Library

Chapter 10

"It's getting late," says Dyfri.

I glance at the window and nearly spit out my mouthful of lemon cake. It is dark outside. Have I really spent the entire day hanging out with Dyfri? This is the third round of snacks he has called for, so quite possibly.

I appreciate his dedication to good food, but I'm going to get fat. I don't have whatever fey magic or metabolism he has that keeps him so slender.

"Come on, I will take you back."

The poor man probably has a shit ton of things to be doing other than babysitting me.

I put my plate down, scramble to my feet and gather up my many pages of copious notes. Fey etiquette is complicated and confusing and I'm never going to remember it all. It's such a shame they can't magic it into my brain like they have with their language.

I roll my papers up, tuck them under one arm, and scurry after Dyfri as he strides out of his rooms. The hallways of the palace feel different now, and not just because they are busier. Something has changed since this morning, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It feels darker, and far more than it simply being nighttime now. There has been a shift. The very air feels strange. It is almost as if this morning I walked through Buckingham Palace, and now I'm walking through the fey court. A shiver runs down my spine, and I walk as close to Dyfri as I can without treading on him.

Several people pass us, but I keep my eyes firmly on the plush red carpet as befitting the proper behaviour of a pet.

A pair of ornately patterned boots pause right by us. "Ah, rhocyn, I could do with some company. Come with me."

I nearly walk into Dyfri but manage to stop myself just in time. Shit. This can't be good.

"I would be delighted to, Your Grace, but sadly I must take care of Prince Rhydian's pet," says Dyfri sweetly.

He sounds so very different from when he is talking to me, that I nearly look up to check it is still him.

"I'm sure the human can find his own way back," drawls the stranger.

His voice reminds me of oil and snakes and danger.

"I'm afraid not, Your Grace. The pet is quite dim-witted."

I'm not even going to bristle at the insult. Dyfri can call me whatever the hell he likes if it gets him out of whatever the hell this is.

A rustle of silk and a flurry of movement has me looking up before I can stop myself. A tall, white-haired fey with no antlers has Dyfri pinned against the wall. They are not touching, but the pale fey has his hands on either side of Dyfri's head, caging him in.

Dyfri's dark eyes are calm as he looks up at the imposing fey.

"You think you are such a cunning little Unseelie spawn, don't you? You think you can weave your webs of plots and your betters will be none the wiser."

The white-haired fey leans in closer. The silver threads and clear cut jewels in his exquisite robes catch the light of the chandeliers and sparkle as if alive.

"You are not clever, little Unseelie." The pale fey tilts his head. "But you are pretty."

He reaches into his robes and pulls out a white satin pouch. He moves his remaining hand from imprisoning Dyfri, to open up the drawstring. Dyfri steps to the side, but the pale fey grabs his wrist and stops him from moving any further.

The creep holds up a single pin. It looks like a simple map pin to me, something to stick into a graph to mark a place. But Dyfri's eyes flash with fear. I step forward. But in a lightning quick move, the asshole sticks the pin into Dyfri's bare wrist. Immediately his dark eyes roll back and he collapses, but the pale fey catches him and scoops him up into a bridal carry before he hits the floor.

He grins down at the unconscious Dyfri in his arms. "I detest your mind, but I adore your body."

I watch, dumbfounded, as he strides away with Dyfri. The long dark fall of my friend's hair is striking against the silver clothes of his abductor. He is so utterly helpless. Vulnerable. He is being carried away from me and there is not a thing I can do about it.

But I know someone who can.

I turn and run to Rhydian's sitting room. My feet somehow do know the way, after all.

I burst into Rhydian's rooms and find him sitting by the fireplace in a red wingback chair, sipping something that looks like whiskey.

"Someone has abducted Dyfri!" I splutter as my lungs wheeze.

Rhydian raises one perfect eyebrow and calmly savours another mouthful of his drink.

"This white-haired creep has carried Dyfri off to…to," I can't even say the word.

"Dyfri probably planned it," says Rhydian with a careless shrug.

An image flashes across my mind of the look on Dyfri's face when he saw the pin. I grind my teeth.

"No, he did not. He was scared. The bastard drugged him with something."

