Steal the Night (Thieves #5)(118)

“What did Donovan say about me?” Louis asked, his dark brows meeting in consternation.

Dev frowned and shook his head. “We had a fight when we realized what he was doing. Neither Zoey nor I thought it was a good idea to try to take over the Council. Daniel hid his plans from us. When I discovered them, it was quite a fight. I threatened to take Zoey away and Daniel…I won’t even go into what Daniel did to me. When I recovered, he explained the way it would be if we attempted to seek shelter with you. He said you would never allow us the freedoms he granted us. Daniel could be a brute but he allowed us to remain together, so we stayed and took his abuse.”

Marini had the good sense to look confused. “I was under the impression Zoey loved Daniel.”

“Zoey loves me,” Dev said fervently, but even in this I could see his carefully planned actions. “She played the part of Daniel’s faithful companion because he would have killed both of us if she hadn’t.”

“I offered to take her away,” Marini replied, suspicion in his voice. “She has known for a long time I would take her from Donovan.”

“I didn’t believe you would accept me. I convinced her to stay. I thought you would take Zoey and kill me at the first opportunity. I’m still not sure you won’t do it, but we didn’t have much of a choice.”

“Devinshea,” I said suddenly and even to my own ears I sounded very weary. Marini was suspicious and I needed him to believe. I only knew one way to make a vampire trust me. He would be more easily swayed under the influence of my blood. “It’s no use. Daniel was right. Vampires are all the same. Now, I can sense that Louis is very hungry. You didn’t bring Rose?”

I had thrown him off with talk of food. I was sure he’d expected me to put this moment off as long as I could. “No.”

“If you could leave us, Dev,” I said. “I would rather do this privately.”

Dev’s face was haunted and I knew that was no act. “All right, Zoey.” He turned to Louis. “I assume there are guards outside I can surrender myself to while you…”

Louis went and unlocked the door. He ushered Dev out and I heard him talking to someone. “Please take the prince to the galley. Order the slaves to prepare a meal for him and my companion. She’ll join him shortly. David, he’s a guest. I’ll be angry if he is harmed.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. Goal one was accomplished. He wouldn’t hurt Dev. Now I had to make sure he didn’t hurt me. The door closed and was locked again, and I was alone with my new “master.”

“You wish to feed me, companion?” There was a bit of challenge in the question. He got into my space, looming over me.

“I’ve been shot at, watched my best friend carted off to the Hell plane, held my guard as he died in my arms. The man I love will never be allowed to touch me again without your permission. No, Louis, I don’t want to feed you. I want to lie down and sleep and never wake up again. Please, if you’re going to hurt me, just do it and get it over with. I have no intention of fighting you this time. I know it won’t do me any good.”

He actually pulled me into his arms as though I would find some comfort in the man who had done all the things I had mentioned before. I stood stiffly, waiting for him to strike.

“Zoey,” he whispered. “I don’t want to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you. Come here. You’re cold. I’ve been neglectful. Please forgive me.” His hand ran the length of my back but stopped before going lower, as if he forced himself to not be too sexual. “Let me pull you in. Let me do this for you. I can make you feel good, warm, and safe.” He was shorter than Daniel, but he still had to lean over to nuzzle my neck. He ran his nose all along my neck, sighing with pleasure. “We’ll both feel so good, chère. J’ai envie d’être avec vous.”

I felt his magic drawing at me and, with a bitter push, let my guard down. It wouldn’t do anyone any good to force him to savage me. If I gave in, he would be gentler and maybe not take so much. I relaxed against him as his strong magic washed over me. It was different from Daniel’s. There was a dominance in this magic that was different from anything I’d experienced before. Louis pushed us toward the cot as his fangs grazed my skin and I felt his tongue there. He kissed my neck fervently as he lowered me down. Though I hated myself for it, that magic made me want his bite.

I sighed as he struck, his fangs piercing with a sweet pleasure and he groaned as my blood hit his mouth. Unwillingly, my hands wound into the dark curls of his hair and I let myself ride that drug. There was nothing of pain in this place. There was just a heavenly sense of contentment as he pulled strongly for a moment. As I had hoped, he didn’t take nearly as much as last time. My submission gentled him, and I floated down as he let go and settled in against me, his tongue laving long licks of affection against my throat.

“J’ai besoin de vous,” the vampire whispered.

I pulled my hands down and let them fall to my sides because he was pulling at my shirt now and if I was about to be raped, I might not fight him but I wasn’t going to participate. His legs pushed mine apart and I could feel his erection nudging me. My eyes filled with tears. I’d never had sex with anyone but Dev or Daniel. My sex life might be considered kinky and wild, but I had never been touched by someone I didn’t love, and I ached at the thought of losing this piece of me.