Page 28 of Fey Empire (Fey Lords #5)

Chapter twenty-seven

I can’t breathe. The air is too tight and too pressing. All the dancers on the dance floor are swirling and twirling and making me dizzy.

The piece of paper in my pocket is heavier than lead. Its presence is burning brighter than a spotlight, blazing out of my robes and showing everyone that I have it.

I know it is all in my imagination, but it feels real enough to be terrifying. My pulse is racing. I’m sweating. Even my knees are shaking.

If only Loki were here. She is only a puppy, but having her by my side is so comforting. In the future I am going to take her with me everywhere I go.

In the meantime, I have to get out of here. Before I fall apart completely.

Selwyn is still surrounded by a horde. Which actually is a good thing because seeing him right now is the last thing I need. He’d know immediately that something was wrong, and I’d blurt out something about him being a traitor.

I glance longingly at the door. It should be fine to leave. Selwyn only invited me at the very last minute, so presumably my attendance is not essential.

As I fret, a servant approaches the drinks table beside me and begins replenishing it .

I look back over at the door. It is open now, and the dark hallway beyond it looks so inviting.

“When Prince Selwyn is free, please tell him that I have returned to our rooms to check on my puppy,” I blurt to the servant, causing the poor young man to startle.

I hurry away before he has a chance to respond to my request. It takes mere seconds to escape the ballroom, and as the quiet of the hallway settles over me, I can finally breathe.

I’m going to be back in my rooms and snuggling Loki in no time at all. My feet pick up the pace until I’m practically running.

I turn a corner, and the sound of voices reaches me. I slow to a sedate walk before anyone catches me acting crazy. There is a huddle of three people up ahead, and I have to walk past them. If I walk calmly, they might not notice me.

My heart races as I get closer. I keep my eyes firmly straight ahead, but I can still see that it is a man and a woman who have a third person crowded up against a shallow alcove.

The third person doesn’t look like he wants to be there at all. The shadows are obscuring him. All I can make out is black robes and dark hair brushing a slender waist.

Wait. Is that Dyfri?

My feet slow even more. The woman’s words reach my ears.

“We used to have so much fun,” she purrs.

“I have many memories,” Dyfri says in a sweet tone.

I blink. That didn’t sound like him at all, but I’m suddenly quite certain that it is. And I can’t help noticing that he didn’t say his memories were happy ones .

“So, come play tonight,” drawls the woman. “I want to see my new husband take you.”

The man makes a noise of pure excitement and avarice.

“And after that, you can both use your tongues on me,” she adds.

“I’m flattered,” coos Dyfri. “But sadly I must decline. I am expected at the ball.”

“Arriving when you thought I would have left,” huffs the woman.

I’m almost level with them now. Close enough to see the wicked gleam in her eyes.

“Not at all,” protests Dyfri.

The woman sighs, and the threat in it would make Mother proud. “The law was changed so your kind need to be asked. Not that you never need to spread your legs, Rhocyn.”

“I am aware.” Dyfri’s voice is soft. With no emotion in it at all.

I’m creeping past now and nearly away. Nobody has noticed me, thank heavens.

“So come to my bed. Entertain me. Show my husband how well unseelie half-breeds take cock. You have graced no one's bed in an age. People have noticed. People are talking.”

I’ve passed them now. I can’t run just yet, though. Just a few more steps, and everything will be fine.

However, a sad, resigned-sounding exhale has me looking over my shoulder just in time to see Dyfri’s shoulders slump in defeat.

Horror stops me in my tracks. I assumed this woman was simply being awful. I didn’t think her bark had any bite. But now everything that was just said is slotting together like puzzle pieces in my mind.

I know Dyfri is a rhocyn and he has to wear his hair down, which he doesn’t like. I know I’m not supposed to curtsy to him even though he is a prince. I know Selwyn said that rhocyn were treated cruelly.

And now, with everything I just eavesdropped on, I finally understand.

For whatever reason the fey have twisted and created and invented, someone who is a rhocyn has to… to…

“No!” I exclaim suddenly.

