Go Ask Alex - 2. Matrimonius Intent

I raised an eyebrow at Kylen, “I’m engaged? I have a fiancée?" Kylen laughed at me “oh ‘engaged’ you sound like Father Tamlin now." He approached me, that dark gleam in his eye reminded me of Chuck, of the good times with Chuck. Kylen ran his hands over my chest and I felt warm tingling through my entire torso, “Your marriage to Drake is good for the kingdom Alex, Red Suits have had a shaky relationship at best over the last few decades." His hands made their way to my legs, barely touching my inner thighs.

My breath came out shaky, “But then…what.."

He grinned again, so sexy when he grinned, "We’re Paired Alex, that goes far beyond any political matrimony." His face was inches from mine now; I could feel his breath on my lips as I fought the urge to hyperventilate. His hands slid up and framed my groin; Kylen smothered my moan in a deep kiss that sent shivers down my spine.

He finally broke the kiss and I couldn’t hold back a whimper wishing he would have never stopped.

“Exactly, our touch is addictive to each other; nothing can be done about a genetic bond." My confusion must have still been obvious on my face. Kylen shook his head, his eyebrows knitting into a crease of concern, “Did you hit your head or something? It’s like you literally don’t know anything!”

I thought back to my sudden fall in the furniture shop and shrugged, “Actually yeah, I honestly think I did hit my head, but I was somewhere…else.” I was at the point of questioning my own sanity, it seemed I was the only one with no idea what was going on and the life I vividly remembered wasn’t fitting with anything I was being told.

Kylen stared at me for a moment, before quickly shaking his head “Anyway, we’ll have to figure this out later, right now you need to get dressed and get this wedding started. He pulled me away from the wall and led me by the hand to a huge closet that was more like a dressing room. There were four racks lined with outlandish and very expensive looking clothes and the back wall was taken up by a rack filled with all manner of jeweled boots and fancy buckled shoes.

My eyes were wide taking in this extravagant wardrobe as Kylen pressed a panel in the wall and laughed at my “childlike expression” as he called it. A door slid open next to Kylen and revealed a beautiful black satin suit on a mannequin. The trousers had a shimmering stripe of red diamonds down the outside seam of both legs and the clasp on the shoes was adorned with a small diamond cut ruby. The shirt was a solid deep red silk, but what really caught my eye was the jacket. It was solid black with a subtle shimmer finish save for the buttons that matched the stripe and shoe clasps. The front looked like a short vest, but with full length sleeves and the back split into floor length tails just below waist level. The lining inside the vest-jacket was plush diamond stitched velvet that felt like cream against my fingers. It was the most gorgeous piece of clothing I had ever seen.

I looked at Kylen wide eyed, he just smiled as he pushed himself away from the wall he’d been leaning on, “Sick right? Nothing but the best for The Lord Diamante." He winked then shooed me with his hands, “Now hurry the hell up your guests probably think somebody’s died."

I turned back around with intent to rush but I couldn’t help lovingly removing the suit from its mannequin display, each piece felt like it might melt in my hands if I held it too roughly. Everything fit perfectly and felt like my whole body was wrapped in a velvet dream. Kylen hooked my arm in his and beamed as he led me out of the bedroom into a hallway that was bigger than my house.

The hall was all done in red and white; the floor was a checkerboard pattern and grand white marble vases held immense bouquets of red and white roses.

I could tell the hall ran in a circle with regular openings that led into a grand atrium that held dozens of people dressed in splendid suits and gowns. I heard the quick clip of footsteps to my left and looked to see a man and woman heading toward us. They were dressed in extravagant red furs with white trim dotted with red diamonds. The woman looked relieved as they neared us; the man looked unaffected if not bored with the whole ordeal.

The woman’s face broke into a smile, “There you are Alex, I was beginning to think you’d run off again! I see Kylen has been keeping you out of trouble?” A perfectly shaped eyebrow lifted ever so slightly.

Kylen dipped his head, “But of course Lady Gwyneth, Lord Barton,” I saw him look over at me for just a second and was silently thankful for the discreet introduction, “Alex was…a little disheveled but Mya and I have him in order and ready to go." He smiled and rubbed my back affectionately, I managed a meek smile back and hoped it was convincing as I looked up at the Lord and Lady, her warm smile starkly contrasting his perpetual skepticism.

