The view presenting itself to him was of an endless ocean meeting a perfect blue sky. He breathed in deeply, the air clean and fresh.
A knock interrupted the calm. The sun hung low in the sky, it could be Kieron, woken early. Eager to see the redhead, Jeffrey stood and opened the door.
The view that met him, was not what Jeffrey had expected; Blue eyes, looking contrite, white teeth worrying a pink lip, black hair a mess. They stood in silence, Jeffrey’s hand still on the doorknob, making no move.
“May I please come in?” the Prince asked in a small and quiet voice, his gaze sweeping down the hallway, as though they might be observed.
“Why?”
“I wish to apologise. And talk.”
Jeffrey waited a few heartbeats before he turned around and sat down in an armchair. The Prince sighed before he entered the room and closed the door. Once more Jeffrey found himself stunned when the Prince knelt in front of him.
“I am truly sorry, Jeffrey. What I did is inexcusable, you have my sincere apology and deepest regret.”
Jeffrey remained silent, studying the Prince. His sincerity was obvious; his posture, his voice, his demeanour, all of it spoke of contrition.
“For nearly killing me, or for wanting to hit the servant?” he asked, his voice sounding harsher than he’d intended. But he didn’t regret it. He couldn’t let the Prince get close, had to keep him away, for both their sakes.
The Prince flinched as if he’d been struck. “I’ve apologised to the servant for my behaviour towards him. I regret my outburst. It was inappropriate and uncalled for. My apology to you is for hitting you, challenging you, and nearly killing you. And for the bruises you carry because of me.”
Jeffrey’s eyes opened wide. Unable to decide what he wanted to say, he remained quiet.
“I also wish to thank you.”
“Thank me,” Jeffrey laughed, then bit his lip to stop himself from saying anything else.
“I’ve had some time to think about today. We’ve fought before. It was an even fight then, despite considerable effort on both our parts. I believe you purposefully let me win today and while that would anger me under different circumstances, I believe you did it because of our audience. Hence, I’m grateful. You took a beating to protect me.”
Jeffrey still didn’t speak.
“I know Sofia was here earlier. I was ready to call a physician to check on you, but she said you’d be alright. Are you alright?”
Jeffrey still remained silent. The Prince kneeling before him caused all sorts of pleasant sensations in his body. He couldn’t help but picture him being naked, maybe even collared. At the thought an impulse made him reach out, cupping the Prince’s cheek with one hand. Smooth pale skin. He’d never realised quite how tanned he was compared to the Prince.
Whether it was conscious or not, it was hard to tell, but the Prince leaned into Jeffrey’s touch, his eyes closing.
He was going to die anyway, may as well add more kindling to the pyre. Jeffrey let his thumb caress, trailing to pink lips. They parted, and eyes opened wide. “The sight of you kneeling like this is rather hard to resist. I’d really prefer you naked though.”
The Prince opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Jeffrey grinned. “Speechless?” The Prince closed his eyes again and lowered his head. It was not an act of submission, Jeffrey saw, but rather helplessness. “Why?” Jeffrey asked, all playfulness gone from his voice.
The Prince looked up, his brows knitting together. He was tense, every muscle in him strung taut. “Why what?”
“Why did you attack the servant? Why did you fight me? Why do you keep being this way? Why...” Jeffrey trailed off, there was a lot of whys in his head.
The Prince turned his head towards the open balcony door, staring at it for a moment. Looking at Jeffrey again he asked, “May I close the door?”
They were in Jeffrey’s room, but he was the Prince. He did not need to ask. But he had.
Jeffrey gave a slight nod. The Prince rose and closed the door. With his hand still on the door handle, his gaze went to the empty armchair beside Jeffrey, to the floor, to the rest of the room, as if checking that they were alone, back to the floor. Jeffrey observed him, noting the tension in his muscles, the hard swallow that made his Adam’s apple bob. As much as he would enjoy seeing the Prince kneel again, it was too much too fast. Taking pity, he gestured at the chair.
