[Fae Scandals 1]Prince of Submission (14 page)

“I know,” Corrin said, rubbing hands over his face in obvious frustration. “I just—with him I feel like who I was always meant to be. Does that make sense?”

Gael considered him. “Once upon a time, before you were born, a Seelie warrior who worked in the royal guard was assigned to a new unit under Captain Dorian Levene. Dorian was a fair guard, and he really cared about his men. He was also ungodly handsome. He had the most piercing ice-blue eyes and pale-blond hair as white as yours. It was his manner though that really cinched it. He was hard on everyone, but he was also very kind.” Gael sighed as he brought up the memory, one of the only pleasant ones he was allowed to relive. “Perhaps because of that, the warrior fell in love with him. He kept it to himself for fear he would be exiled. Dorian chose the warrior to go out on the yearly scouting mission in the mountains, and while they were there, they ended up consummating the warrior’s desires. When they returned, they decided to continue their affair. Dorian didn’t tell him he was already wed to a beautiful woman named Juliet, and the warrior was angered by the supposed deception. However, she told him that Dorian hadn’t sought to deceive him but was simply searching for the key to his heart. You see, they knew that something was missing in their relationship but didn’t know what until Dorian had met the warrior. They both welcomed him into their bed, and the warrior was never happier.” The next part of the story always made Gael want to throw up.

He continued. “They were caught and all brought up on charges. Dorian took the blame, claiming that he was a believer in Unseelie principles and he had corrupted the two of them and was immediately exiled. Juliet chose to follow him into exile as his wife. The warrior was given a choice, go into rehabilitation or be exiled with his lovers. The relationship was so new, the warrior was too afraid to leave the comfort of his kingdom, so he went into rehab and…He always regretted the decision.” His fingers had continued to work even as he’d spoken, so Corrin’s hair was a quarter of the way done.

Gael swallowed hard and chose to focus on the task at hand. “The point is, you’re not the only one who has had to face this. Love is too rare of a thing to just throw away because of fear. I’m not saying go into exile or anything so extreme, but, Corrin, if you love him, hold onto him with everything you are.”

Corrin looked like he was about to cry, and Gael hoped that he had gotten the message of his little fairy tale. It was probably the first time in his life that he had heard someone that wasn’t human approve of his desires.

“Thank you, Gael,” Corrin whispered.

“Not a problem, Cor. You’re like a son to me, and I don’t care who your lover is.” He kissed the top of Corrin’s head in affection and prayed to the goddess that she would watch over his ward.

* * * *

Adrian tapped his foot nervously on the floor. The boy was late as per usual. More often than not, he kept Adrian waiting. Where it took Adrian twenty minutes to get ready, it always took Corrin over an hour.

“Worse than a bloody woman,” he cursed under his breath, willing the door to open and Corrin to walk through it.

A voice from behind him caused him to turn. “Aren’t I worth it though?” The sight took his breath away.

Corrin’s hair was done up in elaborate rows of circular braids that gave the illusion of a crown. Entwined in the braids were vines of ivy. Glittering specks of green could be seen clinging to the strands of hair throughout, and he played nervously with the French braid that tamed the rest of the hair down his back. His face was freshly washed and shined with ivy designs snaking down one side of his face. He was naked to the waist, powdered with gold that made him appear to be more otherworldly than ever. He had a gold waist chain on to signify the fragile but unbreakable bonds of nature. His pants were a tight pair of dark-green deerskin, and his calves were covered in soft, supple brown hide. He was breathtaking.

“Oh god of the wood, you are more than worth it. I’d wait for days to look on you as you are right now,” Adrian said, clearing his throat to get the hoarse sound of want and pride out of his voice.

Corrin smiled and turned around to display the bejeweled ivy designs that painted his back. “You’re pretty yummy yourself,” he said, using his modern terminology with unerring dexterity.

