A Royal Craving (21 page)

N
ow that the decision had been made and the news given, Prosper brought the meeting to a close. There was much to do and not a lot of time, before the treaty. “Thank you all for coming and listening. I will let you return to your evening,” Prosper excused them.

Sienna stormed off, while the servants gradually left the room, muttering to each other.

Eamon hovered by his King's chair. “Master, if I may speak with you about the banquet for the treaty signing,” he requested.

Prosper nodded and gave Spencer's hips a gentle tap. “Of course.” He nodded, as Spencer slid off his lap.

He chose the empty seat beside Davian and smiled at the couple, holding hands and looking happy.

“I am happy that you have revealed your relationship. I could not bear for you to be unhappy on Sienna's account,” Spencer professed, the words bursting forth before he could consider them.

Davian placed a hand on his arm. “You must be careful around her, Spencer. She is much smarter than she appears and quite vindictive,” he warned, as though he had not sensed that already.

As he knew Davian was only being polite, he smiled. “I am not afraid of her. I have fate on my side.” Spencer promised that he had not come to challenge the Mistress of the manor.

“And what does that mean, little brother?” Parry asked, relaxing into his seat and wrapping an arm around Davian's shoulders.

The young servant shuffled in his seat, to lean his head on Parry's shoulder.

“The prophetess told me to beware the Golden girl,” Spencer revealed, realising he had not broached this subject with Parry before. He believed he would have much interest in magic. “Even if she had not the most golden hair I have ever seen, Sienna was the apple of her father's eye, was she not? The child who could do no wrong?” he asked, to check with the one who would know best.

Parry nodded. “Indeed.”

“Then she is who the prophetess spoke of,” he confessed, not sure the signs could be any clearer.

“And you trust this witch to guide you well in life? I did not think you naïve,” Parry scolded.

But Davian held a look that said he understood the gravity of what the prophetess had told him and believed in it.

“The foolishness of vampires,” Spencer teased the couple. “Parry, if there is one thing you must learn from humans, it is to respect the darker arts and heed them. There are many witches and false proclaimers in the world, but the prophetess is not one of them,” he warned.

Davian nodded, in a firm agreement.

Parry stared at his life mate. “You know this?” he asked, as though ready to trust whatever Davian said as the solemn truth.

“Do you see this scar?” Spencer asked, holding out his left hand as he tried not to take Parry's disapproval to heart. He rather approved of the way he sought the truth from Davian; it spoke volumes of the trust between them.

The Prince leaned in to examine the cross on his palm.

“The prophetess gave it to me,” he told him. “She cradled my hand and pierced this fingertip with a pin. She did not touch this part of my hand. Yet, when I left her shop, this mark carved itself into my hand,” he explained, cupping Parry's hand around his own, to demonstrate.

“It cannot be,” he muttered, frowning.

“It is. I felt the pain as clearly as though injured before my own eyes. It bled profusely and has never healed,” Spencer confessed, then added the one fact that would shock Parry into belief. “That happened five years ago,” he said, watching the Prince closely.

“It is not possible.” He rubbed his jaw.

“Yet it is true. You can see the mark for yourself.”

“How does this woman's magic work?” Parry asked, cupping his hand and drawing it closer, to examine the wound again.

“I do not know.” Spencer shrugged. “She told me that I could ask one question and hold one hope in my heart, for the reading. She would retain knowledge of my future, as part of her payment,” he explained.

“It must have been valuable indeed, as the prophetess will not see ordinary humans. Especially not children,” Davian commented, looking as interested as Parry, though he contained his wonderment.

“That is true. I have often asked myself why she granted me a reading, when I had no payment,” Spencer agreed. “I believe she was intrigued, at first, by what she saw in my eyes. And when she knew that my destiny would bring me to Prosper, she wanted to know my future as greatly as I did. In fact, she did her best to guide me to the future I longed for,” he admitted, still curious as to her motives.

“And you say she mentioned my sister?” Parry wondered, lifting his gaze to look him in the eye.

