Page 88 of Fey Empire

“I will serve you forever,” Selwyn whispers.

My heart flutters. My stomach flips. My mind spins.

I think this is a swoon. I think I am swooning.

And nobody can blame me.

Hallelujah. The fates are finally smiling on me. There are only ten more thank-you letters left to write. I am very nearly free of them.

I stretch in my chair. Then I try to rub the cramp out of my hand.

Loki’s tail thumps against the floor where she is sprawled, and I turn around just in time to see Dyfri stride in through the secret door.

“Tea?” I offer.

I have no idea why he didn’t use the main door and knock, but I’m still going to treat him like a guest.

Oh, actually, I do know why he can’t use the front door. He can’t be seen visiting me. Not after all the scandal I have caused.

He shakes his head. “I am not staying for long.”

His dark eyes drop down to the side of my neck and stay there. I slap my hand over the bite mark, and I blush fiercely.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

I nod frantically. Sweet goddess, I’m going to die of mortification. I should have worn a scarf even though I wasn’t expecting any visitors.

Dyfri nods in acceptance. He is going to drop it, thank goodness.

“We need to talk about Mabon.”

Mabon? Okay. I was not expecting that. Although, this is a far more pleasant topic than discussing all the rumours flying around about us.

“I found out who hurt him.”

I blink. That was damn quick, although I don’t know why I am surprised. This is Dyfri. I have no doubt that he is capable of anything he puts his mind to.

And he is far, far more clever than I am. I cannot fathom how he figured out from Mabon’s funny turn that someone had hurt him. This is why I am terrible at plotting.

“It was the Resistance.” Dyfri stares at me with a deeply intense look.

My brow furrows. Why is he telling me this? I mean, it sounds awful, and I feel for Mabon, I really do. But Dyfri doesn’t strike me as the type to give information freely. Or to gossip.

He rolls his eyes. “I need names.”

My jaw drops. Why the hell does everyone think I’m involved with the Resistance? What is it about me that gives that impression? Is it simply because I am human?

“You gave me a truth serum!” I splutter. “You know I don’t have anything to do with any of that.”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “They captured him. Did things to him.”

My stomach rolls over while my blood turns cold.

“They unbound his hair.”

Dyfri’s dark eyes blaze. Goosebumps shiver along my skin. The sunlight dims, and everything grows heavy and oppressive.

I swallow dryly. Holy stars. By the sound of it, having your hair unbound is worse than torture. I wonder what the hell it meant when I undid mine.