Adrian wore a crown of grapes and vines, and he wore a necklace of wine-red stones about his neck. Tribal swirls were intertwined with his regular tattoos on his chest and arms. His bottom half was encased in a pair of black leather pants and kick ass leather boots with silver buckles. He looked good enough to eat, and he knew it. He definitely embodied the god of wine and plenty, but he was nothing in comparison to his lover. “I’m looking forward to painting myself in the gold from your body tonight.”

Corrin shivered visibly. “Well, let’s get to the bonfire so we can hurry and get back here so you can fuck me until you’re gold and I’m sore.” Adrian’s nostrils flared in answering desire.

“Can we skip the bonfire?” Adrian asked, licking his lips and looking the Seelie prince up and down. Corrin laughed and crossed the room to place a kiss on his lips, careful not to smear his gold chest against Adrian’s. “Do you think it was a good idea to enter from your bedroom? It might seem suspicious to anyone else.” Adrian put his hands on Corrin’s beautiful hips.

Another voice in the room caused Adrian to jerk back as if he’d been burned. “The only people who would be suspicious already know.” Adrian turned. One of the royal Seelie guards reclined against the doorway into Corrin’s bedroom, his chestnut-brown hair hanging about his shoulders. Adrian looked between Corrin and the guard in confusion.

“I know you are having an affair with Cor, Prince Cadence. You better be more observant tonight than what you just displayed. Not everyone else would be so approving,” the guard said. Amusement shone in his apple-green gaze.

“I wasn’t expecting someone to come out of my lover’s bedroom quite so suddenly. Last I heard, he’d forbidden you all from bursting in on our ‘meetings,’” Adrian said, embarrassed to be caught so unaware.

“Gael!” Corrin hissed, glaring. “You scared us.”

“Indeed,” Gael said, clearly amused by the two of them. “Corrin, you are expected to make an appearance at the bonfire tonight, so you two best get going. The woods will be filled with couples after the dance, and you two can sneak away then. I’ll cover your exit, but you both need to make a decision on your future by the morning. Enjoy tonight, both of you.” With that Gael crossed in front of the couple and let himself quietly out of the room.

“Whoa,” Adrian said. “That was…uh, different. Are you sure he isn’t going to run to the magistrate?”

“Gael was present at my birth, and he’s always cared for me. Plus I have the sneaking suspicion that he understands us more than either of us can determine for sure. Tell me, do you know an Unseelie named Dorian Levene?”

Adrian’s eyes widened. “Yes of course. He’s one of the producers that works at my record label. He’s very good at his job. His wife Juli is a real ball-buster lawyer from what I hear, but I’ve never met her. Why do you ask?”

Corrin smiled a soft secret smile. “No reason. He’s right. Let’s get moving. It’s almost time for the dance.”

* * * *

The first thing Corrin heard was the familiar sound of drums. He took a deep breath as they took the back exit of the palace down to the huge bonfire they could see flickering through the trees. The air was thick with magicks. It gave the atmosphere a charged feeling that played along the nerves of the Fae like an invisible caress. Elemental Fae magicks could be seen in the random streaks of lightning that lit the cloud-free sky and the winds that didn’t flow in one direction but in various directions depending on the location of the Fae.

“Are your rites at the Unseelie court similar?” Corrin asked. He loved the look of sheer animal power that sparked in his Master’s eyes. He’d never seen the power of a Vampire class Fae until this moment where it fluxed and mingled with the other energies in the air.

“Similar,” Adrian said, his blue eyes glowing as the magicks from the surrounding area saturated their air. “Though usually the air would be filled by hundreds of sounds of the Animalia class as well as Elementals. You don’t have them at the Seelie court. The white court considers relatives of shape shifters to be unworthy of the court. At our rites, they bring their power animals with them and they howl and play all night. It is a rather noisy affair.”

“What does a Vampire class do on the equinox?” Corrin asked as they strolled down the path that led to their circle of power.

Adrian started to sway as they drew closer to the fire. “We have our own Blood rites, most of which I can’t tell you about because you are not my familiar, my brother, nor my Bond-mate.”

“What’s that?”

