Steal the Night (Thieves #5)(53)

“Punishment?” I asked, my voice filled with amused disbelief. The thought of Danny punishing Dev was amusing…and a little hot.

Dev didn’t see it that way. “You think he’s my f*cking master, Marcus? You think he tells me what to do?”

“I don’t claim to have any understanding when it comes to your relationship with the king,” Marcus said. “Why he has allowed you to live I have no idea, but perhaps this incident will cause him to rethink the situation.”

I watched Dev’s face get red with rage and knew it was time for the queen to take over. I was done playing the victim here. I’m not used to having any real power and I sometimes let it get away from me. Now was not one of those times. I knew exactly how to handle the Italian. Marcus liked a firm hand.

“Marcus, you will hold your tongue if you can’t think of anything kind to say to my consort.” I placed careful emphasis on the word “my.” I stared down the Italian. “As you said, the king will handle us as he sees fit. It isn’t your place to chastise me or mine. Or do you claim rights over me, vampire?”

Marcus bowed his head slightly, a show of deference to his monarch. “I do not, mia regina. It’s my pleasure to do you this service.”

“Then do me the service of getting me to a place where I might deal with my injuries,” I requested in my best “I am queen” voice.

If my time in Faery had taught me anything, I had to act the part of a hardass royal to get any sort of respect. Even our vampire allies tended to think of me as Daniel’s lover rather than his partner. I didn’t like to think about how they regarded Devinshea. Daniel wanted to keep the peace, but he didn’t have to deal with constant disdain like Dev or perpetual misogyny like me. I was tired of being thought of as a sweet piece of ass the king got to bang. Daniel was asking us to live in this world, never understanding how marginalized we were.

“Of course.” Marcus politely gestured toward the door. “I think you will find all is in readiness for you. I’ve taken care of your requests personally.”

I held my hand out for my escort. This was for a dual purpose. In vampire society, a companion was almost always escorted. I also needed someone to lean on because I was getting weak from dealing with the shooting pains in my shoulder. Marcus moved in to lend his hand but I held back. As the highest-ranking vampire in the room, he should be my proper escort, but I was done doing things properly. “You are not my consort, Marcus.”

Dev walked up and took my arm, not able to resist flashing the vampire a little smirk. He looked down at me and I knew this was an important moment for us. “We’re not going to be circumspect are we, my lover?”

I shook my head, sure in my path now. “We are not. I’m either their queen or I’m nothing. I won’t play games any longer. They’ll accept me or not.”

I heard Marcus sigh but he spoke quietly to his people as we prepared to leave.

“Zack, would you be so kind as to bring along our Australian friend? I still have questions for him.” Dev’s face was a picture of calm now that he was sure of his status, at least in my eyes.

Zack hoisted Terry over his shoulder and we started out the doors toward the waiting limo. Even as we walked out the door I heard Lee as he approached Marcus.

“Uh, Marcus, Zoey there might be a little pissed at you, but I just wanted to say thanks.” It was the most sincerity I’d ever heard coming out of Lee’s mouth. “Your timing was impeccable, man.”

“Not for me, it wasn’t,” Zack grumbled. “You couldn’t get here ten minutes earlier?”

I laughed a little as Dev led me outside. I was surprised at the calmness of the London night. I could see people walking up and down the street, but they seemed to not notice the large black stretch limo or the people walking out of the police station. They didn’t even bat an eye at Zack, who was carrying an unconscious man dressed in fatigues over his shoulder. Now that I really paid attention, I noticed everyone seemed to walk around the station house, giving the place a wide berth without ever realizing why.

Hugo Wells was shielding us from their eyes. I thought about what I knew of the man. He was an academic, like Marcus and Henri Jacobs. His mental powers were the bulk of his strength.

“My god, Marcus,” a cultured British accent said as I stepped up to the limo. His cerulean eyes were locked on me. “You said she was bright but…” I knew that look. If he were a younger vampire, this would be the part where Dev would have to defend me, but Hugo Wells was at least five hundred years old. He had control of his instincts. “No wonder Marini is obsessed with her. I could get obsessed with that.” He said that last bit with such longing, I heard Dev curse beside me.

I felt Dev reach into the back of my skirt where I kept a small pistol in a holster. They hadn’t taken my guns and Dev knew just where to look. Lee, who had also avoided the strip search, pulled his hidden gun as well. Hugo Wells suddenly had long fangs. He took exception to being considered a threat.

“Mr. Wells,” I said, meeting the vampire’s eyes. “I’m sure you’ll discover my guard will lower their weapons if you would kindly stop looking at me like I’m a particularly juicy steak.”

The vampire had the good sense to look slightly embarrassed. Marcus chuckled. He was unconcerned with the amount of guns being pointed all around. “You have another conquest, cara. Don’t worry about it. We all have that reaction, Hugo. Don’t beat yourself up over it.”