A Prince's Harem

Pain

How could someone as great as her ever be proud of someone like you?

The hot tears welling in his eyes started to flood his cheeks more and more, rolling down until they hit the floor with soft noises of water on polished marble.

You'll never get to know your mother, you don't know what would make her proud, you cannot claim that she'd ever love you.

Their chest began to heave with each inhale just as breathing became more and more difficult with each passing moment.

Your mother died because of you, her death is on your shoulders and it is entirely your fault.

"No..." He choked out through pained sobs.

You killed the Duchess and that is treason, treason is punishable by death, you know that.

Will knew the voices in his head were right. It was his fault that his mother had passed on.

You know that you deserve all that comes to you, you should simply disappear, run to save them all the burden.

A sharp knock on his door forced the mask of perfection to re-grace his face in a manner of seconds, it was second nature to him by this point in his life, "Who is it?" He called, he knew it had not been long enough for Pix to have returned with Scott and he wasn't expecting any guests.

An angry slam of wood to marble made him quickly stand up and spin around to come face to face with Merton, who was seething in red hot rage.

A resounding slap filled the room as Elyas's fist made contact with Will's jawline, not for the first time but it hurt all the same.

Will let out a hiss, tilting his head in shame as the hand returned across his face with a backhand, "Hello to you too, Elyas."

That earned him another slap for disrespect and the venom in his voice.

"How dare you?!" Merton hissed, shoving Will into the harsh wall, "How dare you not consult us on such a matter?!" He screamed, "How dare you agree to marry the prince?!"

Will hung his head in shame, his wings fluttering nervously, drawing Merton's attention to them.

"And your wings are out too! I gave you no permission to do that!" Another punch made contact with the younger boy's jaw, smudging the concealer that covered old bruises and marks.

Applying concealer over bruises had become such a regular part of the half born's routine.

"I did not need your permission," Will did not think before they spoke back to the angry man.

"What did you say to me?" Merton's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, clutching Will's shirt in a tight grip as he gazed threateningly into the younger's eyes.

"My mother, the Duchess, gave all rights to any important decisions in the Fae kingdom to Miss Autumn Aurora, who delegated that blessing to her daughter, the Lady Graecie Caravel, when Miss Aurora is not at Court. The Lady Caravel blessed our engagement, you had no rights to that conversation not that power," Will dared to continue, his wings tensing now as fear coursed through his veins.

"That bastard girl," he punctuated his sentence with a slap, "Has no right-" suddenly he was pulled back and thrown harshly to the ground by a man.

Scott and his guard stood in Will's door, or more accurately Scott was stood there with anger in his eyes and Pix was tackling Merton to the floor.

"Captain Elyas Merton, at the command of His Royal Highness, you are under arrest for the abuse of the Duke of Aquatia and Frostine, the fiancé to His Royal Highness. You will await trial in The Tower," Pix yanked Merton up by the chains that now bound his hands, shoving him out the door.

Scott gently reached a hand out towards Will, who stepped back quickly, fear shooting through his heart, "Leave. Please..."

"Love..."

"Your Royal Highness please... I don't want you to see me like this..."

"Baby, you do not call me that... Please let me stay if only for the knowledge that you will not be left alone?" Scott tried again, reaching his hand out slowly this time.

Will took a sharp breath in, now stepping towards Scott's outstretched arm to wrap himself in, "Not even a day in and I'm already a bother. I am sorry."

"What for? He hurt you, my love, and anyone who hurts those I care about will face my wrath, on that you have my word," Scott promised, running his hand down Will's back, though he was careful to avoid the wings because he had a sneaking suspicion that Merton had hurt those too.

Will leaned into the touch, wincing beneath the feeling of Scott's hand grazed against a forming bruise, "Stay tonight? Please? I do not want to be alone."

"For you I'd give the world, of course I'll stay tonight," Scott promised quietly.

Will's body ached beyond belief, "Can I please sit? Everything is hurting."

Scott ushered Will over to the bed, helping him sit down, "Do I need to send for a doctor?"

"No!" Will replied quickly before taking a deep breath, "No thank you. I do not like my father's doctors very much so I don't see one very often."

"Lucky for you, you are marrying one. I fought in the Battle of Iris and I have all the qualifications of any battlefield doctor. I finished my training two years ago so please, if not the court doctors then please let me help you," Scott's voice was soft as he looked around for a first aid kit.

"I know of the battle of Iris, I had friends there," Will noted absently, shifting a little as Scott sat beside him, "Just... Please be careful, I am in a lot of pain right now."

Scott gave a sympathetic look, "Of course love, if anything hurts too much then just say the word and I'll stop with no more questions alright?"

Will nodded, settling down to let Scott clean and bandage him up properly, but he would not let his fiancé see what was under his gloves.