A low moan of appreciation for the hot water escaped as the smaller man turned to sit on Seath’s lap. “Mate,” he said. “Lover.” He nestled his head against Seath’s chest, sighing again as the Alpha’s muscular arms encircled him. “Donovan,” he whispered.
Seath used his big hands to tilt up Donovan’s face to his. He had never seen anything as gorgeous as this man. Never. If he studied it, he could see the noble slope of the nose. The fine features of fine breeding. Even more beautiful than the man he had fallen for now that the last bit of glamour over him was gone.
But Donovan hadn’t come to him fine-boned and delicate like china. Donovan had come to him strong. The strongest wolf Seath knew.
Now that strong wolf curled in the water on his lap, the water lapping at him and almost moving his body in its effort, because he had gone so pliant in Seath’s arms.
“Does this mean it doesn’t matter? Who I am?”
Seath kissed Donovan’s head. “No, mate. I loved you anyway. Fated mate, or not, , doesn’t matter. It was always just you. It may matter in other ways, but not this one.”
They stayed there, in the warm water, holding each other, until Lycan’s breathing evened out and the draught took hold.
Seath couldn’t just portal into his den at the Pack House with the portal dust. Too many wards to allow that. So, he called on Caine, and wrapped up Donovan in the soft muslin sheets kept by the hot spring.
Caine whisked them straight to their den—his vamp speed close to portal dust, and waited as Seath tucked an already asleep Donovan into his nest. Caine could feel Seath’s thoughts racing and knew his friend would need a moment to sort his mind before he could sleep.
Caine had helped himself to the brandy Seath kept in the kitchen and took a long drink when Seath came into the room. Caine silently regarded Seath over the glass.
“Mated a prince, after all, did you?” Was all he said.
Seath laughed. Despite everything, the fear, the uncertainty, the utter insanity of merely being in the Seelie Court at all—here was Caine making him laugh.
He rubbed his face. “It does make certain things make sense, I suppose.”
Caine nodded. He had posed the theory of nobility, with his detective skills at play. Somehow, Caine made the smugness of not reminding Seath how right he was even more telling than if he had.
“Can’t say even I saw that coming. Prince Donovan impersonated by the Unseelie Prince. To what end, do you think? And what of Donovan? Has he said anything about what happened?”
“He’s too tired for that now. He needs rest. When he is ready, I’ll let you and Luke know. As for the politics of the Fae?” Seath shook his head, “I would hate to guess. Something is afoot, but we all knew that. Unless Donovan knows something to share . . .”
Caine smiled. It was a rare one. Not designed to flash his fangs, but a warm one for his friend.
“I knew joining this pack would be entertaining.” The vampire’s cold hand gave Seath a quick squeeze on the shoulder. “Go to your mate. I’ll be ready when you call.”
And that’s exactly what Seath did, curling tight against Donovan, who sighed the breath of a deep sleep long overdue and snuggled right back into Seath. Seath ran his nose along the mating mark on Donovan’s neck, unable to be so close and not scent his mate.
There was a part of him that wanted to claim Donovan all over again. To make him smell of him like he had that first night. Full of his release and sated, and . ...
Seath’s body calmed him. That wasn’t what Donovan needed right now. It might be what he needed soon, though, and Seath would deliver.
Explanations came in the morning with Min’s pastries. Donovan was not comfortable keeping things from his mate, or his Pack Alpha and the Legate. Or his friends. Too long he had been cloaked in secrecy, and he wanted no more of it.
It was comforting when he woke up to feel like the same person as he had before he knew who he truly was. Seath had given him some time to himself that morning, perhaps feeling Donovan’s need to sort his thoughts. But, he had wanted to wear the same things and have the same morning routine. In a way, nothing had changed except for knowing his own life’s story.
He wasn’t treated any differently either. He had guessed that might happen. His own memories were now full of times he had been treated differently due to his royal status.
But last night, as bone weary as he was after the Seelie Court and all that transpired, Seath had given him a great gift. Not just the moonlight, the care and tender attention.
Those things made his stomach fill with butterflies and his heart soar.
But the greatest gift Seath had given him was of it all not mattering.
Maybe it would matter now—once the unknown of Donovan’s past became something real. But as Seath’s gentle eyes followed him across the room there was a softness there.
He settled next to Seath on the couch of Seath’s study. It was easily Seath’s favorite place in the Pack House, and Donovan’s as well. Seath’s scent and essence filled the space, giving a sense of comfort. Not only that, but seeing Luke and Caine in their usual spots made this seem less like a big reveal and more of just Pack business being sorted.
Donovan smiled as Van and Trav came in, too. His friends, not just Seath’s and Seath gave his hand a small squeeze.
