by L Ward
“Go on then. Open it,” said Will, eyes softening like hot cookie centers.
The way he looked at Nath made Evan extremely uncomfortable. Nath’s expression was dead as he opened the box and lifted a photograph of himself and Will from what looked like a year or two ago. They were grinning, laughing, arms around one another at a party. They looked like a young couple ready to set out in a world that would bow before them.
Evan would love to say he was the guy who didn’t feel a pang of jealousy, but that would be a lie, and lies tasted of shit, acid and ruins. They may have been happy once, but that was history, and the look of sheer disgust on his boyfriend’s gave all the reassurance Evan needed. Strange, that Will’s only positive trait was displaying how jealousy inflicted its poison.
Time passed; Evan was starting to feel quite high. The crackling of the fireplace, spitting with impatience, was mesmerising. Movement took on a slightly blurred, bright edge; heat rose to his skin’s surface.
“You looked gorgeous that night,” said Will, voice smooth as polished glass. The firelight bathed him a sun-kissed bronze; the tips of his hair glistened as though dipped in gold.
“The funny thing about photographs is they only tell half the story; they don’t show the rot beneath the surface, and memories are painfully easy to tweak,” Nath sighed as though this were a conversation he’d had too many times before. In that moment he looked so much like his father.
“Just take it and remember all the good times we had,” said Will, stepping closer. “And know I won’t stop trying to win you back until the day you’re wed.”
Nath laughed. “Win me back, because I’m a game to you. A game, a name and a fetish,” Nath snarled, turning the photograph face-down on the table. “I’ve told you a thousand times that we are over and I’m not interested in a repeating history, so, thanks for the frame and goodbye,” he gestured toward the door, but Will didn’t move.
“Has it happened?” he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
A tidal wave of confusion drenched Evan to the bone and a chill ran up his spine.
Nath’s cheeks turned rosy. “Leave.”
Will’s dark gaze turned on Evan and he approached, expression unreadable. He stood his ground as Will towered over him, leaning down so their faces were inches apart. “You don’t know how fucking lucky you are, do you?” he said, venom lacing his voice. Magic crackled, sparks stung Evan’s ears and neck; a faint undertone of whiskey sharpened his breath.
“Enough,” Nath snapped.
“I don’t know what he sees in you, commoner, but just know that if you hurt him I’ll personally take care of you” said Will in a voice that tasted of glinting blades and fresh blood.
“That’s a bit hypocritical coming from you,” Evan replied.
Will’s face hardened like a petrified corpse. “We’ve all made mistakes.” His eyes wandered behind Evan and landed on the bong glistening in the sunshine.
“Some worse than others,” said Nath.
Will stared at him, suspicion flickering behind guarded eyes. “You’re high,” he said. “I wonder how long you can keep up the pretense of normality.”
“He knows about my lycanthropy,” said Nath.
Amusement kissed Will on both cheeks and he glanced haughtily at Evan. “But has he seen you?” his voice danced on the verge of challenge. When Evan didn’t reply, his face broke in a wolfish smile. “Didn’t think so. I wonder whether he’ll be as keen on you when he sees what you really are, Nath.”
“I order you to leave or I’ll have you thrown out,” said Nath, mask of boredom back in place.
“I’m watching you, commoner,” Will spat. He turned on his heels, shot Nath a flirtatious wink that could drop a nun’s knickers, and left with an echoing slam.
“I truly apologise for that,” Nath turned back to Evan, eyes rimmed with redness and swimming with shame.
Evan’s emotions burst before his eyes like fireworks dominating the night sky. “Forget him. It’s your birthday. Are you feeling that brownie yet?” he asked with a side of smiles.
Nath’s face relaxed in a boyish grin, he looked adorably wasted. “Want to go riding?”
Evan’s cheeks turned scarlet. “What?”
“Do you want to go out riding?” Nath practically purred. He moved so their lips were so close he experienced his warmth and smelled his chocolate-sweet breath. “I’d like to take you on my favourite trail through the forest,” he continued, fingertips grazing Evan’s forearms sending a fresh wave of tingles to his shoulders.
“On horses?” said Evan, his insides froze like chicken fillets.