“She said '
A golden girl will seek to harm you, if you do not have your wits about you
'.” He recounted it word for word, as he would never forget that eventful afternoon. “As my mind is linked with Prosper's and I have proven that I will not cower at Sienna's feet, I believe that I have enough wits to outsmart her.” He mentioned it as a statement of fact, not to gloat about his own achievements.

Spencer did not believe himself smart enough to outwit a vampire, but he trusted Prosper. As their minds were one, he knew that Sienna could never hurt him.

“Or at least enough power to challenge her own,” Davian agreed.

“Yes.”

Before he could say more, his King lay a hand on his shoulder and kissed the back of his head.

Spencer looked up at Prosper, adoring that happy, hungry look. “Is everything all right?” he asked, as a hand travelled down the front of his shoulder and over his chest.

“Perfect. But there is one issue,” Prosper said, leaning to his left, obscuring his view of Parry and Davian. He let his lips linger just two inches away, as they curved into a seductive smile. “Someone must pay greatly for being away from my side all day,” he whispered.

Spencer's face flushed. He knew what those bedroom eyes said. He had not been in bed during Prosper's sleeping hours and had returned upset, after refusing his King's offer to travel with him to see his parents.

Perhaps if Prosper had gone, it might not have ended so badly, but Spencer finally knew the truth.

Prosper caught his chin and smiled wickedly. “Shall we retire to our room for tonight? I have a wish to adore you and trail delicate kisses over your skin, until you find it difficult to breathe,” he confessed, placing a light kiss on his lips before straightening and holding his hand out.

Spencer took it gladly. He nodded to Parry and Davian, as he left the room. T
he household could see to itself, while they disappeared to spend the night wrapped up in each other.

T
he rest of the night passed quieter than some of the others of late.

Parry retreated to his rooms with Davian, to dig out his books on 'Braddock the Bastard'.

Spencer expressed hope that he also spent some time appreciating the freedom of having an open, honest relationship.

As Prosper did not know what his brother may get up to behind closed doors, he did not posit a guess.

Sienna remained in a mood, over her treatment during the dinner party. She acted the diva, locked herself in her suite and decided she would not leave until people started paying her more respect.

Thankfully, after a main meal, Prosper got to relax. He sat on the sofa in the sitting room, listening to the loud Jazz music and contemplating the difficulties of family life. Even as a vampire, he could not seem to make sense of his sister and her actions. She had lived long enough to know better.

Spencer and Parry danced, laughing as they talked. Parry, being the better dancer and more sociable of the family, taught Spencer the traditional dances.

It pleased Prosper to see them happy, getting along as he had hoped they would. It proved just as heart-warming to see Davian in the background, trying to copy their moves as he danced with Jael.

They would all be family soon, but needed no ceremony to create a connection between them.

The music pounded through his right foot, pressed to the floor, while the other rested on his knee. Relaxed and comfortable, Prosper could not take his eyes off Spencer. He had been worried his companion would feel apart from the celebrations for the treaty signing, because he could not join in the festivities.

Prosper had spent a long time with his twin, acting out the ceremony and putting some of the servants in their way, while Spencer learned the meals and snacks Eamon would prepare for the banquet. They had even practised all sorts of standing options, to find the most appropriate place for his human lover to catch every movement and word of the treaty signing.

Now he could see that it had not only worked, but Spencer could enjoy the party too. With the music up loud and in his bare feet, he should be able to feel the beats through the floor.

Prosper loved seeing him happy.

The persistent ringing of the phone ruined the pleasure of the moment. Prosper knew he must answer it. There were any number of reasons it may be important or even vital to the treaty, but he wished that it would not interrupt such a beautiful sight.

“Hello?” he asked, as he lifted the Candlestick receiver to his ear and the mouthpiece in front of his lips.

“I am sorry to report, Master, but there is some trouble in one of your cities. May you attend Keaton tomorrow afternoon, to settle the matter?” the young man on the phone asked.

Prosper vaguely recognised the voice as one of his cousins protégé's. Young by age, but one he could count on to properly stress the seriousness of a matter. If requesting his immediate assistance, it must be urgent indeed. “Yes, Kalel, I will be with you before tomorrow evening.” He sighed into the phone and waited for Kalel to say goodbye, before hanging up.

