After dinner, Alex followed his parents into one of the palace's many sitting rooms.
He was tense, afraid the conversation wouldn't go well and would end in an argument with his father.
Once inside, he sat down in one of the armchairs. The king and the queen took their seats across from him.
For a while, all three remained silent.
"Alex?" his mother murmured at last. "I'm starting to worry."
"It's nothing serious. It's just important to me."
He took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts, then looked his parents in the eyes.
"I've decided to take my duties as prince seriously."
His father raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes. I'm sorry for being so oppositional and superficial, but maybe I needed a push to accept my role. And time to reflect."
"You will be a good ruler, Alex."
"I'll try. And I hope I can count on your guidance, Father."
The king gave a small smile. "I'll guide you to the best of my abilities."
His mother smiled as well. "What made you change your mind, dear?"
"Many things, especially what happened in Narea. I realized that I can't afford to pretend I'm not the Crown Prince, and that maybe until now I was just afraid."
"I would have preferred you to understand it in a less traumatic way."
Alex would have preferred that too, but that was how things had turned out.
His father stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You need allies. Your position isn't very solid, but we can work on it."
"I'm sorry. My behavior didn't help."
"No, it didn't. But you're young and you've always lived a comfortable life. I ascended the throne during turbolent times and… I was crowned the day after burying my father. It's not something I would wish on my son."
"I don't want to bury you, Father."
By the spirits, they didn't always get along, but he would never wish death upon him.
"I know." The king squeezed his shoulder gently. "Starting tomorrow, you'll begin assisting me in governing the kingdom. I expect you to work hard, Alex."
"I will."
"And I may have to send you to handle situations far from here. But I know you'll come out victorious."
Alex offered a faint smile he didn't truly feel. That crown still weighed heavily on his head, but he no longer wanted to run away. He owed it to William, and to the future he dreamed of for them.
And then, if he became stronger, he could love him in the light of day without fearing anyone might hurt him.
"Alex," his mother called him back. "In a few days there will be a small banquet to celebrate your return to the palace. We could announce to the court that you've accepted your duties. Do you agree?"
"Of course, Mom. I'll prepare a speech for the occasion."
She smiled at him. "It doesn't have to be too formal. After all, you were already the Crown Prince before. Try to enjoy yourself—you deserve it after everything that's happened lately."
Alex stood and took his leave. Now he only had to gather the courage to give William the gift he had bought in Narea and to confess his feelings to him. The banquet seemed like the perfect opportunity.
He headed toward William's chamber. He avoided the guards and the guests and, after making sure he wasn't seen, slipped inside.
The room was empty; the mage must have been delayed somewhere. Knowing him, he was probably still in the library.
Alex lit a couple of candles and sat on the floor in front of the low table to wait for him. He wasn't quite sure what to do, but the idea of seeing him, of being alone together again, made his heart race.
The door opened, and the mage froze on the threshold. Alex smiled.
"You took your time."
William closed the door again and walked over to him. "I was reading. It's quiet in the library."
"One of your erotic novels?"
"A medical manual." He sat down in front of him. "To what do I owe your visit?"
"Didn't you want to sleep beside me?"
The mage's cheeks turned red. "Maybe."
"You don't sound very convinced. Perhaps I should leave."
Alex pretended to stand up, and William grabbed him by the wrist.
"Stay. Please. I was just teasing."
"Me too," the prince laughed.
He sat down beside William; their shoulders brushed, and the warmth of the mage's skin seemed to burn him despite the layers of fabric between them.
"Will, I… I told my father that I'll take my duties seriously. In a few days he'll announce to the court that I'll officially be his successor."
"So I suppose from now on you'll have to actually attend the meetings of the Council. You won't be able to skip them anymore with silly excuses."
"Yeah. And I really don't feel like it."
William rested his hand over his. "Sometimes you're truly childish. But maybe that's why His Majesty chose me."
"I don't want to make you do twice the work. It's just that I can't stand staying in one room for too many hours in a row." Alex intertwined his fingers with his. "But if you're there, I think I can tolerate it."
"Then let's do this: you attend the meetings, and afterward I'll come riding with you."
"Are you trying to make me fall in love with you?"
"As if there were any need for it."
Alex laughed, and the silence dragged on for a few more moments.
