Page 39 of Fey Empire (Fey Lords #5)

Chapter thirty-eight

T he art studio looks lovely. Peaony has done a fantastic job helping me turn it into an art gallery for the evening. All the easels, supplies, and equipment have been neatly tucked away out of sight. The displayed drawings are well hung, and there are tables of drinks and nibbles.

Selwyn’s idea has been brought to life, and I am nowhere near as nervous as I thought I would be. I truly am becoming brave and finding my courage.

Selwyn strides into the room with Loki by his heels. She sees me and leaves his side to bound up to me. I bend down and stroke her excitedly wriggling body.

“It is almost as beautiful as you in here,” Selwyn says.

My cheeks heat and I busy myself with fussing over Loki. Selwyn can’t go around flinging compliments around willy-nilly! What is he thinking? Does he want me to get all flustered?

Tentatively, I peek up. Mercifully, he has turned away and is inspecting my displayed drawings. One of each of his brothers. One each of Jamie, Blake, Ollie. One of Llywelyn and his human when they were at court. And in pride of place, one of Selwyn in his plant room .

He stops in front of it. “You didn’t choose the one with me on the bed?”

My blush returns with full ferocity. “Of course not,” I mutter.

“I like that one,” he chuckles with a gleam in his eye.

His good mood is infectious, and I find myself grinning in response. “It is for your eyes only.”

“Now I like it even more.”

My stomach swoops, and I’d love to kiss him, but our guests will be arriving soon. And it is very hard to kiss him and not get carried away. Sometimes quite literally, since he has picked me up and carried me to the bedchamber during a kiss.

He drifts over to the picture of Dyfri. My good mood falters.

“Do you think he will come?” I ask.

It has been eight days since the duel. Six days since I banished my mother. Still nobody but Mabon has seen him.

“I am hopeful,” Selwyn says.

Dyfri can come through the secret door, and there is only going to be his family here. Surely if he feels strong enough to go anywhere, it will be here?

That is of course assuming he can forgive me and can bear to be in the same room as me. Even if that is ever possible in the future, a measly eight days is probably far too soon.

Selwyn sees my expression and comes over to me. He pulls me close to him and kisses the top of my head. He doesn’t waste his breath on empty platitudes, and I really appreciate that .

He is a good man. A dangerous one, but good. Look at how he is trying to save everyone for a start. He wants to save his people and mine. In the most altruistic way, because I cannot see how success would grant him any personal gains. It is far more likely to brand him a traitor.

I press myself closer to his chest. He said he was adamant that none of the dark paths he is willing to tread involve hurting his brothers or their lovers. He plans to see them all safely home .

I believe him. I believe his plans are worthy. Noble. All for the greater good.

Worth supporting. Not that I can do much except keep his secrets and stand by his side. Hopefully, that is enough.

With a sigh, I try to clear my mind. None of those grand plots and plans are going to come to fruition for years. There is no point in dwelling on them or stressing. For now, I get to live in Buckingham Palace with the man I love. I intend to savour every single moment.

The sound of footsteps brings me back to the here and now. I step back from Selwyn and straighten my robes.

Our guests have arrived.

Mabon strides in with Blake on his arm. Ollie and Tristan are right behind them. Loki runs up to our visitors to say hello.

Prince Mabon casts his gaze around the room, sees the picture of him and makes a beeline straight for it. Dragging Blake with him. I follow them with my heart in my mouth.

He stops right in front of the picture and inspects it closely. His gaze flicks to the picture of Blake, hanging beside his.

“Oh, Blake, you look so handsome!” he coos .

His attention turns back to his likeness. He regards it intently.

“I love it!” he declares. “I will have both hung in my bedchamber!”

“Mabon, they are Laurie’s, you can’t…” begins Blake, but I interrupt him with a shake of my head.

“I will be honoured to give them to you.”

Mabon’s eyes widen suddenly. “Draw me now!”

I blink.

“Naked!” exclaims Mabon. “I want more nudes.” His hand goes to the ties of his robes as I stare in horror.

Blake gently catches Mabon’s slender wrist and stops him from undressing. “Not now, Mabpie. Laurie has other guests. I’m sure he will come to our rooms and draw you another day.”

Mabon glares at me for a moment. Then he lets out a loud, long-suffering sigh. “Fine.”

