A Prince's Harem

Partners

"If we may have the happy couple and their mother figures to the dancefloor for mother son dance of the evening!" Maria called from her place near the edge of the dancefloor, drawing the attention of the crowd, "Her Majesty, Queen Aurelia and His Royal Highness, Prince Scott! The Captain Marnie Gatlin of The Domina Luscinia and His Royal Highness, Prince Consort Will, the Duke of Aquatia and Frostine!"

Will moved away from his conversation with Scott to bow to Marnie, who was stood along the outside of the newly cleared dancefloor, "Oh Captain, my Captain, may I have this dance?" He greeted her with a large smile across his face.

Marnie curtsied, Marnie very rarely curtsied, she was always more akin to bowing or saluting but for Will she would do anything to make his life simpler at this turning point in his life, "My Prince, you may."

Will took Marnie's hand and led her to the centre of the floor, standing beside the Queen and Crowned Prince as they waited to begin.

The music began to play as Will started to lead Marnie through the dance, "Thank you, by the way, for standing in for Mother, it means the world to me."

"Of course my dear, she'd have loved to have danced with you given the chance and the empty seat beside me with her name on it during the ceremony was a nice touch, very sweet," Marnie whispered in return, slowly moving with Will.

"If I couldn't have my mother there physically then I wanted a place for her spirit to feel welcomed at the biggest day of my life," Will replied quietly.

Next to the chatting duo, Scott was leading his mother, "It was nice of Princess Maria to officiate for us, she was very excited when we asked."

"You leave on your honeymoon tour tomorrow. You will be visiting Aquatia and Frostine first if I have been told the correct information by your household," Aurelia spoke as if her son hadn't spoken to her at all.

"Yes, it is time that they meet their duke as he is," Scott nodded, "Then we travel through to Naturalis, Fauna and Morital before returning back to our palace to set up our Court."

"And I hear that Princes Tango and Impulse is joining you as you are utterly determined to marry them?" Aurelia eyed her heir with a warning gaze.

"It is actually Will's request that they come so that the three can get better at working together alongside Lady Katherine and Lady Shelby," Scott gave his rehearsed answer, the only way thay Impulse and Tango could join them was under the guise of teamwork despite the relationship between the three birth princes and the consort, romantic and platonic.

"I see that your lover has been spending a lot of time with the Tek girl," Aurelia's tone implied something that Scott did not appreciate, "Suspicious if you ask me."

"My husband has befriended the Princess Regent due to my budding romance with Prince Tango," Scott replied defensively, "Princess Calida has been a great ally and she is the next Queen of the Nether."

"Of course," Aurelia stopped as the music did, "Your father and I are retiring for the evening. Goodnight."

Scott bowed low, "As Your Majesty wishes," he replied, watching his mother and father exit the ballroom without another word.

Maria made her way over to Scott, "Are you alright? Did she say something she shouldn't have?"

"Just Mother being Mother, you know how it is," Scott shrugged, watching Will laugh with Marnie, "I'm glad Marnie has had such a positive impact on Will."

"Captain Gatlin truly is an amazing woman," Maria agreed, "Now, are you ready to dance with your husband for the first time?"

"I believe that I am."

Maria nodded, calling out to the crowd,"Your Royal Highnesses, if I may," she gestured to the empty dancefloor, "Your first ever dance as a married couple."

The applause that filled the room covered up the sharp breath in Will took as the fabric on his arms rubbed the wrong way over his burns, he had been neglecting caring for them properly and they had started stinging again.

The two married men slowly approached each other, each holding out a hand until they raised their hands and interlocked their fingers, moving their feet in time with the new music.

"I've been waiting all day to get to dance with you," Scott smiled, taking a hold of his husband's waist, "I love you so much Will."

Will moved his head slightly to give Scott a quick peck on the cheek, "I love you too Scott, so much."

Beside them, Katherine and Graecie fell into step as the music continued to play, just as they had rehearsed.

"You know, I'm excited to get to hang out with you as husbands and boyfriends first and princes second," Scott spun Will around on his heel as Acho and Impulse joined the dancefloor beside them.

Will positively beamed, he had never been more excited to do nothing remotely productive before.

"Imagine that sweetheart. Imagine lying on the biggest bed in the palace with me playing with your hair while you lay in my lap. Impulse and Tango would be chattering about who knows what while we share champagne and strawberries between each other, would you enjoy that?" Scott's voice was soft and loving.

Will blushed gently as he watched Owen and Michela begin to dance together followed closely by Tango and Calida, "I'd love to, I'm so excited."

As more and more people began to dance with the happy couple, Scott could see the small shifts in Will's demeanour, almost like he was hiding something, "Dear, you look like you are hurt. Is everything alright?"

Will inhaled sharply, "Not in public. Please do not make me speak of it in a public place."

"Then tonight?" Scott compromised gently, "We leave in an hour for Aquatia with Impy and Tang, will you speak to us then?"

"That I will do," Will promised, bowing his head as the music ended, "I'm going to go outside for a bit with Tango, see you soon."

Scott kissed Will gently, "Of course my love, have fun."

Will approached Tango, gesturing towards the garden slightly.

Tango gave a subtle nod and picked up his youngest sister, "Want to come out to the garden to see Will, Phoenix?'

Phoenix nodded excitedly, "Yes please Tango!" She settled into his arms, nuzzling slightly as they sat with Will, "Hello Will!"

"Hello Princess, you look quite tired," Will commented in a soft voice, offering the Princess a small, polite smile.

"May I please nap, Your Royal Highness?" Phoenix tilted her head a little.

"Of course you can Phoenix, and to you I am simply Will. Would you like to nap here or in Calida's room?" Will offered.

"With Lida!" Phoenix giggled in excitement, hopping off her brother to hug Will before returning inside to find her eldest sister.

"You are very good with kids," Tango commented, lacing his hand into his platonic partner's hand.

"Tango, you are a blaze hybrid so is it a fair assumption that you know a bit about burns right?" Will changed the subject.

"I do..." Tango commented cautiously, "I don't like what that implies though flame"

"Just... In the carriage tonight... Scott asked earlier what was hurting me and... I promised that I would..."

Tango nodded in understanding, "If you choose to show us then I will help you, that I promise."