Steal the Day (Thieves #2)(11)

“I’m sure.” I didn’t see or sense whatever had the boys in a tizzy, and I decided to let ignorance be bliss. Or rather bravado. With my trusty handgun snug against my body, I strode down the aisle toward the nice suburban couple who scared the shit out of my badass boys.

Daniel cursed behind me, but he and Neil caught up easily. Daniel would prefer I follow behind him, but I just wasn’t that girl.

“Hello,” I said as the female made a move to meet me.

She stepped into a shaft of light, and I had to stop. Had I thought she seemed bland from a distance? She was lovely. Blonde, with alabaster skin that practically glowed, she was delicate and fragile and everything feminine. She smiled gently, and I had a sudden urge to please her, to do whatever she requested so I could keep that smile on her face.

“What the hell are you?” My question came out harsher than I’d intended. I didn’t like the way she made me feel. If I hadn’t had so much experience with magic, I probably would have wondered if I was maybe more bi-curious than I imagined, but I knew what this was. This was a very strong, well-placed glamour. It wasn’t crazy and out of control like Dev could get, so I didn’t beg for her love or anything, but it was there. She obviously wanted me able to think, but she definitely wanted me willing.

A glorious smile crossed her face, lighting up the room. “I’m so pleased to meet you. I am Felicity Day, and this is my brother, Oliver.”

I forced my eyes away from the shining beauty and glanced at Oliver Day. He obviously didn’t give a shit whether I was willing or not. He scowled as though he disapproved of the entire meeting. I had zero desire to please him, so I knew he wasn’t working any mojo on me.

“If you don’t turn down the glamour, I’m going to pick up my wife and leave here, and there won’t be anything you can do about it.” Daniel put a hand on my shoulder as though he would pull me away at any moment.

Oliver snorted behind his sister and looked at Daniel with arrogant disdain. He seemed to want to dispute Daniel’s assertion. His sister turned in a flash. For a moment, it seemed like they were having an argument the rest of us couldn’t hear. Oliver finally nodded shortly, his face a grumpy mask. Felicity turned back to us with an apologetic smile.

“Please forgive my brother.” Her voice was light, almost musical. “He will be more amenable from this point on or he can keep silent. It’s his choice. Now, Mr. Donovan, you’re angry about a glamour? I don’t understand.”

“He’s talking about the magic you’re working,” I explained. Her face was so open, I found myself believing her. “I don’t know what plane you’re from, so you might not understand the terminology, but here we call it a glamour. It makes you more beautiful, more attractive on every level. It doesn’t work on Daniel. I’m not sure about Neil, but it’s definitely having an effect on me. I would appreciate it if you would turn it off. I can’t take a job if my head isn’t clear. And it makes my husband nervous.”

I looked over at Neil, who was watching Felicity like an eager-to-please puppy. Yep, the glamour had to go.

She laughed, an enchanting sound. “I apologize. I didn’t realize I was doing it. I’ll try to tone this down.”

The need to please dimmed, and she was merely beautiful. Daniel relaxed slightly behind me.

“Thank you,” I said, enjoying the return of my complete free will. “I would appreciate it if you don’t use any more magic.”

“What’s she’s saying is if we get another whiff of witchcraft, we walk,” Daniel said irritably.

Oliver took a step forward, but Felicity merely nodded, stepping in front of her brother.

“No witchcraft, got it. Is he always so testy?” she asked me with a conspiratorial grin. It was the kind of thing one girlfriend said to another, and I was suddenly aware of how much I missed Sarah. There was so much I hadn’t told anyone because she was gone.

“He’s a nightcrawler, sister,” Oliver stated flatly. “What did you expect, manners?”

“The correct term is vampire, Oliver.” Felicity didn’t bother to look at her brother. “He is also a king, a very rare creature, so some amount of respect is due.”

“No, I’m not,” Daniel replied quickly.

He didn’t like to be called by that particular name. Like many parts of Daniel’s vampiric status, I’d had to learn this tidbit from other sources. Apparently, once every couple of thousand years, a superstrong, über-vamp rises, and some sort of hell breaks loose. Daniel had been holding that lucky ticket when he punched out. Honestly, I didn’t think it could possibly be that great a thing since the last king was no longer in the building and hadn’t been for a long while. I’d promised myself that the next time Marcus Vorenus was in town, I was going to ask him what happened to the last vampire king. I was betting it didn’t end with “and they all lived happily ever after.”

Felicity considered Danny with soft, almost sympathetic eyes. “Whether you choose to wear the crown or not, it changes not one whit of your nature. You are what you are, and your destiny will play itself out.”

Oliver scoffed. “The king of a dung heap is still full of shit.”

And Daniel being Daniel actually laughed at that. I did not.

“And he is possibly the only one who can get into where we need him to go,” Felicity said, finally showing some temper. Even with her brows slightly furrowed, she was stunning. “If you cannot keep the contempt from your voice, please be gone. I will take care of matters on this plane. I’m sure you can find something to contemplate at home.”