Steal the Night (24 page)

“I can see why he did it, but it still seems cruel. You really want the transference thing? It scares me.”

The condition Marcus was talking about was called sympathetic transference. It occurred when a vampire bonded so strongly with a companion that his own body gave up its strength to keep hers alive. In the end, a companion is not immortal and she took the vampire with her when she died. It didn’t work in sudden situations, only in long-term chronic illnesses. We’d discovered Daniel had the condition while we were in Faery. I’d tried to figure out how to cure it but Daniel had been thrilled.

Apparently immortality isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.

Marcus’s brows rose. “How do you know? Of course. Daniel already has it. How did you diagnose his condition?”

It was my turn to admit something. Marcus had been so open with me I felt compelled to be honest. “A couple of months ago, Sarah discovered the condition along with a Fae healer. Daniel was weak. We found out his body was bolstering mine when I was weak.”

“Were you sick,
cara
?”

“I was pregnant,” I admitted. “I had a miscarriage.”

Marcus turned away. “I’m sorry to hear it. I’m rather surprised Daniel allowed Devinshea to impregnate you.”

“It was an accident but we’re used to the idea now. We’re going to try again after…all of this is over. Daniel wants a family. Dev can give that to him. Dev is more than willing to share his children.”

Marcus thought about it for a moment. “Please forgive me. I’ll attempt to be better about the prince. I was bitter toward him because I believed he could never love you as I could have, but now I see what he can give to the both of you. He is loyal, your Lancelot. He’s loyal to you both.”

“We’re his family, Marcus,” I said, hoping the vampire would make good on his promise.

Marcus laughed at something I couldn’t see. “And he’s getting impatient. Your little surgery is over and he wants his wife back. Know this, Zoey, you are my queen and I will never betray you. I will be your faithful servant to the end.” He kissed my hand and I was suddenly lying in a soft bed with Dev shaking me gently.

“Hey, baby,” I said softly, glorying in the fact that I could move my arm. “Sorry about the passing out thing.”

He leaned over and kissed me. “I’m sorry about the bullet in your arm, my wife. It’s out now. Lee held you down while I had to cut you open. It was horrible. Next time, just allow them to blow my head off, won’t you? It will be easier on me in the end.”

I shook my head and noticed that we weren’t alone in the room. All three wolves were there, and Marcus stood in the background watching me. I sat up and smiled at him. “Thank you, Marcus. That was much more pleasant than Lee having to knock me out with his fist.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Lee grumbled.

“I would,” Zack offered, smiling.

Dev frowned, looking between me and the vampire. “Just how pleasant was this little interlude?”

“I merely took my queen on a tour of my home city,” Marcus said with a deferential bow of his head.

“That better be all you did,” Dev muttered under his breath.

“Is all to your liking, Devinshea?” Marcus asked with no malice in his voice. “I’ve stocked the kitchens with her favorite foods and her clothes have been properly placed in the closets. I hope the bedding is to your specifications.”

Dev watched him warily. “Yes, it seems to be. I appreciate that.”

Marcus nodded and then listened intently. I noticed the wolves perked up, too.

“Daniel is here,” Marcus said with a frown. “I doubt he will be in a good mood.”

I glanced up at Dev, who grimaced. He looked like a man waiting for his own trial. I held his hand and waited to see if Daniel was going to judge us all.

Chapter Sixteen

There was a brisk knock on the door and when Marcus opened it, a woman walked in the room. I’d been informed on the jet that Hugo Wells had an assistant, a human female who also served as his lover. I wasn’t expecting the pretty woman who walked in. She was roughly forty, perhaps a wee bit older, and solidly built. She was attractive but no great beauty. Her blonde hair was streaked with gray and she wore a comfortable skirt and button-down shirt. She pressed her stylish glasses up as she gave me a quick once over.

“Your Highness.” She greeted me with a formal curtsey and a nod of her head. “I’m Diana Spelling, Mr. Wells’s assistant. It’s a great pleasure to meet you. I hope everything is to your liking.”

