“Neil Roberts,” I yelled, finding some energy at last. “You let that poor little pixie go!”
Neil garbled something incomprehensible around his mouthful of pixie.
Sarah got up, stalked over to Neil, and slapped him firmly on the back of the head. He coughed and spat the little red pixie out. She flew out in a fury of wings and saliva. As fast as her wings could carry her, she flew to my hair. I couldn’t understand her, but she seemed to be giving Neil an earful. I offered my hand and she landed on it, trying to shake the spit from her and regain her dignity.
“He’s really sorry,” I said.
She said something tiny that sounded a little like “hummpff.”
“He won’t do it again.” I would have to have a long talk with all the wolves.
“They look like they’ll taste good, Zoey,” Neil protested. “It’s a food chain thing. You gotta respect the food chain.”
Dev stared down at the outraged pixie. “When you seek your revenge, please try to remember that the wolf belongs to our goddess. She will have to clean up after you. You might show some mercy.”
She didn’t seem to care much about that and flew back to land on my hair. Neil was going to get pixed and then we’d see what he thought of the food chain. Pixies are lovely and known to be mean when angered.
Albert walked in carrying a large tray. He walked straight to me with a smile on his ferocious face. “Good evening, Your Grace. I offer my congratulations on your marriage to my master.”
“Thank you, Albert,” I replied as he offered me Sarah’s tonic. My hands were shaking so Dev took it instead and held it to my lips. Albert had reminded me that I’d picked up another title. Yay, me.
“It should stop your shaking, Z,” Sarah explained. “It’s a restorative.”
“Mistress,” Albert began. “I have drawn a bath for you and the masters. It is at the ridiculously hot temperature you prefer. If you and the masters will retire to the bath, you will find I have laid out a repast of traditional honey cakes and nontraditional vodka. I’m sure the three of you will want to enjoy your private time together, to celebrate the final bonding of your marriage.”
“Thank you, Albert.” I sighed at the thought of hot water. I drank down the rest of Sarah’s tonic and Dev picked me back up.
“Good night, mistress,” Albert bade me. “I’ll be leaving in the morning to return to our home. I must make preparations for our trip to Faery. I understand we’ll be staying at the palace. More than likely I shall have to set the place to rights.”
I told everyone good night and minutes later I was settling against Dev’s chest as we let the hot water start to work its magic.
“Damn,” Dev cursed as he sat back. “Has she always needed the water to scald off the top two layers of skin?”
Daniel laughed because it had been a point of contention before. I didn’t care if Dev didn’t like the water. I had earned his small discomfort.
“So, what’s it like?” Daniel asked, pouring two shots of vodka. “I’m talking about the whole ancient deity taking up residence, not being married to Z. I know what that’s like. First there’s the hot sex, and then she’s pissed off because she didn’t mean to get married, and then she runs off with some other guy. I think it’s my turn to be the guy she runs off with.”
I growled at my first husband. God, I had to keep them straight in my head now.
Dev chuckled. “I think she’s learned her lesson.” He knocked back the vodka and passed it back to Daniel for more. “His name is Bris. He’s Irish. He’s a fertility god with agricultural powers. He’s an excellent match. He’s powerful. I think the wolves will be having a lot of puppies come early spring. It should make them willing to back us up.”
Daniel nodded. “And Faery?”
Dev shrugged. “We’ll see. We have to deal with my mother now. She’s formidable. She’ll be much harder to deal with than Declan, but in some ways she’ll also be more reasonable. Having Padric on our side doesn’t hurt.”
Oh, god, I had to meet Dev’s mom. I never had to meet Danny’s mom because she died long before I met Daniel. I didn’t know how well I would go over with the in-laws. What happened when she asked about my career? Did I proudly tell her I didn’t have a criminal record despite the fact that I richly deserved one? I was going to have to explain Danny, too. Or would I? Vampires weren’t allowed in Faery.
“She’s freaking out.” Daniel had a little smile on his face.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Dev asked. “Do you need a drink?”
I nodded because I figured it wouldn’t hurt. It was how many humans had been conceived, so I took the shot and let the vodka start warming me from within. “How long are we going to be in Faery?”
Daniel poured me another drink and kneeled at the edge of the tub. He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt and let his hand sink into the water to play with my naval ring. “God, this is so hot, Z. I’m going to have to get that tat, aren’t I?” he said absently before answering my question. “We think it will take at least a month, no more than three.”
“But a month in the sithein is much longer out here.” I sat up and moved to the other end of the tub where I could face them both. “Who’s going to feed Danny? There isn’t enough in the backup supply for that long.”
Dev let his toes play with mine. “It won’t matter because I plan to shove Dan in his coffin and take his ass with us. Mother can either accept our ménage or we can turn around and leave. I have no intention of separating us for so long. We’re all going. I’ve already informed Padric I’m bringing my entire retinue including the wolves, Sarah and Felix, and most certainly my partner, the vampire. He’s agreed to allow us to bring Daniel in if we use certain precautions.”
“I get to travel wrapped in silver chains in a coffin,” Daniel said with a frown. “I hate traveling in the coffin. It’s cramped and it gets hot after a while.”
“I’m sorry, baby,” I said, feeling a little friendlier now with the vodka getting to work. I got up on my knees and leaned over to kiss him. “I’ll make it up to you.”
Daniel growled and his fangs came out. “I’ll make sure you do. Maybe we can play around in the coffin before we go. It’ll make it more pleasant if it smells like you.” His eyes were starting to glow, and I could tell he was tired of being the third wheel.
“I can handle that.” I’d never made out in a coffin before and considering who I was married to, it was a real omission.
“Tell me about the fertility god.” Daniel ran his hand possessively down Dev’s neck, fingering the thick vein there.
Dev stilled, his whole body stopping, but I watched as he finally leaned into the hand on his neck. “What do you want to know, Daniel?”
Daniel stared at Dev’s hair. “I want to know if I’m going to have to exorcise the fucker. I allowed this only if you stayed in control, Devinshea. I won’t let some ancient god to take over your body and shove you to the side. I explained that to you. I’m willing to try it to make you strong for the coming fight, but if it doesn’t work, I’ll need to make arrangements.”
I could make a guess what those arrangements would be. I would have lots of company in whatever safe house Danny was planning on shoving me in when the war started. And that would kill Dev.
Dev turned slightly. “It’s fine, Daniel. I’m in control. I will admit, our bonding threw me for a little bit of a loop. I don’t remember everything, but he’s talking in my head now. I’ve seen his soul. He wants to help us. He’s been alone for so long. He wants a family. He’s willing to give me his power, his strength, if I’ll just allow him to share my emotions.”
“And what about me?” Daniel’s hands threaded through all that silky hair of Dev’s and pulled his head back, a show of pure vampire possession and dominance.