Chapter Sixteen

 

“Hand her up,” Declan demanded as the royal guard separated me from my own guard.

Lee growled and started to shove his way through the bodies surrounding us.

“Lee, Neil, stay back.” I was sure Declan wouldn’t hurt me. The only thing that would come out of a fight would be one of my friends getting roughed up. I’d spent most of my night trying to protect the people I cared about, so I was willing to go with my brother-in-law.

“Zoey,” I heard a voice saying. Zack changed from his wolf form. He put his hands on his naked hips and frowned at all of us. At least I now knew how the guards had found me. “What the hell are you doing out here? Lee, where have you been? You should have been back hours ago. We were terrified.”

Whatever Lee said to his brother was lost as I was lifted up and placed in front of Declan on his big, black horse. I felt awkward as I wasn’t allowed to straddle the horse. I was more or less in Declan’s lap and completely dependent on his strength to not fall off. He wrapped his free arm around my waist and glanced down at my party. “You all have a lot to explain. You have been called to the palace where you will answer for this night’s idiocy. The queen and I will expect you in the throne room in one hour.”

With that forbidding declaration, he turned the horse around and started back toward the palace. The rest of the guard mounted and followed closely behind.

“It wasn’t their fault.” I hated that I felt the need to wrap my arms around his chest, but I wasn’t comfortable I wouldn’t slide off his lap. “I left with Herne and Neil came after me.”

“Then Neil should have kept his eyes on you.” Declan didn’t look down at me but stared at the palace. “He should know you well enough to know what you are capable of.”

“Why didn’t Daniel come after me?” If anyone was going to rush in to save the day, I expected it to be Danny.

Declan’s handsome face was coldly furious. “The vampire is currently up to his knees in dead bodies.”

“What?”

“Unfortunately, the dead bodies are moving so he must kill them again,” Declan said, his disgust plain. “The witch made several mistakes and we are being forced to clean them up. When the zombies rose, we all worried that this was the way my brother was to die. Would you like to know what his only concern was? He cared nothing about his own life but fought his way through herds of the walking dead to reach you and ensure your safety.”

I felt my heart clench. It was bad enough he knew I’d slipped out, but he’d probably been terrified.

“Is Devinshea all right?” I would never forgive myself if he was injured fighting his way to save his wife, who wasn’t even there.

“He is unharmed. He was mounting a horse to search for you himself when one of the guards recalled seeing you running across the fields with the Unseelie ambassador. He meant to alert us before then but he was knocked out by those pesky zombies. Needless to say, Devinshea was surprised that his pregnant wife would run off with another man. He shouldn’t have been. You were cheating on Daniel with him. He should have thought about that before he chose to bind himself to you.”

“I wasn’t starting an affair with Herne,” I said because that should have been self-evident and I never considered what Dev and I had to be cheating. I slept exclusively with Dev until Dev had asked to bring Daniel into our relationship. It was only through Dev that Danny and I reconnected. “I was trying to save my husband.”

“Well, I know how you like to save men, Zoey.”

I turned up to face him. He looked so much like Dev it hurt to have his contempt directed my way. “Someone led the Unseelie’s ogre into the forest. Herne was worried that the ogre would be the thing that killed Dev because it would most definitely start a war.”

“Yes, Zoey, if the Unseelie sent an ogre to kill my brother it will certainly start a war.”

“You aren’t listening to me. That ogre couldn’t have gotten in without Seelie help. Are you telling me that something that big and that stupid managed to make it all the way to the forests outside the palace and no one noticed?”

“Well, I would believe that before I would believe that a Seelie would aid the enemy,” Declan said stubbornly. “I suppose you have some proof of this ogre? Or am I to just take you at your word that you didn’t sleep with the Hunter?”

“Well, I killed the fucker so I guess the body might be my alibi.” I let go of Declan’s waist and forced my hands into my lap. If he wanted to keep me on the horse, he could just work that out himself. I wasn’t going to touch him.

“Damn it, Zoey,” Declan swore as he tightened his hold. “Do you want to break your neck?” I stayed still in his arms. “Did you really kill an ogre?”

“Yes.” We reached the courtyard. Every lamp and candle in the palace seemed to have been lit. “Dev didn’t want to come get me himself?” I supposed that Declan could have stopped him, but I doubted that was the case.

“He asked if I wouldn’t mind retrieving you and taking you back to your room.” Declan replied.

A sick feeling took hold of my stomach. “I suppose you told him what you thought I was doing.”

“I did not,” Declan admitted. “I thought it was evident and I did not wish to rub his face in his folly. It is not that I hate you, Zoey. I am actually rather fond of you. I simply think you are not suitable to be the wife of a Seelie prince. You would be a fine mistress, but that is where Devinshea should have kept you.”

I went silent because I had nothing further to say to my husband’s brother. I sat as still as the horse’s movements would allow and held myself as far from Declan as I possibly could. The real trouble was I was wondering if Declan wasn’t right.

I didn’t fit into Devinshea’s world. The nobles didn’t know what to make of me. I behaved more like an Unseelie, and the Seelie would never accept that. Our marriage had seemed like a good idea when Dev was estranged from his family and his world. He was back now and they accepted him as they never had before. I was a bit of an inconvenience.

