Steal the Day (Thieves #2)(93)

I shook my head. The Revelation had gone silent the minute I got in the room with Daniel. The reminder that he was part demon wasn’t helping his mood.

“Welcome,” Elvis said as we walked in.

I shook my head because that was just tacky. We were led to the back and an elevator opened. Dev and Neil entered and then Daniel led me in. I hated the way Neil looked. His face was blank and bland. There was nothing of my happy, sarcastic playmate in those eyes now. Then the doors opened, and I had other worries.

“Mr. Donovan, we have been waiting for your arrival.” The elevator opened to a large foyer. It was elegantly appointed, and I could hear music coming from behind twin doors. There was a greeting area with several well-dressed demons doing busy work. “Sebastian has asked me to inform you that your presentation is ready. I heard it’s quite impressive. Please check to make sure I have the names of your retinue correct. You will be announced and enter through the double doors.”

I caught my breath as the doors opened. This was what a London ball must have looked like during the Victorian era, if said ball was full of demons and lots of people with fangs.

There was a demon at the top of the stairs announcing the guests as they entered. “The Council’s Nex Apparatus, Mr. Daniel Donovan, his companion, Mrs. Zoey Donovan, and his Royal Highness, Devinshea Quinn, Prince of Faery and High Priest of the Old Ways.” Neil was strictly a servant. No one needed his name.

It was the first time I’d heard Dev’s complete title. I was impressed, but Daniel rolled his eyes. “That is the most pretentious thing I’ve ever heard. You just have to have a longer title than anyone else.”

Dev smiled. “I require a long title to go with my very long…”

“Shhh,” I warned as we made our way down the long stairs. Every eye watched as the Council’s assassin entered the ball. We were greeted at the steps by Niko and two other vampires I hadn’t been introduced to. They stepped forward and shook Daniel’s hand before giving Dev and me long looks.

“You surround yourself with beautiful blood, Daniel,” the largest of the men commented, not bothering to hide his open appraisal. He was extremely tall, with long brown hair and an accent that sounded Swedish or Norwegian.

“What’s the point of walking the night if it’s devoid of precious blood?” Daniel put special emphasis on the word precious. It was a term of endearment meaning the vampire held those who carried the blood to be very dear. “Elof, Niles, may I present my companion Zoey Donovan, and our very good friend Devinshea Quinn. Elof and Niles are Council members.”

Elof nodded to Dev. “Your Highness, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting your mother, the queen. It was before Faery closed the mounds to our kind. It is very rare to see a Fae such as yourself in the world now, much less a prince. Your brother is the heir?”

“Yes. I am the spare. I let my brother handle the politics. I prefer to pursue pleasure. With the mounds closed, I was forced to enter the Earth plane to discover new diversions.” Dev said the last with a sexy drawl that left no doubt he’d found his diversion.

Dev was supposed to act the part of the pretty, insignificant lover. He relished his status as himbo far more than I liked playing the bimbo. I also had to admit, he was really good at it. Tonight he was allowed slightly off the leash as this was a party, and the rules were a little different. With Dev firmly established as part of our threesome, he had some rights to my person as long as it didn’t go too far.

“Marcus was right.” Niles spoke in a very upper-crust British accent. He stared at me. “She’s bloody amazing. She’s almost too bright to look at.”

“Do I need to say the words, Niles?” Daniel asked, his voice quiet but forceful.

“Of course not.” Niles turned away from me, seemingly disconcerted by his lapse. “Everyone knows she’s yours, and you won’t be at all reasonable about making a deal. That’s not what I came over to talk about. Is he ready?”

“I assure you all of vampire kind will be satisfied with my presentation. Sebastian is preparing the exhibition now. It won’t be long.” Daniel took my hand and set a lingering kiss on my wrist. “My love, go with our lover and enjoy the night. I’ll be with you shortly. Dev, I trust you can keep her out of trouble.”

Dev took my hand from Daniel’s and nodded, his green eyes deep and seductive. “I’ll do my utmost to entertain her. We both look forward to the time when you can join us.”

Dev led me away quickly. I looked back at the two men I’d been introduced to. “Hey, I didn’t even get to say anything.”

“Yes, it was a successful introduction.” Dev led me straight to the dance floor. “Let’s dance, my mistress.” He saw my hesitation because this was not the kind of dancing we’d done at Ether. All around us couples moved together in the formal movements of what looked like a waltz. “Just follow my lead.”

He put a firm hand in the small of my back and directed me where he wanted me to go. “So your job is to make sure I don’t speak with anyone?”

He led me into a turn. “I wouldn’t say that. I just think it best you be kept far away from high-ranking members of the vampire world. You aren’t known for your discretion.”

“I can be discreet.”

“Yes, you discreetly threatened a Council member with decapitation already today.” Dev looked down and let me know he enjoyed the view. “Did I mention how f*cking hot you were defending me today? Please promise me the next time you get in a fight you’ll go completely commando again because I found it very distracting. I think the enemy trying to get a glimpse of your hootchie could turn the tide of battle in our favor.”