Steal the Night (Thieves #5)(130)

Marini refused to explain Chad’s sudden appearance. “You were saying?”

Marcus was unsettled for a moment as he glanced at the magician but he quickly got back to his point. “We use the faery to lure out Donovan. We announce his impending execution in some place that Donovan can easily get to. When he shows up, we kill him.”

Louis shook his head, obviously unsatisfied with that plan. “Or we could hit Donovan where he will hurt. I like your plan of using the faery prince. I believe Donovan truly does care for him. When we toss his dead body on the steps of the Order’s headquarters, he’ll know we mean business. Mr. Thomas, if you will do the honors.”

Chad’s eyes lit up like it was Christmas. “It would be my greatest pleasure.”

“No,” I yelled, not giving a shit I wasn’t given permission. I launched myself bodily at Chad but Marcus got in the way. He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly as I started to scream at Marini.

“You promised me,” I yelled from the cage of Marcus’s arms. My whole body was flush with rage and fear and I was pretty sure they could hear my heart beating all the way in London. “He could have gotten away, but he came with me because you promised you wouldn’t kill him.”

“He probably shouldn’t have believed me. Look, darling girl, once the traitor finds the faery’s corpse, he’ll know I’m serious. I’ll offer up a trade. I’ll let the Order take you in exchange for Donovan turning himself in.” Louis came up to me and held my face in his hands. “You can’t think I would really believe that crap about Donovan not loving the two of you. I watched him when he thought you were gone. He would have met the dawn if you had truly been lost to him. He’ll exchange himself for you.”

“Don’t kill Dev,” I begged, fighting to get away from Marcus. I couldn’t let it happen.

Louis seemed satisfied to let Marcus deal with me. He walked away and grabbed something from behind the sofa. I watched as he stood back up and nodded and Niles and Elof jumped into action. They quickly grabbed Niko and I heard Marcus gasp.

“There will be a lot of killing today, sweet companion.” Louis stood tall and showed off the stake in his hand. “I am not the complete fool everyone thinks I am. I believe it is time to end the reign of the academics.”

Niko roared and tried to pull away from the other vampires, but they held him tight and Louis didn’t hesitate. He marched straight up to the Greek who had walked the Earth plane for over two thousand years and with one single thrust brought his long life to an end. The vampire’s face went blank as the stake entered his chest and then he turned to dust before my eyes.

I could hear Marcus breathing heavily, shocked at the quickness of Niko’s exit from life.

Marcus slipped something into the palm of my hand. It was cold and felt like a small stone. I closed my fist around it just before Louis turned back to us, that stake still in his hand.

“Are you going to run, Marcus?” Louis asked, his fangs long. “I have to wonder why you showed up at all.”

“I had to see her,” Marcus said quietly.

“Marcus, that was suicide,” I replied, horrified at the fact that he was willing to do it.

“No, cara, it was fate. You remember what the oracle said. You’re the woman I would meet death for. It doesn’t matter that you can’t love me.”

“Now that’s just…repulsive,” Louis said with a shudder. “Take him.”

Elof and Niles shoved me aside and gripped Marcus as they had held the Greek before. They took his hands and held them as far apart as they would go. I saw the strain on Marcus’s face as the stronger warriors were pulling him apart. His brain wasn’t going to help him now. I looked down and caught a glimpse at what Marcus had shoved at me. It was a replica of the Blood Stone. I would be able to take the stone and switch it. I quickly shoved the fake Marcus had given up his life to get to me deep inside the bodice of my dress. It nestled between my breasts, my flesh covering it completely.

“I willingly give my life for my king and mia regina,” Marcus said with conviction. “Cara, your king sends you greetings through me. He begs you to stay alive. He loves you with every fiber of his being and he will come for you.”

Louis pulled me up and forced me into his embrace. “He can come but I’ll kill her before I allow him to take her from me. You’re pathetic, Marcus. You’re still looking for that woman who’ll bring you the death you crave. It isn’t going to be my Zoey. I have no intention of killing you.”

Marcus’s eyes got wide as he thought of the implications of that statement. “I have betrayed you. I’ve been on Daniel’s side since the beginning. I worked against all of you.”

“Yes, you have,” Louis admitted. “You also convinced the only woman I’ve ever loved to kill herself to further your own plots. So, Marcus, I will take this woman you love. I’ll take her and you’ll know that I have her beneath me while you rot in a coffin for all of eternity. You will lie there and know that I have purged the world of your line. The last academic. That’s what you’ll be when I’m done.”

I cared for Marcus. I truly did, but I had another problem. Somewhere Chad was getting closer to Dev, and I wasn’t sure he wouldn’t do it. He seemed hopelessly insane and even if he wasn’t, he’d proven in the past that he was all about the job. Daniel was his master and he’d been told to keep his cover intact. If that meant giving up Dev to do it, Chad just might. I started to crawl away, thinking if I could make it to the door I might have a chance at stopping Chad. I could find something to fight him with. I was perfectly willing in that moment to kill Chad if it meant saving Dev.