The courtyard was littered with corpses, and I had to try not to breathe to avoid puking. I saw Sarah being led through the yard by Felix, on their way to their rooms. Her face was red, her eyes puffy from crying.

Felix rushed over and gave me a hand down. I was happy because I didn’t want Declan to touch me any more than he had to. Felix hauled me gently down and then Sarah was hugging me.

“I’m so sorry, Z.” Sarah sobbed into my shoulder.

I hugged her tightly. I had no idea what had happened, but I was sure that she hadn’t meant to plunge Faery into a remake of Night of the Living Dead. “It’s all right.”

“Yes,” Declan said, his sarcasm flowing. “It is fine that you turned our palace into a graveyard. We do not mind at all.”

“Shut up, Declan.” I sent him a frown.

“I got the incantation wrong.” She sniffled, wiping her tears away. “I’m out of practice.”

“Yes, you’re out of practice with black magic.” Felix gave Declan the dirtiest look a former angel from the Heaven plane could muster. “They should never have asked you to try it in the first place. Let’s go to bed, dear. It’s been a long night.”

Sarah pulled away and gave me a sympathetic look. “Dev is upset, Z. Danny tried to tell him you were off somewhere coming up with an insane plan to save his ass, but he wouldn’t listen. He left. I don’t know where he went.”

I nodded as she walked away with Felix. Declan took my arm, and I pulled away as hard as I could. I’d had enough of him. “I know the way to my rooms.”

I just wondered if Dev would show up in them.

Declan was a stubborn ass. He reached for me again. “You know your way to your rooms, but you have no idea where Devinshea is. Luckily, I do.”

I let him pull me along because it seemed easier than fighting him. “Why would you take me to Dev? You might get your wish, Declan. Maybe Dev will talk to your mom and she can annul the marriage.”

He led me toward the temple, crisscrossing the courtyard to avoid the bodies. I recognized the fluidity of Daniel’s work. The zombies were in neat piles because if Daniel could take them out in groups, he would greatly prefer it to singular kills.

Declan walked fast, as if it were important we made it to the temple quickly. “Mother will never annul the marriage, Zoey. You are pregnant. You are perfectly fertile and your compatibility has been proven. We just have to make the best of things.”

“Screw you, Declan,” I said bitterly, pulling my hand out of his.

“Things would be infinitely easier on me if you would. Look, Zoey, Devinshea loves you. He does not want your marriage annulled, but he is angry. For the most part my brother is not hotheaded, but when he gets angry, he can burn down his own house without thinking of the consequences. He is a storm of emotion tonight, and you taking reckless chances was the last straw. Daniel took your side and that did not help things either. I worry Devinshea is about to do something he will regret.”

My heart rate picked up. Declan was right. When Dev got really mad he could be irrational. He would say things he didn’t mean just to lash out. “What’s he going to do?”

Declan frowned and walked faster.

“Tell me.” I wanted to know what I was getting into.

“I believe he is going to call for his priestesses,” Declan finally admitted as we opened the door to the temple.

I came to a full stop. His priestesses were there for one thing and one thing only. Their job was to please their priest sexually and aid him in his fertility magic. I turned back to go to my rooms. Jealousy burned in my gut. “If that’s what he wants, then who am I to stop him?”

“You are his wife,” Declan said savagely, hauling me around. “You are supposed to love him so much, Zoey. Well, prove it. Get in there and stop him from making the biggest mistake of his life. He will never get over losing you. I will not let him fade because your pride left him alone.”

Declan pulled me through the gilded halls of the glorious temple. He stopped at an ornate door. “This is the priest’s chambers. Go and fight for him. He would fight for you. Prove me wrong, Zoey.” He pushed the door open and I found myself in Devinshea’s private pleasure dome.

The marble room was lit with soft candlelight from wall sconces. I was in some sort of entryway. I could hear feminine whispers and the sound of water running. The entryway was separated from the rest of the rooms by a series of filmy curtains. I could see the outline of a group of women standing around.

Tears pricked my eyes. He had done it. He’d actually called for them. I took a deep breath. If he was going to burn our marriage down then the least I could give him was a witness to the act.

“He thinks he’s going to die, Z,” Daniel said quietly from a bench a couple of feet from me. I hadn’t noticed him sitting there. He looked incredibly tired and he was beyond filthy. “I wouldn’t take anything he says or does seriously.” Danny reached out and briefly squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry I let Declan find you. I just finished with the last of the zombies.”

“I wouldn’t want you to leave his side right now.” If something was coming for Dev, Daniel was his best bet.

“I can’t leave either of you. This stunt tonight, Z…” His jaw clenched down.

“I was trying to help him.”

Daniel damn near stared a hole through me. “I tried to explain that to him. If you do it again, I swear I’ll lock you up. I can’t take care of both of you.”

I touched his face. “I’m sorry.”

He nodded, letting go of his anger. “It’s over. You’re alive. He’s alive. Just fix him, okay? He won’t listen to me.”

“And if he’s in there fucking his harem?” I was kind of surprised Danny would ask me to accept that.

