Chapter 7

Ihate this cockbag or whatever it is called. I hate that I stood docile and unmoving and let Rhydian put it on me. I hate that I feel stupidly grateful that he allowed me to play with myself one last time before he put it on. As if he is being magnanimous, and not a sick and perverted captor.

The cockbag feels strange. My hands can't go anywhere near it. Every time I try, they are pushed away like being repelled by a magnet. And If that wasn't bad enough, the cloth tingles. Ever so slightly. So slightly, I thought I was imagining it at first, but I'm definitely not. The warm sensation keeps giving me a semi. It is infuriating as hell, which is probably the whole point. I've only been wearing the thing for nine hours, most of which I was asleep. It is going to drive me insane, I just know it is.

Glaring at Rhydian over the breakfast table, isn't doing a thing. The smug bastard is just reading his newspaper and ignoring me.

Fine. I can ignore him too. I grab a bunch of strawberries and lean back in my chair. It's another sunny day. The whole bath and massage routine was lovely again, despite the freaky instantly drying cockbag, but I'm not going to be so easily swayed. A gilded cage is still a cage, and these fey are extremely dangerous.

Abruptly, Rhydian puts his paper down and strides towards the doors that lead out of his rooms.

"Wait!" I yell as I hastily slide off my chair and hurry after him.

He freezes, but keeps his back to me. I'm beginning to think it is another rude thing that I don't quite understand.

"Please take me with you," I say.

He looks back over his shoulder. "Why?"

"Because otherwise I might die of boredom."

He turns around and his hypnotic eyes rake me up and down. "That's not a thing."

"It might be," I say as I cross my arms.

"It's not."

I sigh dramatically. "I think it is a very real possibility for me. I'm not good with being still or not having anything to do."

Oh shit. I shouldn't have said that. Now I'm going to be scrubbing Buckingham Palace with a toothbrush or something. But honestly, that would be better than a whole day of being cooped up here alone.

He frowns.

I wait.

Birdsong drifts through the windows. It is funny to think that the outside world is still carrying on pretty much as usual, it is only my personal world that has been upended.

"Go get your leash."

I'm skipping off towards the bedchamber before I realise that I'm being a simp. Too late now. I find the leash on the chair by the dresser and bring it back to Rhydian. At least he is facing me now. I stand still as he clips it to my collar.

"How much did Dyfri teach you?"

"Don't look anyone in the eye. Don't speak unless spoken to. Walk three paces behind you," I recite.

He gives me a considering look.

"But most of the time was spent practising blowjobs," I say because I can't resist and I need to see his reaction.

He frowns, but his eyes darken with something appreciative. "Typical Dyfri."

I give him a filthy grin and the surprise that flashes across his face fills me with joy. This is excellent. A small win is still a win. And unnerving the haughty prince is so very satisfying. I need to figure out how to do more of it.

Rhydian turns sharply on his heels and yanks me after him by the leash. But we both still know I won that round.

We reach his office and he points to the spot on the floor where I spent hours kneeling on my first day here. My heart sinks. Great, just great. I've talked myself out of the frying pan and into the fire. Now I'm going to be in discomfort as well as bored.

I get into position. I will not waste my breath by telling Rhydian that I have changed my mind and would rather spend the day alone in his rooms. This is what I asked for, so I'm going to grin and bear it.

Rhydian settles at his desk. The long unending hours stretch out before me, but suddenly the door flies open and the lilac haired fey walks in.

My heart rate quickens. This guy suggested sealing my ears and eyes with wax. Or was he the one that said to sew my lips shut? Whatever vile cruelty he came up with, I clearly remember the glee in his eyes as he said it. He is dangerous and I am not happy that he is here.

"You are supposed to knock, Mabon," says Rhydian in a tone of weary exasperation.

"Whatever," says Mabon with a dismissive wave of his hand. His amethyst eyes fix on me and light up. "Oh! You brought your pet. Can I play with it?"

"No."

Mabon strides towards me as if he hasn't heard Rhydian. I shrink back.

"Is it true they bleed red?" he asks.

I squeak, but Rhydian reaches down, places a heavy hand on my shoulder and holds me in place.

"Yes."

"And they can make themselves cum?" Mabon claps his hands together in glee.

Another squeal of alarm escapes me, but Rhydian is holding me firmly in place. There is no escape. Nothing I can do apart from endure this.

"Yes."

"Can I see?"

Oh fuck. Please no. Please, please no. Cold horror is washing through my veins. A completely different visceral reaction to when Rhydian wanted to see the very same thing.

"No."

Relief courses through me. Strong enough to make me tremble. I want to kiss Rhydian's feet in gratitude, but screw that. This reaction is probably the only reason he told his brother no, so I'm not giving him the satisfaction.

The lilac haired prince peers down at me. He is so close that the hem of his lavender silk robes are nearly brushing my knees.

"He is not very pretty," he frowns.

Well, fuck him then. I know I'm not a ten, but I'm at least a seven. For a human. Judging me by fey standards is deeply unfair.

"I didn't choose him for his looks," says Rhydian with his eyes fixed firmly on the paperwork before him.

His calm statement hurts far more than it should. What is wrong with me? I'd rather be taken captive because I'm desirable, then because of a father I've never met? That's absurd.

Mabon pouts. A full on, petulant pout. "When do I get a pet?"

"When you have earnt one."

"Oh!" exclaims Mabon as his eyes light up with avarice. "Can I have that pop star, Taylor?"

Rhydian sighs. "No. No mixed sex relations with humans, remember? We littered this world with enough half-breeds last time we were here."

Mabon's eyes dim for a moment, then he gasps in excitement. "I'll take a Hollywood hunk then. Watch all those muscles gleam and strain while I ride his cock."

"Fine," says Rhydian in a tone of complete acceptance.

That's interesting. Not only do fey appear to be super on the rainbow spectrum of sexuality. It appears there is no shame about choosing to bottom. Not if Mabon is anything to go by. So Dyfri's predicament must be all about the perceived weakness of being forced. And my lowly status of pet is more about being owned, than submitting.

I have no idea how I can use this. But all and any information is good. It might come in handy one day, and if not, the more I understand about my captors, the better.

"Did you actually want something?' growls Rhydian to his brother.

Mabon waves a hand, and a chair slides across the floor towards him. He sprawls down into it. I watch his mouth move, but no sounds come out. I look around the room. Oh my god, the bastard has put a silence spell or something on me. I can't hear a thing except for my own breathing. It is freaky and disconcerting.

My gaze flicks up to Rhydian and Mabon, who are clearly having a conversation. Nothing. Not even any muffled sounds. I suck in a shaky breath. Please god, let this be temporary. They just want a private conversation and then they will return me to normal. I couldn't live like this forever.

Okay, deep breaths. Don't freak out. It is actually flattering if I think about it. If I truly was merely a dumb pet, it wouldn't matter what I overhear. So clearly they think more of me. I'm a person who it is dangerous to give information to, and that's something.

But it is also frustrating. Listening and learning was my whole plan of escape. Be clever and figure stuff out. It's not going to work if they keep doing this to me.

I fight my rising panic. I will figure something out. If my captors keep moving the pieces on the board, then I need to keep moving too. I am clever and I'm not going to be purely a victim. If I can help it. I may be a fly caught in a spider's web, but I'm not ready to accept my fate.

Not yet.

Rhydian could decide to devour me and then there would be no hope at all. Nothing I could do. I'm not so arrogant as to deny this. I'm not an idiot. I can see the truth. All the power is his. My existence depends on his good will.

Oh god. I really am in so much shit.