Page 93 of Fey Empire

“Let’s find her a bigger pot,” Selwyn says.

He hums to himself as he moves over to a shelf full of spare pots. He looks so very content and at ease. It is a lovely image.

The light streaming from the windows is beautiful. I’d love to draw him here, surrounded by his hundreds of plants.

Maybe I will ask when things are calmer and the disaster I have caused is over. Spending an afternoon pleasantly learning about plants feels abhorrent enough with everything going on.

I don’t deserve this. Not when I have ruined Dyfri’s life. I shouldn’t have moments of happiness while he is suffering.

I made this mess, and I can’t even help. I furiously wrote down everything I know about my mother’s magic.Her strengths and weaknesses. Her favourite spells. Her personality and how to rile her.

But Selwyn said none of it was allowed. No one is allowed to help anyone facing a duel. I can see how that is fair, but at the same time, it is so unfair!

Loki’s tail thumps against the floor. She doesn’t stop gnawing on her bone. It is only her tail that is moving.

Instinctively, I look towards the door. Just in time to see Dyfri stride in with his head held high.

A tightness eases from my chest. Thank the goddess. It has been three days since my mother challenged him. I was beginning to think he’d never come out of his rooms. Yet, here he is. Choosing to visit Selwyn and me.

I must tell Jamie and the others that Dyfri is out and about, as soon as I can. They will be so relieved. Though, I might just send a note since I don’t think I’m brave enough to face them. I’m sure they must all hate me now after everything I have done.

“I need your contacts,” Dyfri says to Selwyn.

While completely ignoring me. It is fair enough and utterly deserved, as well as no less than I was expecting. But it still stings like hell. Dyfri was the closest thing to a friend I ever had.

Selwyn raises an eyebrow. “Why do you need my contacts?”

Dyfri scowls. He may be out of his rooms, but he doesn’t look good. His face is drawn and there are dark circles under his eyes. His horns are back, but I swear they are smaller than they were.

“So I can avenge Mabon,” Dyfri snaps.

Selwyn blinks. “Is that what you should focus on right now?”

Absolutely not. He shouldn’t even be thinking about that right now. He should be concentrating on planning how to whoop my mother’s ass.

“Yes,” retorts Dyfri as he crosses his arms over his chest.

“Dyfri…”

“Stop talking and give me your contacts.”

My gaze ping-pongs between the two brothers. I am completely useless here, and I hate it. There is nothing I can do, and if I tried, I’d probably only make everything worse. The best I can do is to be a silent observer.

Selwyn sighs heavily. “I avenged our brother a long time ago.”

He did? Oh my goodness! I didn’t even know he knew anything about what happened to Mabon. And what type of revenge does he mean exactly? Or is it best that I don’t know?

I swallow tightly. Yes. I think in this case, ignorance absolutely is bliss.

Dyfri’s eyes narrow. He is not instantly believing Selwyn like I am. But then again, Dyfri is probably this suspicious of everyone and everything. With good reason. Because people like me crash into his life and upend it.

“The duel…” Selwyn begins, but Dyfri interrupts again.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Selwyn’s eyes swirl with something that looks like pity. I wince. Dyfri is not going to want to see that. Nobody ever wants to see that.

“It is going to be fine,” Selwyn says gently.