Loki is watching me with a bemused expression. She has given up walking beside me while I pace back and forth across the sitting room, and now she is sitting while observing me with her head tilted to the side.
The full moon is about to rise. Dyfri is about to face my mother in a duel.
It is all far beyond awful. And it is all my fault. I should have realised that she’d twist my actions into something that benefits her. Hurting and using me is one thing, tormenting and trampling on people I care about is quite another. She is such a bitch. I hate her.
Loki whines. A sad, worried sound.
My feet stop. I take a deep breath. “Sorry, girl.” I walk over and pat her head. She is right, wearing the carpet out will solve nothing.
Selwyn walks into the room, and I whirl to face him. “Have you foreseen the duel? Does Dyfri win?”
Selwyn’s eyes fill with pain. “Foresight is a blessing and a burden. I will not burden you.”
I stare at him. He looks utterly resolute in this. If he has seen anything, he will not tell me. Why are all the fey such stubborn bastards?
A ghost of a smile twitches his lips. “It is a delight to see your fierce side, Little Lamb. I am looking forward to seeing more of it.”
My eyes narrow. I add a scowl to my glare. Dimly, I’m shocked at the way I am behaving, but I am far too wound up to care enough to try to stop. I’m so worried about Dyfri, and I am so full of guilt, regret and remorse. Nevermind the fact that Mother’s actions feel like a betrayal even though her actions are not a surprise.
Selwyn walks up to me. His hands rest on my shoulders. “I have seen Dyfri happy in the future. So whatever happens today, his tomorrows are bright.”
My scowl deepens. That means nothing. Dyfri’s entire life could be awful except for a few happy days when he is an old man, just before he dies.
I open my mouth to say something, but Jamie bursts into the sitting room, with Ollie not far behind him.
“Is your mother really going to go through with this?” Jamie asks.
I nod. “Absolutely.”
She would have planned this meticulously while also setting up the next several moves of her never-ending quest for more power. She’ll have her reasons for doing this, and nothing will change her mind.
Jamie pales. “Could she win?”
“She… she…” I stammer before starting again. “She is ruthless and has no heart at all, and her magic is strong.”
Jamie grows even paler as he stares at me with wide eyes.
“This sucks,” mutters Ollie.
“I thought you didn’t like Dyfri?” I say.
Ollie fixes me with a truly belligerent glare. “I don’t.”
He is putting up a good front. Using hostility as his shield. Nevertheless, underneath the aggression in his emerald eyes, I can see concern.
I guess two things can be true at once. You can dislike someone while also not wishing for something awful to befall them.
"Will she use iron and salt like I did?" Jamie asks.
That's a good question. Would she? It would be an easy enough way to win. I ponder it some more.
"No, she won't," I say. "She won't want the fey to fear her. Because threats get eliminated."
She will also enjoy showing off her power, and she wouldn't want any one to accuse her of cheating.
I wisely keep that thought to myself. Implying you think the Crown Prince Consort is a cheater, is not a clever thing to do.
Jamie's expression turns thoughtful. And a little hopeful. "That's something, at least."