“Oh, yes,” I replied while Dev found a robe for me. “Everything after the attempted kidnapping went very well, once we were retrieved from the police, that is.”

“Sorry about the mix up, ma’am.” Diana nodded to Neil. “Lucky for you, the little wolf there knew where to go. He came straight into the kitchens and demanded that Hugo save his mistress. As you are our mistress as well, we got right on it. It’s been a very exciting day.”

“I got to have tea while they were getting everything ready,” Neil said with a smile. “And some little cookies. They were good. It’s a whole other meal here, Z. They have four instead of three. I think I should have been born British. Also, even the straight guys are gay.”

“He’s very amusing,” Diana said with a smile on her face. “The king has arrived and craves your attention in the parlor. He’s discussing the events of the day with my master, but he would like to hear from you and Mr. Quinn.”

“Please call me Zoey, Diana,” I said, indicating I was ready to get into my robe. Everyone but Marcus and Neil turned around. Dev sent Marcus a dirty look and with a shrug he finally gave me a tiny bit of privacy. Neil wouldn’t bother. He’d seen everything there was to see. “I’m afraid I’m not big on formality.”

“I heard that about you,” Diana said and I could hear the approval in her voice. “Well then, Zoey, please let me lead you and that glorious slab of male beside you to your husband.”

Dev smiled as I belted the robe. He was used to positive female attention and turned to the woman. I heard him talking as I made my way into the bathroom where someone had thoughtfully placed a pair of jeans and a soft green sweater. “Please call me Dev. Diana, you’ve done a marvelous job making us feel comfortable.”

They spoke while I dressed, discussing the way the household was run and who was expected to arrive when. I dressed quickly and rejoined them.

“Have our guards’ rooms been prepared?” Dev asked. “If Daniel has not instructed they be present, then perhaps they could retire? It’s been a long day.”

“Yes, sir,” Diana replied as I reentered the room properly dressed. “Their rooms are on the first floor, by the kitchens. Neil, if you would lead the lads there, you will find I’ve had a buffet set out for you.”

I heard Lee sigh in anticipation of his long-neglected meal time and he and Zack hurried along after Neil. Dev, Marcus, and I made our way down the stairs at a more sedate pace. I got my first glimpse at Hugo’s home. It was enormous by London standards and had to be worth millions. The steps were marble, as was the entryway we crossed to get to the formal parlor. There was artwork on the walls I’d only seen in books before. The carpet in the entryway was lush with rich colors. Everything about the townhouse was in impeccable taste.

Daniel was speaking quietly with the Elizabethan vampire. He frowned our way as we entered the room, and my heart clenched because he looked so tired and so very disappointed. I felt Dev stiffen beside me.

“I can’t believe you did that, Devinshea,” Daniel said, shaking his head.

“I told you he was upset.” Marcus slipped past us and sat down beside Hugo on the couch. Diana had bowed and left the room, leaving us behind with three disapproving vampires.

“I’m not sure what you would have me do, Daniel,” Dev said tightly.

“Daniel, they were coming after us. Dev didn’t have a choice.” I wanted to avoid a Daniel/Dev smackdown. It had been a while since they got into a knock-down, drag-out fight, but they were legendary. They tended to throw heavy objects at one another, and I didn’t want them destroying this magnificent mansion.

“You blew up a helicopter, Dev.” Daniel stood up to regard us with his heavy stare.

“It was trying to kill us,” Dev shot back.

“You shot it down with a rifle from the back of a moving Jeep,” Daniel said, his voice strong and rising. He stared at Dev for a long moment before his lips split into a brilliant smile. “That must have been fucking awesome, man. I’m so pissed off I wasn’t there.”

I heard Dev’s sigh of relief, and his head dropped slightly.

Daniel moved in, his body close to Dev’s. He put his hand on the back of Dev’s neck and brought his face up. “What’s that look on your face, Devinshea? You looked like I was going to beat the crap out of you. You can’t possibly believe I would be angry you brilliantly defended our wife.”

“I got her shot, Dan.” They stared into each other’s eyes, saying more than words could.

