Faery Wedding Read Online Free

to maintain the ice queen manner, Ash couldn’t. Her lips quirked of their own accord as her handsome groom looked around hopefully, as if he expected to see her grandmother mingling with the guests.
    Just the thought of Babsheba mingling with the wedding guests had a chuckle of amusement just waiting to escape. The only time her grandmother would circulate would be if she could grab an arm or leg as a snack. Not for the first time, sadness welled up and obliterated her amusement. Her grandmother had been absorbed into the Host two years before, and Ash missed her terribly. If Babsheba had been here today then her family, not even her father, would have dared sell her off to pay their debts.
    “She…isn’t with us anymore.”
    He slid a sideways look toward her, and reached out for her hand. Even though she’d hardened her heart against him, after all he’d lied to her about who he was, she couldn’t resist that small gesture of comfort.
    She opened her mouth to thank him, but didn’t manage to get the words out before a familiar figure stepped into her line of sight. Even though she tried to control the reaction, her body instantly stiffened as her father stopped in front of them.
    His ice-blue gaze flicked over them both. The familiar hint of contempt was in them as he looked her over, but warmed considerably as they reached Deverell.
    “Good show, old chap.” He thrust a pudgy hand in Dev’s direction for a handshake. “Welcome to the family and all that. Damn glad you came along. We were worried we’d never get her married off. Thought she was batting for the other team at one point.”
    Her father’s harsh words didn’t surprise her, and Ash was far too used to being the butt of her parent’s jokes for it to sting too much. Usually her family allowed it. Pack mentality, which ensured that they all turned on the ‘runt.’ What did surprise her, though, was Dev’s reaction.
    He shook her father’s hand firmly, with a decidedly masculine shake, but then didn’t let go. Instead, he leaned in, power coiling around him and sending the witching into a frenzy. For an instant, she caught sight of his dragon armour as his anger cast scales over his skin.
    “If you ever attempt to embarrass my wife like that again, De Silve, I’ll drag you through so much shit your family will be a laughing stock for years,” he promised in a cold, clipped voice. “Never forget I hold you and yours in the palm of my hand. Especially as you modified our original agreement.”
    Her jaw dropped open, surprise running rampant through her veins, as her father went beet-red. Dev growled, an honest to goodness growl, as his hand all but crushed the older man’s.
    “Well?”
    De Silve looked at her, his eyes full of resentment and humiliation. “Lady Hunter, I beg your apologies, my comments were out of line.”
    She didn’t know what to say. Not once in her entire life had her father apologized to her. She’d long ago developed a thick skin to cope with his and her mother’s caustic comments, which meant she had no defence against his apology. The floor underneath her feet yawed under her, and her heart pounded in her chest. Everyone was looking at her…
    Dev’s hand squeezed around hers again; a gesture of support from a surprising ally. She treated her father to a cool look and inclined her head graciously.
    “Apology accepted.” She thought about adding ‘Lord De Silve’ to the end, to further emphasise, as he had, that she was no longer part of his family. A moment’s debate later and she realized she couldn’t do it. Despite the fact she disliked him intensely, he was still her father, and it wasn’t in her nature to cause pain intentionally.
    Her father didn’t hang around to chat. Not that she’d been expecting him to, not after Dev had shown him up and threatened him like that. If his attitude and greeting were anything to go by, her father obviously wanted to brush the uncomfortable truth that he’d sold