Selwyn sniggers but quickly hides it. I knew he was an asshole. Sometimes it is awful to be right.
“May I borrow your pet to try?” asks Iestyn. He is clearly talking to Llywelyn and ignoring the rest of the room, but, nonetheless, everyone is hanging on his every word.
Llywelyn shrugs and leans over to hand the advisor his pet’s leash. Iestyn grins again and drapes the long silver chain elegantly over the crook of his elbow. The young man kneeling on the floor does not react at all. My stomach squirms and I risk a peek up at Rhydian. He wouldn’t hand me over so easily? Would he?
My gaze skims over Rhydian’s haughty profile. Under the table, his knee brushes against my own. A slight, barely there gesture. But I understand. I drop my head back down to stare at my lap like a good pet and to hide my smile. Rhydian will never give me away.
“Who wishes to report first?” says Iestyn as he daintily reaches for a bunch of blood red grapes.
“I will,” says Rhydian.
He sounds calm, authoritative. He has taken the lead, but somehow the power in the room still belongs to the advisor and we all know it.
“Grand,” replies Iestyn. “Someone put a silence ward on the human.”
My body jerks. I didn’t think he had seen me. I swear he hasn’t even glanced at me once. I grimace as pure and utter silence settles over me like a shroud. My breathing is the only sound I can hear. Damn it.
I can’t believe the creep noticed me. I suppose it could be flattering that he deems me a risk, but it just feels terrifying. It seems like anything that Iestyn deems a threat doesn’t have a long and healthy lifespan. And I really want one of those. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted. Well, that and someone to share it with.
Time to take a deep breath and still my spiralling thoughts. Hopefully, Iestyn is simply always this cautious, and it is all humans he distrusts, not me in particular. Because I’m not really a threat. As depressing as that is.
I keep telling myself that I’m going to listen and learn and continue to play biddable, and then I’m going to escape and give all my knowledge to the Resistance or something. The horrifying fact is, I don’t think I’m brave enough. I think I truly am biddable and my only desire is to survive.
It might be time to admit the truth.
I’m not a hero. I’m just Jamie.
Chapter eighteen
Inever thought trailing behind Rhydian would feel so good, but walking further and further away from Iestyn with every step feels liberating. Nevermind being freed from the silence spell. I’m so happy right now, I feel like I’m walking on air, not ridiculously expensive crimson carpet.
Rhydian turns a corner. Well, this is surprising. I’m pretty sure this is the way to his office, not his rooms. Looks like I’m getting to spend the day with him instead of being left to my own devices. My stupid heart flutters at that. I really need to get a grip.
He opens the door, and sure enough, this is his office. Except now it has a purple beanbag next to the desk as well as a stack of books. And I’m pretty sure they are the books I am currently reading.
My breath hitches. I’m being absurd. It was probably Pinky who noticed, not Rhydian. Princes do not pay attention to what books their pets are currently reading.
Rhydian drops my leash and heads towards his desk.
My heart is still flip flopping like crazy. I ignore it and flop down onto the beanbag. This is way better than kneeling on the floor. Like, a thousand times better.
I look up at Rhydian, and my words of thanks die on my lips. He is staring at some papers, but he looks tense and deeply unhappy. And I’m pretty sure I know why.
“That Iestyn is such a bitch,” I say.
Amber eyes snap up to mine, wide with shock. He can’t believe I’ve said such a thing. But hey, I’m a pet, my lowly status perversely gives me some freedoms a prince doesn’t have. He continues to stare at me, then the corner of his mouth twitches and he lets out a little chuckle.
I smile. “What is his deal anyway?”
Rhydian shakes his head in wry amusement and turns away again. “He has wormed his way into both the king’s and the queen’s bed. It makes him extremely powerful.”
Oh wow. Okay. I was not expecting that. “He…um…is having affairs with both of them?”
“I do not know what your word affair means. He warms both my father’s and my mother’s beds and is often invited to share the royal suite.”
I am pretty sure my eyebrows have disappeared into my hairline right now. Threesomes? Royal threesomes? Rhydian’s dad is bi? And that leads to another thought.
“Wait, your mother?” I hear myself splutter. “I thought Dyfri was younger than you, but he said his mum was sent away?” I’m so confused. Is Dyfri older than Rhydian? Did the stupid rhocyn thing take all his power and standing?
