Steal the Night (Thieves #5)(82)

“I’m sure we’ll survive, Devinshea,” Daniel murmured, slightly amused at Dev’s distaste. “We’ve slept in worse places.”

Dev agreed. “The soldiers are bringing in Nim and the other one, but the giant ass who tried to kill our wife wants a word with you before I execute him.”

Daniel laughed outright at that one. “Please send him in, Dev. I would hate to refuse the final request of a condemned man.”

Dev walked back out to bring Ronald James in and I turned on my husband. “You are not going to execute that man.”

Daniel grinned, sitting back in his chair, looking every bit the king. “I’m not, baby. Dev is going to. Really, you should take it up with him.”

“Oh, I will.”

Dev hauled Ronald in, dragging the poor man by the front of his flak jacket. “Say whatever you need to say to the king, Ronald, and then get ready to kiss your ass good-bye.”

I stood and Dev got a stubborn expression on his face. “You aren’t killing him, Dev.”

“Oh, yes I am, my goddess.” He walked around the table to go toe to toe with me. Though he towered over me, I felt not a bit intimidated. “You aren’t talking me out of it this time. He almost got you killed and he felt no remorse about potentially blowing you away.”

“Yes, I did,” Ronald interjected. “I believe I said at the time I regretted the need.”

“You shut up,” Dev spat before looking back at me. He traced the line of my jaw with his thumb and I felt a hint of warm magic pulse along my skin. “Besides, I have Bris back. I don’t think you’ll be cutting us off any time soon and if you try, I’ll persuade you otherwise.”

I took a step back. “I promise you, Dev, if I decide to cut you off nothing you or Bris do will sway me, and you’re forgetting something very important in all of this. We need him.”

“Give me one reason we need this *.”

Daniel took that one. “How about the fact that we just acquired an army located on the very continent where we have to fight Marini and a good portion of the Council? Did it occur to you that a show of force against Marini might get us out of this war with minimal bloodshed? It would make us look less like barbarians to our new army if we don’t immediately execute their leader.”

Dev huffed and shook his head before dropping my hand and taking his place at Daniel’s left-hand side. He sank into his chair, a sullen pout on his lips.

“And don’t you think about going behind my back,” I warned husband number two as I sat at Daniel’s right. “You will not be arranging a handy accident, is that understood?”

“Well, my lover, I’ve found I have to kill people behind your back,” he shot my way. “You so rarely allow me to kill them in front of your…front.”

Daniel laughed out loud as he gestured Ronald forward. “I’m so glad we had this little adventure. I like that our wife finally has to confront your savage nature. You hide it so well, but now she’ll force you into therapy just like me. We’ll do group therapy and make Lee join us.”

“As long as she doesn’t make me read self-help books,” Dev muttered.

“She made me watch old Oprah episodes, Dev,” Daniel confessed. “She found copies of all the Dr. Phil episodes.”

Dev shuddered and I sent him a look that let him know I would do it to him, too.

“I think you’re safe, Mr. James,” Daniel assured the Brit.

Ronald James looked very serious as Daniel nodded for him to take a seat. “I’m willing to accept whatever Your Highness thinks is correct.”

“You were doing your job,” Daniel said. “You’ll have to excuse my partner. He often lets his anger get the best of him. He has the luxury. It’s not one I can afford any longer. Now it would be helpful if you would explain what just happened out there, Ronald.”

“Of course.” The Brit sat very upright in his chair. “I didn’t understand who you were. We only knew that the wizard’s prison was being threatened. It’s our highest directive to protect the crystal prison of Myrddin Emrys until such time as the King of the Sword returns.”

“I’m not Arthur,” Daniel said firmly. “If you’re waiting for the reincarnation of King Arthur then we should go with the first plan and send my queen into exile.”

Ronald stared pointedly at the three of us, and I could see his brain working. “You’ll have to forgive me if I see some similarities, but you don’t understand. It doesn’t matter that you can’t remember some mystical past life. That isn’t what Excalibur is about. Over the years there have been several to carry the sword. No one is exactly sure where the sword was created but many believe it was forged on the Heaven plane by those who fought the demons in the early days of creation. Since then, when this plane was in danger of falling into darkness, a king has risen and the sword taken up. An order of supernatural females was formed to protect the sword and make the decision when the time was right.”

“Nimue,” I said.

“Yes,” Ronald agreed. “She’s the latest and has been at her work for the longest time. Arthur was hers. He’s merely the most famous of the Sword Kings, but by no means the first. You, Your Highness, are this era’s champion and the first vampire to hold the sword.”