“A familiar is someone who has exchanged blood with a Vampire class Fae at least three times. They’re thoroughly bonded and cannot betray their Master. A brother is a fellow Vampire class, and a Bond-mate is a mate of a Vampire class who hasn’t been turned yet but has gone through the ceremony of mating. Most of the names were called something else originally. Fae tend to steal the names for things as we see fit, as you know.” Adrian grabbed hold of Corrin’s hand and pulled him into his arm, careful not to disrupt his designs. Without warning Adrian pressed his lips to Corrin’s. Adrian ravaged his lover’s mouth with the hardness of his kiss. Their tongues tangled, and the voice in Corrin’s mind cautioned him to not get carried away. Anyone could come across him out here.

“What was that about?” Corrin asked.

His lover shifted. “I just needed to do that before we got surrounded by magick. If I waited for that moment, I would take you in the circle in front of the goddess and everyone,” Adrian admitted.

Corrin’s nostrils flared, and his low growl of want filled the air. His lust joined the scents of magick in the air. Everything felt more intense tonight, and his passion for Adrian was no exception. He wanted to be fucked by his lover like he wanted to breathe.

“Go, before I lose my mind,” Adrian said, pointing to the path. They were close enough to the revelry now that they would have been visible to the participants had they not been shielded by the shadow of the trees.

“Do you think we’re too physical?” Corrin asked, ignoring his order. “I mean, I love being with you, but do you think that our relationship is too much about the pleasure?”

Adrian laughed at his typically Seelie prudery. “We’ve spent hours talking. I know you better than anyone. Your hopes and your dreams are mine. You know more about my past than anyone who wasn’t living it with me. We have an intense physical relationship, yes, but it is the chemistry of our relationship to be so. Relax, beautiful. It’s not as shallow as your court would have you believe.”

Corrin looked away. “But we haven’t known each other that long—”

Adrian ran a hand down his spine. “It doesn’t matter how long we’ve known each other, beautiful. We’re destined.”

* * * *

“Corrin!” a jovial voice called from behind them. They turned to see a figure emerge from the trees.

“Raegan!” Corrin cried, pulling away from Adrian and practically tackling whoever had called for him. Adrian tried to stamp down his irritation at the action. The Unseelie gritted his teeth at the image before him.

Corrin fit perfectly into the arms of the other Seelie boy. Raegan was a head taller than Corrin with dark-brown hair and golden eyes. The easy affection between them was obvious. They had been friends for a while.

“I’m so glad you’re back!” Raegan gushed, kissing Adrian’s lover’s forehead. “I haven’t seen you since you came back from your human school. How have you been?”

“I’ve been good. You know how it is, lots of new responsibilities,” Corrin twittered, wrapping his arm around the boy’s waist.

“Of course, of course,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. “I hear you’ve been hosting a degenerate upon the request of your father. It’s been quite the juicy rumor at court. Especially since the women have been saying that he’s quite the dish and mourning the fact that he’s a filthy pervert.”

Adrian finally tired of the boy touching his lover and insulting him. “I would be the filthy pervert who he’s been hosting, and I would appreciate you removing your hands from my host before I tell the magistrate that you’ve been propositioning me by calling me a ‘dish’ and ‘juicy,’” he said in a snappy tone. He knew his jealousy was showing but hoped the Seelie would just pick it up as normal Unseelie behavior.

Raegan jumped as he saw the Unseelie and pulled back from Corrin. “I wasn’t aware that King DeMarco allowed monsters to participate in our rites.” His peevish tone was infinitely satisfying.

Adrian crossed his arms across his chest. “Sorry, sweet lips. I’m here. Care to keep me company? It’s guaranteed to be a long night of debauchery.” He blatantly looked the Seelie up and down and licked his lips. “Hmmm and with a body like that I could keep you busy all night long.”

“That’s enough, Adrian. You’ve made your point,” Corrin snarled, his own jealousy obviously aroused by Adrian’s words. Raegan looked at him strangely. Corrin was known for having the most even temper of all the nobles.

“I fear that the monster is having a negative influence on you, Corrin. It even has you calling it by name,” he snipped disdainfully.