Page 35 of Fey Empire (Fey Lords #5)

Chapter thirty-four

T he darkness fades. Light floods back in. I’m in Selwyn’s lap. My head is resting on his chest, and he is stroking my hair.

We are in bed. He must have carried me from the art studio.

“How long was I out for?”

“Not long. Less than an hour.”

Oh that’s good. Although with the curtains drawn, and the warmth and comfort of Selwyn’s lap, I could easily go back to sleep for another hour or two.

“Where is Loki?”

Was she scared when I passed out? Did she observe other things she shouldn’t have?

“With Peaony. How are you feeling?”

“Good!” I exclaim before blushing fiercely.

Goodness, I really am shameless. I’m sure he was asking about my magic, and not inquiring about all the post-orgasm endorphins that are making me glow.

I turn my attention inwards. My magic is calm and peaceful. A content and calm candle flame and no longer a bonfire.

It really worked. I gave up my magic with a kiss .

And, well, also a hand on my cock, but that is beside the point. The facts are, I have been lied to my entire life. Vessels don’t need to take a cock inside them to give up their magic. Power doesn’t need to be fucked out of them. Submission is not the key.

Magic can be offered with a kiss.

“I don’t know why I am surprised that everything I was taught was a lie,” I say out loud.

Selwyn continues to run his hand over my hair. “Vessels have been subjugated because they are so very powerful.”

I don’t feel very powerful, but I don’t know what to believe anymore. The very foundations of my existence have been shaken.

We sit in silence. The weight of my thoughts is surprisingly not too heavy, but it is filling the quiet.

“It is the full moon tomorrow,” Selwyn says softly.

Guilt hits me like a tsunami. Holy stars, am I self-obsessed.

I’m sitting here moping when Dyfri is facing a duel tomorrow.

They are always on the next full moon, and I just know my mother challenged him with such short notice on purpose.

It was a calculated move to ensure he had hardly any time to prepare.

“Dyfri’s duel,” I whisper.

Beneath me, Selwyn stiffens slightly. “And your decision.”

Oh sweet goddess. With everything going on, I’ve barely thought about that! I had assumed it was no longer a thing. But Selwyn is acting as if it is. Does he not know I am deeply hopeful about our future? Does he not feel the same way?

My stomach twists painfully. “Would you let me go?”

He inhales sharply. “If it would make you happy. ”

I’m too stunned to speak.

“I can let it be known that I am keeping you somewhere secret,” he adds. “The alliance would not be affected.”

“Why? Why would you be so selfless?” I ask.

Unfamiliar anger is starting to heat my blood. If he wants me gone, he needs to say so. He can’t make out it is all my idea, and he is merely indulgent and benevolent.

Several heartbeats pass. Selwyn doesn’t answer. His hand leaves my hair. I’m not even sure he is breathing.

Then his voice rumbles out into the silence. “Because you mean the world to me.”

I blink. My hand goes up to one of my silver earrings. It is still there and presumably still working correctly.

“But… but!” I blurt loudly in protest. “You barely know me. We’ve been married for one month, and it hasn’t exactly been a calm month!”

He accepts my outburst placidly. Even so, I should probably get off his lap. But I don’t want to. I’m not ready to accept that the tranquil, easy contentment of a few moments ago has gone.

“Are you aware that fey have skills? Rhydian can dream walk. Tristan excels at languages. Dyfri is brilliant with poisons.”

I stay quiet and wait for him to continue. I’m sure he has a point and is not changing the subject.

“Everyone believes my skill lies with nurturing growing things.”

He pauses, and I wait with bated breath. Whatever he is going to say next, is going to be monumental. I can feel it in my bones.

“I have the blessing of foresight. ”

Wow. I was right. This is monumental. “You can see the future?”

“Glimpses,” he says solemnly. “See. Hear. Smell. Feel and experience.”

That sounds intense. And I bet with all things magical, it is inconsistent. He probably can’t look to see the outcome of Dyfri’s duel. He likely sees only random glimpses of whatever the universe chooses to share.

“I have seen you since my name day. I have lived our love.”

Oh.

Oh my very holy stars.

Sweet goddess.

Shock is the only thing in my mind. I cannot form a single coherent thought. Let alone any words.

Luckily, Selwyn is happy to speak. “I yearned to experience our love in the present. I also feared its intensity and how it consumed me.” He shudders. “Then it seemed the visions were merely a possibility, not a given.”

He takes ?a deep breath as if bracing himself for pain. “I had never been more terrified.”

My heart thumps. It takes up a strange rhythm. Wild and unpredictable. I’m still a long way from words.

“I knew how wonderful receiving your love was,” Selwyn says. “But none of my foresight showed me how I won it. I had no clue how to achieve it.”

He breathes deeply again. “I still don’t.”

My stomach is doing strange things. I feel lightheaded and dizzy. It is quite possible that I am swooning again. Whatever is happening to me, I am still incapable of speech. My body is reacting to the things Selwyn is saying, but my mind is frozen in shock .

He wraps his arms around me and presses me against his chest. Holding me as if he is worried I’m about to disappear in a puff of smoke.

“I don’t know how to make you love me,” he says. “But I have learnt that it doesn’t matter. You are here, and I get to know you. I get to love you . That is the blessing.”

A soft noise whooshes out of my lungs. It is part squeak, part sigh. But at least it is something. It is a sign of progress. I don’t want to sit here frozen, silent and unresponsive while Selwyn bares his soul to me.

“If one day I earn your love, I will be the proudest man alive. If that never happens, the privilege of loving you and keeping you safe and happy, is more than enough.”

My body moves. It pulls away from Selwyn’s chest. His arms fall away slowly, as if he doesn’t want to release me.

I twist a little, so I can look up at him. His eyes are glowing. Burning with intensity. He is hiding nothing, and I can see all of him.

My body takes charge again. I think it is fed up with waiting for my mind to do something, and it has decided to take action. I’m glad.

My head leans forward, and my lips smash against his. I feel his surprise almost as starkly as I feel my own.

Then the kiss takes over and consumes everything. Honey and spice and lightning. A feeling I feel down to my toes. He isn’t merely kissing my lips, he is caressing my soul. Our souls are entwining. Heating one another. Melding and sparking. Forming something new and wonderful.

I shift my body even more, never breaking away from his lips. Now I am facing him and the angle is much better. I can wrap my arms around his neck .

A soft moan flutters through me. His arms tighten around my back. My hunger grows. I still don’t understand how I know how to kiss, but I am very glad that I do.

My lips move over his with passion. My tongue slips into his mouth, and he groans in response. His tongue slides along mine, and I see stars.

His kiss deepens, and I whimper from the intensity. So many sensations are burning through me, I cannot contain them all.

I moan again, and my body moves once more. Now I am facing him fully and straddling his lap wantonly.

His scorching hands blaze a trail down my back, all the way to my ass cheeks where they rest, one on each cheek. He squeezes and lifts my ass and I make a filthy noise and press myself so close to his chest, it is as if I wish to climb inside of him.

His hands stop moving. His tongue leaves my mouth. His lips try to leave mine, but I chase him. I chase and chase. Why is he trying to leave? Does he need to breathe? Who needs oxygen in a time like this?

Reluctantly, I relent and allow his lips to leave mine. As soon as I stop attacking him, he stops kissing me.

My lungs heave in a breath. I open my eyes.

His eyes are glowing with a smouldering heat. Intense and ready to ignite.

“If you keep kissing me, Little Lamb, I won’t be able to control myself.”

“I don’t want you to,” I pout.

His eyes widen and his eyebrows lift.

“Make love to me!” I demand.

Then I kiss him again.