"Devyn," one of them called happily. She had long pale hair, chocolate eyes, and curves so dangerous they could never be fully explored.
The other clapped her hands and smiled. This one had a short cap of red curls and dimples when she smiled. She was taller, thinner, but no less desirable. "You came back to see us!"
Beside him, Bride moaned. "Great. Conquests." McKell chuckled.
Devyn glared at him. They were tied once again, it seemed. Two to two. "You don't play fair."
His enemy shrugged, no less amused. "I play with what toys I have. I sent a few of my men to alert the princesses of their favorite Targon's arrival. They couldn't wait to see you again, and I knew you'd be just as eager to renew your acquaintance."
Devyn faced the two vampires he'd had before Bride.
The two he'd bought, bedded, and returned to their people. They were racing to him, then throwing themselves in his arms, planting little kisses over his face and neck.
To deny them would have been rude and perhaps life-threatening, as they were of royal blood, cousins to the king—a king he needed on his side. Still, Devyn untangled himself from their arms and stepped back. They frowned at him, confused. When it came to touching and sex, he'd never told them no before.
"Is this a new game?" one of the girls asked.
What were their names? "I'm married now," he explained. He racked his brain, and the answer finally popped into place. "Princess Deanna and Princess Wendy, this is Bride of the Targons."
Bride nodded in acknowledgment. "Nice to meet you."
The two females ignored Bride, speaking only to each other. "Last time he called me Demi.”
“I was Elsie."
Giggling, they turned to him and shook their heads in a strange sort of unison. "Such a silly man. I'm De-Ella.”
“And I'm Jalyn."
"Wow. You really are bad with names," Bride said between coughs, as if that would keep anyone from hearing her actual words.
"My apologies, ladies," he told them, trying not to laugh.
De-Ella playfully batted his shoulder. The slap would have sent any other man to his knees. She was an older vampire, and therefore stronger than most. "You're role-playing again. That's so cute."
"It's a gift."
"One I truly enjoy," Bride said.
Finally they looked at her. Really looked at her, up and down, every inch. Confusion consumed both of their features. "You married this person?" Jalyn asked.
Bride stiffened. "Hey, now. This person doesn't take too kindly to being insulted." McKell drew her aside. "Come. Let's leave them to their reunion.”
“No." Devyn threw out an arm, blocking her escape. "She stays.”
“Yeah," Bride said. "This person will stay."
"She can't join us," De-Ella said with a pout. "We already have a fourth. A present for you, actually."
Grinning wickedly. Jalyn motioned the cloaked female over. Hesitantly the woman obeyed, her hips rocking more suggestively than she probably realized. Dread burned through Devyn like acid.
"This is Tadeam." De-Ella pinched the hood and slowly lifted it, first revealing a length of golden hair, thick and shiny. Then golden skin. Then a lovely golden face. The slave's eyes were downcast, but he knew they would be golden, too. "Something you've never ever ever tasted before but always wanted."
Yep, she was exactly what he'd suspected. A Rakan. The one race he'd been denied all these years. The race he'd tried to buy time and time again but failed. Eden's race. What he'd always thought he'd wanted.
He sucked in a breath and caught the scent of honey and spice. It was true, then. Rakans smelled like honey when they were aroused. De-Ella and Jalyn must have primed her before bringing her here, thinking it would send him into a frenzy.
Before Bride, it would have. Now, it did nothing for him. He'd tasted heaven already. He'd entered paradise. Variety was no longer what drove him. Bride was. She was the world he now revolved around. The one he sought to please, to protect, to pleasure.
She had shown him what his life was missing. Then, with her smile and her touch, she'd patched him up and made him whole.
"Remember when you painted us gold and had us pretend we were Rakans?" De-Ella traced a finger along his collarbone. "We had the McKell on the lookout, and when he found her, he bought her for us. Just in case you returned. Manus told us you would."
Manus, the king. So. He'd known all along that Devyn would return. But had he known why?
"Ladies." Bride rubbed at her chest as if pained. "I tried to be nice, but you ruined it. Now I don't like you. You are going to back away from my husband."
Her husband. It was the first time since their unexpected mating that she'd said it, and his heart swelled. Mine. She's mine. Husband-was a title he'd once endured, detested, suffered through, and when he'd finally shed it, vowed never to take it up again. Now, for the second time in his life, he was a husband. This time he preferred the title to that of king.
Before, she'd displayed no hint of jealousy. Not even toward the princesses. Not until they'd insulted her had she even displayed anger. But knowing him as she did, she thought variety was his weakness. This entire situation had to be abhorrent to her.
The girls regarded Bride as queens would a peasant. As if she were beneath them. Had they always been so snotty? Devyn found he couldn't remember. He'd slept with them, many times, but hadn't noticed anything else about them. Hadn't cared to.
Jalyn's chin rose. "Who do you think you are?"
McKell stepped forward. "She is Bride, a vampire, found on the surface at an auction. She is mine.”
“Actually," Devyn said, "she's mine."
"Well, I've never seen her before." The pronouncement came from De-Ella, as if her lack of knowledge lowered Bride's value.
Had they always been this oblivious, as well? "That's because she was raised on Earth.”
“Then send her back," Jalyn snapped. "She bores me."
"Well, then. Let me entertain you with a story." Smiling evilly, teeth completely bared, Bride ambled toward her. "Stop me if you've heard this one. There once was a girl who wiped the floor with two vampire princesses. They screamed and begged for mercy, but no one helped them. The end."
"Don't come any closer." Jalyn drummed her nails against her arms. "If I must, I'll call for the guards."
McKell bent in a formal bow. "I'm right here, Princess."
"Take her away, then." Clearly assuming her orders would be obeyed, Jalyn cast a sultry gaze at Devyn. "As that's settled, it's time to see to you ..."