The Prince exhaled sharply and took the offer. He sat on the edge of the seat, kneading his hands in his lap, his gaze on the floor. Jeffrey gave him the time he seemed to need.
“My magic has been dormant most of my life. I used to think I didn’t have any until my father...” Silence. “It’s volatile now. Most of the time I still don’t feel it but sometimes it feels like I’m on fire on the inside, like my blood is boiling. That’s when I... lose control and do things I regret. Then it goes quiet again and I feel nothing until the next incident, or until my father draws from me. It tries to protect me I think, but I have no control over it and it’s too weak. It doesn’t do anything but make my father laugh. That was until you arrived.” He looked up briefly catching Jeffrey’s eye. “Now I feel it nearly all the time. Mostly it’s a gentle tingling, like a warm summer breeze on my bare skin, like water running down my body. It’s pleasant and I think it’s growing stronger. It only started after I met you.” The Prince stopped and leaned back. He let out a long breath as if a weight had been lifted off him. “And now... do you know what happened at the end of our fight?”
Jeffrey shook his head.
“Somehow I conjured a shield of ice. I’ve never done anything substantial with magic. Nothing at all and now this. It existed for the shortest moment, but it was long enough. It was real. Jeffrey, do you know what this means?”
Jeffrey studied the Prince but remained silent.
“I don’t understand it, I don’t know how to explain it. But somehow, you’re linked to my magic. You’re what brings it out, you make it stronger. I need you, need your help. You make me a better person. You will make me a better King.”
“You don’t understand,” Jeffrey said without thinking, then bit his lip to stop himself spilling too much. His father’s voice rang in his mind, calling him a murderer. He could still recall the pain from that first flogging. He shook his head to clear the memories away. “I cannot help you. You’re a Prince, you will be King. I cannot be what you want or need. I cannot help you,” he repeated, his voice sincere and firm.
The Prince was about to speak when a knock on the door interrupted them.
“What is it now?” Jeffrey snapped, annoyed at the interruption.
“I’m sorry, Tiras. I just wanted to check that you were alright. I heard about what happened today,” Kieron’s voice came through the closed door, heavy with worry.
“Come in, Kieron,” Jeffrey said his voice softening.
“Oh, Your Highness,” Kieron saluted and bowed his head. “I apologise, I didn’t know you were here. I’ll come back later.”
“No,” Jeffrey said, his eyes on the Prince. “Stay.” He rose and closed the distance between him and Kieron. “I’m glad to see you.” He pushed the redhead against the wall, pinning his hands above their heads. Lips smashed together, hard and demanding. Kieron moaned.
Jeffrey distinctly heard the sound of the door clicking shut. He pulled away and checked; the Prince had left.
“Why did you do that?” Kieron asked, furrows marring his brow. “Did you want to make him jealous? He doesn’t deserve that.”
“Jealous? No,” Jeffrey shook his head. “I need him to understand why.” Anything to make him stop trying when resisting got harder each time and yet, they were no less impossible. How could Jeffrey, disgraced and shameful as he was, ever be with a Prince?
“You’re being mean, Tiras.”
“He nearly killed me, Trian. How I respond to that is my choice and none of your business.”
Kieron bowed his head and bit his lip, rema
ining quiet.
Jeffrey softened at the sight. He pulled Kieron into a tight hug. “I’m glad you came. I feel better now you’re here.”
Kieron sighed but wrapped his arms around Jeffrey. “If you’d let him, he’d—”
“Don’t.”
Feathery kisses against his neck distracted Jeffrey. He sighed in pleasure and tightened his hold.
“I want to leave because you’re being unreasonable and should be taught a lesson, but I cannot resist you,” Kieron whispered and nipped at Jeffrey’s earlobe.
“Good, I prefer not being resisted,” Jeffrey chuckled and pulled Kieron towards the bed.
