“Jamie!”
I open my eyes. I’m sprawled on my back on the tiles by the pool. My legs, from the knees down, are still in the water. When the hell did I flop over? I have no recollection of that.
Rhydian is looming over me. His arms are on the floor either side of my head. His glorious naked body is dripping water onto me.
“Are you alright?” He looks concerned. Bless him.
“Yeah. I’m brilliant. You fucked my brains out,” I giggle. I’m soporific and happy. Floating on clouds.
Rhydian’s eyes widen and his brows furrow. “I’m assuming that’s an expression that doesn’t translate well.”
I stare at him. Fucking someone’s brains out could definitely sound all kinds of wrong in translation. A helpless laugh bubbles out of me. It pours and flows. My shoulders are heaving and my eyes are watering.
Rhydian pulls me up and drags me back into the water and onto his lap, facing him. Being pressed against all this naked manliness sobers me up and I sigh happily. I rest my head on his shoulder and grin when he doesn’t shove me off.
“I want to learn how to speak fey,” I say.
His arms wrap around my back, and I snuggle in closer.
“I will teach you,” he rumbles, and I can feel the vibrations from his chest.
“No,” I sigh wistfully. “You are the boss of Britain, and far too busy to teach someone a whole assed language. You need to find someone else.”
He sighs heavily, as if teaching me his language is his greatest dream, and he is despondent about having to give it up.
“Tristan,” he says.
“Fine,” I agree.
Rhydian trusts Tristan, and the worst the redhead can do is flirt me to death. I can put up with that. I can put up with a lot, when it comes to Rhydian.
Chapter thirty
Ilook beautiful, and it’s making me all teary. I truly hope this mirror isn’t enchanted, because that would be the cruelest prank ever. Finding out that this isn’t real would break my heart, and if that makes me shallow, then so be it.
The changes that fey food have made to my body are exquisite and delicate. It’s astonishing what a difference a few simple changes can make. My hair is more glossy, deeper in colour. Longer and curling now. My skin is smoother and clearer. My nose a fraction straighter. My eyes a shade brighter. Each change is tiny on its own, but all together, it’s incredible.
I’ve always wanted to be pretty. Hasn’t everyone? To have it actually happen is a dream come true.
My hips move side to side and swish my new fancy robes. This outfit is beautiful. A deep twilight blue, sprinkled with diamonds. It looks like I’m wearing the evening sky.
It cinches at my narrow waist. Good tailoring or more effects of fey food, I’m not sure, but my waist looks amazing. My stomach looks flat and toned, my shoulders shapely. I’m still short, but that suits me. I look like the world’s most fuckable twink, and I love it.
My gaze slides off my alluring form and takes in the bed behind me. My heart clenches painfully, yet again. Rhydian’s rooms have all been rearranged. This is a new bedchamber. And the furs covering the mattress are no longer rich brown, but snow white. The bed frame is also new. This one is dark marble with gold veins. No magic in the world could make vines shoot from it.
To anyone else, it probably simply looks like Rhydian wanted a change. To redecorate and freshen up his living space. But I know the truth. He hasn’t told me with words, but I know. And it is eating up at me with cold, impotent fury. I need to do something.
Rhydian appears in the mirror behind me and distracts me entirely. The sight of him banishes every dark thought from my mind. His gaze rakes over me and a proud smile tugs at his lips. I grin back at him. He looks incredible too. His blue silk robes are a shade lighter than mine, but they clearly complement each other. A signal to the world that we belong together.
His silks are partially covered by another layer of etched brown leather that flares at the shoulders. Combined with his proud antlers, he looks as regal as hell.
This ball is going to be amazing. Attending it by his side is going to bring out my inner smug jerk and I don’t even care.
Rhydian smiles at me again and clips a delicate looking leash of fine silver chain to my collar. I follow him as gracefully as I can as he leads me out. The hallways appear even longer today. Darker and damper. The ceilings are covered in foliage that twists and moves. Bright white flowers bloom amongst the dark green leaves. A heady, intoxicating scent exudes from them.
Buckingham Palace is fading more and more every day. I shiver and try not to think about it.
We reach a ballroom and slip inside. The gathering is already in full swing, but nobody is dancing yet. They are all talking in small groups, thin wine glasses in hand, or parading around in their fancy outfits.
