Steal the Sun (37 page)

“Your clothes are strange, warrior,” the faery said to Daniel. He didn’t speak to me but regarded me with disgust. I knew I wasn’t the hottest chick on the plane, but I was pretty sure I hadn’t grown horns.

Daniel looked at the faeries. They’d been joined by two others. The faintest smile crossed his lips and I sighed. I was going to have to move out of the way and soon because Danny had been itching for a fight since he’d allowed Devinshea to beat on him. The sex had helped, but he was a creature of violence and nothing but a little bloodshed was going to satisfy him. It looked like the faeries were going to indulge him.

“One might think you aren’t a Seelie, friend,” another said, and the word “friend” was bitten off.

“I know damn well your strumpet there ain’t Seelie,” the third said. “She’s short and her hair is red. She’s a halfling of some type. Probably goblin from the way she shows off her limbs.”

What did these people have against limbs? They thought nothing of boobs hanging out, but the minute they saw an ankle, a girl got labeled a tramp.

“I’m human, idiot.” I would try honesty at first.

They looked at each other as though trying to see if anyone was buying what I was selling.

“We don’t let humans in our
sithein
,” the tallest one said.

The card game was put on pause as all of the faeries looked our way. They moved away from the leprechauns, who eyed us, obviously upset that their con was turning into an evening of mob violence.

“Z, come here, baby.” Daniel spoke in quiet tones. Danny was always at his most dangerous when he was ice cold. I did exactly what he said. I moved cautiously to his side, never taking my eyes off the men threatening us.

“I think what we have here is an Unseelie spy.” A big faery with dark hair frowned our way, his hand cradling the hilt of his sword.

I felt a presence at my knees. I looked down and Neil sat back on his haunches beside me, his arctic white fur brushing my legs. He barked up at me, and I knew what he was telling me without words. He had my back.

“The man is odd, too,” said another. “He ain’t pure. He has the look of an Unseelie.”

“There’s no reason to fight, men.” One of the leprechauns tried in vain to interest his pigeons in rejoining the game. The evening was young. He was probably still in the hole. Danny and I were causing major problems for him and his partners. I noticed the shill hadn’t joined in with the mob. He stood at the back, shaking his head.

“There’s always a reason to fight the monsters,” someone said.

“The war hasn’t started yet, boys.” The second leprechaun climbed up on his table, raising his tankard high. “They’ll be time enough later for killing. Tonight is for drinking and gambling.”

A particularly mean-looking faery stepped to the front of the crowd. “How about we celebrate after we string up the Unseelie interlopers?”

That got the small crowd cheering, and I wondered why we hadn’t thought to bring along a note or something from my mother-in-law explaining who the hell we were. I fingered the delicate gold chain that marked me as Dev’s wife, but I doubted any of these country faeries would have seen it before, much less believe that I could be their High Priest’s wife. Pulling it out and using it would be a good way to lose it. The Goddess Chain was my only real connection to Dev at this point, so I wasn’t willing to risk it.

“He ain’t even wearing a sword,” one of them pointed out. “If he ain’t Unseelie, then he’s a coward ’cause he’s not going to the palace to join the queen and the good prince.”

“If he isn’t Unseelie, then what’s he doing with that half-breed?” someone else muttered.

“For the last time, I’m human,” I insisted, getting a little pissy.

“For the last time, Unseelie bitch, we don’t let humans in.” The largest one snarled, moving close.

Daniel’s hand shot out and he lifted the larger man up by his shirt. He smiled and his fangs shot out of his mouth. “You don’t let vampires in, either, yet here I am.”

Daniel tossed the faery back into the crowd, knocking several down like bowling pins.

The crowd drew swords and rushed the man they were certain now shouldn’t be among them. Neil barked at my feet and used his head to nudge me back. I followed directions as I always tried to in a fight. I can hold my own, but Daniel…there’s no one who fights like Daniel.

“Get him!” someone yelled. “He doesn’t even have a weapon.”

Daniel actually had two guns and three knives hidden on his body, but he didn’t make a move for them. He didn’t need weapons. He moved into the crowd that now surrounded him. I could have told them that was a mistake. In cases like this, he preferred to have his prey in a nice neat circle.