Daniel shook his head, squeezing my hand. “Dev would never do that. He’s posturing. He’s scared and angry at the world. If I know him better than you do, we’re in trouble.”

I stepped away and pushed back the curtain quickly because I needed to see where he was at before his mask came down. I caught a quick glimpse of Dev as he sat in what looked like a hot spring flowing through the room. It reminded me of the grotto in our penthouse, though this stream had been caught in a large pool complete with steps leading down to it. Dev was sitting in the water alone. There were four women whispering among themselves as they looked down at their priest, obviously wondering what they were supposed to do now. For his part, Dev didn’t look like a man who was anticipating a five-way with some hot chicks. His face was blank, like a man who was about to lose everything and he couldn’t figure out how to stop it.

The minute he saw me his mask fell firmly into place and his gorgeous face took on the countenance of a dude who couldn’t care less. His eyes went a stony blank and quickly shifted from mine.

He could pretend all he liked, but I knew the real Dev. He was terrified and when he got that way he would fight because it was infinitely easier for him to yell than cry. What he didn’t seem to understand was that if he couldn’t cry, I would do it for him.

“You look like you’re down a couple of priestesses.” At one time they numbered six.

Dev arched an eyebrow, his voice lazy and uncaring. “The trouble with the Unseelie sent two of them home. I will miss them terribly, of course. They were unique and a pleasure to fuck.”

“I’m sure they were,” I said under my breath, not wanting him to know how it hurt me to think of him with anyone else.

“You look like you’ve been hunting. Did you have an interesting evening, lover?” Dev’s voice held a hard edge.

I noticed the large bed dominating the room. The bed was fit for way more than two, and there were armoires and a dresser. I crossed to the bedroom portion of the room. “It was trying. How about you?”

He sighed. “Oh, the usual. We called the undead to us and my wife lied to my face and ran off into the night, placing our unborn child in the gravest of dangers. All in all, just another day as the husband of Zoey Donovan Quinn.”

So he was going to play the martyr. I would rather he just yelled at me. “I was convinced I was helping you. I didn’t just run off for fun.”

“Deception is always a helpful way to manage a marriage.” He shook his head and crossed his arms over his naked torso. “You’re never going to settle down, are you? You’re never going to be a proper wife and mother. My brother told me. I should have listened.”

“Yes, you married me for my skills as a housewife,” I said bitterly, feeling those damn tears bubbling up again. “I tricked you, Dev. You can’t blame yourself. I presented myself as perfect-wife material.” I stood up and looked down at him, completely ignoring the women who huddled together, their perfect faces turning between me and their priest like they were watching an emotional tennis match. “I have never lied to you. I told you the first night we met what I did for a living and then proceeded to nearly burn your club down when a job went bad. If that wasn’t a hint that I was trouble then I don’t know how I should have let you know. I’ve never hidden who I am or what I wanted, but I have to wonder if you’ve given me the same courtesy.”

His eyes narrowed. “What is that supposed to mean?”

I shook my head. “It means that if you wanted a proper wife, you should have found someone else. It wasn’t fair for you to marry me and then try to change everything I am.”

I expected him to yell, to scream, to say some truly awful things. It was the way he fought. Instead he turned and snapped his fingers.

“I need help with my bath.” He commanded the women and they obliged him by entering the tub, not bothering to take off their shifts. “Perhaps you are right, Zoey,” he said in an imminently logical voice as he let the women begin to soap his body. “We are from two completely different worlds. It was a mistake. I am trying to change you and you have already changed me into something different. If we separate, we can go our own ways and be the people we were meant to be.”

“How have I changed you?” I asked curiously because I wasn’t afraid of this conversation anymore. He told me all I needed to know with one glance at his body. My incredibly horny, always ready to go at it husband, had eight soft female hands on his body and he wasn’t sporting even the hint of an erection. I didn’t know what he was looking for from me, but I intended to find out and give it to him. He needed me and I wasn’t going to let his stubbornness tear us up. If he wouldn’t listen to reason from Daniel, then I would have to appeal to his other instincts.

He gestured around him as though the answer was evident. “I am used to the attention of many women, Zoey. It has been difficult to remain monogamous.”

I couldn’t help the small smile. “Yes, I can see it’s been boring for you.”

I pulled my tank top off and let it fall. He couldn’t possibly know about my earlier conversation with Herne. I had been reminded that the reason Bris had accepted him was his willingness to remain faithful to his wife. I kicked off my sneakers and unbuckled the sheaths on my thighs, placing the knives on a table by the bed.

“I am used to variety, wife,” Dev said and I noticed he had not once looked at the lithe bodies around him. His gaze was steady on me as I undressed. “I allowed you Daniel but I am held to monogamy, though my nature runs against it.”

I shimmied out of my bra. Why he was lying to me I had no idea, but it didn’t matter. I could win this war and I wouldn’t have to fight. I let my underwear drop to the ground and walked to the spring. Tossing aside the band that held my hair in its ponytail, I let it flow down my shoulders. I knelt down and cupped my hands. Filling them with warm water, I showered my breasts.

He frowned my way. “Do you have to do that here?”