Then his eyes brighten. “Oh! You can draw me riding Blake!”

Blake makes a mortified sound. My cheeks heat fiercely. “That sounds… interesting. Please excuse me.”

I turn and flee across the room, only to find Ollie glaring up at his picture, with his arms crossed over his chest.

“You don’t like it?” I say with dismay.

Ollie scowls. “You made me look pretty.”

“You are pretty?” I am so confused. Ollie is absolutely gorgeous. Does he not want to be? Does he wish his looks matched his fierce personality more? Which actually does make sense.

I thought I had done a good job of capturing the fire in his eyes. Maybe I need to try again .

“I could…” I start to offer, but Ollie suddenly turns and slaps me on the back.

“It is a good drawing. You have some talent there, kid.”

“Thank… thank you,” I stammer as I fight yet another blush.

Why is he calling me ‘kid’ again? I swear he is a couple of years older than me at the most. But I must admit that he is a hell of a lot more confident. As well as infinitely braver. It is not hard to see why I am a kid in his eyes.

Selwyn’s deep laugh reaches my ears. He is talking not only with Tristan but also with the Crown Prince and Jamie. Heavens, I didn’t see them arrive. I should go over and say hello.

But just then, the hidden door opens and Dyfri steps in. Appearing no more than three feet away from me.

I swallow. He looks a little paler than usual, and a little more subdued, but otherwise he seems okay. He isn’t holding his arm strangely, and he appears to be moving it freely. His horns are back, and I’m so very happy to see them.

“Hi,” I squeak awkwardly since I’m standing right here.

His dark eyes meet mine, and he nods.

Relief hits me so hard my knees tremble. He isn’t going to hate me forever.

“Congratulations on getting rid of your mother,” he says.

“Thank you!”

He knows the revenge was mostly for him, doesn’t he? It was one small way of making amends.

“Hey, come see your picture,” says Ollie. “The kid really captured the whole twink-wannabe-shadow-lord thing you have going on. ”

Dyfri’s eyes narrow, but he follows Ollie across the room.

I let out a breath. Ollie is right, Dyfri needs normal. A bit of gentle barbing is perfect. And everyone else has glanced over, but no one is staring or crowding him. They are all handling this much better than I am.

I take another breath. Okay, I am hosting, so I need to make sure everyone has a drink and has found the nibbles. I was literally trained on how to do stuff like this. I should get on with it.

With that thought in mind, I step forward and get to work.

An hour later, the room falls silent. I look over and see that Rhydian is holding up his hand. I guess that is the fey equivalent of tapping a spoon against a wineglass.

I stand awkwardly with a plate of cheese, and wait to hear what the Crown Prince has to say.

“Since everyone is here, I have an announcement for the family before the news is made public.”

He pauses and looks at Dyfri, who nods.

Rhydian continues. “Dyfri’s engagement has been finalised and brought forward. He will be marrying Jack Caxton, the human prime minister’s son, on the winter solstice. Dyfri will be joining the humans’ ruling family at Downing Street.”

A brief silence falls.

“Is that what you want?” demands Ollie with blazing eyes.

Dyfri shrugs. “It gets me away from you. And out of here.”

Ollie scowls, but then everyone is stepping forward to congratulate Dyfri. Everyone apart from me .

I’m just standing here with my cheese platter, staring at the huddle that has formed around Dyfri.

“Rhydian would not have arranged it if Dyfri didn’t want to do it,” says Selwyn, appearing by my side.

“Are you sure?” I whisper.

Selwyn nods. “It is a good plan. A reprieve. It gets Dyfri away from court and all who wish him ill. It gives us time to work on other options.”

My head snaps around to stare at Selwyn in surprise.

“Marriages don’t have to be forever,” he grins.

My jaw drops. Alarm floods my heart and soul. It pounds in my veins.

Selwyn takes the cheese plate from my lax fingers and carefully sets it on the side table. Then he takes both my hands and squeezes them.

“Our marriage is forever,” he says solemnly as his gold-flecked eyes swirl with devotion.

My lungs start working again. A smile teases at the corner of Selwyn’s lips. Oh goddess, do I want to kiss him. But I only have to wait a little longer. Our guests will be leaving soon.

Then we will have the whole night to ourselves. And then forever. Because our marriage is forever.

Forever and ever.