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Different Types of Cages
"Oi, what was that for?" Rubbing the back of his head Eggsy's mock glared at the amused Serena. "I'm the one whose privacy has been tromped all over, thank you very much. Or Roxy's because of me, which if that's the case, she'll take orrible, orrible revenge on me for getting her into this situation in the first place. I should be getting hugs and there, there's, not smacked upside the head! What's wrong with ya, woman?!"
"And people say women are overly dramatic." Serena rolled her eyes in a manner Harry recognized as the 'my little brother is an idiot' statement. "But seriously, that was the great villain everyone has been talking about? I was expecting a cunning and manipulative bitch like Cersei Lannister. Not a mean girl stereotype with bad taste in men AND clothes. I mean did you see those shoes? With THAT dress."
Eggsy snickered and did some eye rolling of his own.
"Even I knew they didn't go together." Roxy agreed as she shared a girl look with Serena.
"It was an unwise choice." Colin agreed, though he sounded sorry to say it. Good manners were hard for him to set aside.
Naturally Roxy came to her mother's aid by turning the conversation back to the question of Veronica's capacity for evil. "She's out of her comfort zone because she really is just a mean girl in a woman's body. She's spent her whole life trading off her family's money, power, and her looks to make her way through life. And up until now that's worked for her. She's never had to make a real effort to bully people herself, either, because she's always had her lackies and wannabe friends and lovers do all the heavy lifting for her. All she's had to do was make snide comments or start rumors up until now. And now she needs to step up her game and she doesn't know how. Aka this is her trying."
There was no doubt in Percival's voice when he stated she would keep on trying, too.
"Yes. And she'll probably get better at it. Or at least come up with contingencies beforehand, instead of just assuming things will go the way she wants it to like she did today. Girl does not know how to think or plot on her feet." Rachel made a face. "I'm expecting a lot of temper tantrums from her in the future."
"Truth. But seriously, how did she think this was going to work? I mean no one who knows Eggsy and I would believe we were couple, and the person she wanted to hurt most, Harry, knows that we would never." Roxy also mumbled something about being seen as a cheater that made it clear how much it would have burned her arse if anyone had believe her so morally questionable.
"Well now that she's got her crown, so to speak, hopefully she'll lose interest in me soon."
"No, Harry." Colin's gaze was sympathetic, his tone knowing. "Odds are it's only going to get worse."
"Why, Mother?"
"Because this is a classic case of thinking that the grass was greener on the other side, Percival. She spent years coveting Harry's position as consort, seeing the power and luxuries it would give her without seeing the cages. Now she's our consort, and she's doing everything wrong and no doubt our Guild Master is making that quite clear to her. She's nothing more than breeding stock now, mated to a man her sees her that way, and who is not…a loving or kind man."
Colin's eyes met Harry's. "And the man she fought so hard to displace is now mated to a man who treasures and values him as a person, no children or perfection in everything required. A man she herself desired, but was rebuked as not worthy of him numerous times. So Harry has bested her again, to her way of thinking, and since she can't lash out at the Guild Master…I would lay odds that all the fear and anger brewing within her will be aimed at many people, but you especially, Harry."
"Fear?" Roxy repeated, looking skeptical.
"Our Guild Master isn't exactly primed for breeding." Rachel pointed out. "And everything hinges on her ability to give him a heir. She's not so stupid she doesn't know that."
"Apparently he is crap in the sack, no surprise if there's problems there."
"Eggsy!"
"What? The way he goes through lovers makes that clear even if ya hadn't confirmed it."
"And all those lovers just prove my point." Rachel interjected smoothly, the save one both Eggsy and Harry appreciated since Eggsy wouldn't want to argue and Harry didn't really want to discuss his previous sex life either. That would depress and scar the hell out of everyone.
"What point?" Percival asked, though they were all putting two and two together now.
"The point is that odds are Veronica's fucked if the old man is shooting blanks these days." Was Rachel's blunt assessment of the situation. "Because seriously, given the amount of women he's slept with over the years, no offense, Harry, why aren't there a bunch of bastards running around? And it's not like he'd consent to being tested or his virility questioned. Veronica will be blamed."
"She's got a good point." Serena stated in the ensuing silence, everyone else joining Harry in considering the possibility that King would not be getting the heir he wanted. And what that could mean for the future of not just Veronica, but their Guild as well. "Men his age can still have children, yes, but the odds certainly lower the older they get. Especially since stress and his age all but guarantee that he'd have…difficulties with his equipment."
Harry joined everyone else in making 'I didn't need that mental image' face.
"Ya know, I just had a thought."
"Did it hurt?"
Harry was really beginning to enjoy Serena and Eggsy's sibling banter. "You were saying, Eggsy?"