The woman and man whirl to face me. I turn to face them. They both bow and mutter, “Your Highness.”

Dyfri’s dark eyes bore into me.

I swallow tightly.

The woman smiles with too many teeth. “How lovely to cross paths with you, Your Highness. I am taking Prince Dyfri to my bed. Do you think I should give him an aphrodisiac to make it even more fun?”

What the hell? Who says stuff like this? Why on earth does she think she can rope me into her cruelty?

“No!” I blurt again, this time in outrage.

Her elegant eyebrows rise. “No?”

Heat floods my cheeks. “You can’t!”

“Why not? Tis what rhocyn are for?” Her brows are furrowed now.

Her husband is staring blankly at me like he doesn’t have a brain cell in his head. He is young and pretty, much younger than her, so it seems she didn’t choose him for his intelligence .

Dyfri is staring at me too. There is no shortage of intelligence shining in his eyes, but I don’t have a clue what he is thinking. But he doesn’t look happy.

I swallow again. Everyone is looking at me expectantly. Waiting to hear my reason why Dyfri can’t be dragged off to be abused.

But I do not have a reason. Only a moral objection, and that is of no interest to the fey. I fully believe her and her assertion that legally she is within her rights to claim Dyfri for the night.

What the hell can I do? There must be something! I have to think, even though thinking has never been my strong point.

She tilts her head to the side. Oh gosh, the silence has dragged on for far too long. I need to give an answer.

“Because… Because… I want him! In my bed. Tonight.”

Her eyes grow enormous. I can feel the gravity of Dyfri’s stare, but I cannot look at him, I just can’t.

“You want him?” she asks slowly.

I tilt my chin up in what I hope is an approximation of haughty and regal. “Yes!”

I have no idea who she is, or what rank she holds. But I am a prince consort, and I outrank everyone at court apart from the princes. I even think I outrank Dyfri because of this rhocyn nastiness.

She flows into a graceful bow and steps away from Dyfri. Her husband hastily follows her lead.

I rush forward, grab Dyfri’s arm and hurry away while towing him along. Adrenaline fuels my feet, and we reach my rooms quickly.

I slam the door behind me and let out the breath I was holding .

Dyfri yanks himself free from my grip and takes a couple of steps into the middle of the room, leaving me leaning against the door.

He whirls to face me with a fierce expression. Dark eyes blazing intensely.

“This is where you tell me you were bluffing.”

Heat explodes across my face. A veritable fireball. “Of course!”

Oh heavenly goddess, how could he think otherwise? At all. But then again, fey don’t usually outright lie. Half-truths and twisted words, yes. Blatant falsehoods, not so much.

Dyfri’s eyes narrow, then abruptly he whirls on his feet again and strides up to the drinks cabinet. He pours himself a big glass of something dark red, and then he goes and sits on the sofa, putting his feet on the seat and drawing his knees up close.

I drift towards him. He lifts up one finger as he gulps some of his drink. “No. We are not talking about anything.”

I frantically nod my fervent agreement and sit down in the plush armchair opposite him. My palms are sweaty. If only I could get my heart to calm down. The danger is over. Everyone is safe. Dyfri is here and not with that vile woman.

He will have to stay here a while to make my bluff seem true, but everything is fine. My impulsive, harebrained scheme actually worked.

Dyfri’s hand shakes a little as he brings the glass to his lips. Otherwise, he seems utterly calm. I’m impressed. I’d be a mess. I guess I really am a big baby .

I inhale deeply. Why does Dyfri put up with any abuse at all? I don’t understand. I’ve felt his magic, and I’m fairly certain he could smite anyone in the palace.

Suddenly, the doors burst open, making me jump out of my skin and nearly levitate off of the chair.

Selwyn storms into the room. His eyes are glowing, actually glowing with an eerie inner light.

“What is the meaning of this?” he snarls.

My lungs freeze, and my heart gives up entirely.

Oh heaven help me, what have I done?