23

"You really think you're fucking king dick around here!"

Ianto spun to face whoever was snarling and found empty air. He stood in his room with mild confusion as his heart slowly returned to normal.

Now that was weird.

He was still contemplating it when a knock at his door startled him out of his musings. And I gotta tell ya… it takes a lot to startle him. He moved to the door and opened it, surprised to find Isabella standing in the corridor with a look of concern.

"Come on in" he said automatically shooing in one of Jack's lesser wives. Terrible way to put it isn't it. A Lesser Wife. Ianto did not like that at all and felt it wrong that only the first wife has status. Hmmm. The one now gone. Ianto wondered how that goes.

He called for refreshments and as they sat imbibing in uncomfortable silence. It became apparent she had a bugbear and was chewing on how to raise it so he gave her the space to do so while eating one of his own pastries.

"There are whispers" she finally said, relieving him as they could now move forward.

"Ah… can you repeat any my love?"

"Someone… ah… there are whispers that you are a changeling." She was uncomfortable even repeating it and he felt sorry for her, reaching out to pat her hand softly as she continued "She said you are imbibing the prince. Even as you give him life… you are taking it away. That you will sit on the throne and he will be your whipping pet. That you will be the one in power."

"She" Ianto repeated, sitting back "How curious. Why would she have investment in tearing me down?"

Isabella took a sip of sweet tea and sighed "Himself…Captain Hart… he shunned her. They had a massive argument when she discovered another in his bed. One of the page boys."

Ianto choked on his tea, then could not help the giggles as his clamped a hand over his mouth. After a amount, she joined him and they both had a moment of levity.

She was more comfortable now and continued "She has reset her sights on Young Prince Gray. She thinks… she thinks that is she can produce an heir to him then…"

"Yes but for that to work there cannot be Alice and… oh." Ianto felt the colour draining from his face as he stared at her and her slow blink as she caught his thought had her slamming her cup down with horror.

"No. It … no. Sh could not be that… no. Oh no." she rose and then after a moment, she sat again. "Do you think…. The attack on Alice and the death of Lucia… I mean… she cannot be that forward thinking to…"

"Jack scorned her right? Long before I came to the picture. Who knows how far back her machinations stated" Ianto snarled, rising from his own chair now as her anger grew "Isabella my love… I think I need to speak to our husband."

.

.

"Wait… what?"

"Someone poisoned you. You almost died and I came to save you, piping that attempt. Then Lucia is killed and Alice taken. That was put in motion before I arrived and before it was clear that I was Bonded to Jack in every way. Again… I am the one to pip that at the post, correct? Someone is playing a long game and that game does not have you sitting on the throne at the end of it. I am fucking all that up for them!" Ianto was angry and did not care to meter his words as Jack's parents stood listening as well, the King's face furrowing as he knew Ianto was making a valid point here.

"Cariad… someone has designs on the throne and when you said no to the prospect of a bonding that would give them a crown, they turned their attention to others. Gray has said no clearly… seems not to care. She tied John who laughed at her … now she is renewing her efforts with gray."

"Wait… who are we talking about" Jack spun to face him with confusion "And Gray? Is he in danger?"

"Jack. She tried to become a wife of yours and you scorned her, then you got so sick you almost died. During that time, unseen by the rest of us, she was trying to wed Gray. His concern for you meant he did not understand her advances… a woman of her age trying to gain favour with a teenager… now she sees he is not interested. She reassigned her gaze to John Hart who simply found it too amusing. She is reassessing. She is again in Gray's court, in the background… his man… his man who would be his Hand if he were to sit on the throne… he is her new lover. Jack… Lucia's death and Alice's abduction… then at some point likely murder… would have sealed it. Gray is next in line. Then she kills one of us, killing both of us… takes out the competition and wins the game. She is now trying once more to undermine you while whispering in Gray's ear. Now that you are well, she has his attention finally and sees the way forward. Gray is not in danger… we still are" Ianto stopped pacing and swung to look at him, seeing his father's face. "Sire…"

"No. No. It all makes sense. We could not work out what happened to Jack… so virile, so healthy and strong…. Were it not for you…."

"Jack would be dead, Alice and Lucia dead… Gray ascending on your demise… maybe that is in the works too." Ianto agreed.

The King glared at his feet for a moment, and then nodded "Agreed. Henrique…. Go fetch Lady Gwyneth for me, would you?"