Steal the Moon

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I called out after him, but his long legs carried him quickly away from me. I got only halfway down the hill when my own legs gave out, and I forced myself to sit before I fell and went tumbling down the hill. It would be the perfect way to end the night. I could fall in a graceless heap and perhaps break my neck.

I was tired, so tired. I was sore. I was feeling intensely stupid. They tried to tell me, every single one of them. They’d tried to explain about the possibility of Bris and now I recalled that the word union had been mentioned several times when Ingrid spoke of the ritual. Did I listen? No. Zoey Wharton Donovan…god, Quinn. I was practically a soap opera character and I didn’t listen to anyone.

I needed a shower and I had no idea how I was going to face these wolves in the morning. Our entire party was supposed to have brunch at the big house with McKenzie tomorrow and I just wanted to hide. It had been easy in the heat of the moment, but I felt the full weight of everything hitting me now.

The leftover magic had me shaking. I didn’t think I could make it back to the tent. I was going to have to sit here until Dev came back or Padric took pity on me and carried me home. I hated feeling so weak but more than that, I hated feeling so stupid. I should have known there was more to this. Now I realized all the signs had been there and beyond that, I knew why Dev had done it.

I could still hear Dev and Daniel in the limo after the night at the club. Daniel was going to get the wolves and Dev was going to get Faery. This had all been one huge power play. Dev needed to go back to Faeryland in a position of power. He needed a tool to force his mother to our side, and his ascent to godhood was just what the doctor, or the vampire, ordered.

I knew what their reasoning would be. They were just protecting me. Tied to Faery, Marini would have to think twice about messing with me. I was now a high priest’s wife. I was a member of the royal family. They would be obligated to defend me should anything happen. It would satisfy Daniel’s need to see me safe.

It would be nice just once to be married because some man just loved me rather than needed to protect me.

The pixies landed on me again, and I watched as they perched on my hands and lapped up the tears that had fallen there.

I also had to deal with the fact that I might be pregnant. Apparently ancient fertility gods didn’t do safe sex. There had been condoms on the altar, but they hadn’t been used. Tonight had been the first time Dev had taken me without protection. Up to now, we always used two forms of birth control. I took a shot four times a year and he used a rubber. I had to hope the shot worked, but that magic had been so strong and I had taken the brunt of it. It might work out just fine for the boys. I would be pregnant and confined to the safety of a sithein for the rest of my life. They could have their war knowing the wife was safely left behind.

“Zoey,” Padric’s voice called from behind me. “Allow me to take you back to the shelter.”

I shook my head, unable to face anyone just yet. “I’ll just stay here for a while, thank you.” I glanced back at the man who was for all intents and purposes my new father-in-law. “If you could please ask Neil to come for me in an hour or so, I would be grateful.” I could get the crying out of the way and then I could tell Neil about it.

“Devinshea would have my head if I left you alone.”

“Oh, Dev has had everything he could want from me this evening,” I replied unfairly, but I couldn’t help but be a little bitter.

“I wanted a happy wedding night and a happy bride,” Dev said quietly as he walked my way. “I did not get everything I wanted, Zoey.” He nodded to the royal guard. “Please leave us. I’ll take care of my wife. I’ll start acting like her husband rather than a spoiled child.” He reached down and picked me up, lifting me into his strong arms. “Let us go and join Daniel. Perhaps he can bring back your smile.”

I slumped in his arms because I was almost boneless in my exhaustion. He carried me through the pasture where the wolves were breaking up and returning to their tents. They seemed happy and hopeful. They stopped and watched as we passed them. It was no wonder they gawked a bit. Dev was a god carrying his goddess with a trail of pixies following. It wasn’t a scene they normally saw every day.

“You didn’t wish to be married to me?” Dev carried me toward our tent. I noticed the field was filled with wildflowers that had been absent before the ceremony. Life had sprung up everywhere. “I was to remain the third in your marriage to Daniel?”

