After washing himself, Alex returned to William and ate breakfast with him. He said nothing about his doubts and steered the conversation toward the murder from the previous evening.
"As soon as possible, I want to speak with my father. There probably won't be any meetings today, so we can focus on our work and on next week's vote."
"If my calculations are correct, we should have at least one more vote than Lord Ballard's faction."
"How many of them are undecided?"
William picked the strawberry off the cream tartlet and pursed his lips. "There are thirteen royal advisors. Excluding me, we need at least six votes. At the moment we have the votes of Lord Kalian, Nikolas, Lord Amato, and Lady von Mett; four votes in total."
"How many does Ballard have?"
"Five. And three are still undecided."
"Lady Lydia Aldeburn is one of them, right?"
"Yes. But after last night she'll vote for us."
"With her on our side, that makes five. Six votes if we count yours. One more than Ballard."
"But it's not enough if Lord Ballard convinces the other two."
"So we have to persuade at least one of them."
William nibbled at the tartlet. "It will be difficult."
"Why?"
"They are both difficult men."
"But we have something to use as leverage, don't we?"
William seemed to hesitate, then sighed.
"The first is the Count of Hassex. His county is known as the granary of Vellara. That makes him more influential than Lord Ballard, but he has an eccentric character and never takes part in court life."
"Ah, so that's the one whose chair is always empty." Alex glanced at the strawberry William had removed. "Are you going to eat that?"
The mage handed it to him, and he popped it into his mouth.
"As I was saying," William continued, "he is an eccentric man and, at the moment, he is hard to reach on short notice. Even if we managed to meet him, I doubt we have anything to offer him in exchange for his vote."
"But he might not vote at all, right? If he stays in his county…"
"He isn't here, but he has sent his eldest son to act in his stead. Probably to get him out of the way."
Alex raised his eyebrows. "But he doesn't attend the meetings, does he? I've never seen him."
"No, he doesn't. He can't, not until his father grants him the seat. But Lord Ballard might manage to get him to vote." William poured tea into his cup. "He could convince him to forge a letter using his father's seal, so that it appears the Count of Hassex is voting for the expulsion of the Xianese mage."
"But that's illegal."
"But it would be hard to prove without the count here to question."
Alex rubbed his forehead and bit into a cocoa biscuit. "So what do we do?"
"We can approach the boy and make sure he does nothing foolish."
"And is that possible?"
"Do you have any other ideas?"
"No." Alex sighed. "Not at the moment." He sipped his milk. "Who's the other one?"
"Lord Kess. He's an old wolf of politics. He never takes sides, but shifts between them whenever it suits him."
"And is there anything we can offer him?"
"I'm afraid not. His county is quite prosperous." William pressed his lips together and lowered his gaze. "I think he secretly has some agreement with Lord Ballard. His neutrality seems more for show than anything else."
"So it's better to focus on the count's son."
"I believe he's our age, but he's a frivolous, shallow man, and he spends his time drinking, feasting, and indulging himself with the servants. And… I've caught him looking at you several times."
Alex raised his eyebrows. "Me?"
"Yes. I don't like that look."
"I could take advantage of it."
William jerked his head up. "No!"
"I'm not going to sleep with him." Alex brushed William's hand and laced their fingers together. "I am yours, remember? But I can be kind and try to bring him to our side."
"Be careful. And don't stay alone with him." He squeezed his hand. "Please. It's not jealousy, he… I don't like the way he looks at you. I don't want anything to happen to you."
Alex caressed his cheek. "I won't put myself in danger; you have my word."
"Thank you."
"We could also send a letter to the Count of Hassex. Maybe we can get an answer in time."
"I'll write to him at once."
"No need. I'll take care of it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah." Alex rose from his chair, leaned toward him, and kissed his forehead. "Let's get dressed and get to work, grumpy raven."
He released his hand and moved toward the wardrobe, even though all he wanted in that moment was to drag him to bed. That constant arousal was not normal—by now he was certain of it.
He dressed, helped William braid his hair, and they left his chambers together, heading for the study.
The corridors were abuzz, with whispered voices exchanging theories about what had happened the previous night. News of the discovery of the corpse must already have spread. Who knew whether his father had found the culprit or any useful clue?
They shut themselves in the study for the entire morning. Alex wrote the letter and had it sent to the Count of Hassex, then worked beside William on the day's duties.
Being close to the mage was becoming more and more unbearable; desire slithered beneath his skin and twisted his stomach. More than once he nearly had an erection, and the only way he could calm himself was to move away from him.
Something was clearly wrong.
