Chapter 36

Trying to sleep when you are a bag of nerves is super hard, but it is the best plan I can come up with, so I need to keep trying.

Dyfri bitched about human's slow healing capabilities after I had spent a few hours in his room. He concluded that despite his magic ointments, I wouldn't be fully healed until morning.

Which isn't too bad. I just have to get through tonight without Rhydian noticing my cut up back. And if he doesn't decide to ravish me, I think it is doable. Especially if I'm all tucked up in bed and sleeping sweetly when he gets back. The chances of him waking me up to have his wicked way, are slim. I hope. I think he has grown too soft for me to do that. So everything is fine. If only my racing heart believed this.

My hands fidget with my nightshirt again. Maybe I should take it off? I have never worn one before and I'm still unsure if it will arouse suspicion or keep things hidden from sight.

Pinky went and fetched it for me when I asked for one. It didn't seem to make her suspicious at all. So maybe it is fine? Maybe Rhydian will simply think I've had enough of sleeping naked and have grown confident enough to ask for a nightshirt?

Gah! This is a nightmare! I cannot wait for the morning when this will all be over. As well as the stress, the skin on my back is all itchy and uncomfortable. Dyfri and I decided to take the bandages off as they were far too noticeable, and now the feel of the nightshirt against my damaged skin is deeply unpleasant.

A soft noise from just outside the bedroom door has me scrunching up my eyes tight. The door opens. Near silent footsteps approach the bed. I need to concentrate on making my breath slow and even.

Silence. Thick and heavy. In the distance, the sound of an airplane cuts through the night air. It is so strange to think that I am still in London.

"Have you forgotten that I am a dream walker, Little Pet?" rumbles Rhydian. "I know the taste of sleep."

Oh fuck. My eyes fly open and I gulp. Rhydian is standing near the bed. His arms crossed over his chest.

"Sorry, I…I," I stammer. "I…um have a headache and didn't fancy any frisky business tonight."

Rhydian strides right up next to the bed. "Why do you have a headache? Are you sick? Do you need a healer?"

I blink at the barrage of questions. "No, No. I'm fine. Humans just get headaches sometimes. It will be gone by morning."

He reaches out and places his hand against my forehead. "You feel clammy."

I open my mouth, but before I can think of an excuse, he is pushing me over onto my back. Presumably so he can get a better look at me. Pain flares and I wince. His eyes narrow.

"Just my headache!" I squeak.

Rhydian frowns. But then he bends down and brushes his lips gently over mine. "I hope you feel better soon."

I nod. My lips are tingling, and my toes are curling. His gaze drops down to my mouth, and then he gives me another soft kiss. All tender and caring and sensual. A gentle moan escapes me. He kisses me again. My lips move against his. Encouraging. Seeking. Pleading.

The kiss deepens. Intensifies. His tongue teases my own. My arms rise up and wrap around his neck to hold him close. This is a terrible idea, but I am powerless before the force of my desire. I cannot stop myself. Cannot pull away. I cannot even remember why I should.

He slips onto the bed beside me and rolls me onto my side to face him. I press myself as close to him as I can get. His hand runs down my back, over my nightshirt. Pleasure and warmth are flowing through me, pushing away any pain. But his hand stops. It traces the long line of a raised welt.

The kiss breaks. He pulls away. Mere inches, but it feels like miles. His expression and body are frozen, but his amber eyes are glowing. Truly glowing. Like a demon's. Little lanterns in the dark.

I stare at him helplessly. My heart is racing. I've forgotten every single word of the English language. I've forgotten how to breathe. Move. Blink. I cannot remember how to do a single thing.

Suddenly, my face is full of pillow. He has rolled me onto my front. Now he is yanking up my nightshirt. He draws in a shuddery breath the moment he sees my naked back.

"Who. Did. This. To. You?" he growls.

Low and heavy. Each word falling like a stone into the heavy silence of the room. The words fall through my flesh and sink into my soul. Every small hair on my body rises. The cadence of his growl seeps into the darkest, deepest parts of my mind and awakens my primal instincts.

"Iestyn," I squeak without meaning to.

My treacherous primal self was helpless before the command in his terrifying voice. I had to obey. There was no choice in it at all. My instincts knew to submit to the dominance it heard.

The bedroom door slams. Shit! My modern mind snaps back online. Intelligent thoughts come rushing back in. I can think again, and not only respond. And Rhydian storming off is a disaster that must be stopped.

I jump out of bed and race after Rhydian. He is already striding down the hallway outside of our rooms. I hurry after him.

"Rhydian!"

He ignores me.

For fuck's sake! I dive after his leg and hold on for dear life. It barely slows him. He continues to stride down the hallway at great speed. The only change is that I'm now curled around his leg and he is dragging me with him.

"Rhydian! Stop! This is exactly what he wants!"

He doesn't react at all. He doesn't even slow. I can feel the fury pouring out of him. Hallways whiz past as I cling desperately to his leg. I try pulling my weight backwards, in the opposite direction, but it does nothing at all.

"Rhydian! You are cleverer than this!" I yell, as if sheer volume is going to be enough to get through to him.

But it is not working either. He is fully lost to his rage and his fury. The leg muscles I am wrapped around are tense, solid, and unyielding. Is this where stories of berserkers came from?

It is terrifying to witness such an unleashed force of nature. But I am not at all scared for myself. I'm fearful for Rhydian and whatever stupid mess he is going to get himself into because he has lost the ability to think clearly.

Suddenly, he kicks a door open with his free leg. The world spins as Rhydian strides into this new room and the leg I'm clinging to moves swiftly. I catch a glimpse of Iestyn sitting calmly on a settee, surrounded by several other fey.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Iestyn has this so well played. He has even made sure he has a room full of witnesses.

I let go of Rhydian's leg, and jump to my feet. Iestyn's cold green eyes are regarding Rhydian's rage with smug delight. Motherfucker. Damn him for figuring out how to push Rhydian's buttons and make him lose his calm control. And damn me for being Rhydian's Achilles heel.

Rhydian's fists clench by his side. He opens his mouth, but I jump in front of him. I'm standing between him and Iestyn now and the vizier is regarding me with bemused disdain. His eyes flicking over my crumpled nightshirt disdainfully.

It's too early. I have had no time to research and prepare. I'm not at all ready. But there is no other choice.

"Iestyn, I challenge you to a duel!" I spit quickly before Rhydian can utter a single word.

The vizier's eyebrows lift. Several of his friends gasp. Behind me, I feel Rhydian recoil as if slapped. Now everyone is staring at me in pure astonishment. As if I've suddenly grown two heads.

My stomach heaves. No one is laughing. Rhydian is not dismissing it or forbidding it. My words seem to ricochet around and around the room. Unhindered. Unchallenged. Utterly beyond my ability to recall them.

I force a swallow down my dry throat. I guess that is binding then. I've hurtled past the point of no return.

Iestyn's eye twitches. As if he wants to look at his companions. Oh fuck. The witnesses he has schemed to have here, are now witnesses to my challenge. We are both screwed. He can't back down even if he wanted to.

He slowly shapes his face into an approximation of a smile. "I accept, Little Pet. I look forward to obliterating you on the full moon."

Oh fuck. What the fuck have I done?