the Crown of Edom {Solangelo Prince AU}

12. That Is Love, Isn't It?

Nico didn't have nightmares next to Will. He had had them almost every night since his first exorcism. It was so frequent, in fact, he didn't even know what real, peaceful nights felt like before Will.

Nico rolled over in bed, staring at Will's sleeping face. It had felt like they had been with each other their entire life—as if Nico had woken up to him a million times before.

Nico had found it harder and harder to pay attention to the lessons. His eyes always wondered elsewhere on Will's body.

"The festival is tomorrow," Will would sigh. "Could you wait until then to objectify me?"

"I'm focused on more interesting things other than greetings and being graceful," Nico sauntered over to Will. "You said it yourself. We're running on borrowed time. Besides, I am your prince after all."

"And as prince," Will raises an eyebrow, grabbing a full glass of water that Nico had been forced to walk back and forth with without spilling (that he had spilled many times), "you need to work on your duties."

Nico blew a raspberry. "We both have used the prince card. How does this work?"

Will smirked and grabbed his teaching book, handing both the book and the water to Nico to hold. "Read the greetings and how to act polite out loud. Do not spill a drop of water."

Nico raised an eyebrow. "and what are you going to do?"

Will sat down on his knees, unbuckling Nico's pants. "I will test you," he pulls down Nico's underwear, "if you pass, we spend an hour doing more of what you want. If you fail, we add another hour to the lesson."

Surprisingly, Nico was starting to learn quicker.

The past two days had been sneaking around corners, pulling each other in, and trying not to to allude to anything at supper, when the rest of the guests sat and stared.

"There is definitely something going on with you," Percy investigates. "What is it?"

"I do not know what you are talking about," Nico would say, brushing his leg up against Will's under the table.

"You keep smiling," Leo notices. "You hardly ever smile unless you're being disobedient."

    "I'm engaged, is that not a reason to be happy?"

   "Not when you're getting married to an old dud," Reyna mumbles.

    Will tries to hold back a laugh at that.

As they ride into the festival, alone in the carriage, Will slides his hand onto Nico's thigh. "Do not worry. You have studied enough."

"My mind is blanking. I can only remember the sex," Nico nervously says.

Will chuckles. "What is so intimidating about the people?"

"They hate me."

"I thought you said you were never able to go to festivals or meet any of them?"

Nico shrugs. "I haven't. But they protested outside of the castle after the raid of the bar. Father said it was because I had a demon inside of me. They did not want a demon in any power."

"Your father has been wrong about many things," Will reassures him. "The people will see you are not a demon simply because you like men."

Nico shudders. "Well, you said it. They believe I'm a sorry excuse for a prince."

"I made that up," Will snorts. "Because you are infuriating. Frequently."

"What every man likes to hear," Nico hits Will in the shoulder weakly. "You'll be there next to me, right?"