“I’ve been in a bloody fight too, Dev. I hope you don’t mind.” I looked down and now my non-monogamy loving husband was sporting an enormous erection. One of the priestesses tried to run her hand down his chest, and Dev seemed startled at the action. He moved away before remembering the game he was playing.

“I mind, Zoey,” he said, his attention focused solely on me. “I mind that you could have killed our child.”

“And I mind that my child might lose his father. I won’t let you go without a fight. I won’t raise my child that way. If you want someone who will hide in a closet for nine months, then you should start knocking up some of these women.”

He looked at me and practically snarled. “If I was doing my duty, I would impregnate them all.”

“I thought you tried that once.” I lobbed that grenade back his way because he was seriously pissing me off. “It must not have worked out since I don’t see a passel of tiny Devs running around.”

His eyes heated and I knew I’d made a mistake. He wanted to fight. He was practically begging for it. A long slow smile crossed his face, but it held no humor. “You know what they say, lover. If at first you don’t succeed…Besides, now I have Bris and I assure you, if I wish to fill them up, I can do it.”

It was time to tone down the rhetoric. I wasn’t about to engage him. The thought of him doing that could make me crazy, and that was exactly what he wanted. He didn’t mean a word of it. It was time to say things we did mean, and it looked like I got to go first this time. I walked into the water and straight up to him. “I love you, Dev. You recognized that I needed Daniel and I’ll always be grateful for that. If you need these women to make you feel complete then I’ll still love you.”

He gripped my arms, hauling me to his chest, warm water surrounding me. “Are you offering to be one of many, my wife?”

“Declan thinks I make a better mistress than wife anyway,” I said quietly, letting my insecurity show. There was no place for posturing here. “If being a proper and traditional priest is what’s best for you, then we can make it happen. I don’t fit in here. Doesn’t a mistress get her own place somewhere where she won’t insult polite society? I’m not a good wife, Dev. You should have talked to Daniel before you made that mistake.” I let my hands trace his chest. I loved his chest. I loved being pressed against it and feeling the strong beat of his heart. I couldn’t imagine a world without him.

“Fight me.” He shook me slightly, and I knew he was close to breaking.

I wrapped my arms around his waist. “I would much rather make love to you.”

“Damn you,” he cursed me. He looked at the women around him. “You are no longer needed. I meant what I said earlier. I expect you to take other lovers. I’ll no longer be available. I have one goddess, no matter how much I want to strangle her from time to time.”

As the confused women got back out of the spring, Dev pulled at my hair, forcing me to look up at him. “Declan is a fucking idiot, wife, and the next time I see him I’m going to punch him in the face.”

My nipples immediately sprang to attention, my body softening. “I thought you were mad at me.”

“I am.” His hands slid down my sides to rest on my hips. He brought our bodies together, and I felt the long line of his erection pressed against me. “I’m so angry with you I can barely see. Do you understand what you did?”

Couldn’t we just get on to the makeup sex? “I did what I thought was best, Dev. I did what I needed to do to save you.”

“With no thought to what I need, which is to keep you safe.”

That was an easy thing to reply to. “No, I was selfish because I don’t want to live in a world without you in it and I’ll fight with everything I am to keep you here with me and Daniel. I’m scared out of my mind. I can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

His eyes grew heavy. “You don’t play fair, Zoey. I want to argue and scream and rage and all I can think about is getting inside you. Know this, my wife. I love you. I don’t want a mistress and I don’t want a proper wife. I want you. Even when you’re a raging bitch, I still want you.” He covered my mouth with his and his tongue demanded entrance. I softened under him and let him plunder. He cupped my ass and pulled me against him, grinding his erection against my pelvis. “I don’t want to die. I don’t want to leave you.”

Now I let the tears flow because we’d come to the heart of the matter. Dev always struggled with his real fears. He’d grown up in this court where any fear would be seen as a weakness, so his default state was to posture and fight. He had to realize he was safe with me. I let my hands find his face and looked deeply into those emerald eyes. “I can’t let you go.”

I didn’t care what the bean si said. He wasn’t going to die.

“I need you,” he groaned against my skin. “I need you and I need Daniel. I should never have brought us here.”

“I asked you to bring us here, Dev,” Daniel said. He’d been sitting out in the hallway just waiting for a chance to come in. It probably killed him to have to wait. Patience wasn’t Danny’s strong suit. He stood at the edge of the pool, staring down at us.

Dev pulled me close as he looked up at the man he considered his partner. “If you’re worried I blame you for the mess we find ourselves in, I assure you I don’t.”

Daniel’s face turned grave. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you did. I’ve been blaming myself for hours. I’m the reason we’re here. I need the ties to Faery if I’m going to take over the Council.”

“And I need you to stop blaming yourself. We’re a team. You didn’t order me. I came up with this plan.” Dev lifted me up and suddenly I was sitting on the edge of the tub, my legs dangling in the water. The marble was strangely warm against my naked skin. “I don’t want to think about this anymore tonight. Besides, I’ve decided I know what will kill me. It took me a while, but I figured out where the real danger lies.”

Daniel’s whole body tightened as though preparing to act against whatever threat Dev pointed out. “What is it, Dev?”

