“It’s almost noon,” Mattias said, a smile playing round the corners of his mouth.
“Is it? Are you sure?” Leo looked genuinely surprised, and Felix found himself charmed by this cranky, flustered, just-awake version of his lover.
“Shall we get you something to eat and let you wake up properly?” Felix said soothingly, and Leo gave him a grateful smile.
“I’ll have your valet bring a tray up, but then I really do need to see you in my office. Shall we say an hour?” Mattias asked.
“I suppose.” Leo sighed. “But what’s so important it can’t wait?”
“Oh, nothing. Just a solution to the issue of your succession,” Mattias said.
“You’d better not have a bride in there, because I’m not doing that,” Leo said, the stern effect of his hands on his hips slightly spoiled by his sleep-mussed hair and bare feet.
“Not a bride, no. You’ll see. One hour,” Mattias said, eyes sparkling, and with that he turned and strode out of the room.
* * *
An hour later, Mattias opened the door to his offices and ushered them both inside. Felix had been hesitant about going with Leo, but Leo had said, “I’m not letting you out of my sight, sweetheart,” and then pulled him in for a kiss so passionate that all Felix’s objections had melted away with the heat of it.
Once they were seated Mattias didn’t waste any time, getting straight to the point. “It has become clear that you require an heir and Felix is not equipped to provide you with one.”
Leo’s brow creased. “And? The crown will simply pass to the other branch of the family, and my line will end with me.” He spoke with utter conviction, and for that alone Felix fell a little bit more in love with him.
“But what if it didn’t have to?” Mattias said, a smile playing around his mouth.
“Don’t talk in riddles, Mattias. You know it irritates me.” Leo leaned back in his chair and propped his boots up on Mattias’s desk. Mattias sighed, leaned forward, and shoved his feet off. The look that passed between them told Felix that this was some sort of long-running game.
“Well, if you’ll wait just a moment—” There was a knock on the door and Mattias brightened. He walked over and opened the door, waited, then stuck his head out into the corridor and said, “Come in, we won’t bite.”
A familiar figure stepped into the room, and Felix had to look twice, because he was cleaner than Felix had ever seen him, his thick dark hair combed flat against his head and his cheeks scrubbed pink. Even his boots were clean.
“Your Majesty,” Davin squeaked out, biting his lip and giving a half bow. He was doing his best to mind his manners, and it was clearly taking all his effort. “Mr. Jones said you wanted to see me, Chancellor?”
Mattias patted him on the arm before going and settling himself back in his chair. “Your Majesty, you remember Davin?”
Leo nodded, and there was a long silence while Mattias appeared to be debating something internally before he sighed and said, “There’s no way to say this that won’t have you arguing, so I suppose the easiest thing would be to show you. Davin, I want you to drop your trousers.”
Felix choked on a laugh when Davin’s eyebrows drew together and he said, “Begging your pardon, sir, I’m flattered and all, but do we really need an audience?”
Mattias ran his palms down his cheeks and sucked in a long breath. “Gods, you’re your father’s son, aren’t you?” he muttered.
“Wouldn’t know, sir. I’ve never met him,” Davin said cheerfully, fumbling the laces on his trousers open and yanking them midway down his thighs, smallclothes and all.
“What’s going on, Matty?” Leo demanded. “Why are you stripping my stable boy?”
“Because he’s not your stable boy,” Mattias said, his grin back in place. “He’s yourson.”
“What? I don’t have a son!”
“Don’t you? Davin, lift your shirttails and turn around.” Davin lifted the tails of his shirt, and there, right on his arse cheek, was a small, perfectly formed birthmark—in the shape of a kiss.
Leo’s mouth dropped open at the sight, and Felix would have laughed at his obvious astonishment, if he hadn’t been so busy trying to fit all the puzzle pieces together himself. Leo had ason?
“I have a son?” Leo said faintly.
“Wait, I’m a prince?” Davin gasped, dropping his shirttails.
“You’re King Leopold’s son, yes.”
