by L Ward
The fireplace crackled, warmth filling the room. Nath stared at it trying to calm his nerves.
“When I met your mother my dad advised me against it because of what happened to her, but she was my One. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her and married her two days later. I didn’t care that she was considered tarnished, it wasn’t her fault, I just wanted to protect and cherish her and I can’t be at peace knowing I robbed my only son of his birthright and his powers,” he continued. “How did you feel when you met Evan for the first time?” he asked, stroking his fingers through his thick beard. The tension dissipated in smoky tendrils.
Nath’s heart fluttered, cheeks dimpling as memories rolled in waves through his head, filling him with unbridled joy. “I felt truly alive for the first time, like I’d just seen colour, and experienced all my senses. I’d do absolutely anything to make him happy and if I didn’t think it would’ve frightened him to death, I would have proposed to him the moment I laid eyes on him,” he admitted, rosy-cheeked and humming with magic.
Elijah nodded and closed his eyes. Nath couldn’t tell if he was dissatisfied with the answer, and his heart began to pound. Time passed as his father ding… ding…dinged… his rings against the crystal. “He does appear to have fruitful family members who might be willing to assist you in the future.”
“Evan’s sister is more than happy to do it, and Freya has offered once I'm married,” said Nath.
“Good,” his father relaxed visibly, sinking into his chair like a cloud. “My reservations about him are clear, Nathaniel, that’s why I’m giving you this one chance to take him to wed on New Year’s Morn, but remember, if you fail, I’ll walk you to the altar and make you a Starstone.”
His stomach turned to ice, jagged, painful ice. “Please—”
“I know you weren’t in love with him but I never understood what happened between you when you started off so happy,” said Elijah, frown cutting two hard lines up his forehead. “William’s by far the best choice for a consort; he’s of noble birth, he’s experienced with royal life, his social connections are impeccable, he’s an extremely wealthy heir to an empire and the media love him,” he continued, gaze piercing.
“Evan has a kindness and a humility to him Will won’t ever possess. I like his normality; he’s not self-entitled,” said Nath.
“He’s that way because he’s poorly educated, shy and hasn’t a penny to his name,” said Elijah.
Nath glared. “You only know the Evan who’s scared of offending you, not the Evan I know,” he said.
Tension crackled.
“I’m aware my knowledge of him isn’t as intimate as yours,” Elijah’s face softened and he leaned over, worry clouding his blue eyes. “I’ve seen you at your worst, Nathaniel. I want to make sure you have the best. Think of your future reign.”
“I am and I’ll do everything in my power to show Evan I’m worthy of him,” said Nath, determination burning an inferno in his belly, “he’ll be a fantastic consort.”
Elijah gave him a dark look. “Which reminds me, if he accepts the Seven Days and you marry he’ll need a title.”
“His Royal Highness,” said Nath.
“I was thinking of making him a duke,” Elijah frowned again, fingers plucking at his beard.
“I want him to be a prince,” said Nath, courage burning a hole in his pocket.
His father’s stare marbled.
“Not with my level of authority, but he deserves at least the same rights a princess would receive,” he continued, quirking his brows in something like challenge. “Why shouldn’t he?”
A distasteful look crossed Elijah’s face. “Alright.”
“Do I have your word?” Nath asked, lowering his voice.
“You have my word,” said Elijah with the calmness of blessed water.
Nath smiled and straightened up. “I want to give you my word that I won’t let you down, regardless of what happens. If Evan rejects my proposal I’ll marry Will without complaint.”
Elijah’s smile was a shadow of nightmares. “I’m glad you’ve come to an understanding about this, Nathaniel. Make no mistake, if he for some reason doesn’t want to be your consort I’ll happily trade you to William for a few extra shares in some of Gerard’s companies; one can never have enough.”
Chapter 29
Christmas Eve trickled through the panes of Evan’s window, kissing his cheeks with frostbitten lips and caressing him with the aroma of pine needles and boozy pudding you could chip a tooth on. He lay pooled in his bedsheets, fizzing with excitement and staring at the beautifully wrapped gift boxes in the bottom of his wardrobe. Last night he sent packages to his family before they left for the largest winter festival in the world, and today he planned on delivering a few sizable packages to Nath in person. Sighing, he closed his eyes and began to doze when he was roused by a sugar-sweet kiss on the lips.