“Our wife is going to give me a heart attack,” Dev said with a wry smile.

Daniel rolled his eyes. “Asshole. This is serious.”

Dev arranged my legs, completely invested in his task. He pulled me this way and that until he was satisfied. His finishing touch was to pull my hair forward so it just touched the tops of my breasts.

“Stay that way,” he demanded, taking a step back and admiring his work. I was completely spread and open to his gaze. It wasn’t terribly uncomfortable, and I got the feeling I was in for a couple of hours of Dev’s demands. I’d put him through hell and he would want some payback, which usually meant sexual servitude.

Sometimes I misbehaved just to get him in this mood. I wasn’t about to fight him because I got the feeling we could all stand to blow off some steam.

Dev continued staring at me while talking to Danny. “I’m serious, Daniel. I’ll expire one of these days because Zoey will finally have pushed my poor heart to its brink.” He glanced up at Daniel. “Are you going to stand there or are you planning on helping me torture our wayward wife?”

Danny was out of his clothes in record time. “I wasn’t able to get my torture on this morning, so I’m up for it. Literally,” he said, unselfconsciously pointing out his glorious erection.

Dev looked slightly horrified as he caught a glimpse of our vampire. “You’re covered in gore and bits of dead people.”

“Well, he…” I started.

“Hush, woman.” Dev immediately shut me down. “How can I objectify you if you keep talking?”

Danny’s hands were on his hips as he frowned down at Dev. “I’m sorry I’m offensive. I killed like a thousand zombies. It’s not exactly the neatest of professions. I didn’t stop to take a shower.”

“Get in here and clean up. Stand in the stream side though so it can take the filth away,” Dev told him, handing him a jar of something I was sure would smell good.

Daniel stepped into the water, careful to move to the part where the stream ran the swiftest. I sighed as he started to spread the soap across his chest and down his six-pack. He looked at Dev, obviously more amused than irritated. “You’re the bossiest person I’ve ever slept with.”

“Well, that’s not saying much, Daniel.” Dev turned slightly, and I didn’t miss the way he took in Daniel. “Everyone you have ever shared a bed with is currently in this room. Perhaps I’m normal. You won’t ever know.”

Dev went back to staring at his favorite piece of female anatomy as Daniel sank into the water to wash the soap from his hair.

He surfaced, slicking his hair back with big hands that I was pretty sure would be roaming all over my body soon. “Are you the one who got her to wax?”

“Yes,” Dev acknowledged. “I like to be able to see my sweet little pussy when I fuck it.”

“I begged her to shave and she kept putting it off,” Daniel complained.

Dev shook his head. “That’s because you were asking, Daniel. Zoey prefers to be told what to do when it comes to sex.”

“Hey,” I started because I didn’t like the way that sounded. Even though it was probably true. Mostly true. Mostly always.

“Shhh,” Dev shot back and he walked up to me. I was seated above him, putting him in the perfect position to play with me. He stepped between my legs, letting his mouth linger over my pussy, his breath a warm temptation. “For the next several hours, you will speak only when spoken to. And I think I would like to be referred to as sir.” He dropped a far too light for my liking kiss on my clitoris. “How about you, Daniel?”

Daniel sent me a heated look. “I think that sounds like an excellent idea. I’ve had a shitty night. I think some submission from our wife might help turn it around. I do have a couple of questions for her, though.”

Dev was breathing deeply in, luxuriating in the arousal he was pulling out of me. “Ask away. I’m sure you’ll find her perfectly truthful now that her scheme is over.”

Dev started placing chaste kisses all over my wet flesh, and I whimpered because I needed a hell of a lot more than his lips. I wanted to beg him to use his tongue on me, but it wouldn’t do any good. Dev was going to enjoy his bit of torture, and the truth was I did like to be told what to do in bed. I loved it when they tied me up and I had no control over what they did. I knew it only worked because I loved and trusted the men I slept with. I certainly didn’t want them telling me what to do outside of the bedroom, but the thought of submitting to their desires always made me wet.

“Why don’t you explain how you thought running around in the middle of the night with the Hunter would help Dev?” Daniel asked, catching my eyes. He stood in the deepest part of the stream, the water up to his waist.

“There was an ogre in the forest.” I tried to fight the instinct to move against Dev’s mouth. I bit my lip as he used the tip of his tongue to delicately flick at my engorged clit. Dev’s fingers came up to play with my nipples, sending shots of pleasure/pain through my system. “Herne told me he thought it was what the bean si were talking about. He told me I was the only one who could help.”

Dev stopped what he was doing and looked at me expectantly.

“Sir,” I added quickly, hoping it would placate Dev and he would go back to what he had been doing.

Dev gave me a look that told me to behave and rewarded me with a long, luxurious stroke of his tongue. I was already so wet. All I needed was a little suck, maybe some firm pressure, and I would go off like a rocket.

“How were you supposed to help Herne?” Daniel asked. “I would think if he wanted backup in fighting an ogre, he would come to me.”

I should have lied. I should have, at the least, massaged the truth a bit, but Dev was distracting me with his teeth and his tongue. His fingers spread open my labia so he could taste every centimeter and I just answered without thinking. “Turns out I was bait.”