Lady Gwyneth rubbed my arms and softly clicked her tongue, so much like Ma, “You look so handsome sweetie, I’m so proud of you!" She hugged me, pressing me into the plush fur robe, she smelled mildly of flowers and fresh fruit and I felt like I could have stayed there pressed in her fuzzy lapel for years. Suddenly I straightened not wanting to appear awkward having lost myself in this embrace and I wasn’t even certain how I knew these people. Lord Barton briefly cleared his throat, looked at his silver pocket watch and then shot his eyes toward the crowded atrium. I saw the chairs were arranged in a circle around a raised platform, it was made of white polished oak, and a large red heart with a diamond outlined in the center was painted in the middle of the floor.

Standing there on the left side of the diamond was an attractive guy with dark brown hair that barely missed being jet black and his skin seemed an odd gold color, not like a good tan, more like tarnished jewelry. Odd skin tone aside, he was good looking however he looked like a terrified mouse up there by himself surrounded by the crowd that I suspected was getting restless waiting for my grand entrance. What struck me most about the man were his bright violet eyes, practically sparkling in the sun when he looked up and saw us in the hall.

His chest practically burst in his cream colored suit as he smiled in clear relief looking at us. His arm rose as if to wave, but then he seemed to think better of it and clasped his hands in front of him instead. His suit wasn’t quite as elaborate as mine, well-tailored cream silk with small heart shaped jewel cufflinks and matching tie pin.

Lady Gwyneth patted my shoulder, “Barton’s right, we’d best be getting on with it, you’ve made that poor boy wait long enough, any more time and the Clubs will be sure to call this an act of war.” She laughed at her joke and I did my best to respond appropriately. “Okay I won’t keep you boys any longer.” She practically squealed.

I smiled, genuinely this time; “Thank you, Lady Gwyneth.” Bowing my head as Kylen had done, but I felt him squeeze my arm and I knew I had done something wrong. I quickly looked up, and both Lord and Lady looked at me as if I’d sprouted a 2^nd head. Lord Barton laughed as he urged his wife along, the first emotion I had seen on his face since we met.

I looked back at Kylen as they continued down the hallway toward the other side of the atrium, where I could see two high back thrones were placed just slightly in higher position than the wedding platform.

Kylen’s eyes were as wide as saucers and finally I shrugged, “What?”

Kylen shook his head slowly for a moment, “I’m really starting to worry now, Alex those are your parents, you do remember them?”

I snorted, “Right, my parents.”

“Alex, you’re really starting to scare me this isn’t funny anymore."

I looked back at Kylen my eyes as wide as his, “Join the club, everything is scaring me! You don’t understand, when I said I didn’t know anything, I meant it. One second I was living a completely different life, in a completely different world and the next thing I know I wake up in this mansion, surrounded by strangers telling me I’m getting married today! Then, bonus round, I get molested by one of those strangers who for some reason can so much as touch my elbow and it's like the best thing I've ever felt for some crazy assed reason. Now here I am getting hugged by this woman you say is my mother and I’m supposed to just go by your word and carry on like any of this makes sense?" I could feel the panic coming back, just like in the alley, it was getting harder to breathe and I felt the fiery claws ripping through my gut.

Kylen put his hand on my chest and everything started to feel better almost immediately, I really needed to find out what this genetic bond was that Kylen mentioned, but right now I wasn't about to complain.

“Just breathe, breathe, and calm down ok? We’ll figure this out together, but right now you’re ridiculously late for your own wedding and that child looks like he’s close to a meltdown."

I looked out at Drake and I noticed for the first time he did look young, couldn’t be much older than Jimmy which gave me a brief pang of loss wondering if I might never see Jimmy again, or that Jimmy might not even be real. I closed my eyes for a second, pushing that back to deal with later. I decided that Kylen was right, for now I was just going to go with the flow and hope I woke up soon without too severe a concussion.

I nodded to Kylen, “Okay, what do I do?”

Kylen hooked his arm in mine again, “Just follow my lead, and when you get up to the platform you’ll agree when Father Tamlin says the Sealing Vows, you'll know it when you hear it, then you and Drake exchange gems- right pocket, then you clasp both hands like this,” Kylen took my hands and locked them with his at chest level between us, “then you kiss to make it official and after a few pleasantries from the guests you head off to the matrimony chamber” At the mention of the matrimony chamber Kylen nudged me with a wicked grin.

