41. Chapter 41

Chapter forty-one

I never in a million years thought I’d be happy to be back in my Princess Leia outfit. But here I am. Appreciating the comfort of it. As well as how much Mabon is enjoying this.

He smeared the fey equivalent of baby oil all over me just before we left his rooms. And now he is striding along in front of me, holding my leash and gloating at all the attention I am getting. He looks so happy and so damn proud, that I can’t help relishing in it too.

Let them look. They can ogle, objectify, and covet. They’ll never get to touch. I belong to Mabon. No one else.

The two small braids in my hair should tell them that. I resist the urge to run my hand over them again. We are in public, I have an appearance to maintain. But as soon as I’m alone, I’m running to the nearest mirror to admire them again.

Mabon bitched about my short hair the whole time he was doing them and told me that my hair needs to grow faster. It was a wonderful moment. The two of us alone in the safety of his rooms.

I can’t wait to get back there, but this isn’t so bad. Mabon needs to be seen and needs to show that he is well and unharmed. To prove his absence was nothing more than a prolonged dirty weekend with his pet. And I don’t mind playing along. This is what I signed up for. The only way to stay by his side.

Mabon leads me into a cosy room. The heavy velvet curtains are drawn and the plush carpeted floor is scattered with large plump cushions. All arranged around a hookah pipe set in the middle of the room.

There is no one else in here. Mabon drops my leash and starts fussing with the hookah pipe.

“Sit there,” he says as he distractedly points to a particular cushion. A deep red one with gold tassels.

Smiling, I settle down and get comfortable. I like it when he is bossy. Probably a little too much. It’s likely that’s the reason it used to wind me up so much. It was poking holes in my denial.

A few moments later, Mabon joins me, sitting on a blue cushion that is slightly behind me, so I’m now at his feet. Now we look exactly like pet and master. But we know the truth, and that is the only thing I care about.

The door opens and Tristan walks in. His red hair is in two long braids and he has an enormous grin on his face.

“So good to see you home, brother dearest. I hope your flowermoon was invigorating.”

“Thank you,” Mabon replies sweetly as he brings a pipe to his mouth.

Tristan’s red eyes turn to me with a truly filthy look.

“Is your pet fully broken in now?”

“Yes,” says Mabon calmly.

I wince, even though it is true enough. I am hopelessly devoted to him now. Just not in the way Tristan is thinking.

The door opens again and this time it is Dyfri who walks in. Mabon quickly picks up my leash and wraps it around his wrist, where it coils among his many bracelets.

Sure enough, the first place Dyfri’s dark eyes go to is my chain. He gives nothing else away, and simply elegantly sits on a cushion. But I think Mabon restraining me has reassured him.

“Welcome home, brother,” is all he says.

I hope that one day Dyfri will not be unsettled by my presence. I’d like to earn his trust, but I suspect that is going to take time and is not something that can be rushed.

The brothers pick up their pipes and start smoking. The water in the hookah bubbles and the scent of the fragrant smoke fills the air.

“I take it Jamie is happy that you are back?” says Tristan.

Mabon shudders. “So many hugs.”

Tristan chuckles, but Dyfri frowns.

“Hugs aren’t so bad once you get used to them.”

Oh lord, bless his little heart. If he ever becomes comfortable enough with me, I’ll give him a ton of hugs. Heaven knows Dyfri deserves them.

“I suppose you’re right,” agrees Mabon, and he reaches out and pats me on the head.

I look quickly down before his brothers see my soppy, besotted grin. I still have zero clue why head pats feel so damn good, but I’m happy to roll with it.

“It is such a shame you missed all the drama with Carian and Gwydion,” says Tristan brightly.

Mabon wriggles excitedly on his cushion. “Tell me again!”

Tristan grins, flashing his bright white teeth. “The sound of squealing was filling up court, everyone followed the noise to find Carian and Gwydion running around in boar form.”

Tristan pauses dramatically. “Carian was as a sow.”

His hands enact the scene as he continues the story. “Then, to everyone’s astonishment, Gwydion mounted Carian and the real squealing began!”

The hand gestures are obscene enough to make me blush, and I have to snatch my gaze away. Tristan falls back against his pillow and laughs heartily.

“What made them go feral like that?” asks Mabon.

“The rumour is they took too many mushrooms.”

Mabon scoffs. “You took too many mushrooms once and the worst thing that happened was you ended up in Gruffydd’s bed.”

Dyfri coughs on his pipe. “Gruffydd? Is there anyone at court you haven’t tumbled?”

Tristan twirls the end of one of his red braids as he appears to give the question some serious thought.

“Apart from Jamie, I don’t think so, no.”

Mabon giggles. “Poor you, you’ve run out of conquests.”

Tristan’s red eyes flick to me. They run all over my body. Twice. Then he gives me a very filthy wink. But he says nothing. I think he understands that it is never going to happen. Mabon told him to keep his hands to himself. Tristan is just an insatiable flirt. A true fuck boy.

“Could a potion make people lose control like that?” Mabon asks Dyfri.

My attention snaps fully to the dark-haired prince. But all he does is calmly take a long drag on his pipe.

“Possibly,” he says nonchalantly

“They’ve left court,” interrupts Tristan. “I think it will be a long time before they are brave enough to show their faces.”

Mabon sighs sadly and fiddles with the end of his robe. “But they will return, and there are plenty of other troublesome people at court.”

My chest tightens. I want to pull Mabon into a hug and comfort him. But I can’t. Not here. It will have to wait until we are alone.

Dyfri gives Mabon an intense look. “We will deal with them like we always have. Together.”

Tristan nods his agreement.

Mabon’s gaze turns to me and our eyes lock. He flashes me a quick smile, complete with dimples. We don’t need words. We can say it with a glance.

We agree with Dyfri. There is nothing we can’t handle. We can take on the world.

Just as long as we are together.