Hours or minutes or maybe days later they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
At a prompt, they got an answer; dinner delivery.
A servant entered with a tray, heavily laden with dishes all of them covered. After placing the tray on the table, the servant turned to them and blushed when he saw them both naked and only half hidden by the blanket. Averting his eyes, he said, “I apologise for the interruption, Sirs. I saw that you didn’t arrive for dinner and...” he gestured at the tray a little helplessly.
“You’re the servant from earlier today,” Jeffrey said, recognising him. He sat up and pulled the blanket higher.
“I am, Sir. I wanted to do something to thank you. I’m very grateful for your help. If there is anything you need, I would be most pleased to serve you.”
“You don’t need to do that. I didn’t do anything.”
“It would be my honour anyway, Sir. I also brought some more of the paste for your injuries, I hope it helps. If there is anything else...”
“Your being alright, is all that matters.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“You’re more than welcome...”
“My name is Marek, Sir.”
“You’re more than welcome, Marek. Thank you for bringing us dinner.”
“I hope you’ll like it. I apologise again for the disruption.”
Before Jeffrey could say another word, the servant disappeared.
“Well, that was unexpected,” Jeffrey said.
“You should really stop saying no to people. He’d be so honoured if he could do something for you. Even a small thing.”
“But I don’t want him to.”
“Oh, Tiras... The way you feel good when you can fight, he feels good when he can help someone. And you did something extraordinary for him. It would be a great honour for him to get the opportunity to do something for you in return.”
“But... what can I ask for?”
“You’ll think of something. Now, can we eat?” Without waiting for an answer, Kieron kissed Jeffrey’s cheek before getting out of bed and helping himself to food.
Chapter 13
Jeffrey woke with a start and reached for his sword, sensing someone close by. His sword was not at his side, however, and when he looked around he found the Prince seated nearby. They were at the beach, waves lapping up the sand the only sound. The sun had come up again, colouring the sky in red and orange. Restlessness had brought him out here in the night, he must have fallen asleep.
“Rough night?” the Prince asked.
“Pretty good night actually. This place is so amazingly calm and peaceful. I slept really well out here.”
“I apologise if I woke you.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t think it was you. Something tells me you’ve been sitting there a while.” Jeffrey shrugged, turning his gaze to the ocean.
“I have. I couldn’t sleep and came out here for the very peace and calm you mentioned.”
“If I’m disturbing, I’ll go,” Jeffrey said and made to stand.
“No, please stay.”
Jeffrey stayed where he was and they both looked out at the ocean in silence for a time.
The Prince broke the silence at length. “I hear you had a hand in Tacitus and Sofia spending most of the last few days in each other’s company.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. It was bound to happen. He’s smitten.”
“He is that. I’m delighted for them.”
“Is that a reason why you have these... gatherings?” Jeffrey asked, his head cocked to the side as he looked at the Prince.
“Matchmaking? No, it’s purely to satisfy sexual needs,” the Prince replied very seriously, when Jeffrey look at him in surprise he winked. “Of course, it is. How else are young nobles supposed to find someone to actually care about? Most of them live in very remote areas. They are brought to court, of course, but there, they are under the watchful eyes of literally everybody from their families to the servants. There’s just too many people at court for anyone to even have a single date without every courtier knowing about it.”
“So, you provide a time and place for people to be themselves and meet without an audience. Except for everyone here who is basically sworn to secrecy.”
“Pretty much.”
“Doesn’t it get awkward sometimes?”
The Prince shrugged. “I do try to invite people that I think will like each other, sometimes that works, sometimes less so. Either way we usually all end up having at least some fun.”
“And you get some loyalty in the bargain too.”
“Always a bonus,” the Prince said and smiled.
“How long have you been doing this?”
“Oh years. It wasn’t always what it is now though. The beginnings were quite innocent.”
“And when you are King?”
The Prince paused before answering. “Much will change then, I don’t like to think about it often. So much planning goes into the politics of it, I find myself not wanting to think about it if I don’t have to.”