I squirmed a little uncomfortably, “Matrimony chamber? I barely know his first name and now I’m headed for a honeymoon." Kylen looked exasperated but he just shook his head, “Trust me, after the Vows, familiarity won’t be an issue, now shut up and come on.”

Kylen led me to another opening into the atrium where the stairs were covered with a narrow long white velvet carpet, decorated with a strip of alternating hearts and diamonds down the middle. All the courtly guests stood facing me, most looked pleased despite the delay, and the rest were a little more blatant with their annoyance at being made to wait.

I followed Kylen’s first step onto the carpet and a string quartet began a beautiful procession march, I said a silent prayer of thanks that it wasn’t Here Comes the Bride. I followed Kylen’s steps down the thick carpet, hoping I didn’t look awkward meeting eyes with the strangers watching me make my way down the aisle. When Kylen lightly patted my hand I realized I was clutching his arm like a vice and loosened my grip. Taking a deep breath I climbed the first step up to the platform, the tempo of the strings slowed until I reached the right side of the diamond. Kylen released my arm and took a step back to the edge of the platform, clasping his hands behind his back. He nodded for me to remain where I was.

Drake hugged me tightly and I slowly hugged him back. He was about 3 inches shorter than me and felt incredibly warm. I realized he was shaking as I hugged him tighter, he breathed a heavy sigh against my cheek. “I was starting to think you weren’t coming, thank you so much.” He released his hold around my waist and stepped back, quickly wiping his eyes as he smiled up at me.

I felt a heavy guilt setting in the pit of my stomach, this kid was ecstatic that we were getting married, and he was a complete stranger to me. I was pretty certain I wasn’t going to shape up to be the husband he was hoping for, especially since I was apparently crazy and…hallucinating? I was trying to sort out in my head which life was the actual one, and which was the fantasy. I could remember all the way to my childhood in Texas, but this all seemed so real and all things considered a lot less bizarre than my usual dreams. But why couldn’t I remember any time spent in this place? Today was the first time I met the couple that was supposed to be my parents and now this boy just barely coming into manhood beamed up at me with no idea that I had no knowledge of any relationship we may have had. Kylen had assured me that knowing him wouldn't be an issue, but I couldn't help but think I would need a little less cavalier approach to this whole thing, if for no other reason than to be fair to this poor kid. I saw concern start to color Drake’s expression but before either of us could say anything a trumpet fanfare began playing.

Approaching the east stairs to the platform was an obscenely tall man. He was broad shouldered but very thin, the only sign of his advanced age was his hair, long and full but bright silver that shone like polished platinum in the sun when he stepped onto the platform. His face could have been my age, showing no physical signs of the long life that gave him the deep pools of wisdom in his eyes. Like Father Time himself resided in his irises.

He locked eyes with Drake first, who immediately looked like an all encompassing calm settled over his entire body. I assumed this was Father Tamlin. He turned to me letting me really see his eyes for the first time and I was frozen. It was like staring into a spiral of thunderclouds and the Northern Lights all at once. Streaks of lightning shone in the colorful clouds and I realized that signified his eyes darting back and forth as he looked me over. A rush of warm air that somehow smelled of the ocean and rain at the same time washed over me and everything immediately around me ceased to exist. I stood absolutely still, my eyes locked with Father Tamlin as everything else slid away from my consciousness. Father Tamlin’s eyes were now two orbs of shimmering iridescent metal. A ripple ran through both orbs that I assumed was a blink.

“You are a better man than you give yourself credit.” It was crazy but the priest’s mouth hadn’t moved, but somehow the voice just…fit with his intense yet somehow comforting presence. His thumb rubbed my jaw, “Astounding beauty, and blinding potential all just below the surface, shame so few will recognize it before you see it for yourself and command the respect you've been due all along.”

His words and his hand on my chin seemed to take a grip that I could feel inside me. I gasped suddenly as the shock hit me like a solid punch to the sternum. I felt like I was only anchored to the planet, to reality by the iron vice grip of three fingers on my chin and jaw and the tractor pull of those metallic eyes. As quickly as the trance took over I was overwhelmed with pride in myself and the great things I knew I could accomplish, the relief that someone else could really see my capabilities had me on the brink of tears. I felt like I was falling into his eyes, the voice inside my head screaming all of the reasons why none of this made sense faded slowly, lost in Father Tamlin’s acceptance and promise of refuge.

“Will you go on this journey with this man before you, inseparable through life’s dangers and hardships, sealed together as one being with a bond as unbreakable as the Sealing Rings themselves?”

