Steal the Night (Thieves #5)(35)

“Your Highness, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” he intoned in his very upper-crust British accent.

“Stewart.” Daniel acknowledged him with a regal nod of his head. Daniel sat back, relaxed but powerful. It was a huge change from the first time we met Stewart. Daniel looked like what he was—a king. “I thank you for joining us this evening. I hope we didn’t pull you away from anything important.”

“Nothing could be more important than reaffirming our alliances, Your Highness.” Stewart smiled, a nice show of curved fangs. “It’s been a while, but I assure you, I’m still interested in serving you. I see you finally settled things with the companion.”

“She’s my queen and will be treated as such.” Daniel’s eyes narrowed, his voice going dark.

“Of course. I honor her as such. I always knew you two crazy kids would make a go of it,” Stewart said, his fangs gleaming in the candlelight. “I knew the Fae creature was just a small bump in the road for the two of you.”

Dev cleared his throat. Stewart turned and caught sight of him. When he stared back at Daniel, his black eyes were wide with curiosity. “What on earth is he doing here? Have you brought me in for his execution? I’ve offered on several occasions to perform the duty.”

“Devinshea, you’ve done your duty.” Nimue said, with a hint of a smile on her face. “You may leave the circle. My blood will hold him.”

Dev gave Stewart a dirty look and walked around the pentagram. He sat down beside Daniel and Daniel’s hand found the back of his head. He stroked Dev’s neck in a soothing fashion, and I knew Daniel sensed Dev’s anxiety. I reached out to him as well, and his hand found mine.

Stewart stared for a moment, his mouth hanging open. “Well, now, that was unexpected. Really? All three of you? The king seemed so…vanilla. Don’t get me wrong, companion. I always sensed the delicious potential for perversity in you but I thought the king was all true love and faithfulness.”

“You aren’t here to judge our sex lives.” Stewart annoyed the holy hell out of me.

He gave me a brilliant, fangy smile. “Oh, but it would be so fun. I think I would give you a ten. Could I have a little paddle with numbers on it?”

Neil, who was sitting beside Zack, made the mistake of laughing. Stewart’s pitch-black eyes sought him, and his face glazed over with longing. “Hello, puppy,” he said, his voice shy.

“Hello, Stewart,” Neil returned grudgingly.

When we first met Stewart a few years back, he’d been very taken with Neil. Oh, as Neil had pointed out to me, Stewart had also tried to kill him with a weretiger, but he never let Neil forget just how attractive he thought he was.

As he watched my best friend, the big demon managed to seem almost coy. “I thought you were never going to call. I should be very cross with you for keeping me hanging on so long.”

Zack stared up at Neil, a horrified expression on his face. “Dude, seriously?”

Neil thunked Zack in the middle of his forehead. “No, dumbass. He’s a demon. He lies.” Neil turned back to Stewart. “Let’s make this very clear. I have a boyfriend, Stewart. I’m not looking to replace him.”

Stewart thought about that for a moment. Stewart’s demonic power was empathy. He might not be able to reach into your head and grab thoughts, but he could gather emotions, and I’d discovered he was excellent at conjecture. He could pull out your deepest fears and use them against you.

“And where is this magical boyfriend?” Stewart proved just how scary he could be. He might not understand exactly why he’d used the word “magical” but Neil did. I watched Neil frown as Stewart pointed directly at Zack. “It certainly isn’t the other wolf. You have brotherly feelings for him. As for the king and the Fae creature, well, beyond their talented queen, they only have eyes for each other. So, my lovely puppy, you will have to forgive me if I push my suit. Whoever he is, he’ll never love you like I will. I mean that literally. I have detachable parts.”

“Could we get down to business?” Daniel interrupted.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. You have all just changed so much since the last time I was allowed in your glorious presence. I’m taking it all in.” Stewart bowed regally to Daniel. “How may I be of service this evening?”

Daniel nodded to Nim. “He’s all yours.”

Stewart’s mouth hung open as he turned to the witch. “Is it really…after so many years? What sort of trick is this, Your Highness?”

“It isn’t a trick, Hell Lord,” Nim said quietly. “If you do not believe, please, try the blood at your feet. It will tell you all you need to know.”

Stewart knelt down and drew a long talon through the little pool. He brought it to his lips and savored it, his eyes closing. I noticed how Daniel sat up a little and watched. Stewart let the blood sit for a moment and began to talk like a connoisseur. “Now, see that’s just delicious. Two men, one extraordinarily powerful female. There’s not a human in there. I taste werewolf. Oh, my sweet little puppy donated for the cause.” He sighed a little. “What is the amazing, savory flavor I’m getting? It tastes almost…angelic.”

Dev flushed and I reached over to take his hand. I always got amused at the things that embarrassed Dev. Public sex was fine but a stranger telling him he tasted nice got him blushing. “You knew you tasted good, baby. Hasn’t Daniel told you a million times?”