William's eyes widened as the prince pulled him into an embrace. The faint scent of cologne tickled his nose and made his throat tighten.
By the spirits, why did he want to make love with him even in the middle of work?
The prince smiled at him. "Surprised, Will?"
"Just a little."
William rested a hand on the prince's chest and straightened his back. The hug had been sudden, but he loved how impulsive he was. And above all, he loved being in his arms.
The prince kissed his forehead and rested his cheek against his temple.
"You were very brave earlier. You didn't have to tell my sister what happened, but I'm glad you did."
"It was the right thing to do. And I found out that talking about it scares me less than I thought."
"I'm very happy about that, William."
The prince lifted him by the hips. William flushed and gripped his shoulders.
"Your Highness, put me down!"
"Not a chance. I feel like holding you for a while."
William frowned. "Do you want me to turn you into a toad?"
"Actually, I'd like to make love with you."
"But we did it only a few hours ago in the library!"
"Watching you work made me want you again."
"Your Highness, you're truly insatiable."
"Don't you want to?"
William pressed his lips together and looked away, his cheeks burning.
The prince chuckled and set him down. "Is that a yes?"
"We have to go to dinner, and we can't be late."
"Just something quick to recharge."
"And you need me to do that?"
"Of course I do. Because you're warm, and hugging you always makes me happy."
The prince unbuttoned his robe and let it slip from his shoulders. William parted his lips, but the protest died in his throat. He didn't truly want to stop him.
He wanted him to continue—to be naked in his arms, loved until he fell asleep.
He pressed his lips to the prince's and caressed his tongue. His Highness's breath was warm, his mouth so soft and inviting.
They exchanged long kisses in the silence of the room, then the prince pulled away and brushed his neck with his lips. The candle flames casting dancing shadows across their faces.
"Later?"
"Later." William adjusted his robe and tried to recover some composure. "It really is strange, this… constant urge to make love."
"You think so?"
"Maybe it isn't strange for you, but it is for me."
Could it be another effect of their strange bond?
The prince grew thoughtful.
"Even if it were the Pact's fault, as long as it doesn't harm us, I wouldn't worry."
"We should. Changes in magic always have a cause, yet in this case I wouldn't even know who to talk to."
Perhaps Caedos, but he wouldn't understand: spirits did not feel carnal love or experience sexual desire. And he certainly couldn't ask Gregoris for advice without telling him about his relationship with the prince.
"Maybe there's something in the books," he murmured. "But I doubt it. Our Pact works differently from the King's, and the royal chronicles barely mention previous Pacts."
"What if we asked my father?"
"And how? We can't tell him about us."
The prince shrugged. "I could tell him I feel more excited than usual."
"Your Highness, you can't tell him that. He'll think you're a pervert."
"All right, all right. Then we'll worry about it after dinner."
They left the study and headed to their chambers to change.
William took a quick bath, braided his hair again, and changed into clean clothes. Then he went downstairs.
Dinner was quiet and intimate, and William took the opportunity to sound out a few advisors. The undecided faction seemed interested in the prince; perhaps he could use the situation to his and the prince's advantage.
"Did you truly have rapists arrested?"
William turned, surprised. It was the first time Advisor Lydia Aldeburn had spoken to him; until then, they had only exchanged polite greetings.
"His Highness took the situation very much to heart."
"It must have been frightening for you."
"A little, but I knew His Highness would arrive in time."
Lady Lydia hesitated and cast a quick glance around. "May I hope His Highness will be willing to help again?"
William frowned. "Are you having similar problems in your province?"
"Something like that. It's better if we speak in private."
The advisor motioned for him to follow and led him out onto the balcony, which was deserted. The cold evening air slipped beneath William's clothes and chilled his skin, and he studied the woman at his side.
She was young, around thirty, with a serious, composed expression. William had never seen her raise her voice, but when she spoke, there was something magnetic about her.
"What do you want to discuss with me, Advisor?"
Lady Lydia looked him in the eyes. "I need help, but I'm short on men."
"What kind of problems are you having?"
"Banditry." The advisor leaned against the balustrade. "My march is the northermost in the kingdom and the region most affected by the recent attacks. Merchants have decided to travel farther south, but many of my villages depend on trade as their only source of income."