“I didn’t understand, Dev. I didn’t listen to you or Ingrid or anyone else. I was thinking about the heist and then I was thinking about finding Neil and losing Daniel. I thought of everyone but you.”

He stopped. “You didn’t answer my question. If you don’t want this marriage then I can annul it.”

“I didn’t say that,” I practically cried. “I love you. I’ve acted as your wife for a long time. Why would I not want to marry you? I told you last night I would never leave you. I was ready to marry Marcus if it meant keeping you safe. Don’t question my love. Answer me this. Did you marry me because you love me or did you and Daniel see it as a convenient way to tie me to Faery? Our marriage makes this fight Faery’s fight. Tell me that didn’t occur to you.”

I saw from the flush on his face that I was right. He began walking again. “I love you. Why is it wrong to want you safe? I want this marriage. I want it more than anything. I’ll annul it and when you are ready, we can try again. Perhaps we can marry as is customary on this plane. It won’t be recognized by Faery. It will be just for the two of us. I’m sorry. I thought it would please you. You’ve said in the past that you wanted a real ceremony. I was being selfish in giving you a ceremony from my culture that you didn’t even recognize as a wedding.”

“Dev, I should have…” I started but he was talking over me.

“I suppose public proof of sexual compatibility is not a part of human ceremonies,” he said with a shake of his head. “I also bet that non-corporeal gods don’t fuck the bride at a human wedding.”

“We also don’t have pixies and I really like the pixies. I don’t want to annul our marriage. I love you. Can we just forget about the last twenty minutes and have a happy wedding night?” There was nothing to be had from annulling our marriage. There was nothing good that could come from us fighting. He’d had good intentions.

“I would have married you even if Padric had declined to intercede,” Dev explained quietly. “I would have counted myself your husband without my family’s consent and I would have cut ties with them. I love you, my wife. I love you more than you can know.”

I nodded and rested against him. “Then understand this, my husband. I might never blow you again. My jaw is never going to be the same.”

Dev threw his head back and laughed. “Well, if that was my last blow job, at least I got to go out with a bang. You have Declan’s everlasting respect, my wife. Good evening, Zack.” Dev greeted the wolf who was standing guard outside the tent.

“All went well, sir?” Zack asked, politely not commenting on what I was sure he could smell.

“It was rocky, but we got it done,” Dev admitted.

Zack threw back the door flap and we entered the tent. The front room was full. Neil and Chad sat in a chair, Neil on Chad’s lap, and it was obvious they had made up. Chad had his face buried in Neil’s neck doing that thing Danny had done last night. Sarah and Felix were sitting together on the sofa and Daniel was pacing.

Dev looked straight at Daniel. “You’re a bastard, Donovan.”

Daniel slapped Chad on the shoulder. “I told you. You owe me twenty bucks.”

Chad turned his eyes to me, humor forcing his lips up. “You were surprised at being married? When did you realize it was a wedding, Your Highness? If the white dress didn’t clue you in surely the handfasting ritual did it, right?”

I frowned as Chad laughed.

“Zoey,” Sarah said with sympathy, “Goddess is what they call the wife of a high priest.”

“Yeah, well you might have mentioned that to me,” I shot back.

Dev lowered us into a chair but kept me in his arms, which I appreciated. I cuddled against his chest because I still had the shakes.

“You’ve dated a faery prince for almost two years, sweetie,” Sarah pointed out. “You’ve lived with the man for over six months. I just thought you would know.”

Daniel was laughing, and I sent him a forbidding look. “Don’t you even say it, Daniel Donovan. I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking no one could be that stupid, but we both know damn well I can.”

“I’m sorry, Z.” He knelt down in front of me. “It was mean of me. I was just jealous because our wedding was so crappy and Dev got to plan out his dream wedding.”

“Yes, it was a dream, Daniel. She didn’t even realize it was a wedding until Declan welcomed her to the family,” Dev said. “You should have mentioned it to me.”

“Wow,” Felix said, looking around the room with a light in his eyes. “That’s a lot of pixies. That was some strong magic.”

