I opened the box and there was a polished golden band. “A wedding ring?”
He held up his left hand. There was a matching masculine band on his finger. He hadn’t been wearing it earlier, so I assumed he’d slipped it on when I wasn’t looking. “I know we didn’t have a traditional ceremony, but I like the idea of wearing rings. You can wear Dev’s necklace and my ring.”
It was times like this that made the rest of the crap worthwhile. I let the sweetness of the moment wash over me because I would remember it for the rest of my life. I gave the ring to Daniel and let him slip the band on my ring finger. He brought my wrist to his lips and laid a tender kiss there. I hugged him for the longest time because I was finally wearing my Danny’s ring.
The car pulled to a stop and I realized we had reached our destination, and several problems suddenly occurred to me. My father would probably make no comment on the necklace, but he was damn straight going to notice the wedding ring I was suddenly sporting.
“Danny,” I said carefully, “I love my ring but I’m going to put it back in the box just for tonight.” I slipped it off my hand and placed it back in the little velvet box.
A long moment passed as both my men stared at me.
“Would you like to explain why, Zoey?” Dev’s voice was practically arctic.
Daniel moved me off his lap. I was pretty sure it was so he could properly glare at me. “Damn it, Zoey. You didn’t tell him.”
Dev frowned at me, too. “You promised me you would talk to your father about us. He hates me, Zoey. He thinks I wrecked your marriage. I was looking forward to actually making some headway with your father tonight of all nights.”
I cringed just a little because I had promised the boys I would talk to my dad, but my dad could be really hard to talk to. I’m his only child, and he stills treats me like a princess. It was not an easy conversation to have. What was I supposed to say? “Hey, Daddy. I’m shacked up with two men and I really love them both and I sleep with them sometimes at the same time.” It just isn’t a thing you share with your dad. I had been sure I could get through one little dinner. “I just need more time. I promise I’ll tell him soon. Let’s just get through tonight.”
Daniel shook his head as the driver opened the car door. “I’m not doing it, Zoey. I’m not lying to him. If he asks, I’m going to tell him.”
Daniel got out of the car and stalked up to the front door, where my father was waiting with a hug for his son-in-law.
Dev moved to the sidewalk but turned back to help me out. Though he was courteous, it was easy to see he was pissed. He offered me his arm, and we started up the driveway. “One has to wonder what you’re ashamed of, Zoey. Given the fact that Harry loves Daniel like a son, I have to assume it’s me.”
“Devinshea,” I sighed.
“I’m sure it will be a lovely evening, darling,” Dev murmured as my father was giving him the evil eye.
This was why I memorized the earlier sweetness. Loving two men is twice the joy, but when it goes wrong, it really goes wrong. I’d made a terrible mistake because I had the feeling my father was going to find out exactly what had been going on, and I wouldn’t like the way my messengers delivered this news.
Chapter Three
I was surprised to see Ingrid standing in the living room. She wore a designer dress and was beyond gorgeous with her perfect ice-blonde hair and lithe figure. It was a glamour, but I’d never seen her any other way. I wouldn’t recognize her troll form. I rushed into the room and was greeted with a bright smile.
“My little Zoey,” Ingrid said with only a hint of Scandinavian accent. She looked me over and took in the sight of the medallion around my neck, her eyes widening. She smiled as she touched it. “It’s good to see you. You’re practically glowing. This is beautiful on you.”
Yes, I was thrilled the see Ingrid, but I was also more than happy for the distraction. Dev had dropped me off at the door and then walked back to deal with the driver. Daniel was practically ignoring me. It was nice someone was happy with me. “Dev gave it to me.”
“Yes, I know,” she explained, studying it. “They did a good job on it. It’s a shame his brother refused to give him the real one. It belongs to Devinshea. It’s his to give to his goddess. I have no idea what his brother is thinking of keeping it from him.”
“His brother’s a jerk.” From everything I knew about Declan Quinn, I was convinced the heir to Faery was an asshole.
Ingrid chuckled at my descriptive language. “I’m certain the future king would disagree. You know there are always two sides to a story, Zoey. You’ve only heard one. Now, where is our Devinshea?”
“He should be here in a minute,” I replied.
I kind of hoped by the time Dev walked in, my dad would be passing out the drinks, but he hadn’t made his way into the living room yet. It was a bad sign. I didn’t think my father was ever going to like Dev, but the situation might have been better if I had talked to my dad about our living situation. Dad still thought Dev was some temper tantrum I was having. Once he realized I was serious about him, he was going to have to calm down.
“What is your father’s objection to Devinshea?” Ingrid asked, looking genuinely confused. “He is an excellent catch in both worlds. He’s of royal blood and well placed. In the human world, he’s wealthy and successful. He’s kind and loving toward you. I don’t understand the animosity.”
I understood it all too well. “Dad thinks that if Dev were out of the picture, I would settle down and do what Daniel tells me to.”
She sighed. “Your father doesn’t know you at all.”
My father wanted me safe, and he believed Daniel was the best bet. We’d been careful not to bring my father into our political games. Dad didn’t know Daniel’s status as the Council’s official assassin, and we agreed to keep it that way. I was just now realizing that Dev was the one who took the brunt of this particular ruse. Dev hated to be the outsider. He’d left his own family seven years before, and though he almost never spoke of them, I knew he missed them. Perhaps what he really missed was a sense of belonging. Well, he wasn’t going to get that tonight.
“Where is Halle?” I glanced around, trying to find Ingrid’s husband. I loved Halle the Loyal. The trolls had been my surrogate family for most of my childhood.
She gestured around the room. “It’s too much for Halle, too much artificialness. He sends his best and wishes you would visit soon.”
It’s difficult for many Fae creatures to be surrounded by metal and even walls. Halle was the weaker of the two. I wasn’t quite sure when I would be able to visit with the man who had helped to raise me, though. I doubted my bodyguards were going to be hip to checking bridges until I found the right one. The limits on my freedom were beginning to chafe.
“Ingrid.” Daniel greeted her with a happy smile. He walked up to the troll and pulled her into a hug. “I’m so happy to see you. It’s been too long.”
Ingrid looked at me, her eyes wide. When Daniel let her go, she studied him for a moment. Like me, Daniel had spent a lot of his human life walking the bridges with the trolls. We’d spent every summer with them even after we graduated from high school and went to college.
She brought her hands up to touch his face, a maternal gesture. “I don’t understand this face, Daniel. Your lips are turned up. It’s strange. What has happened to our brooding vampire?”
Daniel laughed, the sound filling the room. “I’m only allowed to brood two hours a day now. Dev put me on a schedule. He gets bitchy if I don’t follow it.”
“What have you been doing, Zoey?” A look of satisfaction crossed her face. She’d been the one to introduce me to Dev. I knew she was fond of the faery prince. She also loved Daniel. If she had a hand in making all three of us happy, she would be satisfied with her meddling.