Steal the Night (Thieves #5)(79)

“I’m rethinking a lot of things right this moment, Ronald,” I heard Daniel say. His voice was a low growl. “I don’t think you’ll like a thing that’s going through my brain right now.”

“Mr. Donovan, I just sent a text to bring in the vampire containment unit. The helicopter should be here in fifteen minutes. Mr. Quinn will hand over his weapon and any others he has hidden on his person. The wolves will kneel and submit to silver chains while we wait on the silver rope and coffin. Once you’re all properly contained, we’ll go back to HQ and sort through everything. If you behave, your companion will be treated as a guest. She’s no threat to us, so we can treat her gently if you allow us to do so.”

Daniel’s laugh boomed through the morning air. “That just shows me what a dumbass you are if you think my Z is no threat to you. Z can be a threat to the whole planet when she wants to be. Devinshea, protect our wife.”

I felt Lee tense above me as he waited for the bullets, but before anyone could fire, the ground around me rumbled and I shrank back as thick green vines sprang from the ground and shot into the air. It made a little cocoon around me, Lee, and Neil. Those woody vines made it hard to see exactly where I was and would be effective in stopping even high-caliber bullets. I heard Lee sigh above me and he backed off the slightest bit so I could breathe.

“I hope there’s no poison ivy,” Neil said, looking a little claustrophobic. The small space wasn’t tiny. We could move around but Neil, despite being a freaking werewolf, was really more of a city boy.

I peered through an opening in the green canopy and watched as Daniel flew straight up and Zack pulled Dev back. They ran for us and Dev flicked his hands, suddenly opening the canopy to allow them in. I heard the sharp report of gunfire and Zack picked up his boss and tossed him in as he leapt for safety. He and Zack were inside our green cave and it closed behind us again. It was a tight fit, but Dev pulled me close and made it work. He put his back to the front of the small protective barrier, and I knew he was trying to make sure any bullet that made it through got to him first.

“Everyone all right?” he asked.

The wolves all nodded that they hadn’t been hit.

“What’s Donovan’s plan?” Lee asked.

Dev shook his head. “You won’t like it.”

Ronald’s voice rang out over the fields. “Very impressive, Mr. Quinn. You truly are a Green Man. Unfortunately, you’re trapped and that vampire of yours has taken off. I am afraid he doesn’t quite live up to what I would have expected from a Nex Apparatus, much less an actual king. He left his own companion behind to deal with this. Truly remarkable. I thought a companion was like a vampire’s gold. You learn something new each day. Gentlemen, take the prisoners. Shoot the wolves if they give you any trouble at all and for god’s sake, if Quinn mouths off, please fill him full of silver. He’s only half Fae. It should kill him. Go!”

There was a strange whining sound coming from somewhere high above us, and I felt Dev tense. It seemed to be getting closer with each passing second as the sound grew louder.

“Oh, shit,” Lee cursed. “He’s going to hit the ground at that speed? Does he know what that’s going to do to us?”

“No choice. Cover your ears,” Dev said, shoving me under his body.

I did as he asked and felt his hands come over mine. I tried to glimpse the world outside and saw Ronald look suddenly up at the sky. He pointed his warning and then there was a whole lot of shouting and screaming and running to get away. Then I couldn’t see anything because Dev was flattening his body against mine until he covered every inch of me.

When Daniel hit the ground, it was like an earthquake. The ground under me shook and rattled. Even through the dual barrier of my and Dev’s hands, I heard the strange, unnatural thud followed by the shattering of glass and the moaning of the soldiers who’d been hit by the concussive wave following Daniel’s impact.

Dev moved into a sitting position, allowing me to get up. Lee and Zack were bleeding from both ears but they’d covered Neil, who was shaking his head as if trying to find his equilibrium. I was so thankful to the wolves right then as Neil stuck his pinky finger in his not completely shattered ear. Neil was the only one of us not on vampire blood or just super-freaky powerful like Lee. The wolves’ ears were far more sensitive than anything else out here. It stood to reason that they would most be affected by the boom Danny’s body bomb had set off, but Lee and Zack would heal quickly where Neil would struggle with the pain for a lot longer. Zack and Lee had done their duty and protected the weakest member of their pack.

Dev helped me up and I could see his more sensitive Fae ears hadn’t gotten out unharmed. He’d been too busy protecting me, and there was a thin line of blood running from both his ears. I reached up and wiped it off with my fingers before going on my toes to gently kiss the ears that had taken the pain meant for me. I’d heard him say it before, but it hit me that he meant what he’d told me. He would die for me. I hugged him and vowed to not let that happen. He turned to the front of the canopy and the protective barrier melted away at a wave of his hands.

“Stay close,” he said in a too-loud voice.

Daniel was just crawling from the small but substantial crater his body had created. I watched as one clawed hand dug into the earth and then a black boot came over the edge. Daniel swung himself up and appeared none the worse for the wear. He brushed dirt off his leather jacket and his eyes immediately sought us out.