Dev’s head came up, and I didn’t like the expression on his face. His eyes darkened, his jaw forming a stubborn line.

“I was bait, sir,” I tried.

He turned and started to stalk out of the pool. I had a strong suspicion where he was planning to go, and I didn’t like his odds in that fight.

I scrambled down from my perch and wrapped my hands around his waist to stop him. “Danny, help me. He’s going to go do that thing where he slaps the shit out of someone and then they fight.”

He’d started the process with his brother when we were all in Colorado. It was apparently a traditional way to resolve differences in Faery.

“Why the hell would he do that?” Danny had his arms over his chest, a fierce frown on his face.

Dev stopped and turned, utterly ignoring the fact that I was still hanging on to his waist. He just moved like my weight was no concern to him. “That man tried to use our wife as bait for an ogre. I cannot let that go unanswered. I will challenge Herne for what he did.”

“And he’ll kill you.” I looked desperately at Daniel, who just stood there. I was pretty sure that Herne’s god could kick Dev’s god’s ass. If it had been a competition based on sexual prowess, Bris could win hands down, but this was combat and he was a lover, not a fighter.

“What’s up with you, man? Ever since we got here you’ve been acting like some fucking eighteenth century gentleman,” Daniel complained. “Did this asshole inform us of his intentions to sacrifice our wife? Did he give us fair warning? Why the hell would you make a public announcement of his future ass-kicking? What happened to the man who didn’t play fair? You never have with me. I don’t expect you to do it now.”

“What do you suggest?” Dev asked.

Daniel’s fangs had popped out, a sure sign of his rage. “Well, I thought I’d give him a day or two to feel comfortable then we can jump him when those dogs of his aren’t around. I intend to beat him to death, unless that will start a war, then I’ll think about leaving him alive but I assure you, his balls won’t work after I cut them off and shove them down his fucking throat. Or we could have some pansy-ass duel that will probably get you killed and fulfill the prophecy Z was trying to avert.”

“Fine. You’re right. Don’t you dare jump him without me,” Dev said and his body relaxed against mine, content that he would have his revenge. He turned back to me. “Did I give you permission to leave your place?”

“No, sir.” I rushed to get back to where I was supposed to be. I shot Daniel a grateful look. I was comfortable with Dev beating on Herne if Daniel was there to make sure he was all right. I tried to remember exactly how he had me and my hands brushed against my pussy. Dev slapped at them.

“None of that,” he said, pulling my hands firmly to the side. “That belongs to us.”

I smiled. “Yes, sir.”

“Daniel, turn around,” Dev commanded, picking up the soap again. “You have something all over your back. It’s probably some distant relative of mine.”

My mouth started to water and I was sure my eyes were as wide as saucers as Danny turned around and allowed Dev to run his hands across the skin of his back. Dev’s strong hands ran down Daniel’s spine and I couldn’t help my reaction. Dev soaped his back, carefully cleaning him. They were so fucking gorgeous together that everything below my waist tightened.

Daniel’s head came up, and I knew he had caught my sudden interest. “Seriously, Z? This gets you hot?”

I could only nod my head as I watched.

“Is our wife having those thoughts again?” Dev asked, brushing his hands across Daniel’s broad shoulders and pronouncing him finally clean.

“You can’t tell? I can smell it from here.” Daniel practically growled. “And her heart is beating like a race horse.”

“Should we try an experiment?” Dev suggested.

Daniel looked at him, wary. “Are we ready for that?”

“Nothing too out there,” Dev promised. “I just want to see if our wife is interested or if she just thinks she is.”

I could have just told them the answer to that question. I was really interested, but I kept my mouth closed because I wanted to see what Dev had planned. He had a creative mind, and I liked to watch a master at work.

Dev walked over to where the soap had been. There was a small tray with soap and washcloths and a straight razor. I was sure Dev had already used the razor as his face was perfectly smooth. He picked it up now and turned back to Daniel. “One of the perks of being a fertility god is knowing what turns people on. I knew from the moment I met Zoey that she needed some light, playful domination. As a man who enjoys dominating a woman, I was more than willing to provide the service. Don’t think I don’t know what you want, Daniel.”

He brought the edge of the razor to his perfect lips and quickly drew it across his mouth in a shallow cut that had blood welling out of it.

Daniel’s reaction was immediate. He was in front of Dev before I could see him move. He crowded Dev, their bodies close but not quite touching.

“You are a bastard, Dev,” he growled and I watched him try to control his lust.

“Don’t, Danny,” I begged, moving again. “You promised not to hide anymore. It isn’t wrong.”

I moved in behind him. They were standing so close, and I knew if I could break through this, I might get what I wanted. I wanted them to love each other as much as they loved me. I wanted a true threesome. I wanted them to enjoy each other and I didn’t see why that was bad or wrong. We loved each other. We were faithful to each other.

“Fuck,” Daniel cursed right before slamming his mouth over Dev’s.

