“The hell you say,” I sputtered. “You cannot date my daughter!” That was just wrong on so many levels that I couldn’t even begin to count them.
“And how about me?” Vlad asked. “Oh, not the baby; but I did tell you to go Vamp before you went Fairy, or after. You know, for comparison’s sake.” I smiled as his silver eyes took in my sons. “Who knew the beast planted an entire litter of little beasties in that belly?” he asked and turned to Ryder with a gentle nod.
“Indeed,” Ryder growled proudly.
I smiled at him before Vlad bent down to kiss my cheek. “We will be staying for a few days, and now that you’re not pregnant, I owe you a stiff…drink,” he whispered before he turned and bowed at his waist to the King.
Hundreds paid respect to Ryder and the babes. I could hear Ryder speaking to each one, asking them for their support when the time came to gather at the rowan Tree and many pledged to return and bring more support with them when the call went out to gather at the Tree.
Many of the women that came through the receiving line added subtle hints of his prowess in the bedroom, and his virility. It was downright embarrassing the way they behaved. As if they thought he’d give them the same boon, and they’d pop out triplets as well.
“Synthia,” Ryder whispered as his hand slipped over my smaller one and his fingers trailed softly, warmly over mine. “It’s time for the babies to go to the nursery to be fed,” he continued when I stared at where his fingers absently stroked mine.
The babies were taken by his men and soon after that the assembly of Fae gathered in the room where a sizable feast would be held in the honor for the birth of the new babes—or possible Heirs, as Danu had pointed out to me earlier.
I didn’t want to be away from my babies, but it was imperative that we win the Fae over, and that they all come with us for the blessing of the infants when it was time. We stood as one and moved through one of the small antechambers, before making our way to the head of the table where we both sat and gave praise to those who came by and offered gifts for our babes like it was some sort of Fae version of a baby shower—just without the games.
It took less than an hour of being polite and smiling until my face hurt, before Ryder pulled me to my feet and smiled wickedly at me. He bid the guests goodnight, but as I opened my mouth to tell him that I’d like to see the babies, he stopped me with one finger gently pressed against my lips.
“They’re fine. My men have secured the room, and your ladies and my sister tend to them and their every need. I have plans for you tonight, ones that won’t be waylaid. Tonight, you’re mine.”
“Is that so?” I whispered before I kissed his fingers still held to my lips.
“Come with me, Pet, and I promise to make you shiver,” he said silkily, as his eyes flashed from amber fire to obsidian.
Chapter Sixteen
Ryder had changed back to his Fae form, and he’d dressed down for whatever it was that he’d planned for me here. He sifted us to a forest, and it was beautiful. The huge wild oak trees shared limbs, as if it was one tree that filled the entire forest. Moss covered the forest floor, and I could feel its softness through the sandals I wore. He didn’t allow me to take the beauty of it in for more than a few second before he glamoured a length of powder blue silk and let it slip from his fingers.
“No peeking, Synthia,” he said lightly, his tone layered in lust.