Page 79 of Fey Empire

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.