“Merry Christmas,” said Nath, his breath dusted Evan’s cheeks, bathing him in candy canes.
“How did you get in here?” Evan opened his eyes and mumbled, lips curling in a welcoming smile.
“It’s my house,” said Nath, stars dotting his eyes. His gaze roamed over Evan’s arms and shoulders, a look of impress striking his handsome face.
Evan’s skin lit up like the Christmas star. “I’m naked under here.”
“You’re gorgeous,” Nath’s voice took on a tenderness that made him sit up. Magic crackled the air in glimmers of white. Nath’s eyes were shining.
Something felt different. Evan's heart shot into his throat; Nath took him by the hand and went down on one knee.
“Evan, the time has come for me to choose my consort. This may sound crazy- fantastical- even, but will you marry me?” Nath asked, cheeks blossoming and eyes sparkling like a thousand captured stars. His fingers were trembling and the room disappeared in a blaze of white light as though the palace’s life was bursting from its veins.
Evan’s head spun; his heart swelled to bursting point. What the fuck? What the actual fuck? He was drowning in a tsunami of excitement and disbelief. He'd been certain he’d already received his lifetime’s share of luck when the once-in-a-lifetime invitation for a university education arrived, but that was nothing compared to Nath asking for his hand. He opened his mouth to speak but Nath silenced him with a kiss.
“I want to follow royal tradition so please don’t give me your answer yet,” he said.
Confusion tasted tangy and emotions broiled in Evan’s stomach like storm clouds of excitable, perplexing wonder. “Wow. Okay,” he said.
“Which brings me to my second question,” Nath continued, the look in his eyes could raise the sun at midnight. “I won’t pretend that being my consort will be easy. You’ll be expected to learn a lot, and fast, but I swear to do everything in my power to help you, Evan. I’ll be the best husband, prince, and, one day, king I can for you.” He paused searching Evan’s face, some of his confidence slipped, but his eyes still pooled with adoration. “Evan, would you accept our Seven Days of Betrothal?”
“Yes,” he grinned.
Nath rose and kissed him until they became a mess of soft lips and long limbs.
∞∞∞
When they were finally a tangled, sweaty mess in his bed sheets Evan asked, “what happens during the Seven Days?”
“Each day will bring a new surprise or challenge designed to put any future royal through their paces, and on the seventh day I’ll propose again and you’ll have seen enough of my life to give me your answer,” said Nath, pupils glinting sharply. He was nervous; Evan found it adorable.
“What if I say no?” said Evan, watching a look of dread pass his face.
“Then, I-I’ll have to find a different consort,” said Nath, voice sticking in his throat.
“And if I say yes?” he asked softly.
Nath turned to him with a breath taking smile and said, “we will wed by morning,” he said.
Evan snuggled in enjoying his warmth; a thought struck a br
ick to his skull. “Does your dad know about this?”
“Yes of course he does, he gave me permission when I asked for your hand,” said Nath.
Evan stared, disbelief cultivating. “Why?”
Nath’s beautiful mismatched eyes twinkled, “you know by now the stories of the royal enchantment?”
Evan nodded.
“Then, you’ll know that when a member of my family fall in love, it’s once in a lifetime and it’s forever,” he said, flushing. “I’m in love with you, and this will sound impossibly ridiculous, but I knew the moment I saw you that, if one thing in the universe would bring me to my knees, it was you.”
“Oh, you could’ve had me on my knees that first day in the orchard,” said Evan. “I love you too,” there, he said it, and it was more epic than he’d ever anticipated. The thin veins in his walls overflowed in an ethereal white glow. He gaped, stunned as the magic glittered before his eyes. “What the- is this you?!” he asked, a look of wonder sweeping his face.
“The palace’s energy grows through emotion and the more attachment it has to the people living in it, the stronger it feels,” said Nath.
“So, if you get loving with me in public…?” Evan trailed off.
