Page 25 of Fey Empire (Fey Lords #5)

Chapter twenty-four

T he universe hates me. It is the only explanation I can think of. Otherwise, why would Jamie send an invitation to join him for tea, mere hours after I learnt my husband is plotting treason with the Prince Consort’s mother?

I haven’t even had time to untangle my thoughts and feelings to work out how I feel about this revelation, and now I have to face people with it weighing on my mind. People who are intrinsically involved.

This is going to be awful. I’ve never had much of a poker face. I’m an open book, far too easy to read. And I can’t lie to save my life.

What the hell am I going to do?

At my feet, Loki whines and tilts her head.

“It’s okay,” I tell her.

There is no point in upsetting her. She’s only a puppy. She should get to stay innocent and carefree. Plots and politics have no place in her world. Lucky thing.

I pat her head. Maybe I can use her as an excuse? I could send a note to Jamie saying I’d be delighted to come to tea, but I’m worried about leaving my new puppy alone.

I huff out a breath. That would never work. Declining tea with a prince consort is a terrible insult. And it is a rubbish excuse. There are a multitude of servants who can look after Loki and play with her while I am gone.

“Sorry, girl. You have to stay here for a bit.”

Reluctantly, I head towards the door. Being late would make everything even worse.

“Stay,” I say firmly.

I’ll find Peaony on my way out and ask her to keep Loki company.

Loki gives me a stricken look as I shut the door on her. Then she whines and scratches at the wood.

My heart sinks. This is awful. Poor baby.

Suddenly, inspiration strikes. What if I brought her with me? An adorable puppy is one hell of a distraction. They will all be far too busy playing with her to notice that I’m being weird.

It is a flawless plan. As long as they like puppies. Which every one does, surely? Well, there is only one way to find out.

I open the door. Loki wags her tail hopefully at me. The look in her eyes melts my heart. How could I have ever considered leaving her behind?

“Come on, then!”

She bounds forward eagerly, making me laugh. She truly is so full of life.

We walk to the doors that lead out of Selwyn’s rooms. “Best behaviour, please.”

Together we stride out. I’m fairly confident I know my way to the Crown Prince’s quarters. I have been there before, after all.

Loki stays by my heels. Alert, but calm. Interested enough about where we are going, to not stop and sniff at everything .

Heavens, look at me. Married to a prince. Dressed in exotic silk robes. Striding through Buckingham Palace with a dire wolf at my heels.

My life has become a fairy tale. Let’s hope it is one with a happy ending. Even though all the original fairy tales were gruesome, horrific, and tragic before Walt Disney got his hands on them.

A shiver dances over me, but then I’m distracted from my morose thoughts by the sight of double doors ornamented with gold filigree.

We have arrived.

I take a deep breath and knock sharply. Almost immediately, the door is yanked open, and the same grumpy-looking pink-haired servant as before scowls up at me.

“Would the Prince Consort mind if I brought my puppy?”

The servant doesn’t have time to reply, because the door is flung even wider and Jamie appears.

“Puppy?” he exclaims joyfully.

Loki wags her tail so hard her entire fluffy body bends. She runs up to him and sits on his feet while he strokes her. She looks at me smugly, and her pink tongue lolls out.

I’d feel betrayed, but this is exactly what I wanted. Jamie is so enthralled with her, he hasn’t even looked at me.

Eventually we make inside and over to the table.

Blake smiles at me. He is not wearing very many clothes again, so I guess this is how Prince Mabon prefers him to be.

Blake doesn’t seem to mind, and for a moment, I’m stabbed with a pang of envy.

How nice it must be to be happy and settled. With someone who isn’t a traitor .

Loki scurries under the table, behind the long white tablecloth. Blake turns his attention to her. He grins and looks down at whatever she is doing down there.

Quietly, I take my seat. This is working perfectly. Far better than I had hoped for.

“Jamie, why the fuck are you dragging me into your meddling interventions again? The kid said he was fine.”

Ollie walks into the room. His emerald green eyes go straight to me, but he doesn’t look the least bit embarrassed.

“You are fine, aren’t you?” he demands.

“Yes,” I agree hastily.

“See? So since that’s sorted, can I go now?” he says to Jamie.

The Crown Consort points to the selection of tiny cakes in the middle of the table. “I have lemon drizzle.”

Ollie scowls. “Is moody twink-shadow-lord going to gatecrash again?”

“I don’t think so.”

Ollie sighs as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders. Then he takes a seat and helps himself to a slice of lemon drizzle cake.

Jamie turns to Blake. “Did Mabon manage to find out if Llywelyn is okay?”

Blake shoots me a look, and it feels like my insides wither. But he quickly looks away.