“Of course,” said Nath, cheeky smile back in place. “You needn’t look so worried, I promise it'll be to your liking.”
∞∞∞
Evan was high as balls streaking through the palace, torches and paintings a blur of history and timelessness, hand-in-hand with Nath. They were on top of the world; magic hummed a ballad of romance and neither of them cared who saw.
The gardens were bursting with fresh autumnal bloom, smelling of bonfires and ground coffee beans. He was in awe of the mystical beauty of the viridescent sky, streaked with lemon and punctuated with birdsong.
The royal stables were in a secluded area, flanked by towering evergreens and several armed guards. The sprawling paddocks and riding arena were gilded with sunlight. Stable hands led horses of gemstone and water across the yard. Two magnificent creatures over twelve feet tall with glowing indigo eyes and billowing manes that poured to the floor in a thousand shades of sunbeam, trotted proudly around the arena.
Nervousness trickled down Evan’s spine. The pungent smell of hot horse and fresh hay assaulted his nostrils as they entered the largest stable block; painted a violent shade of purple and emblazoned with the royal crest.
“This is my horse- my favourite- I should say,” said Nath, magicking the bolt open with an echoing clack. A monstrosity of raw gemstone greeted Evan with curious, crimson eyes. The horse was a solid ten-foot tall, it’s massive body the deepest shade of lagoon perfect for losing yourself in, and an opalescent mane gracing the floor in a neat fishtail braid.
“He’s- um- massive,” said Evan, lost for words.
The horse lifted its gigantic head and regarded him curiously, ears pricked.
Nath’s laughter echoed through the block. “That sounds familiar,” his smile widened when Evan coloured like a passionfruit. He strode toward the enormous mare, eyes lingering on Evan. “I guess you’ve never ridden before?” he asked as a pair of stable hands arrived, bowing deeply to the prince.
“Not even a regular farm horse,” said Evan, wishing he’d given in to his sister’s incessant nagging last year about a horse riding holiday she wanted him to go on.
“Perfect. You can ride with me,” said Nath, voice full of springs as he used the jagged lumps of raw crystal protruding from the beast’s hocks to hoist himself onto its back. He extended a palm like an angel from Heaven, and Evan went weak at the knees.
“There isn’t room,” he hesitated.
“Trust me,” said Nath, face dimpling.
Swallowing enough anxiety to puke, Evan accepted the lift onto its back. The haze surrounding Nath’s thighs immediately began snaking around Evan’s widespread hips, drawing him flush to the prince’s back and giving him a raging hard-on.
Nath tilted his chin looking at Evan through heavy lashes and smiling like he held a secret. “Comfy?”
“Actually, yes,” said Evan, wrapping his arms around his waist.
“Hang on now,” said Nath.
The servants rushed to throw open the doors leaving a clear stretch down to the high arched gates winding into a dense magical forest. The breeze smelled of pine and freedom. And just like that, they were off, Nath cheering the horse on as she sprang forth with a breath-snatching leap.
“Thank you, gentlemen!” The prince called to the distancing stable hands.
Evan was too terrified to turn back; he buried hi
s face in the back of Nath’s neck inhaling his reassurance and sandalwood shampoo. The chilly wind bit his cheeks a bloodied red, and the pines became a blur of greenery. Leaves crunched satisfyingly; adrenaline coursed his veins.
Nath’s laughter was intoxicating, the thunderous hooves matched Evan’s brutally pounding heart as the magical world whipped by. His testosterone surged when Nath took a sudden swerve through a clearing in the trees and they ducked to avoid the overhang where the trees became dense and leafy; interspersed with dozens of unnamable plants and animals.
“Nearly there,” Nath shouted over the wind, but the horse wasn’t slowing.
Toward the end of the stretch the trees began changing colour from ashen brown and puke green to sun-drenched gold, intoxicating orange and rippling cobalt. Evan couldn’t believe his eyes when they disappeared down a pitch-black hollow; the dense canopy reminded him of nightmares and missing person’s reports. The horse’s sides heaved, body strong with sweat and freedom and they emerged into a brilliant white clearing like the gates to the afterlife. He was mesmerised passing through it and into a place so magical it couldn’t be real.
