“I wasn’t! I didn’t! I never heard a thing!” I blurt. “I am walking Loki!” I declare, pointing at the puppy as if Dyfri has somehow not seen her.
Dyfri's eyes narrow. Then he sighs. He glances around as if the deserted gardens are full of unseen things.
“Come, I will walk you back.”
We walk in silence for a few moments, Loki trotting happily by our side. Dyfri reaches down and gives her head a scratch, and she wags her tail. She likes him, and I’m confident all canines are excellent judges of character.
Unlike most people. Which is a fact they never like to hear. But I’m going to have to be brave.
I clear my throat. “I… um… Viscount Bellany is not a nice person.”
Dyfri abruptly stops walking and fixes me with an incredulous look. “By the three! Do you actually think I like the old creep? You must be dumber than a hamster!”
I huff out a sigh of relief. Oh thank goodness. The thought of Dyfri getting tangled up with Bellany was stomach-churning.
“Oh. You are up to something,” I say.
Possibly trying to escape the Crown Prince’s plans to marry him off. That would be my first guess, though I’m not going to say a word. I never should have told him about the marriage rumour in the first place.
Dyfri rolls his eyes and starts walking again. I scurry to keep up.
“I’m always up to something,” he mutters. “Several somethings, all at once. It is quite exhausting.”
I can imagine. I’m getting tired just thinking about plotting and scheming and juggling all those balls and moving all those pieces.
“How are you?” he asks sharply.
“Fantastic! I have a puppy!” I beam.
I’m not a something he needs to worry about. I’m definitely not a something he needs to report back on to those who wish to intervene in my marriage and whisk me away. The full moon is still weeks away. I have time to prove that everything is fine.
“More trinkets,” says Dyfri.
“No!” I exclaim before I can stop myself. “Loki is a wonderful and thoughtful gift. I mentioned I’ve always wanted a dog, one time, and he remembered!”
Dyfri raises one dark eyebrow. I blush, but I don’t look away.
He shakes his head. “Goddess, look at you. All big puppy eyes and clueless. Your face practicallycompelspeople to help you.”
I blink in surprise. Then I snort. “Well, it never bloody worked before I came here.”
Both of Dyfri’s eyebrows lift. I’ve shocked him with my little outburst and display of backbone.
A rich, musical laugh bubbles out of him and mischief flashes in his night-dark eyes.
“Be that as it may, it works here. So milk it all you can, child. It is the best weapon you have.”
Chapter twenty-three
This is a wonderful dream. Wet, soft heat is enveloping my cock and sucking gently on it. A tongue is caressing the underside of my length. Pleasure and desire are swirling through me. Rolling in waves. My toes are curling, and I’m moaning wantonly.
My hands float towards my groin and find antlers. My fingers wrap around them. They are warm. Surprisingly soft. They feel more like firm flesh than bone.
I like holding them. Dream-me is much braver than real-life-me.
The suction on my cock intensifies. My head tilts back, baring my throat. I tighten my grip on the horns.
Selwyn groans, deep and low.