He hated doing it, but he must go.

By the time he turned to flash a smile at Spencer, in hopes of catching his attention, he found that Spencer and Parry were barely moving, already aware that something had happened.

Prosper signalled to Reagan, who hovered uncomfortably inside the door. The coachman had not accepted his offer of leaving to return home, as he thought it would be inconvenient for the King. As a single man, he had taken up the offer of Davian's old quarters and insisted on accompanying Prosper wherever he ventured, to be of service.

Prosper had thought it far too diligent of the man. Until now, when it came in useful. “Can you have the carriage readied, please? We must travel to Keaton tonight,” he explained.

His replacement coachman nodded and rushed for the door, as politely as he could, without making a scene. The moment Reagan left, Davian cut the music and his lover ventured over, looking uneasy.

“Prosper?” Spencer asked, with a sadness he could not disguise.

Prosper got to his feet and greeted him with a light kiss. “I am sorry, little one. I have been called away on business,” he explained, cupping his expressive face. He looked disappointed.

“You promised I could join you,” he recalled.

Prosper sighed at the mischievous look his brother gave him and tried his hardest to ignore him. Parry understood that it was not in his nature to make promises that he did not intend to keep, but in this Prosper must put his foot down.

“I did. But you are needed here,” Prosper admitted, hating that it must be so. “Elenor is still weak and Doctor Appleby is in his seventies. If there were an emergency with the children or their mother, you will be their best hope.” He reminded him of that important matter. It had been a difficult labour for Elenor and she may yet face complications or need medical attention for the twins.

Spencer sighed and nodded. He did not argue those facts, as he knew, as Prosper did, that they were his own worries spoken aloud for the first time.

“I will be gone a few days at the most,” Prosper promised.

Spencer could not argue. He took a deep breath and nodded his resignation to being left behind.

Prosper would miss having his companion within touching distance. “Stay with him?” he asked Parry.

His brother nodded, mindful that it would be hard for them to be apart. He may be the only one who would understand.

“When do you leave?” Parry asked, while Spencer could not see his question.

Prosper held his human tighter, brushing his hand over his hair. “Immediately,” he admitted.

Parry nodded, and he realised how difficult it would be to let Spencer go, now he was in his arms.

When Prosper looked up at his twin, about to ask how he could possibly leave Spencer behind, Parry took pity on him.

His brother tapped Spencer's arm and, when he looked up, smiled. “I hear Eamon made chocolate cake and ice cream for the servants. You have not eaten much this night,
again.
I suggest we take advantage? You can describe how it tastes to me,” he suggested.

The dessert was a treat only vampires could afford. Prosper knew that, considering his parents and the lack of reasons for celebration, Spencer would never have had it.

Spencer looked up at Prosper knowingly.

“I must leave immediately. I will return as soon as I can,” Prosper vowed, leaning in to press his lips against Spencer's. “Parry will look after you. If you need anything, he will know how to get in touch with me,” he reassured.

Spencer watched the brothers share a look, then Prosper gripped Parry's shoulder and moved away, to leave the room.

Spencer wanted to cry, but would not.

He would be strong. Prosper deserved that. He had been loyal, faithful and perfect. It was time he did the same for his King.

Spencer took Parry's offered arm and ventured towards the door.

Parry stalled and offered his free arm to Davian, who accepted his hand instead. Then the Prince led them to the dining room, where the food Spencer had learned to create lay out for their enjoyment.

They sat at the table and talked about small, silly things that did not risk a mention of Prosper. Yet his mind could never be far from his King.

Prosper's hand shook, in response to those thoughts, as his mind instinctively linked with his companion's.

This would be a test neither wished to take; would their bond stretch the distance, if Spencer needed him? Neither had been able to control it, yet. It took time. He only hoped that, if there were any reason his human needed him, he would sense it.

Prosper gathered his documents, seal, and a few items he would need, then boarded the carriage that would take him to Keaton and far from the man he loved.