In the early afternoon, an attendant brought a message from the chamberlain. The first part announced that in a few evenings a banquet would be held with the entire court gathered. The second part requested William's presence with a certain urgency.
"He wants to speak with you," Alex said, handing the message to William. "But it doesn't say why."
"Do I really have to go?"
"I'm afraid so. It really seems important."
William frowned and stood. "I'll be back shortly, you can keep working."
Alex watched him leave, then sighed and leaned back against the armchair. The chamberlain must have found William's new chambers.
He smiled, then clenched his jaw as a new wave of excitement swelled in his chest.
"Fuck."
Just thinking about the mage made him hard.
"I can't take it anymore."
He locked the door and sat down again. He unbuttoned his trousers and lowered them. He rubbed his hand along his shaft, slowly, the way William would have if he had been there with him.
He closed his eyes and imagined William's fingers on his skin, caressing him, his lips circling a nipple and sucking it. His tongue sliding along the muscles of his chest and collarbone, then slipping gracefully into his mouth.
Alex lifted the hem of his shirt and pinched a nipple between his fingers, his other hand stroking his cock. Would William have used the same pressure? No—he was always much gentler.
"I want to be inside you," he murmured, his breath rough in his throat.
William would tighten around him, warm and soft, and guide his excitement to orgasm. He would push him onto the mattress and sit on top of him. He would look at him in that sharp way that aroused him so much and ride him until he made him cry out his name.
Then they would change position. Alex would press him down onto the desk and take him from behind. They would love each other for so long and so many times that—
He came with a low growl, his seed staining his palm as the excitement receded.
Alex opened his eyes again and looked down; his fingers were streaked with white. He sighed, wiped his hand with a cloth, and pulled up his trousers.
"Someone is drugging me, but who? How?"
Lately, the drug seemed to be everywhere in their lives.
"If it's an aphrodisiac, it doesn't seem to have very strong effects, aside from this constant arousal."
He certainly hadn't lost his sanity, nor had it made him particularly vulnerable.
"I need to do some research."
He scanned the bookshelves, but found nothing about drugs, poisons, or plants in general. He would have to go to the library.
He wrote a message to William to tell him where he was headed, left it on his desk, and went out.
------------------------
William had left the prince's study and was heading downstairs when he met the chamberlain halfway down the corridor.
"Advisor Traver, may I speak with you?"
"Of course. I was just coming to see you."
"Did His Highness mention the reason?"
William raised his eyebrows. "No. Should he have?"
"It concerns your new chambers. I would like to show them to you, so you can tell me whether they are to your liking."
"My new chambers?"
"Yesterday, upon your arrival, His Highness ordered me to move you to accommodations more suited to your rank. Didn't he tell you?"
"I'm afraid not."
But William wasn't surprised. In some way he had expected it, and the idea that the prince had shown him such care filled his chest with a pleasant warmth.
"Would you prefer to postpone?" the chamberlain asked.
"No, now is fine. Lead the way."
He followed him through the palace to the wing closest to the royal apartments—the same one where the highest-ranking nobles and some of the advisors resided.
"Are you sure this is the right way?"
The chamberlain smiled. "His Highness requested quarters befitting your rank, and you are a royal advisor."
He stopped in front of double doors with gold inlay and painted ornamentation and pushed them open. They entered.
The chamber was at least three times larger than his old room, with a private area dedicated to rest and a study separated by sliding panels. At the far end there was a door that must lead to a proper bathroom.
"What do you think, Advisor?"
"It's more than adequate, chamberlain."
"Do you have any particular requests for the furnishings?"
William hesitated and shifted his gaze from the wide, empty bookshelves to the man's face.
"If possible, I would like it to reflect the style of the Empire."
The chamberlain raised his eyebrows. "Are you certain?"
"Yes. I know what they think of me, but Xia is my home just as much as Vellara is, and I would like to carry them both in my heart."
"It can be done, do not worry. And in the end, these are your chambers—they must reflect your taste."
"Thank you."
"Any other requests?"
"I would like to have many bookcases. As many as you can fit. I have… many books. At the moment I'm stacking them on the floor, but dust isn't good for paper."
The chamberlain smiled. "Would you prefer a canopy bed?"
"Yes, that would be perfect. And I would like to have a corner where I can place my plants. Near one of the window, if possible."
"Your current room are definitely too small for you." The chamberlain laughed. "If you agree, I'll begin having the chambers prepared. Then I will move your belongings as soon as it is ready."
They left the chamber and parted ways. William headed back toward the study in good spirits. The mere idea of having more bookcases to fill made him happy.
He was almost back at the prince's study when someone grabbed his wrist and made him turn.
"Nikolas?"
Nikolas pulled him and kissed him.