"Well do ya think Veronica is worried already, since she's like the Anne Boleyn in this whole thing? I mean the Guild Master's first wife would be the one that died, right? And then Harry's the one ole Henry divorced, the first wife, so that'd mean Veronica's the off with her head one, eh?"
Love and knowledge of that time in England's history compelled Harry to point out that Catherine of Aragon did manage to produce a child before the divorce. The child had simply been born a girl, rather than the desired male heir.
"Aragorn? Ain't that the guy from 'Lord of the Rings'?"
"There's an R in the latter." Harry gently corrected him. "I'd be more Anne of Cleves in this scenario."
Eggsy scratched his head in confusion. "Ow many Annes did he marry?"
"Two Annes, one Jane, and three Catherines."
"Seriously?"
"It's even weirder when you consider the first Anne and the second Catherine were first cousins." Roxy quipped. "And that family was seriously jinxed, since they were the two who lost their heads by way of an axe."
"Well given the way that horny fat bastard went through the ladies, I guess sticking with birds of the same name made it easier for him ta guess what their name was."
"And it should be noted that that fat, horny bastard only had his male heir for a short time before his daughters took the throne." Serena's smirk made it clear she liked that part of the story. "And that the last three did not give him children at all, most likely because of him." A moment's pause, and then Serena shot them questioning looks. "What will happen if she doesn't get pregnant, your consort? Will he just divorce her too? I mean you know what they say when a man marries his mistress. A job position opens up."
That, everyone silent agreed, was both a good question and point. What would he do?
"Well he won't have her decapitated, anyway." Rachel joked.
"Wouldn't have to. Accidents happen." Was Percival's calm statement of fact.
And Veronica, they all knew, had to be realizing that was a possibility now since King now had her exactly where he wanted her, and didn't have to play nice anymore.
He owned Veronica till death did them part.
)
"Fuck. Who the hell died? What did she do? What's wrong?" Merlin demanded to know from the direction of the front door, everyone turning to see the Scotsman and Colin's husband striding over towards them with looks on their faces that made it clear if someone had fucked with their families, or someone they considered family, heads might really roll. Well that sentiment was there in Merlin's face, while only Edward's eyes made it clear that he was prepared to do battle if he didn't like the explanation given.
"We're feeling sorry and worried for the consort, and it's not sitting well with any of us." Like Colin Rachel walked over to meet her mate to soothe the man in question with their presence. "We're fine, Merlin. Really. Veronica will be avoiding Serena like the plague from now on, I bet."
"You texted me to get my arse here because the twit was starting something with Serena, and I missed it all?" Disappointment in his voice now, Merlin's gaze switched to protective worry as he looked over at Serena and asked the 'Little Lass' if she was all right.
Adoration in her eyes, Serena assured him that she was fine. And could take their consort so easily it would be laughable if she wasn't feeling sorry for the bitch.
"Why, exactly?" Merlin's voice made it clear he couldn't wrap his mind around the idea of Veronica being worth their time.
Expression grim, Rachel explained what they'd been talking about before the two dominants had arrived on the scene. Mainly that they were now considering the possibly that King had a timeline set up for how long Veronica had to become pregnant before he'd decide she was the problem and remove her from the equation. And while Veronica might have the sense to accept that and try to back out gracefully, her family was as power hungry as she was and would kick up all sorts of fuss about any attempt on King's part to divorce her. Not to mention two divorces would not reflect well on King.
A tragic 'accident' would no doubt be a tidier solution to his way of thinking.
"It's times like this I'm so very glad I'm not part of a Guild."
Since everyone's attention was on Serena for the moment, Percival obviously saw his chance to gain Serena's attention and took it. "Father, allow me to introduce you to Ms. Serena Binoche. She owns this shop and is a family friend of Eggsy's. Ms. Binoche, this is my father, Edward Morton."
Eyes brightening, Serena was crossing over to Edward as fast as her heels could take her. "Mr. Morton. I'm so very delighted to meet you."
Shaking the hand she offered him Edward returned the sentiment, though it was obvious he wasn't sure why she was so delighted. Though he found out pretty quick as Serena slid one arm into his, and the other into Colin's. And then led them off in the direction of whatever items she wanted to convince Percival's parents to purchase, talking a mile a minute to override an argument one of them might try to offer.
Leaving Percival behind, staring after Serena like an idiot.
"I do like Serena." Roxy murmured with a grin, elbowing Eggsy lightly in the side.
"She don't date dragons." Eggsy informed Harry under his breath, after elbowing Roxy back.
"I don't think that would stop a Morton."
To prove Harry's point, Percival took off after his parents even though no child, however grown, wanted to be around for discussions about what his mother wore under his clothes or to bed.
