Daughter of Asteria (The Daughter Trilogy) by C.M. Owens

Clara chirps while momentarily forgetting about her headache.
    Henry gives me a slight scowl to let me know I’ve just ruined the surprise.
    “Sorry, spoiler alert,” I grunt through my wince.
    Devin smirks at my innocent oversight, and Henry rolls his eyes as he turns back to Clara.
    “We’re going to Paris for our honeymoon.”
    She squeals and then grabs her head when her headache comes pounding back.
    “When?” she rings out.
    “Now. I packed your bag last night in case this deal went good. I have to say, a month in Paris
    with my beautiful new wife definitely sweetened the deal,” Henry adds with a playful grin.
    Devin smiles as his arm wraps around me$ and I know he’s plotting our honeymoon - if we live to
    have one. I quickly shake the morbid thought from my mind and embrace Clara as she storms me for
    a hug.
    “I hope you have a great time,” I say again.
    “Oh, thank you, Adisia,” she squeaks in delight.
    She drops her arms from around me, and quickly throws them around Devin.
    “Thank you too.”
    He laughs a little at the embrace he saw coming, and then she pulls back to narrow her eyes a
    little.
    “Be good to my girl. She cares about you,” she warns.
    Devin smiles as he pulls me into his arms.
    “You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’m not ever leaving her side,” he smolders.
    She stifles a grin, and Devin kisses me on top of the head as Henry pulls Clara’s hand to lead her
    into the elevator to join the rest of his entourage.
    The flash of a quick wave is the last we see of them before the doors close.
    “Damn, that was close,” Hale grumbles as his eyes stare at the tattered marks on Devin’s shirt.
    “Too close,” Devin whispers as his arms tighten around me.
    “We need to get going before anything else happens. If a simple mortal can track us down, then
    the worst is on the way,” Gemma growls as she hops down from the bar top.
    “I’m sorry,” I whimper. “Is Jerry going to be okay?”
    “Shh. Don’t be sorry, baby. I told you this wasn’t your fault, and yes, Mom got to him just in
    time,” Devin coos.
    “What are we going to do with him?” I ask with tears threatening to fall.
    Devin cups my face with his hands as he bends to kiss my forehead.
    “I’ve called a mortal physician to come and see to him. We’re going to drop him off in one of the
    smaller apartments below that I own.”
    “Why do you own another apartment?” I ask suspiciously.
    “I use it for storage mostly. You accumulate a lot when you live forever,” he says nonchalantly.
    “Then rent a storage unit,” I mumble.
    “I don’t like the way they smell,” he snarls.
    I try not to laugh, and that is much easier to do when I see Phillip walking through with an
    unconscious Jerry strung over his shoulder. I wince a little, and Devin pulls me into him so my face is
    buried in his chest.
    “Are you sure he’ll be okay?”
    “He’ll be better than new when he wakes up,” Deacon chirps as he pats me on the shoulder.
    “We should get moving,” Theia prompts while dragging a rolling bag behind her.
    Devin nods and motions for me to follow her.
    I do as he says, and the men flash in and out of the rooms with all the luggage before we even
    make it to the elevator. Persia walks in while carrying her bag, her eyes offering me encouragement.
    “I’m actually looking forward to a little gambling,” she says with a smirk.
    “I’ve never been before,” I say with a shrug.
    Devin smiles a little, but I’m not sure why. Deacon starts laughing with Camara, and I feel a little
    lost.
    “What’s so funny?” I gripe.
    “The fact that you’ve never been gambling, and now you’re going with two people who can see
    the future. You still won’t be gambling, you’ll just be collecting,” Deacon chuckles.
    I let a small smirk tug at my lips, and Devin bends to kiss me lightly.
    “I won’t spoil your fun by telling you the verdict before it’s placed,” he says softly.
    “I didn’t think