The carriage moved swiftly along the road, and silence settled inside like a heavy blanket.
Lenz was two days' travel away, and they would have to stop at an inn halfway there for the night.
Even though William had welcomed the journey with relief, the prince's dark mood worried him. He was used to seeing him cheerful and lighthearted, and now he had no idea how to lift his spirits. After all, he was a gloomy mage, and he doubted that words of comfort could ever come from his sharp tongue.
So he had started reading. At least until the prince had pressed himself close to him.
"Your Highness, do you really have to hug me?"
"I feel better when I do."
"What are you, a child now?"
"Maybe." The prince rubbed his cheek against his. "They all say I'm capricious."
"You certainly seem so right now."
"But am I?"
William hesitated. It was obvious that the prince was still shaken by the argument with the king. Perhaps that was why he was behaving so childishly, to mask it. Had he always done that, since childhood?
The prince pressed his head against his chest, and for a moment William thought he was about to cry.
He had seen him cheerful, angry, mischievous, and worried, but the only time he had ever seen tears in his eyes was during the fight against Reyne. At that moment, the prince had been convinced he had just lost him.
William stroked his hair. "If you want to cry, you can."
"I don't want to. But I'm angry and disappointed—my father has no right to treat me like I'm incapable."
"I don't think he's doing that."
The prince glared at him. "He practically told me to disappear for a few days because otherwise I'd cause trouble."
"Perhaps he has a plan." Even though William couldn't understand it.
"He hates me, I'm telling you." The prince rested his head against his chest again. "You're my mage, so protecting you is my duty."
"I can defend myself just fine, you know."
"But in this case I can help you. Together we're stronger, right? And besides, I was thinking about something…"
William hesitated, then stroked the back of his neck. "About what?"
"Some time ago, I told you that you should marry a royal. Remember?"
An annoying warmth crept up William's cheeks. "Yes. You were angry because two noblewomen had made remarks about me at an afternoon tea."
"I was actually angry because you seemed intent on getting married." He sighed. "I still think so. About marriage, I mean. If you married a royal or a very influential noble, you wouldn't have any more problems."
William looked away, his fingers faltered, then returned to stroking his head. He knew what he was thinking.
"Your Highness, you're about to say something very foolish."
"We could be together. Officially."
"You know we can't. You need a queen."
"No, I need you."
"And you have me, but not as a consort." William smiled at him. "Why are you so worried this morning?"
"My father won't be able to persuade the Council." The prince straightened his back and looked him in the eye. "Ballard wants to drive you away, and my father can't make him change his mind."
"We don't know that yet."
"We shouldn't go to Lenz. We should stay at the palace."
"Your Highness, we can't. The duchess has asked for you."
"My grandmother can wait. She's always been strong-willed."
"But I would like to see my family again."
The prince pressed his lips together, and for a long moment he seemed torn.
"You're right," he murmured. "I'm sorry, I've been selfish."
William hesitated, then caressed his cheek. "What's the matter with you this morning? You seem shaken."
"I'm just afraid of losing you. And I'm starting to regret telling the court that I was ready to accept my duties." He lowered his gaze and, for a moment, looked like a deeply hurt man. "I really wish I had a way out of all this."
"You were born to be a ruler—why would you want to give it up? There are people who would kill for the crown, while you keep rejecting it."
"It's not so simple. I don't want to talk about it."
William would have liked to insist, but he had the feeling it would be useless. It was clearly a sensitive subject for the prince.
Maybe he could comfort him in another way.
"Do you want me to read to you?"
"Yeah. I like the sound of your voice."
William let him lie down on his knees, then picked up the book again and began reading from where he had left off. It wasn't an erotic novel, but a treatise on flowers, and the prince remained absorbed, staring at the ceiling of the carriage.
The mage doubted he was really listening, yet his voice seemed to possess the power to calm the prince.
"Can I come with you to see your family?"
William lowered the book and looked him in the eye. "If you want to. But you can't tell them about us."
"I just want to meet them."
"They might feel uncomfortable."
"I doubt it. I'm good at putting people at ease."
"But you're still the prince."
His Highness smiled, but it didn't seem sincere. There was a shadow on his face, one that had been tormenting him since he woke up—or perhaps had been clouding him from the day before, after the argument with the king.
Maybe that evening William should do something to lift his spirits.
At dusk they stopped in a small town and stayed at one of the few inns there. On William's advice, Sven booked the entire building, so they wouldn't have to deal with people eager to see their prince.
After getting out of the carriage, William left the prince to give orders to his escort and asked the innkeeper to prepare a hot bath and bring dinner to their room.