I moved to the side where I had the best view of the action. I placed a hand on each of my boys and watched as Daniel’s tongue lapped up the blood running to Dev’s chin. He ran his tongue from just where Dev’s neck met his chin, upward to the cut on his lip. There was nothing soft or sweet about it. He was dominating Dev, his hand running up to Dev’s hair and sinking in so he couldn’t move. He pulled Dev’s bottom lip into his mouth and sucked deeply. Dev groaned and I felt his hand reach down to cup my ass and pull me in closer even as Daniel’s hands held his head still.

Dev’s fingers were hot on my skin, and I felt the tingle of his magic start. That hot lust rolled over my skin, and I couldn’t imagine what it was doing to Daniel. He wasn’t just crowding Dev at this point. Their bodies were flush, chests and hips touching. The water was sitting at their waists, but it was clear and I was close enough to see those big cocks nestled together. Danny sucked at Dev’s lips, his lips and tongue drawing up that sweet blood.

“It’s not enough,” Daniel growled and turned Dev around forcefully.

He held Dev firmly against his chest with one hand and wrapped the other in his dark hair, forcing his head to the side. I moved to Dev’s front and let my hands wrap all the way around his body to clasp Daniel’s waist. My nipples were hard nubs against Dev’s chest and his hands came up to play.

“I think she wants it, Dan,” Dev said with a decadent laugh. His cock was hard as a rock, and it moved restlessly against my belly. The air was so thick with lust and magic I could barely breathe.

Daniel was past talking. He looked at me, his blue eyes a dark promise that I would get mine later, and he sank those fangs into Dev’s neck. He held Dev still as his throat worked, feeding, drinking Dev down so he would walk around all night with Dev’s blood pumping through his body.

Dev’s fingers tightened on my nipples and he panted. “Zoey, wrap your hand around me. Stroke me.”

I did as he asked and reached down between us. He was so hard I couldn’t make my fingers meet when I held him. I pumped his cock in my hand, lusty magic rolling across my skin.

“Suck me harder,” Dev commanded as he put his hand over mine and started to rub his cock forcefully. “I’m not Zoey, Daniel. I can handle it. I want it. I want you to be rough with me. I’ll fucking love it.”

Daniel groaned and I saw him sink his fangs in deeper and draw harder than he ever could with me. His eyes rolled back as he enjoyed letting his instincts lead him for once. He was always so careful with me, treating me with a delicacy he didn’t use with Dev. Dev gave him something I couldn’t. Dev wouldn’t break. He wasn’t as strong as Daniel, but he was strengthened by the god inside him.

Dev’s hand tightened impossibly on mine as he raced toward orgasm. “Faster, Zoey, I’m going to come. Please, don’t fight me.”

I relaxed my hand and just let him use it. Within ten strokes, I felt him jerk against me and his magic washed through the room. Daniel released his vein, his hands going around Dev’s chest as he held him up.

“Told you she wanted it,” Dev said to his partner with a sigh. He didn’t fight Daniel, simply allowed him to drag him along.

Daniel set Dev’s boneless form down on the marbled steps. “Can you sit? I don’t want you to drown. I’ll be damned if you die because I took too much.” He stared at the spot on Dev’s neck where the puncture marks were already healing. He reached out, touching them as if to reassure himself.

Dev’s hands came up, covering Daniel’s. “It would be a good way to die, but you would never hurt me. I know that. She knows that. You have to learn that. We trust you.”

“Then be ready for more of that because it felt fucking good.” He turned to me and his beast was loose. His eyes were sapphires burning through me. He held a single hand out. “Come to me, companion.”

I didn’t hesitate. Daniel rarely allowed his dark half to take over. I’d seen this pure vampire side of Daniel only a few times before, usually when he was close to death. In the years since, I’ve learned so much about vampires. The beast, as I like to call it, comes out when the vampire’s instincts take over like in times when he’s fighting for his life or when he’s protecting his precious blood. A vampire is a deeply possessive creature, and Daniel felt that this particular evening. At first he’d been scared of losing Dev and then me, and now he needed to put his stamp on both of us, needed to know we belonged to him and we were both alive and warm and ready for him.

None of those instincts mattered to me. I loved him. That was all that counted. I rushed through the warm water to get to him. He pulled me close and his hands tangled in my hair. He lowered his mouth to mine and when his fangs nicked me, he just groaned and lapped up the little blood before plunging his tongue in.

I wrapped my arms around him and held on for dear life. Daniel lifted my legs up until I was supported by his strong hands and he shoved his way inside me. I let my head fall forward as he physically moved my body up and down on his cock. I steadied myself on his shoulders as he plunged his dick in to the hilt.

“God, Z, how do you stay so fucking tight?” he asked, walking to the side of the pool and shoving my back against it. He stroked deeply inside me as he brought his mouth down to mine. He kissed me so sweetly I almost didn’t notice as Dev pushed his way behind me.

“Hello, lover,” he whispered in my ear. I felt his chest at my back, and he was ready to go again. Even as Daniel pumped into me and groaned, Dev ran his hand down my back toward my ass. “Know that if the healer hadn’t said we couldn’t, I would be fucking this sweet ass right now. We want to take you at the same time. It’s all we talk about. You’ll be so full with both of us inside you. We’ll be able to feel each other, too.” He slipped his hand between me and Danny and unerringly found that cluster of nerves that made up my clitoris. He rubbed firmly and my head fell back as I came. “We’re going to rub against each other even as we fuck you, wife.”

