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“What are you saying?” The young man sniffled, patting elegantly under his eyes with a silk handkerchief, his carefully curled hair framing his sad expression. But the prince didn’t give the other man’s misery a moment of thought or care.

            “I thought I was perfectly clear, Lord Aderic. I no longer want you as my lover, you bore me.”

            “You heartless oaf!” The blond cried in despair before letting out another sob and fleeing the room. The prince watched him go with mild annoyance. It was always the same. They were pretty to look at and seemed alluring enough until they slept with him. Then they would fast become boring. It wasn’t that Prince Garin didn’t like sex, in fact he thought it was a wondrous thing, but there needed to be more. He didn’t want his lover to be a snivelling, agreeable fool. If Lord Aderic hadn’t broken down and cried like an emotional woman then maybe he wouldn’t have been so cruel, but it just made him angry when people were so weak. What was the point in having an emotionally weak lover? They just made relationships hard work.

            “My prince?” A middle-aged but still rather striking woman strode into the room, her simple but elegant robes stating her status as a personal servant. She gave the prince a rather disappointed look, moving to lay out some clothes for him on the bed. “That one didn’t last very long.”

            Garin flopped down onto the bed, ignoring the fact he crushed half the clothes she had just placed there. “He was a complete bore. He cried, can you believe it?”

            “Yes, my prince can be a cruel man when he wants.” She commented absently pulling a shirt out from under his hard-muscled body.

            “Well I wouldn’t be if I found someone who didn’t irritate me to no end. Besides my friends like me.”

            “Your friends cannot give you heirs.” She said tersely before tossing the clothes on top of him, a suitable enough hint for him to change.

            “Neither can my lovers.” He retorted with a grin.

            “I would not be joking about such things if I were you, my prince. I can tell you without a doubt that marriage and producing heirs is exactly what your father wishes to speak to you about.”

            He groaned, “I suppose he has picked out another fair lady for me to breed with? When will he understand that it doesn’t matter how pretty the woman is, I still won’t be able to get it up for them.”

            “Ah, you are crude, my prince. But unfortunately you are also an only child to a father that can’t have anymore children.”

            “Yes, yes, Hally. I’ve heard it all before, remember.” The prince said as he gave his coat a pull to straighten it before heading to the door.

            “Just getting you in the right frame of mind to hear your father’s arguments.”

            “How thoughtful you are.”

            When he reached the meeting room he walked in, not bothering to announce himself. He found his father in what appeared to be deep discussion with his most trusted advisor. They stopped talking the instant the prince entered, so he knew they had been talking about him. He sat down next to his father and opposite the councillor, just thankful that the king had learnt by now not to have any of the other councillors present.

            “So who is she this time father?”

            “Straight to the point as usual, my son.” The king said with a shake of his head. He then motioned for Tren to speak. The councillor cleared his throat before speaking as Garin leaned his elbow on the table with a sigh.

            “As you skipped many of your history and geography lessons and you refuse to learn anything of politics or trade I will explain the situation first. You see the race known as the faeries were actually the result of humans and elves breeding. But at first all the children where only male but it was discovered these ‘males’ actually had some additional internal organs, which made it possible for them to conceive. The faeries then separated from humans and elves and established their own kingdom. They eventually started producing female and true male children but these conceiving males still make up a quarter of their population.”

            “So what are you saying? You’re going to make me marry some stupid breeding male faery?” Garin questioned arrogantly, having the horrible feeling that his father would actually force him to marry this time.

            “Enough Garin.” The king commanded tersely. “I have arranged the best marriage possible for you because despite what you think I do want you to be happy, but the kingdom must come first. And I tell you this now, do not be rude to your fiancé because this is not his choice either and this is the best offer you will ever get.”

            Garin sighed. “Very well father. I’ll agree to this, for the kingdom. So who is he? Some poor noble’s ninth son that needs the gifts I’m sure you’re going to throw at him for trading off his son?”

            “No. His name is Kirash Fairwind, and he is the youngest child of the faery queen. He is well educated and is said to be the most beautiful faery in the kingdom. He will make a very good companion for a king, which is why the queen agreed to the marriage not from any giving of gifts on my part.”

            “As long as he’s attractive and stays out of my way.”

            “You wished to see me, father?”

Marc Silverwing, the king of the faeries turned at the polite inquiry to see his youngest son standing just inside the room, looking as beautiful as always. Marc actually had to think a moment to remember what he had wanted to tell his son.

            “That colour looks nice on you.” He commented a little absently, hoping his son would think he was admiring the clothing, and hating himself for the fact that he wasn’t. Kirash smiled and looked down brushing some imaginary dirt off the pale silvery blue fabric.

            “Thankyou. Durien picked it out for me while he was in Lorien, he said it matches my eyes.”

            “Hmm, it does.” He then moved to sit on the couch, motioning for Kirash to sit next to him. “Did he bring you back anything else?” Once the young faery sat Marc cursed himself even as he ran his fingers through some of the softly curled lavender and dark violet hair, still a little awed by how velvety and soft it always felt.

            “Some jewellery.” Kirash wrinkled his nose cutely. “He’s a wonderful brother but he really has no taste when it comes to fashion, I think the tunic was a fluke. He did get me a book on elven myths though, and it’s beautifully illustrated.”

            “I suppose that is something then.”

            “Is there something you wanted to tell me?” Kirash questioned as the silence and his father’s close study of him started to make him feel nervous. He didn’t know why but lately he just didn’t feel as comfortable around his father as he used to. And it didn’t help that his mother had started being unusually cold to him either.

            “I have some good news for you, my beautiful son.” Marc stated in a tone that suggested it was not good news at all, causing Kirash to fiddle with the long sleeves of his tunic nervously. 

            “What is it, father?”

            “You are to be married.”

            “Married? So soon?”

            “He is a good match for you. You will be very well provided for.”

            “Who is he?” The young faery questioned praying it wasn’t one of the fat old lords after a trophy husband.

            “Prince Garin of Negal.”

            Kirash opened his mouth to speak but closed it again when he couldn’t find any words. So he was to be a breeding trophy for an arrogant brat prince? I would have preferred a fat lord, he thought morosely as he felt tears building despite his efforts to stop them. At least then he would have had a chance at being loved by his husband but he knew from all he had heard of the human prince that he would never be loved by the future king. He would be forced to produce heirs, probably straight after the wedding and when he’d popped enough babies he would most likely be cast aside. This was not good new at all.

            “But father surely Isharn would be a better match, his is four years my senior and old enough to conceive safely.”

            “Ash, you know he doesn’t have the knowledge or charms to survive life as a king’s companion. You are far better suited and do not worry, you won’t be expected to have children straight away.”

            “But… but I’m not even eighteen yet. How can you send me away like this? I have never even left the kingdom before and you expect me to go and live in the human capital? It’s not fair…” He trailed off as his throat choked up and the tears started to spill. Right now he didn’t care if he was acting childish or spoilt, he didn’t want to go. He knew that if he went he would never be happy. He would never have the happy life he had always dreamed of.

            “Oh Ash. Angel, please don’t cry.” Marc pulled his miserable son into his arms, holding him tightly and running his fingers through that beautiful hair. He felt terribly guilty because deep down he knew the real reason why his little son was being sent away. And it was all his fault. If only Reanna hadn’t caught the looks he had given their son, if only he could banish the sinful thoughts but he couldn’t, instead he had to banish his poor innocent son. Guilty of nothing but being his beautiful, kind and loving self.