I knew going forward with this union with Drake would make Father Tamlin extremely happy, and at that moment I would have slit my own throat to see a smile on his face.

I blinked and was suddenly aware of the crowd, the platform, Drake practically shivering with excitement as his eyes caught mine, shining like prisms in the sun. Father Tamlin’s eyes now resembled a clear sunny day with slowly passing cotton ball clouds as he looked back and forth between us. It seemed Drake and I were to have our own frozen in time moment. His beaming smile was contagious, and despite the total lack of familiarity I felt no trace of trepidation or concern about this ceremony. Maybe because of the total opiate effect of eye contact with Gandalf Jr, but who's to say for sure?

In unison we said “I will.” Never breaking eye contact, Drake looked like he was about to actually burst if he didn't fidget or fight a fit of giggles.

“Lord and Duke, please exchange the Gems of your kingdoms.” Father Tamlin’s arms spread as we both reached into our pockets, my heart seemed to be getting louder every second as I slid the perfectly sized ring over Drake’s finger. It was made of a smooth black metal, with sparkling silver spider web cracks all over it. There were two rubies cut into smooth diamonds on opposite sides of the band. I looked at my finger as Drake slid my ring on; it was made of the same black and silver metal but where mine had smooth diamonds, the ring Drake gave me had faceted hearts.

Father Tamlin’s eyes now resembled a sunset with dissipating clouds, “The bond has sealed, and I pronounce you Man and Groom.”

I seemed to be moving on autopilot, I lifted my hands up to chest level, palms facing Drake as Drake did the same. Our fingers laced together and we kissed. As my lips touched his, our rings snapped together like two magnets. Drake’s mouth opened to me and I felt a sudden rush. Images of Drake flashed through my mind and a rush of information nearly overwhelmed me. I realized I was learning every intricacy of Drake’s life as if I had lived it myself. Every heartache and ecstasy poured into me and every second our lips pressed together the connection got stronger, letting me deeper into his core psyche, seeing his every vulnerability stripped bare awakened a fierce protective instinct.

I saw Drake’s aunt, the High Queen of Hearts calling Drake into her chambers, then my eyes snapped open as I realized, I wasn’t just marrying Drake, I was saving his life.

Kylen wasn’t kidding when he said familiarity wouldn’t be an issue.

A sharp clap that sounded like thunder shocked us both, “Boys I believe we can delay consummation just a bit hmm?”

After realizing I had heard Father Tamlin say this, but his mouth hadn’t moved made me pause for a second, then I realized that without even noticing it Drake and I had basically intertwined ourselves in the middle of the diamond on the platform. Kylen was hiding his mouth, his shoulders hunched as he worked to smother his laugh. I released the grip I had on Drake’s hair as his eyes lost their glaze and he too realized what had happened. We slowly disentangled ourselves and stepped apart facing the crowd and my parents seated in high diamond back thrones. My mother was dabbing her eyes, I think I saw a smile threaten my father’s mouth, but he quickly crushed it with an approving nod in my direction. Something told me getting to know them would be interesting to say the least.

Father Tamlin glided more than walked up behind us, putting one hand on each of our backs. When his hand touched my spine I felt like every ounce of nervous tension I had ever felt melted away.

Drake and I raised our interlocked hands, the rings immediately snapped together when they touched again as Father Tamlin announced, “Lord Alex Diamante le Coeur, and The Duke Rouge Drake Le Coeur de Diamante!”

The crowd broke into loud cheers as we descended the stairs; our rings were humming on our fingers sending a comforting buzz through my palm. We shook hands with several important looking dignitaries and esteemed guests all congratulating us on our “seal”. As we made our way down the aisle I realized there was a gap in well-wishers. I heard a throat clearing followed by a sharp squeak. I looked down and there was the angry munchkin that had woken me up this morning. She now wore a pinched smile which I realized was actually her genuine look of happiness. Her voice was like a cascade of too sweet syrup, she didn’t fool me though, I had seen under that sugary overcoat.

“Congratulations dear, you two will be a marvelous union!" She took my hand, kissing the heart ring as her eyes shot up to meet mine. I felt her hand squeeze, actually hurting my hand which was about three times the size of hers, "It certainly took you long enough!" She patted my hand as the crushing grip relaxed; her smile was so wide her eyes turned into dark slits above her cheeks. She followed me with her eyes as I continued, that face scrunching smile never losing its grip. I clenched a fist working out the stiffness from Miss Midget’s death grip as I made my way through the crowd.