Daniel’s strokes lost their regularity as he bucked against me, coming in hot jets of semen. He bit into my neck and sent me over the edge again before the first one had even stopped. As we both came down, he moved softly against me as he licked the wound in my neck closed.

Dev laughed behind me and held me close, which was good because I didn’t feel like standing up. Danny went down on his knees and rested his head on my belly as he wrapped his arms around me. We stayed like that for the longest time, just feeling connected and happy together. After a while, Daniel got back on his feet and he looked at me and Dev, a light happiness in his eyes.

“Carry her to bed. I’m not done yet.” He walked up the steps even as Dev caught me against his chest and followed Daniel’s orders.

He grinned down at me. “And he calls me bossy.”

Daniel threw himself down on the soft bed, laughing.

 

* * * *

 

I lay against Dev’s chest, napping just a bit as the boys talked. It was deep in the night and I was tired and completely satisfied, resting on the big bed with my men close by. If Herne had been right, then the threat was gone and I had averted a war. If he was wrong, then Daniel had a plan.

“I’m not going to let you out of my sight, Dev.” Daniel leaned down to kiss the curve of my hip, resting his head against it as he stroked his hands across my skin. The warm light of the temple made everything seem golden, as though the sun was contained in the marbled walls, warming and lighting the space from within. I could hear the gentle rush of water from the pool and stream. Everything about the temple was soothing, conducive to rest and romance.

Dev chuckled slightly. “So you want to see me die?”

Daniel’s head came up and those eyes were suddenly sapphire again. “Don’t talk like that.”

Dev put a hand up. “I’m sorry. I was joking.”

“You don’t joke about this.” Daniel settled back down, rubbing his cheek against my skin and cuddling close. His hand moved down, resting on my belly. I wondered if he could hear the baby’s heartbeat. He would likely find it soothing. “I’m going to watch you like a hawk and if you die, then I bring you back. The banshees get what they want. We get what we want. Everybody wins. The prophecy can be fulfilled. There’s no reason I can’t bring you back. You’ve died before.”

I shuddered at the thought. I remembered watching him die when we were in Vegas. I remembered seeing Daniel’s body on the slab of the Denton County Coroner’s office when he died all those years ago. The two worst days of my life. I couldn’t lose them. I couldn’t. The bean si claimed I was some sort of hole in the fabric of fate. I’d saved Dev and simply being near me had caused Daniel’s early death and his rebirth as a vampire. I had to be able to affect this scenario, too. I’d killed the ogre. It had to be enough.

“I think it would be best if we left as soon as possible,” Dev said. “The situation here is worse than I could have imagined. The Seelie are ready to fight. I don’t want to get Zoey and the baby trapped in a war zone. I have to visit the fields or people here will starve soon, but after that I think we should pack up and head back to Dallas.”

“I think you just miss the Xbox,” Daniel teased because he certainly did.

I sat up because they were forgetting something. “I still have to find the Blood Stone. I’m not leaving without it.” Louis Marini had told me if I didn’t do this job he would kill Daniel and I, for one, believed him. He had the trigger for the surgically implanted device on Daniel’s heart. I’d seen the X-ray, and if Marini pushed that button, Danny would receive a lethal dose of silver straight to his heart. Not even a king could survive that.

“How long will it take for you and Bris to make sure people don’t starve?” Daniel asked, thinking about the problem.

Dev had one of those weird, in-his-head conversations before answering. “We need at least a week, maybe two. Most of that time is travel, though. If you flew me, we could be done in five days.”

Daniel nodded. “You have five days to solve the puzzle, Z.”

“It shouldn’t be difficult,” Dev reasoned. “Everyone knows the Blood Stone is one of the things the bean si discussed, so people should be willing to talk. You don’t have to hide your interest. Talk to Mother in the morning. She can tell you who she gave the stone to.” He closed his eyes and I knew he was exhausted. “I’m reluctant to leave Zoey behind.”

“So am I, but I don’t see how we accomplish both tasks if she comes with us. She has all three wolves,” Daniel pointed out. “If I directly tell Zack to not allow her to die then I assure you he’ll get the job done. He never disobeys, unlike some others.”

“Don’t be mean to Neil,” I ordered. “He had a tough night, too. He had to find me, help me kill an ogre, and save Lee.”

“He shouldn’t have let you slip away in the first place,” Daniel pointed out, moving up on the bed. He settled down on the other side of me, spooning me from behind. “His senses are crap since he came home.”

“Well, he hasn’t had vampire blood in almost a year,” Dev said reasonably. “You can’t compare him to Zack.”

Daniel sighed behind me. “Well, I’ll deal with Neil later. I’ll leave Zack explicit instructions. Between Zack and Lee, she’ll be fine. Now hush, both of you. We have a long day ahead and I’m tired.”

“Bossy,” Dev said as I felt him drift off.

The boys were soon fast asleep, surrounding me with their warmth and safety, but I couldn’t help but think none of this would be as easy as they were making it out to be.