“I felt it from here,” Sarah acknowledged. “I’m not surprised you have the shakes. You were the closest one to it. I have Albert heating up a tonic that should work.”

I couldn’t help but notice Neil, who was being strangely quiet. He moved off Chad’s lap, and his eyes were following the pixies. He watched the sweet little butterflies with the sharp gaze of a predator. He moved suddenly, so quick a person not paying close attention would have missed it.

“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.

“What?” Dev asked, sounding completely shocked.

It was fun to not be the only one on the receiving end of the jealous vampire. “Hey, we wanted him to stop pretending. You feed him regularly. It was inevitable he would get possessive. It’s his nature. He likes your blood, Dev. It turns him on.”

“I don’t know if I’d go that far.” Daniel pulled back, chuckling a bit as though he was amused with himself. “I do like the taste. It’s different from yours, but gives me the same boost. I like the contrast. You’re sweet but he’s savory. Z is right. I am possessive and it’s bothering me that I don’t know if we just brought someone into our lives who might try to push me out.”

Dev smiled, letting Daniel know he didn’t mind at all. “I wouldn’t allow it. Bris can accept our relationship or find another host. As it happens, he finds the thought of living with a vampire intriguing. He knows little about your species and is curious. And he definitely wants to get our hands on Zoey again.”

“I’ll have to get used to that, too.” Daniel turned my way. “So I suppose you didn’t really understand the whole ascension thing, either.”

Did he have to bring up my idiocy again? “No, of course not.”

“Then I have to ask you the question I thought I’d already asked. Are you all right with this, Z?” Daniel spoke, but both men were staring at me. “If it scares you, there are rituals to dispense with the god.”

Dev put a hand on his heart as though it suddenly hurt him, but his mouth remained closed. I could only imagine the voice in his head. It wouldn’t be shouting. I knew that instinctively. Bris was gentle, tender even. He wouldn’t fight Dev. He would be hurt and alone.

“It’s okay. He seems nice.” And I might be pregnant with his baby. Go me. Except it would be Dev’s child. If I was pregnant. Which I probably wasn’t. I’d had unprotected sex with someone who had live sperm once in my life. What were the odds I would actually get pregnant?

“He wants to talk to you, Daniel,” Dev said quietly.

“Why doesn’t he then?” Daniel stared at him as though a bit ill at ease.

“Because he won’t take over the body unless you give him permission. I’ve already said yes, but he believes he understands our relationship now and he wishes for your approval, Your Highness.”

“I don’t require that you obey me, Dev.”

Dev’s lips curled up. “He’s a little old school when it comes to kings. You should be a shock to him, Dan.”

Daniel nodded. “All right. I’ve never met a god before. Z seems to think he’s okay. Let’s have it. Or should we, like, get you dressed?”

“I’m perfectly comfortable naked, Your Highness. And I believe you’ve seen this body more than once.” The change was startling. One minute Dev was speaking and the next a lyrical Irish accent was flowing from his mouth and his eyes had gone a solid green, twin emeralds staring from his familiar face.

Daniel tensed. “I can’t sense a difference. I thought…I guess I thought I would be able to tell.”

“The eyes and the accent don’t give him away?” I asked. I gave the fertility god a little smile. It’s probably not a good thing, but I was starting to get comfortable being naked around everyone, too. “Hi, Bris.”

His face went from slightly alien to infinitely warm. “Hello, my goddess. You are well? The magic of the ritual hasn’t made you overtired? This one and I will take care of you if you need to rest.”

“I can take care of my wife.” Daniel crossed his arms over his chest.

“I am sorry, Your Highness,” Bris said. “Perhaps I should go because I am incapable of not forming an attachment to her. It’s already there. I feel what Devinshea feels. It’s why I waited millennia to bond again.”

“What’s special about Dev?” Daniel asked. “As a priest, I mean. You bond to a priest from what I understand. You waited in the ether for a thousand years? Surely there have been more than a handful of priests in that time.”