When we got to the stairs leading back into the wraparound hall, Kylen was standing there at the top of the stairs, hands clasped behind his back. He gave a deep bow, “My Lord and Duke, please follow me to the reception banquet. As he straightened up he flashed me a smile that was anything but appropriate in my mind. I admit I couldn’t take my eyes off of his perky ass wrapped in the white tights, but the low hum in my fingers never left my thoughts. Kylen lead us to an immense banquet hall on the other side of the mansion; the guests were not far behind us making their way down the hallway.

The banquet chamber was lined with every kind of food I could imagine, and many I had never seen before. Every steak, rack of lamb and slow roasted pig was served up beautifully with garnishes honoring the grooms’ houses. Chopped parsley arranged in hearts and diamond cut onions decorated polished silver serving trays of glazed sausages and crudité.

Drake and I made our way to the seats of honor at the far end of the banquet room after darting back and forth snatching slices of Wellingtons and pinching chunks of tender

brisket. We finally made our way to our seats, allowing the rest of the guests to enter led by my new parents. I fed Drake a fried mushroom as people began taking their seats. My parents occupied two slightly less opulent chairs to my left, the two next to Drake remained empty. As my mind turned to wonder about his family I was suddenly hit with his memory of being told what happened to his parents. His father and grandfather’s suspicious death exactly one month before his birth, his mother’s inconsolable grief leaving her unfit to be an adequate mother much less rule over an entire territory by herself. This led to practically one third of the Heart Kingdom basically going up for grabs until the Queen’s army came sweeping in, dispatching the few initial bands of Clubs that had made their way across her borders placing the region under firm and undisputed control of the Hearts once again. Drake had been taken in by his aunt the Queen after she saw her sister-in-law’s utterly useless disposition.

She had treated him more like an imposition than a nephew; which led to the demand on his 18^th birthday that Drake make himself more of an asset to the kingdom or there would be consequences. Everybody knew what the Queen of Hearts called consequences. She had moved away from her customary indiscriminate decapitations in the last few years, but they still made an appearance when she was in a festive mood.

The last thing I felt was Drake’s rolling fear that I had decided to cancel the wedding when he had been standing out on the platform by himself for so long. I felt Lady Gw...my mother's hand on my knee that brought me out of the slideshow of Drake’s life. I blinked and was back in the banquet room; most of the guests were silent looking at Drake and I who had been staring at each other almost in a trance state. I looked away at the rows of guests and realized they were all waiting for something. I looked around trying to spot Kylen, no idea what I was supposed to be doing.

My mother rubbed my knee, her smile fell a little as she caught my confused expression, “Alex?”

I saw Kylen just then a few seats down sitting next to my pint sized alarm clock who was shaking her head with her lips pursed again showing her disapproval. Out of all the guests I already felt like I would miss her least. Kylen’s eyes were wide as he sharply jerked his hand upward and I realized he was mouthing “Speech!”

I looked back at the crowd of now completely silent guests all tilting their heads expecting me to stand up at any second. I cleared my throat as I stood up, completely lost as to what the hell I would say. “Uh…esteemed guests and uh, dignitaries," I raised my glass that at some point had been filled with red wine without my even noticing. “Thank you all for attending this, uh, momentous occasion." I gave Drake a quick smile before returning my gaze to the guests; Kylen was occupying himself with an immense lobster tail. I assumed this meant I was going in the right direction. “Happy doesn’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling.” I felt Drake take my hand; my ring grew warm on my finger, immediately calming my nerves and my stomach. “A toast to the eternal bond of suits Heart and Diamond.”

The guests raised their glasses to my toast, Drake tapped his glass to mine and pulled me down into my seat and kissed me softly. The reception meal went on without any incident; several guests came by our table taking our hands and blessing us, some even kissing our rings before making their way out of the hall. After sharing my 500^th smile and bout of well wishes I caught Drake’s eye and we had another silent moment that seemed to communicate volumes more than anything said out loud. I turned to Lady Gwyneth, reminding myself again that she was my mother, “Um, Mother, I think-“

She held up a hand and smiled, “No need to explain.” She leaned forward and gave a nod to Drake before standing, taking my father’s hand leading him out of the room.

