Alex drew his sword and stepped into the alley. "Get your hands off him! That's an order!"
Five men turned toward him in unison, their faces tense with surprise.
"Who the fuck is that?" snapped a skinny boy who looked like Dornwald the bookseller. That had to be his son, Jonah.
"Someone looking for trouble," said a man with a burn scar across his face. He cracked his knuckles. "Careful, friend. You're hurting my boys here."
The prince ignored him and let his gaze slide to William, held by the arms. He was dressed, thank the spirits—maybe Alex had arrived in time after all. Then he looked back at the bastards, and anger burned through his veins.
"You're assaulting a servant of the Crown. Let him go."
"A servant?" The scarred one snickered. "Who, William? And he serves the Crown by sucking cocks?"
Alex clenched his jaw. "Get your hands off him. This is your only warning."
"You really don't want to do that. I've got powerful friends in the city who wouldn't like it if they knew a stranger threatened me. Right, Jonah?"
The skinny one nodded. "My father is influential. He knows the duchess personally and can have you arrested with a snap of his fingers."
"They say he's even friends with the prince himself."
Alex tightened his grip on the hilt, and for a moment blind fury replaced the calm he should have kept.
"I am Prince Alexander!" He pulled back his hood. "And William is my Court Mage. Let him go, or I'll cut you down where you stand!"
Scar spat on the ground. "Suck my cock, asshole."
Alex ground his teeth. He'd tried to resolve this peacefully, but they hadn't believed him. But in the end, they'd laid hands on his mage—they deserved no mercy.
"You brought this on yourselves."
Scar lunged at him with a short sword, and Alex parried the blow. The bastard was bigger and stronger, but still a novice. The prince stepped back a couple of paces, lured him in, and disarmed him.
He leveled his sword at Scar's throat. "On your knees."
"Who the fuck do you think you are?"
"I am your prince. On your knees!"
Scar twisted his mouth into a grin. "A prince without an escort, risking himself to save a Xianese whore? You expect me to swallow that?"
A magic circle traced itself across the cobblestones of the alley, and a silvery glow lit the gloom.
"Bow," William said quietly.
As if crushed by an invisible weight, the bastards collapsed to the ground, hands and foreheads pressed to the alley stones. Their muscles strained as they tried to rise; curses spilled from their lips, but the spell held them pinned to the ground.
William stepped forward, his eyes glowing vivid green. "You really are idiots. You don't recognize your future sovereign even when he stands before you. And you dare to stain his name with your crimes."
He bent over Scar, yanked something from his pocket, and joined Alex.
"Your Highness, I beg your pardon for causing you concern."
"That was a shit plan."
"I'm deeply sorry."
Alex sighed; relief bloomed in his chest, washing away every other emotion.
"We'll talk about it later."
"Your Highness!" Sven entered the alley, followed by the other soldiers and the captain of the city guard. His gaze flicked to William, then to the bastards pinned by the spell. "Are they the ones?"
"Yes." Alex sheathed his sword. "And the two at the entrance. Arrest all of them for attempted rape." He stepped aside to let the soldiers pass, then he turned to William. "Are you all right, Will?"
"I am, now." William put on the jade pendant and grimaced at the sight of the popped buttons on his robe. "It's best my mother doesn't see this."
"Are you sure you—"
The mage sighed and met his gaze. "Later. Not now."
Caedos fluttered above William's head and nibbled at his ear.
"Foolish child, they could have hurt you."
"But they didn't. And we arrested them." William smiled at Alex. "Lenz will be grateful."
The prince hoped so, but right then all that mattered was that he was safe again in his arms.
"Your Highness." The captain of the guard bowed. "Thank you for your support."
Alex shook his head. "I did my duty. I'll leave the rest to you—I hope they rot in a cell until the day they die."
"I'll make sure of it."
"Sven, take care of the rest. William and I are returning to the palace. We still have something to settle."
He wrapped the mage's shoulders in a cloak, and together they left the alley, heading for the carriage.
Once they were alone, Alex pulled him into his arms as tightly as he could.
"I was afraid of losing you. I thought I wouldn't make it in time. I'm sorry, Will—I never should have agreed."
"We did what we had to."
"It shouldn't have gone this way. And I'm sorry—it's all my fault."
William slipped his arms around his waist. "I'm sorry. You were so worried…"
Had he felt it? Had he also sensed how much he'd wanted to kill them all?
Alex pulled back and looked at him. "Are you all right?"
"I am. I was scared, but now I feel safe again."
"If you need anything, you just have to ask."
"Can we stay like this until we reach the palace?"
"Of course, my lovely raven. Holding you is my favorite pastime."
"I thought it was making love to me."
