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“I told you,” Henry said. “I won’t be good for you, little prince.”
“Don’t call me that,” Lorien snapped. “Don’t…”
He was being suffused with a deep sense of shame that did not allow him to explain himself. Even if he could have, the beast wasn’t interested in explanations. Henry had already decided that he was not worthy without knowing why. He had been judged and found wanting. Typical.
Lorien turned around and went up the stairs as fast as he could, disappearing in a flash to Henry’s still too human gaze.
12
Will woke up in Maddox’s arms, feeling calmer and happier than he had in a long time. He must have been fucked and cuddled to sleep. He’d certainly been cuddled awake.
“Hey,” he said, his voice slightly groggy with morning slowness. “It feels late.”
“Hello, boy,” Maddox purred. “I thought it best to let you sleep. You seemed to need it.”
“It has been a series of long and exhausting days,” Will agreed. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For letting me sleep.”
Maddox looked down at him with warm dark eyes, his fingers playing with Will’s hair. “I will always do my best to take care of your needs, boy. You are precious to me. Deeply so. More than I can say. Everything I have tried to do has been in the service of…”
Maddox’s words were lost in Will’s kiss.
“I know,” Will said when the kiss was broken after long moments. “I love you too.”
“Good,” Maddox smiled. “I think we might be reaching a calmer point. We have dealt with Ivan, and you seem to be much more settled. I think I will let Henry go after all. It is time we reduced our numbers. Perhaps took some time out from the city.”
“Yes, yes, that sounds amazing,” Will said. “You know I’ve never seen California?”
“I was thinking of showing you somewhere else entirely.”
“You mean, like, Idaho? Or Wyoming?”
“France. Or perhaps Spain.”
“Oh, real foreign countries!” Will lit up. “Really? I don’t think I’m allowed to leave the country.”
“I have a private plane. Passports are unnecessary.”
“Yes!” Will beamed. “Let’s do it!”
Maddox was in such a good mood he decided to pardon Henry. Kings could make decisions like that if they pleased. Fortunately, Henry was not too far away. Everybody seemed to perpetually cluster in the kitchen. This morning it was just Henry, but that’s all that mattered.
“I was in a bad mood last night. I may have been too hostile and hasty in my decisions. I’ve since decided that you’re free to leave,” Maddox said. “Go in peace. And ideally, stay clear of my city.”
He expected Henry to be grateful, or at least to dash promptly out the door. Neither one of those things happened.
“I can’t go,” Henry said.
“Why not?”
“Lorien is missing.”
“Why would Lorien be missing?”
“We, erm… there was a moment where…”