"And now that less money is flowing, they've turned to theft."
"They are desperate people, but dangerous. The roads are no longer safe, and that drives trade even farther away. I have soldiers patrolling every crossroad, but it isn't enough. If I don't restore the region's economy, there will be chaos."
"Why not bring it to the rest of the Council's attention?"
"I did, during your absence, but Ballard downplayed my problems. He says it's my fault, because I'm incompetent. Because I'm a woman and I shouldn't rule."
William frowned. "And His Majesty allows it?"
"His Majesty was not present. And every time I tried to raise the matter in his presence, Ballard skillfully diverted the conversation." Lady Lydia shook her head. "This problem with the Empire—or with whoever is trying to frame it—is the last thing His Majesty needs at the moment."
"His Highness could deal with it, but—"
"You have my vote," she interrupted. "I only need to know that you will help me."
"We will. You have nothing to fear. I will inform His Highness as soon as possible."
"Thank you, William."
Lady Lydia went back inside. William smiled: it had gone far better than expected. Perhaps this way they could win.
He returned to the hall, approached the prince, and quietly told him what had happened. The prince nodded.
"Excellent work, Will. We'll talk about it tomorrow morning."
They spent the rest of the evening apart, absorbed in conversation with the nobles.
Later, they took their leave together, claiming they wished to rest, and walked side by side along the corridors.
"Will you come to me?" the prince asked.
"If I say no, will you kidnap me?"
"I might. It sounds fun."
"It could be the opening of a good novel."
"The cruel prince kidnaps a beautiful mage to force him break a curse. But the curse won't break until the prince turns good and falls for the mage."
William twisted his mouth. "Boring."
"So how would you write it?"
"Mm, I think I'd make them enemies. The prince kidnaps him because the mage is the son of a rival king and he wants to use him as a hostage. But he's a perverse prince and forces him to be a sexual slave. The mage develops an unhealthy obsession with the prince that leads him to remain by his side even when the kingdom is invaded. And to die with him."
The prince shot him a glare. "You have a naughty imagination, you know that?"
"Why? Don't you like it?"
"Of course not! That's not a love story, it's something obscene."
William stifled a laugh. "You like sweet, wholesome love stories, don't you?"
"Is that so strange?"
"No, I think I'm the strange one."
The prince slipped an arm around his waist and kissed his temple. "With me, you'll always be safe. I will be the sweetest and most respectful prince in all of history."
"I know, and I am grateful to you." William looked him in the eyes. "I… I am not looking for the kind of love I read about in books, Your Highness. Not anymore. I am happy to have you."
"And I'm happy to have you." The prince's smile turned into a smirk. "And I've just had a brilliant idea."
"I hope it's better than the one you had today in the library."
"Not at all."
He grabbed William by the wrist and dragged him through empty corridors steeped in shadows and silence until they reached the Council Hall.
"Why are we here?" William asked.
"You'll see, my dear grumpy raven."
The prince pushed him inside, closed the door behind them, and slid the bolt into place.
Shadows enveloped them; not even a thread of light filtered from beneath the door or the windows covered by heavy drapes. The intimacy was so intense that William had to take a deep breath to calm his racing heart.
"Should I light a candle?"
"That would be better. It's too dark; I can't even see you."
"Could you hand me one?"
"I'd have to find it first."
They moved in the dark, guided by touch. William bumped into the leg of the table, then a chair. He stumbled over something he couldn't identify and ended up against the prince.
"I'm sorry, I—"
The prince pressed his lips to his, and William forgot what he had meant to say. He wrapped his arms around his neck and clung to him, surrendering to the warmth of his mouth and the soft caress of his tongue.
"On second thought," the prince murmured against his lips, "I'm not very interested in light."
He pushed him back onto the table, and they kissed again, more and more hungry for each other's warmth and breath.
William drowned in a tide of caresses and bites and fierce kisses, wrapped in a darkness that seemed to pulse to the rhythm of their breathing.
"Will, are you all right?"
"Yes," he panted. "Why do you ask?"
"You can't see me. I thought it might make you uncomfortable."
"For now, I'm fine."
"Good." The prince caught his lip between his teeth. "I have an idea, but you must trust me."
He rolled him onto his stomach, and warmth bloomed in William's belly.