Alex laughed, and the rest of the journey to the duchess's palace passed in silence. When the carriage stopped at the entrance, they stepped down.
The doors opened and the bookseller Dornwald hurried out, a leather case in hand, followed by Flori.
"I'm sorry, but I can't wait any longer," the man was saying. "I understand His Highness is busy, but I have other appointments scheduled for the day."
He turned toward Alex, stopped, and frowned. "You! Tell His Highness that if he's interested in books, he can arrange another meeting."
"We can talk about it now instead," Alex said. He pulled off his right glove—the one that covered the mutilation—and showed him his hand. "I am Prince Alexander. We need to have a serious discussion, merchant."
Dornwald went pale and prostrated himself. "Your Highness, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't know—"
"Your son has just been arrested. For rape. And he ought to be grateful I didn't charge him with treason for pointing a weapon at me."
"He's just a foolish boy—"
"Just a boy," Alex cut in. "He raped two people and today tried to do the same to a trusted man of mine. Tell me, Dornwald, do you consider those mere pranks?"
"Of course not, Your Highness, but Jonah… he…" The merchant licked his lips nervously. "He promised me it wasn't him. That it was the others who… did those things."
"But he was there."
"He's just an idiot, Your Highness." Dornwald lifted his gaze to him; in his eyes there was only deep despair. "He lets himself be dragged along by that fellow, that Brann or whatever his name is. I begged my son to stay away from him, but he wouldn't listen."
"So you protected him."
"What else should I have done? He's my only son. I couldn't report him. I told him to leave the city, but he took my money and ran away from home." He lowered his head, tears sliding down his cheeks. "What else could I have done?"
"Did you threaten the families of the victims?"
"No! I didn't even know who they were, I swear. Jonah doesn't tell me anything, not since his mother died."
Alex hesitated and cast a brief glance toward William. The mage was staring at the merchant with a furrowed brow, as if trying to understand whether he was sincere.
The problem was that he was. Dornwald was just a foolish father who had closed his eyes more than he should have, perhaps out of fear of being hated by his only son.
But Alex could not forgive him.
"Jonah will be tried along with his companions; the magistrate will determine the sentence. Your license to trade in books will be revoked. I strongly advise you to leave Lenz." Alex turned to Flori. "Make sure my order is carried out."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
"Wait," the merchant murmured. "I brought the book you were examining yesterday."
"I'm no longer interested."
"I give it to you. As compensation for the offense my son has caused to Your Highness." Dornwald prostrated himself. "I know it will never be enough, but I'm sure you'll know someone who will appreciate it."
He held out the case; Alex took it and handed it to William. Then, without another glance at the merchant, the prince entered the palace.
Flori approached him. "Did it go well?"
"It could have gone better. It could have been much worse."
His cousin shot a brief look at William. "Is he all right?"
"I think so." Alex stopped and ran his fingers through his hair. "I need to rest and I don't want to be disturbed by anyone. Take care of everything."
"Certainly. Do you want me to have you called for lunch?"
"No. If I'm hungry, I'll manage."
"And William?"
"He needs rest as well. Don't disturb him."
Alex set off again toward his rooms, with the mage following a few steps behind. When they reached the corridor overlooking the chambers, the prince ordered him to follow and led him into his own rooms.
He closed the door and pointed to the table. "You can put the book there."
William obeyed. "Do you want me to stay here?"
"Yes. I want you to sleep here with me."
"I don't think that's wise."
"I don't care." Alex took off his boots and cloak, then removed his jacket and sword and ldropped onto the mattress. "I need to sleep and I want you beside me. Please."
He needed his warmth and the sense of peace that washed over him every time he held him in his arms.
He closed his eyes, and after a few minutes the mattress dipped under the weight of another body.
When Alex opened his eyes again, William was lying on his side in front of him. He had taken off his cloak and robe; the jade pendant hung from his neck, abandoned on the sheets. One cheek was red and slightly swollen.
"They hit you," Alex murmured, brushing his cheekbone.
"It will pass."
"I should have arrived sooner."
William stroked the hand missing a finger. "Stop dwelling on it. You're starting to sound like me."
Alex gave a bitter smile and laced his fingers with his. "It was supposed to be a vacation, and instead we got ourselves into trouble."
"We saved people, and your influence has grown."
Alex sighed. "I know it's selfish, but I need to have you. Now. Please."
He pulled William into his arms and rested his forehead against his chest. The mage's heart was beating softly through the fabric of his shirt.
"Are you asking me, Your Highness?"
"I would never force you. If you don't want to, that's fine too. If you need to keep your distance from me, I'll sleep on the sofa."
"I want to make love to you." William caressed his side; his hand trembled, like his voice. "I need your touch, but this time don't you dare punish me."