He flickers for a heartbeat, like a computer game glitching. And suddenly he is shorter. Not so unnaturally slender. His face is softer. And younger. His eyes are still fixed on the salt in the goblet he is holding, but they are no longer a dull malachite. They are dazzling emerald.
I blink in confusion.
“He is so weakened his glamour has failed!” exclaims someone loudly. Someone who sounds an awful lot like Mabon. Bless him.
But I’m still confused. Why would anyone glamour themselves to look less attractive? It doesn’t make any sense at all. Whatever the reason, I don’t have time to ponder it now.
I step back up close to him. He flinches and even though his eyes are still fixed on the salt, I can see the terror in them. My stomach twists.
I clear my throat.
“I will not make a rhocyn of you. I will not kill you. I will banish you.”
Someone opens a swirling purple and pink portal right behind Iestyn. I’ve won. Fair and square. Enacting my decree doesn’t constitute as helping me. Thank fuck.
I have a very strong feeling the portal is Rhydian’s, but there is no time to glance up at him to check.
I snatch the goblet of salt from Iestyn’s lax fingers and shove him hard in the middle of his chest. He staggers backwards out of the frying pan and into the portal. Heshrieks but the sound is cut off short as the portal winks out of existence and he disappears. Iestyn is gone.
The throne room erupts into noise and movement. Claps and whoops and exclamations of surprise.
I’m staring at the spot Iestyn was just standing in. It is hard to comprehend, but it is true.
It’s done. It’s over.
I won.
Rhydian strides down from his throne and wraps me in his arms. I breathe in the scent of him. Exult in the feel of being in his in embrace.
“I love you,” he whispers for my ears only. “I’m very glad you are alive.”
My stomach is twisting, and my heart is trying to beat faster than a hummingbird’s wings.
“I love you too,” I whisper back.
Could this day get any better?
Chapter forty
My wonderful dream slowly drifts away. Reality gently comes along in bits and pieces to replace it. I’m sprawled in bed. Half on Rhydian. I’m using his chest as a pillow. His arm is wrapped around my back.
Hmm. This is lovely. Comfy and snuggly. I’m slightly achy in all the right places. My body is languid and my mind calm. The wonders a good fucking can do. It’s blissful. This is a million times better than whatever lovely dream I was just having.
I do need a pee, though. And now I’m thinking about it, I’m starving. What time is it anyway?
Reluctantly, I open my eyes. Sunlight is streaming around the curtains. Birds are singing, but everything else is quiet.
I look up at Rhydian. He is awake. Just lying here quietly, acting as my pillow and my mattress.
“Sorry,” I yawn. “You probably need to go.”
“Not today,” he says calmly.
I feel my eyebrows rising. “Did you clear your diary so you could spend the daywith me?”
“Yes.”
What the hell? I was teasing him, but it’s actually true? Oh, my god! Now a thousand butterflies have taken flight in my stomach and my heart is fluttering. He wants to spend the day with me. This is incredible.