“Yes! Mabon tracked him down. Ethan is with him, and they are safe and happy.”

He doesn’t look at me, thank heavens. Nobody else is going to know that I was in any way involved with checking in on the exiled prince .

Goodness, things have been dramatic since I arrived at court. Assassination attempts that placed me in a dungeon. Murder and exile. Secret visits to the fey realm. Plots to help me run away on the next full moon. And now treason.

“Oh that is wonderful!” beams Jamie.

I blink, and then realise he is talking about Llywelyn being happy, and not my inner thoughts.

Ollie grunts. “Sappy enough to make me puke.”

He is acting all tough, but it is quite clear he is pleased, as well as relieved. His eyes are sparkling, and the corners of his mouth are curling up.

“Why do you care?” asks Blake. “Llywelyn tried to take you away from Tristan.”

Ollie shrugs. “Nothing is ever straightforward, big man. Besides, Llywelyn took a bullet for Tristan. That absolves him of any and all sins in my book.”

He takes a big bite of cake. Blake nods in thoughtful agreement. Jamie picks up the teapot and starts pouring tea.

Flipping hell. What a tangled web that all sounds. I’m never going to make heads nor tails of it. I’m completely out of my depth.

“How are you, Laurie?” Jamie says gently and very earnestly.

My heart pounds. Everyone was supposed to be distracted by Loki.

“I’m fantastic! Selwyn gave me a puppy!”

Oh crumbs. That was far too exuberant, and I think my fake grin is probably looking a little deranged .

Ollie lifts up the tablecloth and looks under the table. “Cute,” he remarks before returning his attention back to his cake.

“Is that what I am telling your brother?” Jamie asks.

“Yes!” I squeak, once again too brightly.

Gosh, it is hard not to squirm. But I have to.

I cannot give anything away. I don’t know what to do about the treason I have uncovered.

What is the right thing to do? What is the safest?

What course of action benefits me? And is that the same or different from what would be best for the greater good?

I need time to figure this all out. Especially since I’m not the smartest. So, in the meantime, I need to stick to my original plan.

Convince everyone that I’m fine and I don’t need saving.

Jamie narrows his eyes. I turn up the wattage of my fake smile.

Under the table, Loki barks. Jamie’s attention immediately goes to her.

“Oh, was I ignoring you! I do apologise!” he grins.

Discreetly, I let out the breath I was holding. Loki is the best puppy in the world. When we get back to our rooms, I’m going to give her so much cheese.

And I might even allow myself a little glass of wine. I think I am going to need it.

I ’ve dawdled in this dressing room long enough. I’ve washed. I’ve dried. I’ve changed into a long white nightgown. There is nothing else to do .

Besides, if I scurry out now and slip between the sheets, there is a chance I can pretend to be asleep before Selwyn comes to bed.

I’m not ready to face him. At least not while keeping everything I know from my eyes. I can’t avoid him forever, but any delay will be a blessing and a reprieve.

With that thought in mind, I stride out of my dressing room and into the bedchamber. Only to find Selwyn standing by the bed, utterly and gloriously naked. Dimly, I’m aware of the puddle of silks by his feet, but my mind is taken up with other things.

“Laurie? Are you well?”

“Hmm… yes?” I tear my gaze away from his body to look at his face.

“I heard you had tea with Jamie and the pets. Did Ollie say anything to upset you? He has quite a vicious tongue.”

I blink. “No, I’m fine.”

Selwyn’s brow furrows as a look of disbelief grows in his eyes. Heavens, how is he so very perceptive? I simply stepped into the room and then ogled him. How does he know that something is on my mind?

“I’m merely distracted by the view!” I blurt. It is a good excuse, as well as being perfectly true.

His eyebrows rise. “Is that so?”

I blush furiously and look away.

He chuckles and moves towards the bed. Through my lashes, I watch him throw back the covers. He slides into bed and fixes me with an expectant stare.

Hastily, I force my legs to move. I slip into bed next to him. He snaps his fingers, and the room falls into darkness.

I roll onto my side and put my back to him. He never wants anything from me at night, so hopefully he won’t be offended. And I really hope he can’t hear how fast my heart is beating.

His hand snakes around my waist, and he pulls me close to him. Spooning me tightly. All the firm, warm muscles of his naked chest are pressed against my back. The thin material of the nightgown does nothing to save me, and actually I don’t mind because this is nice. So very nice.

“Goodnight, Consort,” he rumbles.

My heart skips and my stomach flips. Oh my. This is so very unfair. I want this. I long for this to be real and how things are between us. It’s not fair that it’s a taunt and a tease. This warm, gentle affection is wonderful. I want it and I want everything to be okay.

I don’t want my husband to be a traitor.