Steal the Night (Thieves #5)(111)

Myrddin shook Daniel’s hand warmly. “I’ll look forward to the time when you truly need me, Daniel. Get your crown. Take care of your queen. I’ll see you before you know it.”

“I’ll look forward to the time as well,” Daniel replied, obviously trying not to get choked up. He turned to Dev. “Let’s go get the wolves ready. I want to leave as soon as possible. We’ll get out of here and call the Order to come pick us up. Do you need a ride somewhere, teacher?”

“I think we’ll figure something out, Daniel,” Nim said. “We need a few more days here to get things ready and then we’ll make our way. I’ll go with you. I’d like to say good-bye to the wolves as well. Come along, Stewart.”

Stewart followed eagerly but when I attempted to ascend the stairs, the wizard pulled me back.

“Your Highness, a word, please.” His dark eyes took in every inch of me.

“What do you want?” I would prefer not to spend alone time with a dude I had a kill order on.

He let go of my arm and slumped into the chair Daniel had previously occupied. “I’ve spent the past days in divination. I’ve been attempting to see the future, but it all comes back to you, dear. Every single scenario comes back to you. Now why is that, my queen?”

“Maybe it’s because I’m a nexus point.” It was the only thing I could think that might answer his question.

The wizard threw back his head in rueful laughter. “Naturally. I was hoping you were some light-skirt I could distract with the fertility god but no, you have to be a nexus point. I’m leaving for a while because it has been made clear to me that this isn’t my charge’s fight.”

“How can you say that? This is all about Daniel.”

Myrddin pointed a finger my way. “No, this is all about you. I can lift Daniel’s ego, but it means nothing. Daniel won’t win this fight. It will be won or lost because of you, girl. You will either have the guts and the courage to look past your own grief or you will not. You must stay strong, my queen. You must not give in.”

“Grief? Over what?” I asked, a chill running across my skin. Something bad was coming for me. For all of us. I could see it in his eyes. He’d seen my future and it wasn’t good. “You have to tell me.”

The wizard shook his head. “I do not envy you, my queen. I can say nothing further without angering people I don’t wish to anger. They watch you, Queen Zoey. Heaven and Hell and everyone in between. If you survive, I’ll see you again. I know we’ve started poorly, but I look forward to the day. Now go and play your part. In the end, it will be only you but you are never alone. Remember that.”

“Please tell me what’s going to happen.” I didn’t like to beg, but I would get on my knees if I had to.

The wizard put a hand on my shoulder. “The world is a balance, child. I cannot upset it without paying a price none of us wishes to pay. Even if I told you, the outcome wouldn’t change. Some things are written. And some things that seem to be punishment are truly a reward for a job well done. You won’t see it until much later.” The wizard hissed and clutched his chest, his skin becoming pale. He looked up as though someone was speaking to him. “I understand. I will be quiet now.” His eyes found mine again. “Don’t hate me, my queen.”

He took a long breath and then he was standing tall again, his face utterly blank. He would say no more to me.

I rushed up the stairs, eager to get back to Danny and Dev. I tried very hard not to think about what the wizard had told me.





Stewart seemed almost vibrant with happiness as we approached the veil. It was daylight and the pocket world seemed lit with radiance as we prepared to leave it. We hadn’t come in with much and we were only leaving with one extra souvenir. Myrddin had made sure Zack had the Mantle of Arthur in his backpack. I found it odd that he’d been very specific. Zack must carry it. He’d instructed the wolf how to use it should his master have need.

Daniel sent the demon a brief smile. “Stewart, you know you’re going to have to leave that host when we get to the Order’s headquarters, right?”

Stewart pouted prettily. “But this meat is still so fresh. I haven’t even torn it up yet. That seems a waste.”

“I’m grateful, surprised even, that you’ve behaved yourself so well,” Daniel explained. “I’ll keep my promise. You’ll have your seat on the Council.”

“I look forward to it, Your Highness,” Stewart said as he opened the veil.

I could see from my vantage point that it was night on the other side. Given Daniel’s weakness, we decided it was best to travel at night until he was at full strength again.

Daniel walked through the veil first. Lee was at my back.

“Go on, Zoey. The faster we get out of here, the sooner we get home,” Lee said in his western rumble. “Wherever that is now.”

I followed Neil and Dev through the veil and when Lee made it through, I watched as it closed behind us, leaving Nim and Myrddin to themselves. I was relieved to be without the wizard but I had no doubt that he would return, probably at the most inappropriate time.

I heard Daniel sigh.

“Feel better?” I asked.

“Oddly, yes. Nim was right,” Danny said, throwing his arm around me. “I feel more settled.” He leaned over and kissed my hair. “Let’s get you back to civilization. Dev, can you get a signal?”