Wisely, Roxy went after her brother to no doubt try and talk some sense into him before he reached his target and made a complete idiot of himself. Or she was just going to watch him make a fool out of himself because he was her brother. That was possible too.
Laughing, Rachel murmured something about young love and then announced that she was going to go look at the new stock with Merlin. Harry, Rachel informed him, should go and try on his new pajamas in case alterations needed to be made.
"Serena made him pajamas?" Merlin repeated, eyebrows rising in a mixture of amused bafflement.
"I'll explain." Patting her husband's chest, Rachel grinned at him impish, obviously looking forward to relaying everything that had happened since they'd left the restaurant. And who could blame her?
Waving them off, Harry watched as Rachel hooked her arm through her mate's to steer him off in another direction, leaving Harry alone with Eggsy.
"Helluva day so far, huh?"
"Quite."
Bringing the hand he still held up to his lips, Harry pressed a kiss against the back of Eggsy's hand. "And now I'm going to follow Rachel's suggestion and try on your gifts, though I'm sure Serena's right and they'll fit perfectly. Try not to flirt with poor Anna too much until I get back." He could just see the girl hovering in the background, obviously waiting for a chance to come over again. Though the kiss he'd just given Eggsy's hand had been a shock to her.
"I could help ya try them on." Eggsy suggested, wigging his brows suggestively.
"No. Your surprise was only partially ruined. I can surprise you with how they look later. When we're at home."
Face lit up with delight, Eggsy agreed that that sounded good to him.
"Me too."
)
Later that night Harry stood in front of the bathroom mirror, his hands actually shaking a little as he lifted one up to fiddle with a wavy lock of hair that was being a bit stubborn, refusing to stay where he wanted it. Ridiculous to care so much of course, Harry told himself, especially as he stared at himself in the harsh light and reflective surface of the mirror in front of him. Primping like this was their first night together despite the fact that they'd been sharing a bed for weeks now. Eggsy had seen him with bed head, for Christ sakes. Multiple times. Yet here he was worrying and generally acting like an idiot, not to mention the fact that he'd tried on both outfits multiple times before deciding on the gold one he currently wore. Though maybe he should try…no. No. This was it. This was him.
Taking a deep, steading breath, Harry stared at his reflection and thought about how Eggsy had shown him, over and over again, that he was valued. Wanted. Treasure. And dragons did not call people their treasure lightly.
And though it was so very, very tempting to just let his dragon half take over for the night, as that side of him did so love to do, Harry had decided that unless things were going horribly wrong he was going to remain as human as he could be tonight. He owed that to Eggsy. Owed it to himself, too. His dragon side had remained undamaged and strong throughout the decades he'd spent as Chester's mate, but his human side…well that side was scarred, damaged, and hungry for love and affection too. So very hungry and cautiously hopeful now that he could be valued too. That despite all that was wrong with him Eggsy did see something in him worth desiring. Worth wanting.
He needed to trust. He was ready to try.
Closing his eyes Harry remembered earlier, when they'd gotten back from Serena's shop and had barely been through the door before they'd started kissing, which had led to them leaving his present in the front hallway and all but running up the stairs to get to their bedroom. It had been fast and passionate, both their dragons running them hard thanks to the adrenaline from earlier and their sheer happiness that Harry wasn't in Veronica's shoes anymore. And then they'd had a nap afterwards, snuggled together like a couple of puppies, and that had been heaven in its way too. As had the slightly burnt dinner they'd made together afterwards, and the time they'd spent on the couch, watching some mindless telly.
And now it was time to show Eggsy how much he appreciated this life he now lived by trusting him with his most vulnerable side.
Taking one last deep, calming breath, Harry nodded decisively at the mirror and then turned away and marched over to the door, opening and then closing it behind him after shutting off the light. And then he walked the short distance to their bedroom and opened that door, stepping through it with shoulders back and head held high.
Eggsy was in their bed and under the covers, his back against the headboard and his head down as he read something on his Kindle. He looked up as soon as he sensed Harry's presence though, and the stunned look that took over his mate's face as the device slipped through his fingers made Harry smile at him with real pleasure. Because that look gave him the confidence to keep moving as he crossed the room to Eggsy's side of the bed, standing beside the mattress so that Eggsy could get the full effect, so to speak.
"Fuck yer gorgeous."
He felt gorgeous, Harry realized as Eggsy's heated gaze moved over his body so possessively.
"I love it. Both of them." Harry had to clear his suddenly tight throat to say it, but it had to be said again.
A beaming smile from Eggsy was his reward.
Bolstered by it and the way his mate continued to look at him, Harry turned and then bracing one hand on the bed slid onto it to straddle Eggsy, whose hands came up to rest on Harry's hips in a gentle, reassuring way that had Harry smiling at him as he leaned forward to kiss him.
