I jump to my feet. Dyfri jumps up too, alarm clear in the lines of his body. I take two steps and wrap my arms around him in a tight hug. He is as stiff as a board, but I don’t care.
“What are you doing?” he asks in a tone of great bemusement.
My heart sinks even lower. Fey are so cruel, they don’t even have hugs?
“I’m hugging you. It’s a human custom.”
“What for?”
“To demonstrate affection and compassion,” I explain.
He goes even stiffer, but I just hold him tighter.
“But…” he whispers softly. “You have only just met me?”
Oh gods, he sounds so lost. So very taken aback. I think I’m going to cry. But I won’t. Dyfri doesn’t need that from me. I keep a hold of him. Slowly, he relaxes in my arms. Then feather light, so light I can barely feel it, his arms wrap around me.
I grin against his shoulder. Before I escape, I might be able to do some good around here, and I like the sound of that. I like it a lot.
Chapter six
I’m so bored. So very, very bored. Dyfri had to leave hours ago and there is nothing to do in Rhydian’s rooms. The books are all in the fey language. There is no television, laptop, tablet or phone. Not even a radio. If there was a kitchen, I could eat out of boredom or entertain myself by baking or something.
The door to the bathroom is locked. Probably to prevent me from drowning myself. Strangely, the doors to the corridor and the rest of the palace are unlocked, with no guards in sight. I peeked out, but I’m not stupid. Buckingham Palace is a fey court now, and these motherfuckers are dangerous and I have no clue of the rules or what protection being Rhydian’s pet gives me. Or even if it gives me any protection at all.
So, nope. I’m staying where it is relatively safe. At least until I know what is what, and can come up with an escape plan that will definitely work. Which is great and all, except it leaves me so very, very bored.
The little pink haired dudes brought me some roast chicken, what feels like hours ago. Presumably that was dinner. It is dark outside and there is no way to tell the time. I’m losing my mind.
Surely, Rhydian will be back soon? I almost don’t care if he strides in, throws me on the bed and has his wicked way with me. Anything would be better than this unending nothingness.
Dyfri said he was busy tomorrow, but could give me more lessons the day after. The thought of an entire day of this is horrendous. I don’t know how I will survive.
I don’t even know enough yet to start plotting my escape. Same goes for helping Dyfri and trying to do some good. All I have at the moment are intentions, and they aren’t enough to keep my mind occupied.
I move over to the chaise lounge and flop down on it, sprawling on my back. Then I drop my head over the edge so I’m viewing the sitting room upside down. There are pretty carvings around the base of the chandelier. The ceiling is so ridiculously high that I can’t quite make out what the shapes are. Leaves and birds, I think. And I think when shapes are made out of plaster, it is called a cornice. But I have no idea how I know that.
The door opens and now I can see an upside down Rhydian standing in the doorway, looking at me as if I’m insane. He might be right. I think I have completely lost my mind.
I pull myself up into a sitting position. “Hi.”
He frowns and quickly shuts the door behind him as if he doesn’t want anyone to see that his pet has gone crazy.
He strides towards his bedroom, and I scurry after him. Hours and hours alone and I’m desperate for any sort of company. Even his. I’m so ridiculously happy to see him,it’s absurd.
The lighting is soft in here, but the bed still looks ominous. Rhydian has his back to me as he removes his top layer of clothes.
Am I about to have my newfound cocksucking skills put to the test? Oh crap! I probably should have curtsied to him when he strode in. It is such an alien gesture to me, I doubt I’ll ever get the hang of it. Oh well, he hasn’t said anything at least.
He turns around and now I’m trapped in his gaze. His eyes look forest green today and a corner lamp is giving his antlers a soft aura. He looks like a creature of the forest. All mythical and magical.
I swallow. It’s strange how merely looking at him makes my heart go all funny. But he is a creature of legend. And my captor. And a prince.
My lungs don’t want to work. They want to freeze until Rhydian has decided if he is going for a bath, or a drink, or to sleep, or to order me to drop to my knees and take him in my mouth.
As I stare at him and wait to hear my fate, my eyes are drawn to the intricate braids that weave around his antlers. Every fey I have seen has something similar, some fancy way of keeping some of their long hair up. Even the little pink servant dudes have little buns that leave half their hair falling free. Dyfri is the only one I’ve seen with his hair completely loose, and given his comment about having his hair forcefully unbound, it clearly is a status symbol.
No one has braided my hair. Granted, my hair is fairly short, only just long enough to grab. But it could be braided, I’m sure of it. So the lack is an insult. Meant to be demeaning and demonstrate my lowly status as a mere pet.
