The next few weeks for Kurt passed in a flurry of learning the ropes of royalty and honing his powers. He knew how to act around royalty, he'd grown up around vampires and been trained in courtly behaviour. As Rachel's friend and as he was largely treated with distain by the humans around him for his style and sexuality it had been deemed right to teach him how to be around vampires and the royal family itself. Now he was learning the inside workings and it was very different. He enjoyed it, revelled in it and thrilled at the look of pride Blaine shot him every time he learned something new. Vampires and the royals were more traditional and old-fashioned than the humans, partly because they lived so much longer than them and partly to separate them, even as integrated as the two races were, they wanted to keep some differences.

Blaine's parents held court once a month unless there was some issue or event and they held balls every two. It was mainly an exercise in keeping up to date with goings on and an excuse to get together and have fun.

He'd never been as he was at first too young then as his dad had realised his want to attend court or the balls his dad had told him to wait. He guessed it as because of the whole prophecy thing and his dad being scared that Kurt would go and never come back. He'd once brushed off his dad's worries as overprotective and annoying but now he understood as that had actually happened, kind of.

He and Blaine spent hours together, teaching him but also enjoying each other's company; planning their future and bonding as lovers and friends.

Rachel stuck around too as Blaine wanted them to spend time together and he couldn't always help him, his father wanting to have him deal with matters that would come to Kurt later, after he was used to the basics of being a Prince.

They decided to hold a press conference when court convened to make it easier and get everything done at once.

Kurt and Blaine were to become public as mates and Kurt was Prince Kurt Dan Amorsa in two weeks, and Kurt couldn't wait.

“Rachel?” Kurt whispered, standing in the doorway of the room his friend was using for as long as she was there.

Rachel looked up from her seat by the window and smiled. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight in a way he'd been scared she'd never be able to do again in his new role. They parted and she grinned. “What do you need, Your Highness?” She asked teasingly and they both giggled. It would never get old.

“I was wondering if we could just chat, like we used to do. Not Prince to Lady or vampire to vampire but friend to friend.”

She scoffed and waved her hand dismissively. “Kurt, I'll always be here for that, even when you're King and I'm a Broadway star, I'll still expect you to call me as much as I'll call you.”

He sighed with relief and they sat down on one of the sofas. The room was actually more like a small apartment, big enough for Rachel to live in comfortably and have everything she needed. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.” He replied and she smiled indulgently.

“So,” She whispered conspiratorially. “Has our Highness replaced me as your bestie yet?” She caught his look of guilt and snorted a little. “Oh come on Kurt, he's supposed to be your best friend. Now, I know him as a friend and our Prince but what's he like as a mate?”

“You want to know about my sex life?” Kurt squeaked and she shook her head.

“No, I want to know what he's like. People are different to friends and in public Blaine's obviously vastly different but you actually know him. He shows you everything.” She said.

Kurt blinked at her for a few seconds before he replied. “He's pretty much the same, I guess. He's sweet and loving, passionate and protective. He's intense and loves teasing me and indulging me. He gets scared and insecure like everyone else but I can pull him back-“

“Already?” She asks, stunned.

Kurt nodded. “Yeah. All this mate stuff is awesome. We're hard-wired to love and understand each other but it's like I can see inside him and it's awesome.”

Rachel smirks at him, remembering all their conversations over the years. “Everything you ever dreamed of?”

“More,” Kurt breathed. “And yes he knows about my daydreams and fantasies. He says it was because somewhere inside I knew I was supposed to be with him, and then uses it to tease me.”

Rachel squeals and claps her hands together. “That's so awesome! I can't wait to find my mate.”

“You will.” Kurt replied and hugged her tight.

“So,” Rachel said quietly and Kurt looked at her before she continued. “How do you feel about not going to New York with me?”

“I haven't really thought about it. I know you've got to go soon and I'll miss you but with all of this I haven't thought much about not going to college. I don't think I'll miss being a singer or being on Broadway, I mean, I'm going to be a King. I know it's not King, it's Blood Prince, blah, blah but I'm going to marry my mate and rule. My future isn't on a stage, I know that and I don't want it. My future is in ruling and events and subjects and my mate and our family and I'm good with that.” Kurt said, his body filling with warmth at the thought of his mate's warm honey eyes and the vault of crowns.

Rachel nodded happily and they started chatting about NYADA and all the things she wanted to do in New York while a shadow lingered outside the room, honey eyes lit with happiness before walking away, unnoticed.

“His Royal Highness Prince Blaine Diavolo Anderson and His Royal Highness Prince Kurt Dan Amorsa.” The attendant called out loudly and they both took a deep breath, glancing at each other with warm smiles before stepping into the room to a sea of flashes.

Kurt made sure the smile stayed fixed on his face, aware that any flinch would be taken the wrong way and exaggerated by the overzealous press. The flashes finally died down and Blaine looked at the crowd of media all waiting for their chance. He nodded to one and the reporter beamed at being picked first.

“Your Highness, Prince Kurt, if I may. How did your ancestors hide and why?”

Kurt blinked, surprised at the question. They obviously wanted to know more than he thought. He'd always imagined the inane questions about how they met and mated, all directed at Blaine. “I am still learning about my family's past myself and while I do not agree with my great great grandfather I do respect his decision. He did not understand what would come from becoming a vampire and regretted his decision. Each generation of my family were taught to hide and were bound from childhood. He did it to protect his children and make sure they had lives without the vampiric instincts that were born to them.” He replied.

“You didn't agree with him?” Another asked.

“No. I was taught from a young age not to hide myself and I was meant to be with Blaine so in my mind, hiding that would be denying everything I was and could be. I also understand it. When I was unbound all of my instincts and nature came to me at once, so I know how he felt when he suddenly became a vampire and I respect how that could be frightening and especially back then, something to walk away from.”

“How did you meet?”

Kurt and Blaine shared a smile which sent up another wave of flashes and Blaine answered. “As you know I had a ball to find my mate and Kurt came. He was sipping his drink and I saw this beautiful man whom I felt drawn to and when he took my hand as I asked him to dance with me I knew he was my mate.” The crowd awwed and Blaine lifted Kurt's hand to kiss his knuckles sweetly.

“How do your families feel?” One asked.

“Our families are happy. My parents and great grandparents love Kurt. Kurt's father approves and our families have spent a lot of time together.”

“What are your powers?”

Kurt held his breath. He'd been waiting for this one. Everyone wanted to know everyone's powers and they'd want to know his, to know if he was powerful enough. “I'm an empath. I can project, control emotions and actions based on those emotions. I can also read souls.”

The crowd gasped and Kurt looked at Blaine to see his Prince looking smug and proud and almost rolled his eyes.

“When are you getting married?” Asked one and gave a ‘what?' look when a few of his compatriots glared at him.

“We haven't talked about it yet but when we are ready to announce it, we will let you know,” Blaine replied a little icily and the reported looked chastened. “One more question.” Blaine said as hands went up once more.

“Prince Kurt, I'm sure you know that you'll be the envy of many with your role and your relationship with Prince Blaine. How do you think you'll cope with being a Prince and one-day ruler?”

“I have been thinking about this for a long time and over the past month I've been spending a lot of time reading and learning about my new role and I will continue looking to Blaine's parents and my mate himself for guidance as well as making my own way and choices. I plan on being a great ruler, joint with Blaine and I know there's a lot of pressure but with my mate and family I'll do it all.” Kurt said, smiling at the awed hush and the grins as the reporters and photographers looked at each other then he looked at Blaine, relishing the look of awe and deep love on his mate's face.