The grass was a shade of blue only found in saturated fairy tales and a circlet of trees bordered the clearing, dotted with exotic plants, glittering in the dim light. Tangy-smelling blossom drifted from the rainbow of trees and tiny flecks of magic caught the light. The air was sweet and dizzying.
Nath’s feet hit the ground and a cloud of magenta pollen rose to greet them as he slid from the horse’s back into the prince’s arms.
“What is this place?” Evan breathed, twirling to take it all in. Twittering birds filled the air but their song sounded wrong, backward, and yet strangely enchanting. Butterflies floated in every colour imaginable, wispy as though made of smoke and dreams.
“An enchanted grotto. They’re incredibly rare,” said Nath. Taking his hand, they crossed the whispering grass over to a solid face of rose quartz stretched so high the trees barricaded the top from view. Acid-green water was filtering through a crack in the crystal.
Nath pulled a small goblet from his pocket and filled it with the neon liquid. “Try it,” he said temptingly.
Evan accepted the goblet but eyed the liquid with caution. Slowly, he lifted it to his lips and drank a sweetness more divine than the first day of spring. “Wow, that’s delicious. What is it?”
“Nectar from the grotto’s trees. It’s filtered through these crystals and purified. It’s said that drinking the nectar from an enchanted place will bring great luck, happiness, and temporarily boost the magical strength of the drinker,” said Nath, tasting his own goblet.
Evan moved closer to him. “I’ve never seen anything like it. There aren’t many enchanted places left from what I’ve heard.”
“There’s around twenty in Britain, most of which are extremely difficult to access. This one is on the king’s lands, so it’s preserved and royal ascent is required to enter,” said Nath, gazing at Evan with an intense, pink-tinted gaze.
“People would ruin this place if it were open,” he said leaning in for a kiss. Nath obliged, and they were tumbling in the grass dusting themselves in that shiny pink pollen.
“Just so you know,” said Nath, between kisses. “If we were alone right now I would have you out of your jeans and in my mouth,” his voice was a playful growl, and Evan finally remembered the guards shadowing them.
Colour rose in his cheeks and filled his nether regions. “I’d do nothing to stop you,” he swallowed his arousal. “Am I supposed to feel like my magic is trying to burst out of me?”
Nath was grinning ear-to-ear. “Yes, especially after smoking.” He raised his hands and bathed the entire grotto in a frosted moonlight which reflected off every shard, shimmer or bead of glimmer. It was hauntingly beautiful as it caressed Nath’s skin, turning him into both the prince of dreams and nightmares. The moonlight dimmed and stars littered the grotto. On cue the flowers began closing their petals for a delicate rest, the lively birdsong dropped to percussionist hooting of the forest’s orchestra. Fireflies clustered in orbs of jade, lemon, scarlet, and mandarin.
Evan kissed Nath onto his back; candlelight spilled from his skin bathing them in a tender glow. Time froze as Evan’s fingers worked over Nath’s muscles feeling the tension ebb away to nothing. Evan kissed him until he was delirious with kisses and slumped drowsily in the plush grass.
“You take my fucking breath away,” Nath sighed happily, eyes fluttering closed.
“There’s something dirty about hearing you swear,” said Evan.
Nath smiled, eyes open and bright once more.
They left the grotto a little while later. This time Evan was prepared for the horseback trail in the woods. The evergreens and gargantuan redwoods appeared muted and out of place compared to the enchanted trees of the grotto; beautiful, nonetheless. They didn’t arrive back at the palace until late when the sun cried fiery tears of death over the horizon.
“We stink,” said Evan when they finally rocked up outside Nath’s rooms. The honourary birthday feast would begin in an hour.
“Let’s shower,” said Nath, sweeping Evan into his luxurious en-suite and magicking the powerful, steaming jets to life. Heat and loveliness rushed him as the room filled with condensation; hot and refreshing but not nearly as lovely as Nath peeling away layers of clothing.
Evan watched with great desire as he stood beneath the cascading water allowing it to ripple over his muscular arms and toned chest, tiny droplets catching in his fair hair.
In a heartbeat his clothes were pooled around his ankles.
