We squared off in the alley, weapons drawn, dancing on the balls of our feet. I was itching for a fight, and I suspected the prince wanted one too.
“So, this is your new man?” the prince asked, eyes flashing. “Talk about a downgrade. I shouldn’t be so surprised to find you slumming it here in… oh wait, I forgot, this worthless town doesn’t even have a name.”
“This is my boss, Hierophant Wolfsbane,” Skylar said with stiff formality, stepping between us. “Trust me, Hiero, he isnotworth the trouble.”
“There doesn’t have to be any trouble if you come back with me to Emrallt Valley,” Cedrych said. A quick glance at Skylar told me he was considering it. Keeping one eye on the prince, I reached out and pulled Skylar behind me. Over my dead body was Skylar going anywhere with this prick.
“He’s all bluster,” I told Skylar. “I know his type. Men like him like to puff themselves up like roosters because they’re cowards on the inside.”
“Who are you calling a coward, halfling?” The prince made a half-hearted jab with his sword. If he were any other mongrel off the street, I’d beat his ass black and blue, but this was a royal. Kicking his ass would have repercussions for me and my kin, so instead of taking a swing, I let out a long, loud whistle. Within a minute I was flanked on either side by a dozen of my shifter clan and a few wild wolves as well.
“Oh, so this is how you’re going to play it?” Cedrych asked, standing up straighter.
“You’re on my turf now, fae. You came to my no-name town and started some shit with one of my people. Now put away your sword and go on back to where you came from. Leave Skylar alone,forever.”
“Do you know who I am?” the prince asked haughtily.
“Prince of Pain in My Ass?”
“Skylar, are you going to let him speak to me this way?” the prince demanded.
A flash of hesitation crossed Skylar’s face before he squared his shoulders and said, “Leave, Cedrych. Go back to your mother and your fiancé and your posh life in the palace. To your tea parties and fancy court dinners. I don’t love you anymore, and I doubt you ever truly loved me either.”
Cedrych blew out his cheeks like a tantruming child and sheathed his sword. The scrape of metal reminded me tounclench my jaw. Then he strolled right up to me and pointed his finger in my face. “This isn’t over, Minotaur.”
“I welcome the opportunity to break your royal nose, Your Highness,” I said with sincerity and gave a courtly bow for good measure.
“Your apartment is waiting for you, should you choose to come home,” he said to Skylar.
“I won’t,” Skylar replied coolly, and I was proud of him for refusing the prince’s empty promises.
The prince turned and stomped off into the night, cloak rippling behind him. I didn’t know how he’d arrived here, but I turned to Frankie and Frito. “Follow the fae prince to the edge of town and make sure he doesn’t cause any more trouble.” They nodded, stripped out of their clothing before shifting to make haste in their pursuit. The crowd dispersed and I embraced Skylar who was clearly upset but trying very hard to maintain his composure.
“I’m so sorry, Hiero. I have no idea how he found me,” he said, blinking up at me with wet, sparkling eyes.
“Word gets around. Hopefully he won’t be coming back,” I said as I rubbed his back.
“I’m afraid he will, though. Cedrych hates backing down from a fight. And he won’t be alone next time. He’ll bring his guards with him.”
“I’ve got backup,” I reminded him, wondering just how good the fae prince was at swordplay. The fight wouldn’t be fair, for there was only so much damage I couldinflict on a royal without placing my neck in the hangman’s noose. The encounter also begged the question as to what Skylar had seen in that shallow, pompous brat in the first place. A meal ticket, maybe.
“You know what the worst thing is?” Skylar said bitterly. “I don’t think he ever wantedme.He just liked the way I made him feel. Even now, he doesn’t miss me, he just misses having me around. You know what I mean?”
“I do know what you mean,” I said because I’d been similarly used by past lovers. They didn’t seeme.They saw a big dick and a set of horns and only wanted to give the freak minotaur a ride before moving on. “How did the two of you meet?”
Guilt flashed in his eyes, and I suspected he was thinking about lying to me.
“Tell Daddy the truth,” I said, touching his chin while invoking our tenuous bond.
He sighed with misery and said, “Monica and I were working at Templeton Square when he and his retinue passed through. I didn’t realize he was royalty, just saw that he had a fat coin purse hanging off his hip.”
“You pickpocketed him?” I asked, grinning at his fearlessness.
“I was relieving him of a small portion of his wealth, yes,” Skylar said primly.
“And then what?”
“He caught me red-handed and gave me the choice. Go before the Guild or…” Skylar hesitated. “Join him for dinner.”
