Tae nods and scurries off with the book. I have no idea how I have won him over, but I am so glad that I have.
I exhale and settle back against the rolled towel. The water sloshes, and a drip falls somewhere. Damn it, my mind is whirling now. My moment of peace has passed. My thoughts are once again trying to figure out why Llywelyn was so insatiable that night. Tae could well be onto something. It could be something to do with Llywelyn’s omega traits.
Memories of that night start to flow and my blood heads south. Right, that’s it. Bath time is over. I haul myself out and wrap myself in the large fluffy robe Tae left out for me.
I head to the main sitting room and find Llywelyn curled up in a wingback chair by the fireplace. A cheery fire is crackling away, even though it doesn’t feel cold enough to need it.
Llywelyn’s long elegant fingers are dancing over knitting needles. Russet coloured wool is spilling down. He is making a new stuffie. A fox, by the looks of it.
I watch him silently. Llywelyn is engrossed in his task and I don’t think he has noticed me. He looks calm, relaxed. And I’m stupidly proud that he doesn’t feel the need to hide his hobby from me.
He is wearing his white nightgown, and his golden hair looks freshly washed. There really shouldn’t be anything sexy about someone being ready for bed and knitting by the fire, but my arousal clearly thinks there is. Maybe it is the nightgown? My lust could have been trained like Pavlov’s dog to associate things with it. Or perhaps it is the simple, cosy domesticity that is appealing to my world-weary heart. Or it could be nothing more than the fact Iwas already horny before I saw him. It is the entire reason I hurried out of my bath.
Who knows? And I guess it doesn’t matter. Not everything needs to be analysed.
He glances up at me as I step closer, but his fingers don’t stop working. I take the seat across from him. I can’t pounce on him. These things need to be worked up to.
“Tomorrow, can we go somewhere the wolf-shifter pets will be?” I ask.
His body recoils like I’ve thrown a bucket of cold water on him. He scowls viciously and my heart sinks. I thought making plans would be a nice, gentle topic of conversation. Nevermind that I’m asking him instead of telling him. It is a step forward for us.
“Why?” he snaps.
I inhale carefully. It is fine. He hates going out and being utterly ignored. Being a resyn is hard for him. I know this.
“I want to see if they would be interested in an alliance. And if they think their free kin would be. You can promise to free all shifter pets if they put you on the throne.”
Llywelyn throws his knitting on the floor. “And insult the powerful fey nobles who own them?”
“We would have to tread carefully, of course. Weigh up the pros and cons. Decide who would be the most beneficial ally,” I say.
Llywelyn’s golden eyes blaze.
“But that’s all a moot point,” I continue. “If we don’t even know if the wolf-shifters are interested.”
He glares at me for several long heartbeats. “I want to stay in my rooms.”
“I know,” I say softly.
His lungs stutter. For a moment, I think he is going to cry, but he jumps to his feet in a raging fury instead.
“You don’t know! You can’t know! No one does!”
I stare up at him. How did we get to a blazing row? What is happening? I’m soconfused right now.
Llywelyn makes a noise in his throat that sounds for all the world like an angry cat. Then he moves, so fast it makes my heart freeze in primordial terror. All the ornaments on the mantlepiece come crashing down as Llywelyn swipes at them.
I jump to my feet, but he storms away from me. Throwing chairs, upending tables. Smashing vases. It is like watching a tornado.
“I wanted to stay home with you. I wanted everything to be nice!” he snarls.
Then he runs to the bedchamber and slams the door behind him. I hurry over. Drawn to him. Sucked into his storm. What the hell has brought this mood on? What can I do to help?
Suddenly, Tae is in front of me, blocking my path with a determined look on his face. My heart thuds low and heavy with trepidation. I remember his pointed teeth and his demonic eyes.
“I need to see if he is alright,” I plead to the little fairy.
Tae shakes his head. “Best to leave him.”