∞∞∞
Evan realised his mistake the moment he got out of the shower with kiss-swollen lips and smelling strongly of expensive body wash. “My clothes smell like crap and I’m fatter than you,” he said awkwardly.
Nath looked at him like he was crazy before summoning his maids. Evan wrapped himself in the huge fluffy bath towel and snuck into the bedroom before they arrived with a clatter and a ring of curtsies.
“You can come out now,” Nath sang in a voice of surprising loveliness. The maids had brought three long rails rammed with luxurious men’s clothing. “Have whatever you want,” he gestured to them idly.
Evan didn’t move. He stared at the clothes brand-new with tags baring numbers he felt sick to see. “I’m not rich.”
“Have whatever you want, they’re on me. You need something for tonight, unless you want to run across the palace in just your towel,” said Nath, brows furrowing and lips curling in a smirk. “Although, I won’t protest if you wish to remain naked.”
“Jesus, Nath. What’s gotten into you?” He laughed.
Nath’s eyes met his quick as a flash, dimples on full display. “Nothing. Yet,” he held the gaze and Evan fought the urge to sit down. “I should have realised you might be uncomfortable with this, but they bring the rails up every week with new things; I pick what I want and send the rest away, or keep it all. It might seem frivolous but it’s a part of palace life. We’re bombarded daily with luxury brands sending us things before they’re released. Trust me, this is much better than when the tailors come for special events.”
Evan thought back to photo of himself and Nath in the gardens plastered all over the media, how shocked but thrilled he was, even if people treated him differently and his embarrassing mum had it framed and mounted in the house. It was adorable, but many commented on the class difference which showed dramatically in their attire. “O-okay.”
Nath’s face relaxed into an impish smile bathed in firelight and sparkling with excitement. “So, will you choose some of these clothes or are you going to make me play mother and do it for you?” he raised a blonde eyebrow.
Evan laughed nervously and strode forward with faux confidence trying to avoid the tags as he picked what he hoped were basic jeans and a shirt. They were so soft against his skin he felt naked. Enchanted silk, they had to be. He looked at himself in the mirror and couldn’t deny how damn good
they looked.
“Wow,” Nath breathed, sneaking up behind him donning a suit that Evan wanted to see all over the bedroom floor. He smelled like vaults of gold and the underlying smell of Nath. “It’s my birthday, but all eyes will be on you tonight.”
Evan was the colour of a squashed tomato. “I don’t know whether I’m excited or terrified about that, but let’s face it, they only look at me because I’m with you.”
Nath opened his mouth like he wanted to blurt something out but restrained himself at the last moment. “Nonsense. May I escort you to the feast?” He brandished his arm in true princely fashion and Evan almost died from excitement.
“You can escort me anywhere,” he said.
Court echoed with raucous laughter; spiced wine and rotisserie chicken welcomed them making Evan’s mouth water; butterflies mated in his belly. He spotted Cass in her usual seat with the girls and she flashed him a garish thumbs-up. Evan’s heart beat a tattoo as he was seated at the grandest table. It was an honour to be taken to the royal table and he was the first student to do it. Nath wasn’t the only eligible young noble, after all, but the only other one eligible to sit with the royalty was Will. Heat rose, prickling his skin like sunburn. Dozens of eyes turned on him, voices twittering like birds.
The entire court was dressed for an evening out; ballgowns, suits, and even long robes created a stunning display of fashion. Confetti drifted from the ceiling in flecks of blue blossom and colour-changing banners strung along the walls read Happy Birthday HRH Prince Nathaniel.
“This is the most people I’ve ever seen on my birthday, even if most of them are here for the food,” he said with a wicked grin.
“Don’t underestimate yourself,” said Evan. “They’re too terrified of you to say it to your face.”
“How could you possibly know that?” Nath chuckled, pupils dancing with curiosity. The palace’s arteries throbbed; streaks of colourful light slipped through the crystal threads.
“I’m a commoner too. They talk openly in front of me and interrogate me if I’m alone,” said Evan, lips twitching in a smirk. “Girls- mostly girls- talk about how handsome you are. I was asked your dick size twice yesterday.”