“Wherever I am will light up like a supernova,” said Nath. “It’ll respond to you soon enough.”
Evan coloured up; Nath laughed.
“Let’s get dressed I’ve only a week to simultaneously scare the shit out of you and convince you to marry me,” he stood up and the covers fell away revealing Nathaniel in all his toned, naked glory.
∞∞∞
Thunderous hooves stormed the trees, whip-like branches spraying them with powder snow. Evan’s heart raced, blood hot with adrenaline. The forest smelled of mountain air and yuletide. Evan's lungs had never felt clearer.
They visited the grotto which was encrusted with frost like a petrified forest with leaves frozen mid-fall, the syrup waterfall a monument to spring.
Nath rode them through the mountains and along the riverbank, its water a solid block of ice glittering with snow in the morning light. Bunnies skipped through the frosty meadow, their coats a gleaming winter-time white, robins sang from every fence and the sun glistened from the iciles adorning every branch.
Lunch was organised in one of the east wing parlours where Cass, Angelika and, surprisingly, Andrew were already there waiting.
“You were right then, Cass,” said Nath, pulling out a chair and sweeping Evan beneath the table laden with pizzas and other delicious junk food.
“Yep. As usual.”
“About what?” asked Evan.
“Jeremiah refusing to turn up because I’m here and he’s embarrassed about what he's done,” she said, gazing out of the windows at the sprawling white lawns. A flicker of sadness passed and her expression brightened quickly.
“Robertson? I saw him heading home this morning,” said Andrew, pouring himself a huge glass of spiced wine.
Evan loved the way it was served in a gigantic crystal jug frosted with ice and full of fresh, sliced fruit.
“Never mind,” said Cass, “it’s Christmas, we should be celebrating.”
“Well… speaking of celebrations,” said Nath, looking to Evan with sparkly eyes.
Evan swallowed and said, “we’re engaged.”
Cass gasped, clamping her hands over her mouth. “Oh my god! Are you guys for real?”
Angelika dropped her fork, splattering her pretty black dress with globs of prawn cocktail.
Heat rushed Evan’s cheeks and he started smiling uncontrollably. “He won’t take my answer for a week because of the Seven Days of Betrothal.”
Cass gasped so loudly she inhaled the universe.
“I don’t get it, why propose if you don’t want an answer?” said Andrew, dark eyes muddled with confusion.
“It’s tradition!” said Cass. “King Elijah married the Queen too quickly to have them, but his father did it; it’s been royal tradition for thousands of years.”
Evan looked at Nath, he was nodding in agreement.
“It’s a massive workload,” she continued, “and a complete lifestyle change; the Days are not just a preparation to become royalty, but a way to express immense love.”
Evan’s smile was out of control, if it could spread through the room and up the walls, it would.
∞∞∞
“I know where we’re going,” said Evan, walking through a whirlwind of glittery snow. They pushed past thick snow-covered branches scattering sticky needles onto their cloaks and showering them in the smell of woodland magic.
“Close your eyes,” said Nath. Their footsteps crunched satisfyingly in the deep snow, and moments later they came to an abrupt stop; Nath drew him into a view-blocking kiss and moved to Evan's side. “Ready? Open your eyes.”
Evan did, and it was one of the most magical experiences of his life. The atmosphere was a startling winter blue and smelled of snowstorms past. During autumn the aspen had been a smouldering mass of destruction, raging against the dying season in all of its fiery glory, but this time it glowed with spellbinding light. Its branches were crystallised with jagged, impenetrable frost forming leaves made of ice, sparkling with wishes. Someone had gone to the trouble of decorating it with tiny red ribbons and gold baubles. The residue of magic thickened the air; tasting of all the things that forged the universe.
“Wow,” was all Evan managed to describe the titan of festive cheer.
“Christmas Eve is one of the most enchanted nights of the year, this tree is in full winter bloom right now,” said Nath, opening his left palm and allowing snowflakes to collect like a mountain of stars. “I said I’d show you each changing season, next time you’ll see what spring brings,” his dimples deepened and his breath misted the air.
A bird landed on one of the branches, tinkling the bells, its body clear as polished quartz.