“I’m a soldier, I fight my battles when, if, and how I have to. But you’re a general, you should be planning much more than just your next move or two.”
“Nice analogy. Not exactly a general.”
“Maybe not, and yet you are. If the King says the word, the entire legion marches.” Seeing the intensely pensive look on the Prince’s face, Jeffrey realised what a sore topic it was. “I apologise, no politics. Let’s speak of something else.”
“I admire your frankness, Jeffrey. Never change that.”
“If you like, we can pick the topic up again another day. For now, tell me; what’s your favourite memory?” Almost as soon as he’d asked the question, Jeffrey regretted it. Sometimes it was too easy to talk to the Prince. He wanted to get to know him, but it was too dangerous, for both of them. Being away from the palace allowed Jeffrey to see a different side to the Prince and he felt the desire stirring within him. But to give in to it, when he knew what happened to the men he loved... It was impossible.
“When I was a child, we’d come out here on family holidays. We weren’t royals then, just a family on holiday. Mother and Father were happier, we’d play together, built sand castles, fly kites, anything that seemed like fun. We spent so much time together, laughing and being happy.”
“You weren’t overstating when you said you had your happiest memories here.”
“I really wasn’t.” The Prince grinned. “My childhood was very happy. My father wasn’t always as he is now, you know. He taught me how to swim, how to ride a bicycle. I had tutors, of course, but he even took the time to help me with essay work sometimes. Grandpa was still alive then, while he was King, everything was different. When my father took the throne, that’s when he changed. It was gradual, and I didn’t quite realise what was happening at the time, but retrospectively I know it was the ascension that changed him.”
“The curse.”
Akoni shrugged. “Something sparks it. The pressure? The demands? The power? I honestly don’t know. Maybe all of it. No one seems to know.”
“Everyone knows there’s a curse and that it changes the ascending king but that’s all. Are you telling me you don’t know more either?”
Akoni turned to regard Jeffrey. “I know that my grandfather wasn’t nearly as affected. He still ruled with reason
, though he had bad days. My father… reason has not been a part of it for some time.”
“Does it scare you?”
“Terrify, actually.”
“But if you’re aware of it, you can decide not to let it change you, right? Like you said, it doesn’t affect everyone.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
“I believe you’ll make a good King.”
“If the Goddess wills it.” They remained silent for a time, watching the sun rise above the ocean. “Interested in breakfast? The others must be getting up soon.”
Jeffrey nodded in reply and they headed back to the villa, where they found the table set already. Soon after they sat down, the servants brought out food.
***
Stepping out on the veranda, Jeffrey saw Ignacio sitting on his own, deeply lost in a book. He decided to join him and took the chair next to him. “Reading anything interesting?”
“Geography’s influence on politics,” Ignacio replied without looking up.
“Sounds like reading material for an advisor. Do you ever do anything for fun? For yourself?”
“What do you think I’ve been doing all week?” Ignacio asked with a chuckle.
“Actually, now that you ask, I’ve not seen you very much.”
“You’ve been rather distracted and pre-occupied I suspect.”
“I’ve not seen Filipa very much either, come to think of it. Aha, she’s the lucky one, isn’t she?” Jeffrey asked, already knowing the answer when he saw Ignacio’s dark skin turn a little darker, a little redder. “Good for you.”
“I see that yourself and Akoni seem to be making progress,” Ignacio said.
Jeffrey wanted to ignore the attempt to change the subject but decided there’d be other times for teasing. “Are we? I’m not certain. I suppose he does talk more. I’m not quite sure what it is that changed.”
“Possibly the fact that he nearly killed you.”
“There is that, I guess.”
“You don’t make it very easy for him either, you know.”
“Life isn’t easy. He’ll get over it.” Jeffrey shrugged and leaned back in his chair.
Ties of Destiny (Curse of the Crown Book 1) Page 20