"Your Highness."
The prince gave him a puzzled look. "Is there a problem?"
"No. I'm just letting you know that tonight we'll eat in the room. I've already had a bath prepared for you."
"But I wanted to have a drink with the others."
"You're tired and in a bad mood. It's better for everyone—especially your guards—if you retire early and get some sleep." He shot him a sharp look. "Wouldn't you agree?"
The prince's muscles tensed, and a strange light flickered in his eyes. William had never noticed it before, but His Highness truly seemed to get excited when he was reprimanded.
He smiled. "I'll go ahead of you, Your Highness. Take your time."
He went up to the room upstairs with the dinner trays, set them down on the desk, then undressed and put on a sheer silk robe.
He sat on the mattress and, for a long and mortifying moment, felt like a complete idiot.
At first it had seemed like a good idea—the prince was a physical type, and maybe that kind of approach would lift his mood—but now William felt nothing but deep embarrassment. It was the first time he had dared this far, and his courage ebbed with every passing second.
Maybe he simply wasn't capable of seducing a man. Not when he was serious, or sober.
He needed alcohol.
He grabbed the bottle of wine and was about to take a deep swallow when the door opened.
The prince raised an eyebrow in surprise, then frowned when he noticed the bottle, and finally his eyes slid downward; a faint smirk curved his lips.
"And here I was, afraid you were angry with me."
He closed the door behind him and slid the bolt into place. Then he took the bottle from William's hand and set it on the tray.
"So, my sulky Court Mage, what do I owe this pleasant surprise to?"
"If you don't like it, I can stop."
"Did you not hear me? I said 'pleasant surprise.' Of course I like it."
William flushed and looked away. "You were sad. I thought I'd… cheer you up."
"It was a kind thought." The prince's voice softened. "I feel lucky to be able to see you like this."
"Naked?"
"No, with your face red with embarrassment."
The prince laughed, but William didn't find it offensive at all. On the contrary, knowing that he appreciated his blush more than his bare skin reassured him. It meant His Highness still saw him as a person, not as a jewel to be owned.
"We should eat first," William said. "I can heat the water again; the food, I can't."
The prince carried the tray to the bed, and they ate, exchanging few words and many glances.
The food was good and flavorful, but William enjoyed them very little; most of his attention was fixed on the prince's face. He searched for signs of sadness but found only a smile. Had his surprise already worked?
They finished dinner, and the prince moved the empty plates back onto the tray.
"Should I undress, or would you rather do it yourself?"
William shot him a glare. "Obviously I want to do it. You don't have to do anything tonight."
"How lucky. I feel pampered like a prince."
"You have a terrible sense of humor."
William unbuttoned the prince's jacket and let it fall onto the chair, then unbuttoned his shirt and slipped it off. The prince's sun-kissed skin immediately drew his gaze and his hands.
He stroked his chest, then his abdomen, and kissed his collarbone. The prince's breathing deepened, a hungry light kindling in his blue eyes.
"I might… not be able to hold back much longer."
"I could punish you, Your Highness."
"That would only make it worse."
William pulled his lips away from his skin and looked at him, annoyed, then unbuttoned his trousers and slid them off. After that, he motioned him to step into the tub.
The prince obeyed, but the moment he put a foot in, he cursed under his breath.
"It's freezing!"
"Sit down anyway. I'll warm it up."
"Can't you warm it before I get in?"
"No. Obey, and don't make a fuss."
The prince gave him an offended look and sat down on the bottom of the tub. William fetched a ribbon, let the robe slip from his shoulders, and climbed in with him.
He sat on his thighs and took one of his hands.
"May I tie you?"
"Are you really asking me that with a ribbon in your hand?"
"Yes. If you don't want to, I won't use it." William narrowed his eyes. "But I remember you telling me you would like it."
The prince smiled and offered his wrists. William tied them with the ribbon and slipped his arms around his neck. Their chests touched; their cocks brushed against each other.
"Will, I'm starting to get cold."
"Just hold on a moment."
He touched the water and wove a small spell. A gentle warmth flowed from his fingers, and soon wisps of steam rose from the surface. The prince let out a moan of pleasure and rested the back of his head against the edge.
"By the spirits, now that feels good!"
"You're cruel to say that while I'm putting in so much effort."
The prince smiled. "You're right. Then I'll wait and see what else you have planned."
William leaned toward him, one hand gripping his shoulder, the other sliding between his buttocks. He forced himself to meet the prince's eyes, despite the embarrassment that was consuming him, and slipped a finger inside.