The first warrior rushed Danny with his sword held high. Daniel punched him in the face and the faery flew back, politely losing his grip on the shiny sword. It was in my vampire’s hands before it could fall to the ground.

Neil herded me back toward the tree line even as Daniel began to move. I watched intently because Daniel was a vision of violent power and grace when he worked. The crowd fell like dominoes as he twisted and whirled that sword in an arc that left not one of the men untouched. Blood began to splatter in a neat circle, saturating the ground around him. Half the men had already fallen.

Daniel stopped, his head down, sword held low and he looked over at me and winked. So fucking sexy.

I heard moaning and groaning, but not a one of them was dumb enough to get up. My vampire looked at the remaining men and smiled. “Who’s next? You should be glad I’m not Unseelie because if I was, your army would be in serious trouble.”

This incensed three of the remaining
sidhe
. They looked at each other and nodded, trying to flank Danny. They let out rebel screams as they rushed him. He gutted the first one, allowing the faery to keep his sword deep in his belly as he fell away. Daniel lifted the next one and tossed him to Neil.

“That one’s yours,” he yelled as he faced the third. I felt a deep well of love for him. Handing Neil a kill was a signal that he was softening.

Neil barked happily and then started toward the faery with a low growl.

“Nice puppy.” The warrior shook his head and tried to back away from the lovely display of teeth I was sure Neil was giving him.

While Neil enjoyed terrifying one faery, the last of the three who had rushed Danny laid his sword down. There were three left who had pulled themselves out of the fray after the first assault. They chose to put their weapons down as well.

“A vampire isn’t Unseelie,” one of them pointed out.

“Nope,” another said. “They’re from the Earth plane.”

“So he probably isn’t a spy,” they concluded.

“Then there’s no need to fight him,” a faery with long yellow hair said, his voice shaking even as he stood his ground. “If he ain’t the enemy then we should probably buy him a drink and try to convince him to fight on the Seelie side of this war.”

Daniel growled and his eyes pierced the remaining men. “And why would I fight beside men who insult my wife?”

The faeries all took up the new cause of getting the vampire to calm down. “I never believed she was Unseelie,” one said.

“She’s obviously a woman of good character,” said another.

I rolled my eyes, but now the danger had passed and I didn’t see a need for revenge. I’d been called worse before. The faery Neil was playing with was crying and I think he’d peed just a little. “Neil, stop farting around. This isn’t why we’re here.”

Neil looked back at me and changed, becoming human in an instant. “You’re no fun, Z.”

I turned around and noted that our leprechauns had fled.

“Damn it,” Daniel cursed.

“I’ll go after them.” Neil started for the forest line, but stopped.

Lee walked forward and he had both of the leprechauns, one in each hand. He held them up even as they tried to kick out at him.

“Lose something?” Lee asked with a superior smile. Something caught his eye. “Hey, is that beer?”

Neil headed toward the woods, running quickly. We’d gone over the plan and Neil ran off to do his part.

“Don’t forget the package,” I yelled as he disappeared.

Daniel looked at the
sidhe
around him. “Clear out. I have business with the wee folk.”

The remaining
sidhe
tried to pick up the ones on the ground and started to stumble off toward their campsite. They kept their eyes on Daniel, watching to make sure he didn’t make a move. I noted his self-satisfied smile as they regarded him with pure terror.

“Not you.” I put my hand up to stop the black-haired faery who’d been working as the leprechauns’ shill.

“Me?” He seemed determined to act the part of a completely shocked bystander.

“Yes, you,” I replied as Daniel came to my side. “You were on an awfully lucky streak, buddy.”

“I guess it was just my day, friend,” the faery replied.

“Oh, for the goddess’s sake, Tully, we’ve been made,” one of the leprechauns said.

“Well, we certainly have been now.” Tully got his frown on.

Neil returned, dressed in slacks and a polo and carrying my secret weapon. I just hoped its battery was still good or we’d be screwed.

Daniel walked up to the wee folk. “I don’t give a damn about the con, guys. I could care less if you want to take those idiots for everything they have. My wife is looking for something and we think you have it.”

Tully looked at me, his arms crossed defensively. “Look, lady, no refunds. If you were dumb enough to fall for the game, then you deserved to lose whatever it is you’re looking for.”

