The smoke coiling around the room doesn’t smell like weed or shisha, but I’m willing to bet on my mum’s life that it is the fey equivalent.
It doesn’t seem to be affecting me, and I don’t know if that is because I’m not sucking on a pipe directly or because it doesn’t work on humans. Either way, it’s good news for me. I’m sitting here stone cold sober, in a room full of relaxed fey. It’s a prime opportunity to overhear useful information. Somebody is bound to let something slip that they shouldn’t. All I need to do is listen. And stop being a drama queen over what I’m wearing, and concentrate.
The fey woman sitting closest to me is complaining to her friend about supply lines. It sounds like she is one of the fey who have replaced the CEOs of big companies. This is exactly the type of intelligence I need to be gathering.
But my attention is snatched away by someone striding right up to Mabon and towering over him.
Mabon looks up languidly with heavy-lidded eyes.
“Greetings, my favourite brother,” he drawls.
The newcomer scowls, his otherwise pleasant features twisting into a sneer of disdain. His golden hair is tied up in the most elaborate array of twists and plaits I have seen yet. Other than the fact he has horns, and is beautiful, I see no resemblance to Mabon at all. Are they really brothers?
“Where is Dyfri? You two are usually as thick as thieves,” he asks.
Mabon shrugs as he lifts his pipe to his mouth. “Making potions I imagine. I’m not his keeper.”
The newcomer scowls again.
“Oh do sit down, Llywelyn. You are blocking people from seeing my pet,” says Mabon.
Llywelyn’s yellow, cat-slitted eyes rake over me in disgust, but he steps to the side and gracefully lowers himself onto a cushion next to Mabon.
“I shouldn’t be surprised that you’d take a brute for a pet.”
Mabon smiles sweetly. “Frightened little things aren’t to everyone’s taste.”
Llywelyn’s eyes narrow, as if he is trying to figure out if he has been insulted or not. Clearly, intelligence is not one of his strong points. If he even has any strong points. This guy is such a dickhead. I wouldn’t at all be surprised to learn that he has absolutely no redeeming qualities at all.
“Since you are busy with your new pet, why don’t I help you with some of the duties Rhydian left you?” Llywelyn says.
A snort escapes me, but I quickly cover it with a cough. Mabon flashes me a quick glance, amusement dancing in his sparkling eyes, before he turns back to his brother.
“That’s so kind of you!” Mabon gushes. “But there is no need. I can manage.”
Anger flashes in Llywelyn’s eyes, but he simply nods and picks up a hookah pipe. That’s interesting. It seems he is not completely stupid like I first thought. But definitely not the brightest. Did he really think that blatant play for power was going to work? Surely he has to know that Mabon is far too clever to fall for that?
Cold yellow eyes roam all over me again. It’s hard not to shudder. Bizarrely, his gaze feels far more violating than anything Mabon has done to me. And I’m so not going to try to unpack that right now.
“I suppose he has good stamina,” Llywelyn says begrudgingly.
Fucking hell. I’m just going to stare at the floor. I don’t want this asshat to see me blushing. I will not give him that satisfaction.
“He has,” agrees Mabon.
And he sounds so fucking proud. And pleased. Like the cat who has got the cream. Oh lord, that was a terrible metaphor to think of. Now my memory is gleefully replaying utterly filthy things. And my imagination is adding new twists.
I want to groan and cover my burning face with my hands, but that will only draw more attention. So I just have to sit here. And suffer.
“Is he submissive? As a pet should be?”
Mabon takes a long draw on his pipe. “Very.”
My head nearly snaps up to glare at him. How dare he! Outrage is beating through my heart. But the cold evidence all around me keeps me frozen in place. I’m sitting placidly by his feet. With his collar around my neck. While practically naked.
I’ve never tried to fight him. Or raise a hand to him. I may have my reasons, but I have surrendered to my situation and done nothing but submit to him.
Mabon is only speaking the truth. I have no right to be insulted.