Rhydian is staring at me. His eyes are a burning amber. The flickering flames of the fire cast shadows over the sharp angles of his face. He is beautiful. Otherworldly. And a complete jerk.

The fire crackles and hisses. I am holding my breath. Waiting. Surely he is going to do something?

"If he is drugged, then he will no longer be scared."

My mouth falls open. "How can you say that?"

Rhydian cannot be this heartless. He can't be. No one is. There has to be more going on here, things I do not understand. The power and politics of a court. But Rhydian is a prince, the eldest prince, from what I can tell. He could intervene if he wanted to. I'm sure of it.

"He is a rhocyn, it is his place." Rhydian's voice is cold, his eyes uncaring. It has to be an act.

I'm striding forward. My fists are clenched by my side. "He is your brother!"

Rhydian's eyes flash. "Watch your tone."

I step closer. "He is your little brother, and he needs you. Stop being a coward and help him!"

The world tilts and spins. Holy crap, I'm over his lap. He is a fast bastard. Pain burns through me, sudden and sharp. Did he just smack my ass? What the hell is happening?

Another blast of pain ricochets through me. Ow! What the fuck. I can't get away, his grip on me is like steel. I'm helpless and trapped.

He hits me again. The sound of it echoes around the room. My ass feels like it is on fire. The pain is incredible. I don't think he is holding back, but what the heck do I know? Nobody has ever hit me before.

Another whack. Now my eyes are watering. Each hit is worse than the last. Agony is already blooming and throbbing, and each strike builds on the last. The thin silk of my robes is no protection at all.

He hits me again and my vision whites out. I think I'm screaming. What if he never stops? What if this pain just gets worse and worse until I eventually die? What if he breaks every bone in my body? While he laughs and laughs? He is strong enough to do it and there is not a thing I can do to stop him. I'm entirely at his mercy and I'm not sure he has any.

More pain explodes. It is too much. I can't cope with this. I have never, ever been so scared in my life. Violence is terrifying. It is overwhelming and all-consuming. I'm breathing it in and it is devouring all my senses. There is nothing but fear and pain and the bitter, acrid taste of his anger. It will never, ever end.

"Jamie!" Someone is shaking me.

I open my eyes, but everything is all blurry through my tears. My face is sticky, hot, and swollen. My nose is full of snot and my throat is sore. My ass is on fire. But I'm lying on my back on the bed. Rhydian's hands are on my shoulders. He is frowning, but there is concern in his eyes.

When did he stop beating me? When did he move me? I don't recall a thing.

"Jamie?" he says again.

He never calls me that. I draw in a huge shuddery breath that turns into a hiccup.

"It's over. Calm down."

I nod my understanding and burst into more tears. His grip on my shoulders relaxes.

"Has no one ever spanked you before?"

I shake my head and roll away from him to curl into a tight ball. My shoulders are heaving with my sobs. He moves and I flinch. I sense him freeze above me. What is he going to do now?

"There is no need to get hysterical about it," he says gruffly.

But he makes no move to start hurting me again. Maybe he is telling the truth. Maybe it really is over.

"Would you like some water? Food? Ointment?"

I shake my head and curl up tighter. I just want him to go away. I want to feel safe again and like the world makes sense.

"What would make you feel better?" he says softly. So softly that I only just hear him.

I sniff and try to hold in my sobs long enough so I can speak. "I want my mum."

Soft footsteps. The door closes. I am alone. At least I got one of my wishes. The other one is so frankly ridiculous I can't believe I voiced it out loud. No wonder Rhydian walked away.

It is dark and quiet now. Nothing to see apart from the soft glow of London's street lights seeping around the heavy curtains. My heart is still racing and my ugly sobs are the only sound.

The door opens, spilling light into the room. I cower and close my eyes. Soft footsteps approach the bed and then retreat. The door shuts again. Cautiously, I open one eye.

There is an unlocked phone on the pillow next to me. Its screen is glowing brightly in the dark.

Rhydian is letting me phone my mum.

Comments

0 Comments
Best Newest

Contents
Settings
  • T
  • T
  • T
  • T
Font

Welcome to FullEpub

Create or log into your account to access terrific novels and protect your data

Don’t Have an account?
Click above to create an account.

lf you continue, you are agreeing to the
Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.