Steal the Light (Thieves #1)(93)

“That will be unnecessary,” Marcus interjected, his smooth authority returning. “There will be no further negotiations today.”

“Then my business here is finished.” The satan gave us a polite bow. “Miss Wharton, my office will send you details on your funds in the morning. Will an offshore account be suitable?”

I had to think about that for a moment. It had been so long since I’d given the money a second thought. “Uh, yeah.”

Neil was staring at the small demon, dumbstruck. “We get the money, too?”

“Yes, of course,” he replied. “It was in your contract.”

“In your face, you demon *,” Neil yelled at the pissed off demon.

I nudged him. “Don’t make him any angrier.”

“I thank you for your time and your wisdom,” Marcus said formally to the small demon. I realized this was not the first time he’d dealt with this class of demons. “I suggest you take Mr. Halfer with you. I believe you will find he has irritated the Council. Mr. Halfer, you should understand that Mrs. Donovan is now firmly under the protection of the Council. There will be no further dealings with her.”

Halfer’s horns flowed out of his human head as he assumed demon form once more. Gone was the business-like veneer, and what was left was pure evil.

“Come then, Halfer,” the satan instructed.

“Not without my consolation prize,” he sneered. “You won’t find anything wrong with this contract.”

He held out his hand, and Sarah flew across the room. She didn’t even have time to scream before she was in the demon’s grasp. I saw her start to bleed just before a crack and brimstone assailed the room and the demonic party left.

“He took Sarah,” I said more to myself than anyone else. I stared at the place where she’d disappeared. That had almost been me. It was Sarah now and she was alone.

“There was nothing you could do,” Daniel said, pulling me into his arms. He held me firmly, and I was so shocked by the look on my friend’s face that I forgot how angry I was with him and let him comfort me. I felt numb, hollowed out.

There was movement all around me. The vampires talked among themselves, but I didn’t listen to them.

“You were so amazing, Zoey,” Daniel said as he stroked my hair. “If I live forever, and I just might, I will never forget what you just did. I love you.”

“Is that why you sold me?” I let a little bit of my anger through.

Daniel pulled away so he could look into my eyes. “Baby, I did that to protect you. If I had been declared an outlaw by the Council, you would have been considered fair game. Every vampire without a companion would have come running. They don’t care whether you want them or not.”

“Yeah, I get that.” I tried to be reasonable. It wasn’t easy. “Maybe if you had taken the time to explain any of this to me, I could have helped you. You haven’t told me the truth about anything.”

“I was trying to protect you,” he insisted.

“Maybe I don’t want to be protected.” I finally got the strength to push away from him. I looked back at the vampires who were staring at me from a polite distance. Even though they weren’t coming after me, I could feel their hunger. Every one of them. “They all want me.”

“Yes, they do, and I have to protect you from them,” Daniel said with the first hint of desperation in his voice.

“They want me the way you want me.” It was what Dev had tried to tell me all along.

“No.” Daniel pulled me toward him. “It isn’t the same, Zoey. It’s fundamentally different. I love you.”

“I bet they would tell me they loved me, too.” I looked at the strange, beautiful men who stared at me the way a cobra does before striking.

Marcus walked forward. “As interesting as this is, I am afraid we will have to move this discussion to Paris. Daniel, I am taking you into custody under the authority of the Council.”

“Shit, Marcus, not now,” Daniel swore. “Don’t do this to me now, not in front of her.”

Marcus shook his head. “I have indulged you far too much as it is. You have to answer for this incident, Daniel. You almost signed a demon contract without the approval of the Council. There must be a hearing, and I don’t know what they will do. Please don’t make this ugly.”

“Do we have to go for the full Hannibal Lecter treatment?” Daniel asked.

“You know we have protocols in place when it comes to dealing with you,” Marcus replied. “It is your own fault. You killed three vampires before we finally managed to get you to the Council chambers the first time. Now, please inform your animal and your companion to comply with procedure. They will fly on the jet, but they cannot share your quarters until we reach the catacombs. I will take care of her, Daniel.”

Finally, I would get some answers. It was a long way to Paris, and I had a whole lot to learn from Marcus Vorenus.

Daniel stared at his mentor. “Neil can come, but Zoey stays here.”

“What?” I practically yelled the question. He couldn’t leave me behind after everything he’d just put me through. “I am so going.”

“No.” Daniel’s face once again turned into that stony, emotionless mask I was getting sick of seeing. “I forbid it.”