"What do you want to do, Will?"
"Sleep. I think."
For some reason, the mage seemed uneasy. He hadn't been during the journey—perhaps it was the presence of the court, and the danger of being discovered, that kept him on edge.
Maybe Alex could help him relax. Show him that nothing had changed between them.
"Do you want to play a game?"
William frowned. "What kind of game?"
"You have three choices. First, you read me an erotic passage from one of your books. Second, you touch me the way you did last time. Third, I touch you."
"And if I don't want to?"
Alex reached out to touch William's hand. "Are you afraid?"
The mage lowered his gaze and hesitated for a few moments.
"I'm afraid I'll have more nightmares and that I'll make you push me away."
Alex brushed his cheek and nudged him to meet his gaze.
"I'm not leaving you, my lovely raven. I'm yours now, so you can try all you want." He brushed his ear with his lips. "Besides, this afternoon you touched my leg, didn't you? I think you can try being a little bolder."
"And if it goes badly?"
"If it goes badly, I'll hold you until you feel better."
William frowned and stood up. "Then I choose the reading. Sit wherever you like."
Alex smirked, took off his boots, and stretched out on the bed. He watched him take a book from the shelf and flip through the pages.
"You have beautiful fingers, Will."
"Thank you."
"They make me want to bite them."
William shot him a stern look, and a pleasant warmth flared low in Alex's belly. Teasing him and being looked at like that excited him more than any erotic game anyone had ever proposed at the brothel.
More than the doe-eyed looks of his many lovers.
The mage sat down on the bed, a short distance from him, and cleared his throat.
"The duke thrust violently, his breath trembling in his lungs. The slave wrapped him in a warm, damp embrace, his tongue caressing him with a delicacy he had never known. He wanted more."
He glanced sideways at Alex, and the prince stiffened, his belly burning with heat. Fuck, he was getting hard. Was it his voice, or the way he was looking at him?
He didn't know. All he felt was his heart pounding fast in his chest.
"The fire of passion burned deep inside him, and the duke came in his mouth with a low growl. It wasn't enough—he wanted more. He grabbed him by the hair and pushed him onto the bed."
The prince covered his mouth with a hand. William's voice was a caress on his skin, stirring him more than when he had actually touched him. If they made love, would the mage let himself be dominated, or would he resist?
"The duke spread his legs and entered him. The slave moaned and tightened around the duke's sex. It was hot, pleasurable, and the way he looked at him struck hidden chords deep within his soul. He moved inside him, kissed him with a dark hunger he hadn't believed he possessed, and tore moans and whispered names from him."
William's voice wavered, and Alex gave him a searching look. Was he getting aroused too? Did he feel uncomfortable?
The mage's cheeks were flushed, a strange light shining in his eyes. Maybe… he was enjoying it.
"The duke thrust faster and faster into the slave. His breath burned in his chest, his hands gripping the the light-eyed man's body. He didn't love him, but he desired him. And he wanted to be consumed by him. The slave came with a grunt, but the duke kept going. He penetrated him again and again—"
"Will," Alex interrupted, his voice hoarse from the arousal he was holding back. "If you keep going, I'll lose control."
William lifted his gaze to him and closed the book.
"You seemed to enjoy it."
"More than you can imagine." The prince draped an arm over his eyes. "And I wasn't the only one."
"No." With a soft rustle, William sat down beside him. "Your Highness, you—"
"Don't say it. If you say it, it'll only make it worse."
"Are you sure you're all right?"
"No." Alex rubbed his face. "Fuck, no. I'm really turned on, and your voice is so… erotic."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Yes. But I forbid you from reading things like that to other men."
William's lips curved into a sharp smile. "Are you jealous, Your Highness?"
"Do you enjoy challenging me?"
"Very much. It makes you… erotic."
The mage leaned toward him, and all Alex wanted was to kiss him. But he knew that if he did, he wouldn't be able to pull himself back together.
"I need time. To calm down. If you touch me, I'll lose control."
"Maybe that's what I want."
"Will, please. I don't want you to do something you don't want."
William lowered his gaze to his crotch, and a strange light gleamed in his poison-green eyes. Desire? Hunger?
"Your Highness, I'd like to try your third proposal." He looked Alex in the eyes. "I want you to touch me."