Chapter 21

"Where are we going?" I ask as I try my best to keep up with Rhydian's long strides. This is not the way to his office, or any of the dining rooms I've been to. I think this is the way to the courtyard where we met the terrifying carriage, but he has said nothing about leaving the palace today.

I jump over a patch of dark green moss that is oozing out of the carpet. A tiny twinkling giggle rings out and makes me shudder.

"Rhydian, where are we going!" I ask again.

We are alone in this too long hallway, well apart from some sentient moss, so he doesn't have to ignore me.

"To meet some dragon riders."

My feet nearly freeze, but I don't want to be yanked along by my leash, so somehow I manage to keep moving while my mind scrambles to absorb this new information.

"Did you say dragon riders? As in people who ride dragons?" I squeak.

"Yes."

The bastard doesn't even look over his shoulder to acknowledge me. I swear if he wasn't so hot and so damn good in bed, I'd really, truly hate him.

"Dragons are real?"

"Yes."

Well, that's super helpful. I'll just have to pester him for information later, when we are back in our rooms. He is far nicer and far more talkative when we are truly alone.

Right now, we are sweeping out into an enormous courtyard. The very same one we began our carriage trip through London in. There is no carriage in sight today, or any shadow beasts. In fact, Rhydian and I are the only people in this vast exposed space.

The sun is shining and a warm breeze ruffles my hair. It smells like spring. And it just smells good. Not like London at all. Far fresher and cleaner. The bird song sounds more vibrant too. I wonder if strange birds from the fey realm are settling in with English birds. That would be quite something.

A shadow falls over the sun, and Rhydian looks up. I follow his gaze and then immediately huddle up to him and cling onto his arm. My heart is pounding. My legs are shaking. I think my bladder and bowels might give up. Some ancient primal part of me that formed when humans were tiny mammals cowering from dinosaurs, is convinced I am about to die.

Three dragons are circling in the sky. One is gold, one emerald green, and the other is coal black. Real live dragons. With wings and scales and everything.

The air in the courtyard whips up into a mini tornado as the dragons land. Bits of dirt and small stones are flying everywhere. I bury my face into Rhydian's arm and hope for the best.

I don't look up until I hear Rhydian say, "Greetings. Welcome to Buckingham Palace."

As I look up, my attention is fully taken by the three men standing in front of me, I barely even glance at the dragons behind them, because, oh my god, these guys are super hot.

They look human, and all three of them are wearing tight black leather, head to toe. One has long flame red hair and looks like a super sexy twink. One has short brown curly hair, biceps to die for and a cool tattoo that zig zags down his muscled arm. The third is tall and slender with pale blond hair falling to his shoulders. His eyes are dazzling emerald green and he seems to be staring at me instead of Rhydian.

I swallow tightly and step even closer to Rhydian. Even though I'm already close enough to be his shadow.

Rhydian turns on his heels and leads us to a large room just inside the palace. The huge windows look out onto the courtyard and the three waiting dragons. That's thoughtful of Rhydian, and bound to put the riders' minds at ease.

Mabon and Tristan are already in the meeting room. Everyone takes a seat at the large round table. The dragonriders at one end and the princes and me at the other. I'm so glad there is a chair for me next to Rhydian. Kneeling in view of these riders would be horribly humiliating, in a way I haven't felt before. I don't know what it is about these men, but they make me feel deeply ashamed of my collar and leash. Perhaps it is simply because they keep staring at me, whereas usually, fey give me a cursory glance and then ignore my existence.

Tristan moves his hand in an intricate gesture and a crystal ball that is set in the middle of the table begins to glow. I thought it was merely ornamental. Pine cones and sprigs of rosemary encircle it. It is a pretty display, but clearly that is not its only purpose.

"Now we can understand each other's words," says Tristan.

My ear lobes twinge. Fucking fey bastards. They didn't need to torture me. All this time and a glowing crystal could have done the same job as these silver threads in my ears?

The riders glance at the crystal uneasily. A tense silence falls, and then a troop of servants bustle in and set the table with an array of cheese, grapes and drinks. The riders don't even look at the food. Their hands remain firmly under the table. The one with green eyes keeps staring at me.

"Who is this?" he asks as soon as the servants leave.

"My pet," says Rhydian calmly. "The first-born son of Graham Grantham."

I probably shouldn't squirm, but I can't help it. I'm not used to being the centre of attention.

The one with green eyes glares at Rhydian. I think he is the rider's leader. He is sat in the middle and he exudes authority.

"Humans are not your playthings," snaps the rider leader.

Rhydian shrugs elegantly. "Taking pets does not negate the terms of our agreement. My oath to you was to not harm you or yours. Jamie and other mundanes are not your people."

The rider leader bristles. His companions lean in closer to him. A minute gesture, but I see it. They are supporting him, comforting him.

Rhydian's words rattle in my head. What do they mean? There was an oath and an agreement? What the hell is a mundane, and why am I one? I'm so confused right now.

The doors fly open and Iestyn strides in. Rhydian stiffens and his brothers look alarmed.

"Vizier, there is no need to trouble yourself with this meeting. I have it all in hand," says Rhydian.

Iestyn's green eyes glitter and he flashes a smile full of pointed teeth. "It is no trouble at all, my dear, I'm just sorry that my invitation was mislaid by my staff. How careless of them."

The very corner of Rhydian's jaw ticks, but he nods regally and staff spring to life and bring a chair for Iestyn and set a place for him.

The vizier sits down with unnerving grace. "Now, let's get down to business, shall we?"

