I groaned and let myself fall onto the couch. This wasn’t going to go well, and I had no one to blame but myself.
“Now, Dev, perhaps we should sit down and really use this time to talk about the situation.” Felix was studying to be a therapist. It was a fitting occupation for a former guardian angel.
“I don’t think this is the time for a fucking therapy session, Felix,” Dev replied.
“That’s the way to talk to one of God’s pure creatures,” my father shot back, his Irish accent so much worse for his emotional state. Every muscle in my father’s body seemed to be tense and ready to fight. “I’ve got no idea what me daughter sees in you.”
“Oh, I can think of a few things,” Dev began.
I knew whatever came out of his mouth next was going to be awful. Daniel watched the scene with a sort of interested expectation. I suspected he was enjoying not being the object of Dev’s vitriol for once. Usually it was Daniel who managed to push those buttons.
Daniel winked at me. “This is going to be good.”
I shot him a dirty look and thought seriously about punching him.
Dev continued with his tirade. “What could Zoey possibly see in me? Let’s see… I’m filthy rich, have a ten-inch cock, and no sense of shame. What the hell else does she need?”
“Dude, you measured?” Daniel asked, finding the whole thing way more amusing than he should have.
“It’s an estimation,” Dev said between clenched teeth.
“Well, you are known for your generosity.” Daniel sat down on the couch beside me. He tossed an arm around my shoulders. “Hope you’re happy, Z. This is your fault. You could have handled this without an audience.”
My father’s girlfriend entered the room, a tray of drinks balanced in her hands. Christine shook her head at the scene in front of her and wisely set the tray down. “Have we already made it to the brawl portion of the evening?” She picked up two cocktail glasses and handed one to me. “I’m sure you’re at the center of it, Zoey, so you’ll need this.”
I took a long swig of vodka and set the drink back down. Dev and my father were screaming at each other now. The insults were flying as my father questioned Dev’s parentage and Dev questioned my father’s sanity. It was time to own up to everything. I’d made a mess, and it was my responsibility to clean it up.
“Wish me luck. I’m going in.”
“You’re braver than I am.” Daniel saluted me sarcastically as I got up.
“Stop it, both of you.” I had to move between them to make sure this didn’t turn physical. I looked to my father. “Dad, you’re going to have to accept that Dev is in my life. If you want me to come over here, you have to stop screaming at my boyfriend.”
Dad reeled around on Daniel. “What I don’t understand is why you put up with this. Why haven’t you killed the faery? I believe you have the right, Danny. No one in the vampire world is going to question his death. They’d help you.”
“I’m a lover, not a fighter, Harry.” Daniel managed to look as innocent as a guy with fangs can look. I rolled my eyes and heard Dev laugh sarcastically behind me. We’d both seen Daniel fight. “Besides, I don’t think killing Dev is going to make Zoey love me more. I think it would just piss her off.”
“I know that, Danny.” My father softened as he considered the man he thought of as his son. “I know how hard this is on you. I apologize for my daughter. I thought I raised her better. I don’t know where I went wrong. It isn’t fair, but then your life hasn’t been fair, has it? Your dad dies, and then…I just don’t know how such a gentle soul handles becoming a vampire.”
Dev practically fell on the floor laughing. “Gentle soul? Who the hell is he talking about? Has he met you?”
“I’m talking about my son-in-law, you vulgar piece of trash,” Dad spat. He’d always put Daniel on a pedestal. Daniel’s father had been his best friend, and when George Donovan died, Dad took Daniel into our home. “I’m talking about the kindest boy I’ve ever known. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. Zoey was always getting him into trouble, and he always tried to take the blame for her. She was a wild one growing up, but Danny took care of her, he did. I’m sure he’s a good husband, or he would be if she would just let him. Danny was always too good for her, but she can’t see it.”
Yeah, Dad knew how to push my buttons, too. As he went on and on about how I was lucky to have Daniel, I felt all that old childhood anger start to rise. I’d put up with this crap while I was growing up. It was just enough to make me feel like I was fifteen again and getting blamed for everything. Daniel got better grades in school. Daniel was so smart. If I was just a little more like Daniel, maybe I could have a future. Really, it was a miracle I still loved Danny.
