I wallow in the truth of that for a few heartbeats, but then a pair of white boots step into my line of sight. Automatically, my gaze snaps up. I didn’t hear this guy approach at all. He is tall, like all fey are. He has no horns or antlers. Just an array of snow white hair in overly complicated coils. Some strands tumble free all the way down to his waist and it is a truly striking look.
His eyes are eerie. Clear like ice. And the way he is looking at Mabon is all kinds of unsettling.
“Duke Carian!” Mabon calls brightly. “Come, join us!” He pats a cushion next to him.
The duke gives a little bow. “I shall be delighted to, Your Highness.”
He drops down with sinuous grace, and settles incredibly close to Mabon. His body language is predatory and dominating.
On Mabon’s other side, Llywelyn makes some hasty apology and flees. Another interesting action to note. Mabon’s brother knows when it is time for the grown-ups to talk.
“You are looking truly delightful today, Your Highness,” Duke Carian says with all the charm of a snake.
Mabon giggles and turns his body towards the duke.
What the hell? I thought there was going to be proper adult conversation. Barbed and wounding. Possibly laced with thinly veiled threats. Not this inane flirting. And why on earth is Mabon responding to it? Surely he isn’t fooled by this sleazy cockwomble? Mabon has to have better taste. And sense. Surely?
“I do hope your new pet has not tired you out? He looks vigorous.”
Mabon giggles again and shifts his grip on my leash, tightening the chain between us.
“No one is as vigorous as you, your grace,” whispers Mabon seductively.
My stomach heaves. Mabon and this slimeball? That’s disgusting. Though I have no idea why the thought is bothering me so much. It is literally none of my business and nothing to do with me.
“Glad to hear it,” hisses the duke sibilantly, as he leans in closer to Mabon.
Mabon lets out a soft, flirtatious sigh that sets my teeth on edge. He also leans closer to the duke, and I snatch my gaze away. I’ve seen enough. This is sickening. They are going to be pawing at each other any minute now.
My collar is twitching. Grimacing, I slide a finger under it to itch at the skin. The collar vibrates against my finger. That’s odd. Is it a protection spell to stop me fiddling with it?
I remove my finger. But I can still feel the collar shaking ever so slightly. My gaze runs along the taut silver chain all the way up to where it is wrapped around Mabon’s hand.
He is shaking. Mabon is shaking. Trembling.
His eyes are wide and calm as he stares at the duke with his full attention. His expression coy and pleased. But I can feel it. Physically.
Mabon is scared of this man.
He does have taste. And sense. And I’m far more relieved and delighted by that than I should be. But wait, that is not important right now. Mabon is frightened. Of this asshat. But Mabon is a prince, and this tosser is a duke, so why doesn’t Mabon just tell him to piss off? What is going on here?
I watch him for a moment, but all I can see is salacious flirting as he and the duke whisper sweet nothings at each other. Is it because we are in public? Is the duke powerful enough that insulting him is a bad idea? But that can’t be right. Mabon knows how to handle people. I saw it at that breakfast. I saw it just now with his brother. I’m sure Mabon could tell this bastard to fuck off, gently and politely.
There is something else going on here. Something dark and insidious.
Mabon’s words from earlier echo around my mind. ‘No one is as vigorous as you.’
The horror of that thought is too much for my mind to cope with. Has this piece of shit hurt Mabon? My hands clench into fists. The desire to punch this smug bastard in the face is so very strong that I’m shaking with it. But even I know that is a stupid thing to do.
I can’t hit the asswipe. But I can do the next best thing. I can get Mabon away from him. I’ve heard my friends recount thousands of stories of how they have rescued girls from creeps in pubs and nightclubs. Usually I only have to glare and my size does the rest. But I still know what to do.
I wrap my arms around my stomach and groan loudly.
Mabon’s gorgeous eyes turn to me. The silver creep looks at me too.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” I gasp.
They both simply continue to stare at me. Blank expressions. Completely unmoved by my professed predicament.
