Steal the Night (Thieves #5)(91)

Nim’s violet eyes turned to Daniel. “Your Highness, you must listen to all the wizard has to say to you. He’s wise and excellent at prophecy. He’ll be able to guide you. I might have a difficult relationship with the man, but I can’t criticize his work. If he chooses to mentor you, it’s because you need him.”

Daniel sighed as we moved closer to the castle. Though it seemed to be made of crystal, I couldn’t see inside it. It protected its secrets.

“I will consider it,” Daniel allowed, but I heard that stubborn edge to his voice. Myrddin would find Daniel a difficult pupil.

“He mentored me,” Nim said as she contemplated her work. “I knew nothing of magic before I met the wizard.”

“Then how did you trap him?” Dev asked.

Stewart laughed. “How does a woman ever trap a man? For all his power, the wizard is also a man with a man’s desires. Nimue is a lovely woman. Even I can appreciate her on an aesthetic level. She got the wizard all hot and bothered and tricked him into her prison.”

Nim stopped and crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s not how it happened. Well, mostly not. He’s a horny old goat. He used to try to get his hands on anything with breasts and then he wants me to believe that he loves me. After all the women he went through, I’m supposed to believe he thought differently of me. I wasn’t buying it, not for a minute. He even tried to convince me he would be willing to share me with Arawn. He was just on the prowl. Like Arawn would ever agree to that. Besides, I needed him contained. I needed him locked away to wait for the new king. I couldn’t allow my emotions to engage.”

But it had been tempting. I could see that on Nim’s face. She’d felt something for the wizard. It might not have been love, but something about all of this made her feel guilty. She pushed forward, but I could see the tension in her eyes. She was nervous about seeing him again after all these years. When we finally stood at the door, she had to take a deep breath before moving on.

Nim pushed the heavy doors open but a hand locked on my wrist, pulling me back.

“Not on your life, darlin’,” Lee growled. He stood in front of Dev and Daniel. “I’ll check it out. She isn’t going anywhere until I make sure it’s safe. Neil, wait with Zoey. Don’t let her go in until I get back.”

Daniel waited but his eyes were on the wolf as he walked by. “Why do they call me the king if everyone tells me what to do?” He nodded at Zack, who was eagerly waiting his go-ahead to follow his brother. “Go on then.”

Zack ran to catch up.

“It’s perfectly safe.” Nim shook her head as though she didn’t understand the fuss.

“Lee takes his job very seriously,” Dev explained. “He really won’t believe you until he’s checked out the place for himself. Say, there aren’t any cool traps that might kill him in there, are there?”

“Dev!” I said, batting his arm because he sounded like that would be a good thing.

“Well, my goddess, he is very bossy,” Dev replied. “He thinks he’s ultimate authority when it comes to you.”

“You’re jealous,” I said, shocked. “You’re jealous of Lee?”

Daniel shrugged. “I told you he was ridiculously possessive. And we’re pretty much jealous of anyone who looks at you. I sometimes don’t like how much time you spend with Neil.”

Neil laughed heartily. “That’s ridiculous. The two of you spend more time together than you do with Z. What do you want her to do, sit somewhere and wait for the two of you to get home and pay attention to her?”

“Yes,” Dev replied, not sounding at all ashamed.

“Preferably she would wait naked,” Daniel added.

“Nice.” Dev’s hand came out for a low-five.

I rolled my eyes, thankful Lee was already on his way back. “Don’t expect that little fantasy to happen anytime soon.”

Dev hugged me from behind and pulled me into his chest. He bent down and dropped a little kiss on my cheek before whispering in my ear. “I’ll settle for barefoot and pregnant. Goddess, you’re going to be so f*cking gorgeous pregnant. You’ll be so round and lovely. Daniel and I will have to take very good care of our sweet wife.”

Daniel pulled me out of Dev’s arms and kissed me himself. “He’s insane. He really thinks pregnancy will make you all soft and sweet. I know better, baby. I’m getting out of your way for those nine months. I’m going to hunker down and try to survive.”

I punched Daniel in the arm. I was sure he didn’t even feel it but it seemed like the thing to do. “Jerk,” I said affectionately.

I had to give the edge to Danny on this one, though. I doubted having two babies kick me from the inside, gaining fifty pounds, and having to go to the bathroom constantly was going to turn me into a sweet little woman.

Lee looked a bit disturbed as he walked back out. “I think it’s fine. We’re definitely alone but…”

Zack shook his head as he followed his brother. “That wizard dude looks gross, man. Damn, dude be old, if you know what I’m saying. I don’t think he’ll be trying to get your goodies anymore, Nim.”

Nim smiled briefly. “It should be amusing to see how the wizard handles today’s…youth.”