“Yes, but they didn’t match my needs. You have to understand that Fae priests aren’t trained to love. To care certainly, but for many people. Priests are not monogamous. They don’t take lovers in that fashion. Sex is a thing to share with many.”

“And for you?”

“I loved my goddess and when she was gone, I went to the ether on my own. I went until I found someone who loved as strongly as I did. Your Highness, if my regard for your wife is going to cause trouble, then I should go because loving her, caring for her, and quite frankly for you, are the reasons I bonded with this priest in the first place. He thinks you want me to strengthen him for the fight that is to come, but I think something different.”

“And what’s that?”

“I believe you want me to keep him alive. I think you would prefer he didn’t fight at all, but you know it’s his nature. I can be helpful, Your Highness. I can bring him strength that you can’t imagine. And I can keep him safe. It will be my highest priority to protect all of you.”

“You’re a fertility god…what should I call you?”

“Bris is fine. I feel this world is less formal than the one I last lived in. More open, as well. You have progressed. In my world, I would have been called My Lord, but I want a friendship with you, Your Highness.”

“Daniel, please.” I could see he was softening.

Bris smiled and it lit up the room. “Yes, Daniel. I don’t want you to worry that I mean to cut you out. I could no more do it than cut out my own heart. I share a soul space with Devinshea. I feel what he feels. I am empty without him. You have to understand that his emotions rule me. It is why if you don’t wish me to touch your wife, I should end the bonding. For that matter Devinshea loves…”

Bris suddenly stopped, his eyes sealing shut, and when he opened them again, he was Dev. “See.” His smile was a bit unsteady. “I can take control when I want to. Do you understand better now, Dan?”

I stayed perfectly quiet because this seemed to be a moment between them. Nothing Bris had said made me wary. And I trusted Dev. He was sharing a body with this god person.

Bris had touched me, kissed me, worshipped me. I’d been in the middle of his magic. If I had to make a bet, he was one of the good guys.

Daniel’s hands went straight to Dev’s face, cupping his cheeks and looking deep into his eyes. “Tell me you’re okay. Tell me he’s being truthful because he sounds too good to be true.”

Dev’s hands went up, covering Daniel’s. They were so beautiful together I felt my heart nearly stop. “He’s with me. He’s part of me. He wants so badly to be part of us. We’re good, Daniel.”

Daniel stood up suddenly and shucked his shirt, the tension rushing out of the room. “All right, then. You two hurry up. I’m hungry and I didn’t like being left here alone.”

“You weren’t exactly alone.” I shifted back to Dev, reveling in his warmth. “You had everyone else here.”

“I’m alone if I’m not with you two,” he said quietly.

“We can’t have that, Daniel,” Dev replied. “What should we do with our wife? Our wife. I like the sound of that.”

Daniel’s dimples came out as he stood over us. “It does sound good. I thought I’d give you the night off, Z, since he already did god knows what to you. I’m sure it was filthy.”

“Oh, it was more about what Zoey did to me,” Dev said with a salacious grin. “Do you want me to tell you, Daniel?”

“Oh, yes,” Daniel replied, a little shudder in his voice. “The two of you meet me in bed and give me every detail about how Zoey misbehaved tonight. I think it would be fun if I bit Dev while Zoey took care of Little Dev there. We were both bad. We should be punished.” Daniel winked at us as he left the room.

“I think I created a monster,” Dev observed as Daniel left. He hugged me tight and I could feel his satisfaction. “Looks like we’re not through tonight, my goddess. I think my wedding night is going to be happy after all. I like being in the middle.”

I shook my head and laughed, avoiding several questions I would really like to ask. The boys weren’t ready to go there so I let go of the whole thing. “You’re going to have to settle for a hand job, buddy.”

Dev nodded. “I can handle that.”

When we joined Daniel, he welcomed us. Our threesome was finally blessed in both of their worlds.

Daniel pulled me into his arms and the magic began all over again.