Daniel nodded and let his forehead find Dev’s, both his hands holding Dev’s neck. “No, you didn’t. I know you and I know Z. She was trying to protect you. She’s fierce. You got her out and that’s what counts. That is all that counts to me, Devinshea. She’s safe and so are you.”

Dev nodded, his hands on Daniel’s waist, and I just wanted to scream at them to hug each other already and maybe exchange some saliva. I moved in because they seemed stuck. The minute I was close, both their arms were around me and they seemed to relax.

“Was the explosion really cool?” Daniel asked with an easy smile.

“Yeah. It was something to see.” Dev sat down on the couch, leaving plenty of space for Daniel and me.

Daniel leaned over, kissing me senseless. “Are you all right, baby? Did Dev get the bullet out okay?”

Dev went a little green at the thought. “You will not leave us alone again, Daniel. I didn’t enjoy playing the field medic.”

Daniel grinned. “I won’t leave you alone again because you do all the fun stuff when I’m not around.”

“Well, if you had been around, I would never have gotten the chance.” Dev said, relaxed as we sat beside him. “You would have flown up and grabbed the thing with one hand and sent it into the ground.”

Daniel’s eyes lit up, and he gave Dev a big eager smile.

“I’ll tell Zack to make a note,” Dev agreed and I could already see how that experiment was going to go. Bell Helicopter might be getting a strange order in the near future.

“Daniel, that crash was huge,” Marcus argued, obviously shocked at Daniel’s attitude. “We did what we could, but I can’t guarantee that there wasn’t video or photos taken. This could be a real problem.”

“Marcus told Dev you were pissed off,” I explained to Daniel.

His blue eyes heated up with anger. “I was. I still am, but certainly not at Dev. I’m pissed off at this Order thing. They shot you.”

“They were trying to kill Dev. It was a head shot for him, but I just took it in the shoulder instead.”

Daniel shook his head. “You’re going to kill me someday, baby.” He turned to Dev. “Tell me you got some of the fuckers.”

“Many of them,” Dev admitted. “I also kept one alive for you. I thought you’d like to have a word.”

Hugo nodded. “The soldier is being held by my employees in the basement. He’ll be quite unconscious for a while yet, Your Highness.”

“Tomorrow is soon enough to deal with him.” Daniel sighed and held me tightly. His voice was low and weary. “Hugo explained to me about the Blood Stone.”

“Danny, I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

“What?” Dev asked, his face worried. He’d been left out of this particular loop, and Marcus took the time to fill him in. He told Dev about how the Blood Stone worked and I watched my faery’s face fall. “And we gave it to him.”

“I gave it to him.” Guilt gnawed at my insides.

Daniel shook his head. “We gave it to him, Z. This isn’t your fault. We all went after that stone and we left you alone to deal with Marini when he showed up.”

“It gets worse,” Hugo said in his clipped accent. “I got a call from your butler earlier this evening, Mr. Quinn. He says Marini attempted to raid the club. He has declared Daniel an outlaw and claims rights to the queen. At this point, he’s only claiming that you belong to the Council, but that won’t last for long.”

We couldn’t go home. I felt my heart start to race at the thought. He was backing us into a corner. He was really going to go through with it. He was going to try to kill Daniel and take Dev and me as his playthings.

“Calm down, Z,” Devinshea said soothingly. “We knew this would happen eventually.”

“He called the entire Council tonight for a vote on your status,” Marcus concurred. “Niko and I were forced to agree with him. We’re outnumbered, Your Highness.”

Daniel waved off that worry. “Of course, Marcus. You do what you need to do to escape detection for now. Tell Niko I understand.” Daniel was a practical man. It did us no good for our allies on the Council to out themselves, but I could see he was upset by the turn of events.

“Was Albert all right?” I didn’t want to think about the ramifications of what Daniel’s status meant for all of us.

Hugo chuckled slightly. “Apparently there was a plan in place. I was told the club is in something called lockdown mode and that the local werewolf alpha has brought the Dallas pack in to defend the place. Marini wasn’t ready for such a vigorous defense.”