The terse conversation drifts around and over me. They are talking about things, places and people I have never heard of, and it is impossible to follow. I try for a short while and then I give up.

Instead, I observe the dragon riders. Who are they? I assumed they were fey, but they are very clearly not on friendly terms with Rhydian and his court. Are they rebels?

The leader is now deep in conversation, but the redhead keeps staring at me with wide eyes. Looking at me as if I'm a drowning kitten that he cannot save.

Who is he? Why does he care? It is making me feel bad because I'm not a drowning kitten. Rhydian hasn't been that awful to me. I'm okay. Nobody needs to be angst ridden over me. I've enjoyed parts of being Rhydian's pet. It is not all doom and gloom.

But something about my presence is deeply upsetting the dragon riders. I wish I could talk to them and reassure them that it is fine. I'm fine. I don't need rescuing.

I don't want to be rescued.

My mind whites out for a moment. That is one hell of a revelation. I can't even begin to process this. I don't even know where to start. Have I been ensorcelled, or is Rhydian simply so good in bed that I want to stay?

Oh god. I'm not thinking about this now. It is too much, and now is not the time. I need to concentrate on figuring out how to put these very kind people's minds at rest.

Maybe I can just show them? That's actually not a bad idea.

I lean against Rhydian and run my hand along his arm, in what I hope looks like an affectionate gesture. Rhydian tenses slightly under my touch but gives no other reaction. The redhead's eyes widen and then he looks somewhat relieved. Phew! I think it worked.

Mabon winks salaciously at me, and I scowl back at him. This little demonstration is none of his business.

Suddenly, everyone is getting to their feet. It looks like the meeting is over and Iestyn is seeing the dragon riders out, Rhydian is annoyed at that, I can tell, but he doesn't say anything.

The door clicks softly shut, leaving me, Rhydian, Mabon and Tristan alone. Rhydian sighs heavily and pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Well, that could have gone better," says Tristan as he waves his hand at the crystal. It goes dim. Tristan sighs just as heavily as Rhydian, and starts fiddling with the end of one of his long red braids.

"Mabon, I need you to bed Iestyn," says Rhydian without warning.

I turn my head to stare at Rhydian. What the actual hell is going on? How can he suggest such a thing?

Mabon pouts but otherwise seems unalarmed. "Why?"

"Keep him occupied and distracted," says Rhydian.

"But I don't like him. He is mean." Mabon's face twists into a sulk and he crosses his arms over his chest.

"Mabon," says Rhydian, and his warning tone makes me flinch.

Mabon's eyes narrow. "Fine!"

He tosses his long lilac hair over his shoulder and flounces out of the room with Tristan hot on his heels. The doors click shut again, and I'm alone with Rhydian and a mountain of uneaten cheese.

These fey are so confusing. Every time I start to feel like I know what is going on, the rug is pulled from under my feet.

"Won't your parents be angry?" I ask.

Rhydian lifts his head and stares at me. His brows scrunch in confusion. "Why?"

I open my mouth and then shut it again. Fidelity is clearly not a thing the fey understand and it seems like parents and sons sharing lovers isn't taboo either.

"Nevermind," I sigh. "Just a human thing."

"Are the dragon riders human?" I quickly ask before Rhydian makes me try to explain morals and ethics to him.

"Yes," says Rhydian.

"Wow!" I say. That throws up so very many more questions, but my mouth blurts out, "They are so hot." As if that is the most pressing concern.

Rhydian frowns. "They are married."

"Oh," I reply as I fight my blush. I didn't even mean to comment on their appearance, and now Rhydian is berating me for it.

"Married to each other," clarifies Rhydian.

I feel my eyebrows shoot up. Three-way marriages? That's interesting. And why is Rhydian still frowning? If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was jealous, but surely if fey don't have fidelity, they can't have jealousy, because that wouldn't make any sense at all. Or would it? Damn it! Fey truly are so confusing!

And add in the fact that I've just discovered that my world had dragons in it before the fey arrived, and I'm feeling a wobbly mess of discombobulation.

Rhydian's expression turns thoughtful and his gaze drifts away from me, and towards where the dragon riders were sitting.

"The blond one, Mordecai, was prophesied to stop us," says Rhydian. "He was supposed to sacrifice the red one and close all the portals between our realms forever. But he chose not to. He chose love. He gave up his world for love."

Rhydian's eyes are gleaming. His thoughts have clearly taken him far, far away. He doesn't sound as if he thinks the rider made a stupid choice. Rhydian sounds intrigued. Fascinated.

His expression reminds me of when he watched me pleasuring myself. Or when he first slipped a finger inside of me, knowing he was the first to ever do so.

And now I'm blushing. Luckily, Rhydian isn't paying me the slightest bit of attention. He is too lost in his thoughts.

Why is he so engrossed by the rider's decision? I think it is an extremely romantic and swoony story. Is that why Rhydian is so interested? Is love another thing that humans have and fey do not?

But that can't be right. On my first night here, we talked about love. He defined it because we didn't think our translators were working. And during our carriage ride, he said love was the loftiest of all dreams.

So Rhydian does know what it is.

But that doesn't mean he has ever felt it. He told me as much on my first night here. But I had been talking about romantic love. I've never had that. But I love my mum. I loved my cat, Mr Tiddles, and cried my eyes out when he died.

What if Rhydian had meant he had never felt love at all? For anyone, in any way? It is an awful thought, but it explains why he is so intrigued by it.

Oh my. I think I have figured it out. Rhydian is fascinated by the dragon rider's decision because he wants to know how it feels to love someone so intensely that you'd burn the world for them.

Rhydian wants to fall in love.