hadrian jolted awake with a yelp. The Gnomes laughed at the scene but didn't move forward to assist him. They understood it was a game. That Romilly was playing with his mate.
When Eden started to come after them, Romilly put some speed into his movement and traversed through the castle quickly until they were in the kitchen. Belinda shook her head when he came to a stop in front of her.
He eased Archer down, letting their bodies settle. "My little one needs to be fed. He has not eaten all day."
Belinda tutted. "Well then, we must get him some food." She brought out all sorts of snacks, creating a giant buffet of finger foods that no one would be able to resist. Archer snacked greedily, his body happy and sated. Romilly watched, his heart full.
When Eden and Hadrian eventually made their way into the kitchen, they also went about nibbling at everything. Soren showed up too, though they didn't stay long. And Romilly's parents also came by, each one with a smile and a hug for Archer before drifting back out again.
Eventually it became just Romilly and Archer in the room as Belinda went to take a nap while dinner cooked and his siblings had gone off to whatever corners they wanted to haunt.
"Did you have a good day with my brothers and the Gnomes?"
Archer smiled too wide, bobbing his head. "I did. It was the best. Learning about Gnome history was fun. And there's this energy when I'm with Eden and Hadrian. I love it so much." Archer's eyes twinkled when he looked back up at Romilly. "But sometimes I think it might be wrong."
"That what might be wrong, little one?" Romilly asked.
"That it might be wrong that I feel so Little and that sometimes..."
Romilly gently took Archer's hands. "Let me guess, little one. Sometimes you like me being in charge. Is that right?"
Archer gave him another nod.
"And sometimes you like being so Little that I take care of everything."
"Yeah, but that's… that's being needy and dependent and I shouldn't—"
Romilly put a finger over Archer's lips. "Shouldn't is not the word we would use here. If it makes you happy and it makes me happy, then that is what matters. Personally, I would love to take care of you all the time. Give me your heart, soul, and body, and I will cherish it forever."
Moisture gathered in Archer's eyes. His boy was overwhelmed. The dragon inside him wanted to prove just how much Archer meant to them. He wanted to explain the mate bond and how Archer could never be too greedy for him. Before he could say anything, Archer blew Romilly's mind with one sentence.
"Is it bad that sometimes I want to call you Daddy too?"