“Yes, that. I'll have to do that at least twice a day. I might as well do it here.”
Sever smiled at me. “Twice a day is better than once.”
I stretched up on my toes, and he bent down, closing his wings around us to give us a little privacy for our kiss. It was sunshine and sky and everything that felt of freedom but also the chains of deep love and desire. I wanted to stay with him. With our daughter. I wanted to celebrate the new life we had created together. But other people's daughters had been murdered, and I needed to find the son of a bitch who had killed them before he did it again.
Sever lowered his wings. “I love you, my miracle.”
“I love you too.” I glanced down the hallway to his left and saw the rest of my Star's Guard waiting there. Grinning, I said, “You have two new royals to protect. You all know that, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness!” The knights said in unison.
“I still think you should pick someone other than Torquil to go with you,” Conri added.
“Why is that?”
“Oh, come on. You know why he wants to go. He's hoping to see Extinguisher Abigail.”
Torquil was too proper to argue with Conri in a room full of royals, but he shot a hell of a glare Con's way.
“We're not likely to see Abby,” I said. “That's not her region. And Torquil knows that.”
“But you know how it goes with hope and love,” Conri said. “One makes the other stronger. And stupider.” Then Con bent over with a, “Oof!” He straightened and gaped at his girlfriend, Gradh. “Why did you hit me?”
“Why? Really?” She grimaced at him.
“I freely admit that you make me stupid.”
Gradh's lips twitched, but she still said, “Oh, sweetie, don't you meanmorestupid?”
Torquil snorted while the rest of the Star's Guard chuckled.
“Har-har,” Con said as he pulled Gradh in against his side. “You love me. What does that make you?”
“Not too bright,” she admitted. “Now, shut up.”
I focused back on Sever and kissed his cheek before joining my other husbands beside my father and Star. Medea was with them as well.
“Star—” I started.
“No,” Star cut me off. “I have people searching for the human as we speak. I'm invested in this. And you should consider how much easier it will be to get around with three Demons assisting you. Your fairies can't lalek. You'll have to risk transporting hugs circles of people by yourself.”
“Are you done?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“I was just going to suggest that you change. I mean, I get it.” I waved at his outfit. “It must feel nice to get back in leather, and I'm wearing my sword too, it's just hidden under a glamour. But as much as the Koreans are probably used to a certain amount of strange tourists, we aren't going to Seoul, and even there, I think you and your men would stand out.”
“It's all black. Black blends in.” He looked down at his gear. “I can hide the sword.”
His sword was as black as mine, an odd black that glistened. Because both weapons were Demon-made. I'd taken mine off a Demon after kicking his ass, but the sheath was a gift from Star. My iron Extinguisher sword bothered my fey husbands, so this one worked better for me. Plus, it was the spoils of war, and I liked wearing it.
“They'll think you're in a movie or something,” Killian said. “You look like a bunch of action stars. And we don't want to draw attention to ourselves.”
Speaking of swords, Killian had two of them strapped to his back, over his leather hoodie. Once, they'd been Samurai swords made of iron, but he switched them out for a pair of fey-made swords after he became Ambassador. He commissioned an Oni to make them in a Japanese style so they'd be immediately comfortable in his hands. But his iron swords were in his closet, just in case they were needed.
Star grimaced and waved at my husbands. “I didn't bring any human clothes with me.”
Yup, even Raza was dressed like a human, though a little nicer than the rest. Where Killian, Daxon, and Tiernan wore jeans, T-shirts, and coats (Kill said it was currentlyfuckingcold in Korea), Raza had on a suit with an Armani coat and Hermés scarf. I think his gloves were Hermés as well. More importantly, he had on his human guise—his black skin turned tawny, his eyes toned down to topaz, softer features, and no claws or wings.