“Impossible,” said Evan.
“Nothing is impossible when there’s magic,” said Nath, starry-eyed and haloed with light.
Evan was lost. Nath's skin and hair melted into the snow, but his lips were bitten candy-apple red by the chilly breeze. Nath gave him the full blast of that smile and his heart stopped beating.
∞∞∞
Court was set for a wonderful yuletide; the Royal Orchestra filled the room with merry music; decorations were dusted with never-melting snow, golden cloths stretched the length of the tables, and crimson cutlery shimmered in the torchlight.
Many students stayed, but numbers were noticeably fewer as they arrived in everything from ball gowns to diverse religious garbs; Tina and her girlfriend Safi turned up in their fuzzy pink pyjamas.
Mini Santa Sleighs zoomed overhead, drivers tossing tiny champagne bottles at one another.
Evan laughed inexcusably at the dinner table as one violently drunk Santa tore out his beard and told one of his jolly old comrades their Mrs Clause was a Ho Ho Ho.
“Am I cliché if I say I think this will be the best Christmas ever?” he said.
“Not at all,” said Nath, raising his flute in salute, “I feel the same way.”
Gazes flickered toward them; Evan’s heart fluttered. A sense of calm washed over him when he spotted Cass grinning and waving at him from her group of botany friends.
“For you,” said Nath, offering him a flute of golden bubbles alongside a fat slice of apple pie drenched in dense cream that he couldn’t say no to.
Christmas intoxicated everyone in a soul-blazing flurry of magic, togetherness and glorious food.
Evan was listening to Elijah tell a story about his trade visit to King Alejandro of Spain where they waged a shockingly childish prank war; Elijah ended up thrown into the ocean by a sea serpent and King Alejandro was swallowed by a teacup.
Elijah roared with joyous red-faced laughter, arm around Miriam like she was the most precious thing in existence.
Evan grinned, surprised at how pink-cheeked Nath was with his pupils blown out. “You’re drunk,�
� he said wearing a sloppy grin.
“As long as we sober up before the Mass of the Gods,” said Nath.
“The Mass of the Gods?” Evan’s jaw dropped.
Nath nodded, eyes brightening beneath the candlelight. “If you’re to become my consort you should attend royal events.”
“Nath, that’s an insanely sacred place. What if I embarrass you?” Evan asked. The alcohol inflated his balls to pumpkin size, anxiety parted ways, and elation consumed him. No commoner could witness the Mass from the church, only the midnight sun in the sky.
Nath’s smile widened, “it would embarrass me more if you refused.” He laughed, and drained the remainder of his flute. “There isn’t much to learn but it’s easier to show than to explain.”
“There’s a couple of things I’d like to see,” said Evan, glancing at Nath’s crotch.
The Prince’s smile broke into a grin, the tiniest puffs of smoke swirled beneath his eyes. The full moon was days away and Evan knew Nath was starting to feel it, but the combination of booze and magic seemed to diminish his tensions, that, or he was fantastic at hiding it.
By nine they were stuffed as turkeys, merry and horny. They left the dinner table under Will’s odious gaze. Court stank of gluttony, flirtation and sinful drinking; tasted of money and mixed spices.
They made love in front of Nath’s fireplace slowly, passionately and under the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree to the scent of pine and nutmeg.
Evan expected a lot of things from sex, but never had he suspected his magic would make it so comfortable for them.
When midnight closed in; after lounging naked beneath a blanket of love listening to the crackling fire, they dressed and wrapped themselves in white fur-lined cloaks. They’d guzzled water by the jug load, but were still a little buzzed from the alcohol.
Anxiety was brewing a cursed cauldron in Evan's belly as they approached the gates where picturesque crystal carriages glittered beneath the stars. Nath helped him into one of the largest, and they set off on a short but scenic ride through the outer grounds into a dense forest. The branches parted one by one as they passed, sweeping against the carriage and filling the air with jingle bells and late-night magic. The forest of evergreens cleared and he gasped as the royal church revealed itself: a beautiful Icosagon built from amber and glowing a soft tangerine. The monument was adorned with gilded windows and two enormous white marble doors.