Steal the Sun (Thieves #4)(39)

“I don’t think you can think of him as a dude, Sarah. He isn’t a man and he never was. He’s the spirit of the hunt. The way it works, the vessel and the god have to be somewhat well matched or they can’t bond. It’s one of the reasons it took Bris so long to find a proper vessel. Dev and Bris are similar. No matter how nice Herne may seem, he has a lot in common with the Hunter or he wouldn’t be in there.”

“Are you all right with Bris being the father of your baby?” Sarah never shied away from the tough questions.

“Dev and Daniel will be the fathers,” Neil corrected. He’d come up behind me and laid a hand on my shoulder.

“I was talking about the fact that Bris was inhabiting the body when Zoey got pregnant,” Sarah clarified.

Neil shrugged. “So, who gives a crap? There’s a lot more to being a dad than two seconds’ worth of orgasm. The big question is who’s going to take care of the kid once he’s here and the answer is Dev and Daniel. Don’t try to make this into one of those daytime talk shows where they shock the baby daddy with surprise DNA tests.”

“Neil, it’s nothing that hasn’t crossed my mind.” I understood why he was so touchy. His own father had been horrible. He’d kicked Neil to the curb and then sent the pack to torment him because he’d been different. Neil wasn’t too big on biological fathers.

He smiled as his brain took him in strange directions. “Though it would be a funny episode. Once they told Dev he wasn’t the biological father, do you think he would beat the crap out of himself? How would the bouncers handle that?”

“Let’s not find out,” I murmured, wincing because the Duke of Ain was approaching.

“Your Grace.” The duke bowed obsequiously. Apparently the more they scraped the floor, the more respect they were showing. “I was thrilled to hear the news of your delicate condition. It is such a boon to Faery that the prince will have a child to pass on his magnificent magic to.”

I didn’t like Gilliana’s father. He was lean with blond hair and cold blue eyes. When he looked at me, I felt like he was sizing me up. I’d been told by Bibi that Braden was a cousin of the queen and considered important throughout the realm. He held vast lands to the north that were crucial both agriculturally and in trade. He’d also wanted to get rid of the queen’s son when he was proven mortal. I was having a hard time smiling and placating the man. The only reason he tolerated my husband was that “magnificent magic” of his.

“Thank you.” I gave him my fakest smile, hoping to get this encounter over with in a hurry. Perhaps I could use this whole “baby mama” thing to my advantage. I could talk about how tired I was and go cuddle up with one of the books I’d brought. “It’s early, though. I hardly feel pregnant at all except for the exhaustion.”

Sarah and Neil looked at me with suspicious eyes. I’d been energetic all day.

“I am sure you will feel the pressure soon enough, Your Grace,” Braden said snidely, to my mind.

“Pressure?” It was an odd choice of words.

He nodded. “Well, all of Faery will anxiously await the birth of this child. Our fertility is practically nonexistent. It is better on the Seelie side, of course. We are the blessed court. Providence favors us. The Unseelie haven’t seen a new generation for many years. If your child is truly gifted with his father’s fertility magic then we have hope. It must be a great burden to have a whole kingdom’s fate resting in your womb.”

I was still getting used to the idea of having a baby at all. I was getting used to the idea of changing diapers and breast feeding and not sleeping at night. I was wondering how easy it was going to be to raise a kid when we lived over a nightclub. I was picturing Albert settling into his nanny duties. I wasn’t ready to think about the fact that my baby had political implications.

“Don’t scare my sister-in-law,” Declan ordered, coming in from the field where he had been “walking” with a pretty brunette. They split up now, but she glanced back at him with the hint of a smile as she walked off to join her friends. There was still grass in his hair, and I wondered how he could ever smooth talk a woman into lying on the ground for him. I supposed he could always use that whole “I’m going to be your king” thing. He might just order them to. I wouldn’t put it past him.

“I was merely letting Her Grace know how much I admire her for taking on the challenge,” Braden said with the smooth tones of a courtier.

Declan frowned, his mouth turning to a pout. “Well, it is not a grand talent. She spread her legs for my brother, he spent his seed, and nature took its course. She is human. They breed like rabbits. I am much more impressed with her fellatio skills.”

I reached over and punched my brother-in-law on the arm. “You’re such a jerk.”

He shrugged. I was sure he’d been called worse. “Well, I only speak the truth. While I am thrilled with your fully functional sex organs, I am not going to worship you for your womb.”

Braden ignored our immature fight. I was sure having been around Declan all of Dec’s life, he was used to the brat prince. “I was merely explaining that her child could be important to the Seelie.”

Declan’s green eyes narrowed. “Don’t even think it. My brother would never allow that to happen.”