Daniel sat up. His look of amusement changed to one of horrified expectation. He held a hand out. “Baby, I want you to think about whatever is going through that head of yours.”
But I wasn’t about to listen to Daniel. “Oh, Dad, Daniel is perfect, isn’t he? Do you have any idea how hard it was to live up to his perfection?”
“Now, girl, I love you,” Dad backpedaled. “I didn’t mean to say I don’t love you very much. I was happy to be your dad all these years. You’re a good girl and a good professional. No one can crack a safe like you, love. I’m just disappointed you haven’t treated Danny with the respect he deserves.”
“I waited years for Danny to get over his ‘I died and rose a freaking vampire’ angst. I stood by him all that time. It wasn’t until I started dating Dev that Daniel suddenly had an interest in me again. I’m so sick of how you kiss his ass, Dad. Daniel’s had such a hard time with the whole big, scary vampire thing,” I said, sarcasm dripping because I was tired of being the bad guy while Daniel polished his halo. “Do you want to know why Danny hasn’t killed Dev yet?”
“Zoey, let’s talk this through. Maybe Felix is right.” Dev sounded far too reasonable for me.
“He hasn’t killed Dev because Dev feeds him.” I reached around and pulled up Dev’s hand, exposing the fang marks. “He doesn’t kill Dev because he’s living with him. Daniel doesn’t kill Dev because they sleep together.”
“Nice, Zoey,” Dev ground out, pulling his hand back. He smoothed down his jacket and frowned at me like I’d planned this out. “That’s going to make things so much easier.”
Daniel had his head in his hands. “Of all the ways you could have told him, this is how you go?”
My father just stopped. He was still as a statue, standing there with his mouth open as his mind tried to process what I had told him. He slowly turned and stared past me at Dev. “You bastard. You stole my daughter’s husband.”
“I give up,” Dev said, throwing his hands in the air.
Daniel groaned and stood, his face a nice shade of pink. “He didn’t steal me, Harry. I don’t sleep with Dev. I mean, I do sleep in the same bed, but Z is firmly between us. Unless she gets up first, of course, but then we stay on our own sides of the bed. There was that one time when he thought I was her, but we got that settled really quickly and there have been no further incidents. None. Dev decided he wanted to keep all his limbs intact.”
“I was half awake, dude. You’ve gotta get over that,” Dev explained. “I can’t help it. I like to cuddle.”
My anger dissipated, and I could easily see that I’d screwed up. It was time to make things clear. “Dad, I’m living with Dev and Daniel. I love them. They love me. You wanted me to get back together with Danny, and the good news is I have. We’re together, and we take those vows we never got around to making seriously. Well, all except for the forsaking all others part. We’re forsaking all others except Dev.”
My father shook his head and walked out of the room.
“Great, Zoey,” Christine said, giving me a harsh look as she walked after him. “I think you broke him.”
I wished I could take it back, but it was done, and now I had to deal with the fallout. Daniel was shaking his head like he’d known this would happen. Dev just stared after my dad. Sarah covered her mouth, trying hard not to laugh. It wasn’t the first time she’d witnessed one of my knock-down, drag-outs. Ingrid appeared serene and somewhat pleased. Felix just shook his head.
“When I get my practice up and running, I’ll give you a group discount,” he promised.
****
“All right. So someone is going to have to explain to me how the hell this thing between the three of you works.” My father spoke for the first time in an hour. Dinner had been served and my father had taken his place at the head of the table, but he hadn’t touched the excellent osso buco or said a single word since I made my announcement. “Do you have a schedule? Do you see Dev on certain days and Daniel on others? I’m just not sure how something like this functions.”
“Well, Harry, when two boys love one girl very much…” Dev began.
“Devinshea, you hush.” Ingrid sent him a quelling look. To her credit, he actually shut up. “Harry, it’s a common thing in the Fae world. It’s a committed relationship, much like a marriage. Zoey is at the center. She’s beloved by both of them, and they take care of her. Can’t you see how happy they seem? I’m thrilled for the three of them.”