Drake and I stood up as I heard Kylen say, “Gentlemen.” He stood next to a door that had been hidden by an ornate tapestry that was now pulled aside like an oversized curtain. He pushed the heavy wooden door open a crack and motioned for us to go inside. “Your chambers.” He smiled as he took a step back from the doorway.

Drake led me by the hand down from our seats toward the door. I lagged behind a moment looking at Kylen, but he just shooed me into the room with a wink and whispered, “Later."

I laughed and stepped into the room, Kylen pulled the door shut behind me. I looked at the room which was even more lavish than where I had woken up if that was possible. The bed was humongous and covered in a thick velvet blanket embroidered with an alternating pattern of red and black hearts and diamonds. The bed frame had four high posts draped in a red silk canopy. There was a dark cherry wood dresser with an array of little glass bottles filled with different kinds of oils and perfumes displayed in a half circle.

Drake walked slowly toward the bed, I hadn’t even noticed him take off his shoes and socks. His toes gripped the thick carpet with each step. Drake let his jacket fall off his shoulders to the floor. He turned to face me, smiling at me as he unbuttoned his shirt. His skin seemed to look more metallic in the ambient light of the late afternoon. His torso was lean and gorgeously defined, his left pec had a silver starburst on it, I assumed it was a scar, and it just made him even more attractive.

Drake took a deep breath and looked down for a moment, “I’m sorry about all of this, but it was the only thing I could do to save myself."

I raised an eyebrow, not sure what I should say to answer. “What are you talking about, sorry about what?"

Drake laughed bitterly, “You can drop the act, I’m the one who brought you here Alex."

My eyes grew wide, “Brought me here? So you know the rabbit guy? where is here? what happened in that store?" I could feel my pulse rising, I still wasn’t sure if I should be getting scared or angry that all of this seemed to be some big trick at my expense.

I started to step back, but Drake stepped forward and took my hands. “This...world is called Deque and the Looking Glass was my own creation. It was the best thing I could think of to get you here Alex. As you know I had to bind myself to the Diamond Suit and the only way to do that was to marry a royal."

I shook my head, “That still doesn’t make sense, if you just brought me here to pose as a Diamond Royal then how is it everybody here seems to recognize me and know this whole life story that I know nothing about?"

Drake let my hands drop and turned, walking back toward the large window in the far wall. “I guess I should say I didn’t just bring you here, I switched you for lack of a better word." He took a deep breath signaling he had more to say, "All Royals used to have a double, a doppelganger if you will, in your world in the event that something unfortunate should happen to the ruling family. It used to be a common practice and body doubles were informed of their status from childhood. But the practice gradually became less common, now you barely hear of it at all. When the threat of war became imminent Lady Gwyneth worked quickly to create you, Alex’s double, ensuring that her child and the Diamond legacy would ultimately be safe. She really cut it close to the wire too, nearly 3 months pregnant when she made you. When making doppelgangers was common practice, couples who were chosen to bear one considered it a blessing and were just as important to a Suit as the actual ruling family. Deque has since all but completely drawn away from your world, and the rare occasion of a doppelganger usually goes totally unnoticed."

I stood blinking at Drake for a moment, and then I started laughing, “So I’m some magic royal clone? Right Ok, can you tell me what all of this is really about?”

Drake rubbed the bridge of his nose; he seemed a little too desperately frustrated for an elaborate joke. “You were a surprise to your parents weren’t you?"

That stopped me, my mother had told me I was unexpected my senior year in high school and it wasn’t something that ever came up in conversation with people so I couldn't imagine how far that could have spread. Drake nodded, “I thought so, and just a wild guess here but you don't especially resemble either parent?"

I couldn't argue that either. Me and Jimmy both got dad's hair, but where Jimmy was the spitting image of our mother with a sharper jawline, I was the odd one out with significantly darker complexion and leaner build than most of the family.

Drake licked his lips, "The Alex we know never did get past adolescence. He’s the worst sort of petulant child; he’s a selfish, impatient, oversexed child with no apparent inhibitions. He can’t see anything past the next party or opportunity to sneak away and disappear for days." Drake’s brow furrowed as he described this elusive double of mine.

“So you pulled me into this sideshow because you didn’t like your royal betrothed?"