“I didn’t lose anything. Someone else did,” I explained.

“Well, then she deserved to lose,” Tully replied with a frown. “We won that money fair and…well, we won that money.”

“I’m not saying you didn’t.” I got into Tully’s space. “Look, we said we didn’t care about the con. I’m looking for something and I’m willing to pay for it.”

“Really?” Tully stared down at me, a speculative look in his dark eyes. “Just what are you willing to pay with?”

Daniel growled and the leprechauns looked at Tully liked he’d lost his mind.

“Did you not watch the fight?” They asked the question in perfect stereo.

“Are ya trying to make the vampire angry? He said that’s his wife. They don’t take kindly to men hitting on their wives,” the one in Lee’s left hand asked.

“He could decide to eat ya, ya dolt,” the right side interjected. “And I’m not about to stop him. We can find another just like ya.”

“He ain’t gonna eat me, Corben,” Tully said with more assurance than he should have had. “If he’d been hungry, he’d have eaten all those idiots who insulted him and talked bad about his lovely bride. I did neither. I actually think she’s kinda cute, if you ask me, and she’s definitely a con. So’s he. I can see it in their faces.”

“I’m not a con,” I said.

“A thief, then,” Tully insisted, looking between Daniel and myself. “Ya ain’t legit, honey. I know a girl on the game when I see one.”

I smiled because he did have good instincts. “I’m a thief and a damn good one at that. I’m showing you some respect by offering to buy the item I’m looking for.”

“How much are we talking?” Lefty asked.

“What exactly are ya looking for, darling?” Righty wanted to know.

“It’s a stone.” I made a circle with my thumb and forefinger, showing them the approximate size. “About this big. When the sun hits it, it looks like blood.”

All three faces fell and I knew I’d lost them.

“Never heard of it,” the leprechauns said in unison.

I looked at Tully, giving him a disbelieving glare. He shrugged. “We only accept coin. Right, boys?”

The little men shook their heads. “Cash only, that’s the way.”

Daniel took lefty off Lee’s hands and brought him up to eye level. “I don’t believe you.”

“We know you took the Blood Stone from a woman named Hildie,” I stated flatly.

“Never heard of her.” Tully’s expression never changed. He was a cool customer.

I was going to have to play a little rough. Luckily, I had just the tools I needed. I looked over at Neil and nodded. He brought over my cell phone. I hadn’t brought it to make a call. There were no cell towers in Faery. No, I had a different use for it here. I’d brought it for entertainment, but it was about to come in handy. Neil plugged it into the portable speakers. “Danny, you should let the boys down now.”

Daniel looked at Lee, who set his leprechaun down beside Daniel’s. “Don’t take your eyes off them. Don’t even blink.”

Lee watched both of them, his eyes never wavering.

The leprechauns moved closer together, obviously wary of what we were going to do next.

“What’s that thing?” one of them asked.

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” The menu popped up and I scrolled down until I found what I was looking for. “Just consider it an addition to your party.”

I hit play and a thumping beat started.

It’s a well-known fact about the wee people that they love a good party. Give a leprechaun a cold brew, some good grub, and couple of hot chicks and they are happy campers. But if you turn on some music, you get real entertainment. Once a leprechaun starts to dance, they can’t stop until the music is done. And the minute the music starts, a leprechaun can’t help but dance.

“What is this?” one of them asked as their feet began to move of their own volition.

Neil and I bopped along with the heavy thrum of the drums.

I looked over at Lee. “You can blink now,” I told him. “They’re stuck until I hit stop. I should warn you, boys, I got like eight hours of music on that sucker.”

“Is it all this bad?” one of the dancers asked.

“This ain’t music,” the other said. “I don’t know why I’m moving.”

Daniel shook his head. “I’m with the wee folk on this one. I thought we agreed on AC/DC. I hate the Black Eyed Peas.”

“Only because you don’t dance,” I said, wiggling around. He wouldn’t even dance with me at Ether. He claimed vampires didn’t have a sense of rhythm, but I’d seen plenty of vampires make idiots of themselves on the dance floor. The good news was Dev moved like a dance-floor god.