Steal the Night (Thieves #5)(93)

“He knows you,” Stewart said with a satisfied smile.

“I’ve put it off long enough,” Nim confessed. “He’s ready. Daniel, if you’ll help me get this lid off.”

With very little effort, Daniel lifted the lid and set it against the wall. He pulled Excalibur from its sheath and handed it to the Lady of the Lake, who motioned Stewart forward. There was such reverence in his blue eyes I thought he might weep.

He held his hand over the wizard’s mouth and allowed Nim to use the sword to draw a thin stream of blood from his forearm. The blood dripped onto the wizard’s mouth, but he didn’t move.

Nim frowned, staring down for a moment before trying again. She drew more of the demon’s blood down onto the wizard’s mouth.

“That should have worked,” she said, frustration evident in her voice.

Daniel watched the proceedings with great curiosity. “You said the wizard required something of both the Heaven and the Hell plane to rouse him.”

She nodded shortly. “Yes, given the circumstances of his birth, both are necessary.”

“But Excalibur is just a tool here,” Daniel mused. “It isn’t something he can taste. You offer him blood from the demon but nothing so sweet from the angelic side. I would hold out for something better if I was him.”

Nim thought about that for a moment. “I would need an angel for what you suggest, Daniel. I don’t think I’m going to find an angel from the Heaven plane to help me wake Merlin Satanspawn.”

Daniel chuckled. “No, I doubt you would, but then Stewart over there isn’t exactly in his purest form. His blood is mixed in this form. If that would work then I don’t see why a pure angel is required. I’m a vampire, Nim. Trust me. I know what Heaven tastes like.”

Daniel took my arm and offered it to Nim. I sighed and prepared for the small pain of the sword across my flesh. It made sense that I be the one offering my blood. A companion was part angel. It was why we tasted so damn good. Nim squeezed my arm gently and let a fine line trickle down. It mixed with the demon’s offering on the wizard’s lips.

Slowly, so slowly, the slightest bit of a gray tongue peeked out and the blood disappeared into his mouth.

The wizard’s eyes flew open and I felt Daniel’s arms pulling me back. He shoved me toward Dev so he could lean forward once more. Devinshea’s arms held me close, but we were both trying to take a look at the wizard.

His rheumy eyes stared up and around until they zeroed in on Daniel. He held a single hand up.

“I need the waters, Your Highness.” The request came out croaked and harsh.

“The fountain at the back of the room,” Nim clarified. “It will restore him, but you’ll have to get him there. He can’t walk.”

Daniel reached down and gingerly picked up the wizard’s decayed body. It would weigh nothing in his hands, but he was very careful with him. He made sure he tucked the matchstick arms inside for fear they would dangle and potentially fall off. The last thing we needed was a one-armed wizard. Walking slowly, Daniel made his way to the fountain. Lee carried over an extra torch, illuminating the back of the dungeon.

“Shall I hold you under the water, teacher?” There was a certain kindness to Daniel’s voice I didn’t hear often when he spoke to strangers.

“Just set me down, child,” came the cracked reply. “I’ll do the rest. I’ve waited a very long time for you.”

Daniel lowered the wizard’s fragile body into the water, leaning over to make sure he didn’t go under. I watched the scene, wondering when Daniel had last treated anyone but me or Dev with such care. The torches were all lit now, and I could see the wizard’s face contort as he felt the water on his body. He lay in the small pool for a moment before finding the strength to get to his knees. Daniel rushed forward to lend him a hand, and Myrddin managed to get to his feet. I held my breath, hoping the man didn’t just fall apart.

“I’m fine now, Daniel,” Myrddin said, though no one had told him Daniel’s name. “Help me under the falls and then step back.”

Daniel helped him back under the fountain and then something weird happened. It was like the water washed away the age. Slowly but surely as the wizard stood under the falling water he became younger, stood taller. He loosened his robes and they fell away as his flesh became young and firm. He transformed from a desiccated corpse into a muscular man. I turned to look at Nim, but she didn’t seem surprised at all. She walked over to the small dresser near the coffin and pulled out a rich, velvet robe.

When I glanced back, I had to admit Myrddin Emrys was pretty damn hot. He had dark wavy hair that he pushed back behind his ears. It reached the nape of his neck. His eyes were dark—from my vantage they appeared almost black—and his face was lovely but hard, as though carved from granite. The body was rock hard, too.

“Wow,” Neil whispered beside me.

“Double wow,” I said because I’d just gotten a good look at his package. A large hand came over my eyes. “Dev!”

“Like you would allow me to stand around and ogle naked women,” he whispered in my ear. “Nim, would you hand him that robe, please? Our queen is getting an eyeful.”

I heard Daniel’s laugh but when Dev finally let me look again, the wizard had stepped out of the fountain. He was robed, and the rich red color of the velvet did wonderful things for his now-perfect skin.