Drake laughed, “Dislike is an understatement, but that fact aside, I didn’t bring you here because I didn’t like him, Alex is hardly the marrying type. Eight years ago he was supposed to be Sealed with a Duchess of Spades. Instead he discovers a Bond with that Knave and his would be bride ended up with some barely relevant Club aristocrat. Five years ago Lord Barton wanted a union with the Wyld Cards; they had a problem child much like Alex. Their Ace was a party boy of epic proportions; When the Wyld Joker says his kid is out of control, it truly boggles the mind. Alex was barely there a full week before he decided he was bored of the Wyld Ace and came back home without so much as a tip of the hat. He even abandoned his royal escort detail, but not before giving a new meaning to "Deuces Wyld" through all 52 provinces. After the pregnancy rumors were thoroughly subdued, Lord Barton seemed to lose hope and interest in Alex altogether. You wouldn't know it looking at him now, but he used to be a lively vibrant man; eager for any reason to justify a celebration. It was easy to see where Alex got his spirit. If only he had gotten his father's mind for matters of state or even his mother's sense of propriety as well. After the fiasco in the Wyld Lands it was like the party just left Lord Barton altogether. He became the dry monolith you met today, and I can't help but think that disappointment just wore him out.

When my dear aunt the Queen of Hearts decided my living wasn’t gaining her enough profit and put my neck on the line demanding that I augment her power, I knew landing the un-sealable Alex Diamante was the only definite thing that would take me out of her crosshairs. Since Alex was hardly the type to tie himself down and not usually given to doing anybody any favors, I was desperate and you were the only way I could think of to save my life."

I noticed Drake had gotten very close to me as he finished his story. I knew there was more I wanted to ask him, but feeling him this close was scrambling my brain like few things could. He shrugged off his shirt letting it pool on the floor by his jacket.

“When you took so long to come out, I was afraid I hadn’t done the spell right. But when I saw your confusion meeting Alex’s parents, I knew I had done it and everything would be okay. This was hardly conventional and, I'll be honest, the kidnapping aside, it's kind of...frowned upon to meddle in someone else's magic," He pressed himself against me, his thin slacks not doing anything to hide his arousal, I could feel mine making itself known in response. His voice had a short tremble as it gradually dipped into a husky rasp "But I hope you realize how desperate I was?"

I wanted to tell him he probably couldn't have picked a better time to kidnap me, how fast I had been spiraling to rock bottom before I woke up in this castle, that he had saved me just as surely as I'd saved him. But all I could concentrate on was the growing hum in my ring as our hands came closer together.

His breath caressed my lips as he whispered, “I have to say at first I didn’t really know what to expect from a double. At best I just hoped for a compliant trophy husband with a conveniently connected face. But, seeing you like this, everything that Alex isn't, I couldn’t be happier." He smiled, and then he kissed me.

As his lips touched mine my whole body shivered; suddenly I was struck with a thought, breaking that kiss was like days of torture crammed into seconds “But if I’m here, then where is the other Alex?” My hands shook slightly holding his arms, betraying the battle of control waging between lust and logic.

Drake grinned, “What matters is, you’re here and the other Alex is well, out of sight, out of mind."

Drake pushed my jacket down and gripped it tight behind my back binding my arms. He took a tight grip of my hair and kissed me again, deeper this time. I couldn’t hold back the moan as he pushed himself against me again, pinning me against the door. I felt my whole body get impossibly warm and I finally gave in, pushing my hips against his got rewarded with a sharp gasp as our bodies writhed together in mutual submission to the broiling carnality that had been frothing since our rings first recognized each other.

Drake’s eyes looked glazed and flashed darkly as he led me by my bunched up jacket over to the bed, sitting me down as he pulled the jacket off completely. Our eyes locked and I was frozen to the spot watching Drake unbutton his creamy white slacks letting them pool at his feet. His burnished gold skin was glorious in the filtered late afternoon sun. I stroked his muscular thigh with one hand and began unbuttoning my shirt with the other as I licked my lips and felt my breath get more urgent.

Drake quickly slapped my hands away with a grin. “I’d like to officially welcome you to Deque Alex, so just sit back and enjoy yourself my Lord. " The look in Drake's eyes sent a throb I felt in my groin all the way up my spine. He took me into levels of pleasure I didn’t even know existed. I lost all track of time and place, my body was Drake's in those...minutes? hours? days? I was simply along for the mind shattering ride until I had no more to give. Finally, covered in sweat and quivering, I fell asleep with Drake nestled under my arm, far too exhausted and sated to think anymore. In our semi conscious haze before sleep took us completely our left hands found each other; fingers interlocking on instinct and the soft comforting click as our rings magnetized was like the last wave of warmth and comfort that finally put us down for the count.