Steal the Night (Thieves #5)(95)

Myrddin’s eyes flew to Nim. “I told you it was the way of the future.”

“They’re not the norm in this world,” Nim corrected him. “And perhaps if you looked as good as you do now I would have considered taking your proposal to Arawn.”

“You know I take the form that is needed,” Myrddin said with a wave of his hand. “Well, I’m glad to know the queen, at least, is an open-minded lass. If the three of you can enjoy each other without jealousy then I will agree to the relationship.”

“I’m so glad to hear that.” No small amount of sarcasm flavored Daniel’s voice.

Myrddin rubbed his hands together, an eager gleam in his eyes. “Now, Your Highness, how about I fix that heart of yours?”





Chapter Twenty-Three





“What’s going on?” I asked, slightly freaked out by the events of the last hour. I stood by Neil, who’d kept a close eye on Myrddin and Nim.

“They keep arguing about something,” Neil replied. “Nim doesn’t think this is a good idea, but the hot wizard guy thinks we have to do it.”

I turned around and found Daniel, who sat quietly apart from everyone. Dev had left the castle after Myrddin had told him which plants he needed. Dev would know where to look and if the plants weren’t up to snuff, after a minute or two with a fertility god, they would be.

“Has anyone mentioned how he’s going to do it?” I asked, hoping Neil’s hearing was back at full speed.

Lee came up behind me quietly. “I heard something about a stasis chamber and the need for a balance.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Lee shrugged. “I don’t know, darlin’, but I don’t like any of it.” He looked around the room, his eyes settling on Daniel. “I really don’t like how damn quiet Donovan’s gotten. He should go into this believing he’ll come out. I don’t think he does.”

Daniel had been sitting in the corner ever since Nim and Myrddin began their never-ending argument over how to fix his heart. “Did he say something to you?”

Lee stared me straight in the eye because aside from keeping multiple murders from me, he never lied. “He wanted to make sure I knew how to get to the Unseelie sithein. If anything goes wrong, that’s where he wants you. The minute I think something’s up, I’ve been ordered to get you and Devinshea out of here and find a way to get to Scotland. I’m supposed to leave Daniel behind and not look back.”

“Well, you might be able to handle me, but I doubt you can handle me and Devinshea,” I huffed, pissed at the thought Daniel wouldn’t allow us to help him. “The minute Dev knows Daniel is in serious trouble, he’ll fight to get to him.”

“I’ve been given permission to knock the both of you out if I have to,” Lee said and I knew from the look in his eyes that he would do it. “You know I only take orders from you, but I’m with Daniel on this. Neil and I will get you where we need to go. I just wanted you to know.”

“Neil won’t do it.”

“Yes, I will,” Neil said quietly.

I whirled on him. “You don’t have to obey Daniel, and you don’t have to obey Lee.”

“And I sure as hell don’t have to obey you,” Neil shot back. “I have to do what’s right for my best friend in the world and her husbands. If it goes south here, we’re cutting and running. This is the end game, Z. Daniel wins or he dies. Do you think he can even fight if there’s no possibility of you getting out alive? I love you, Z, but damn, sometimes you can be his worst enemy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” My question came out as a shocked gasp. Neil had never turned on me, but that’s what it felt like now.

Icy blue eyes regarded me. “It means that no one else around here will give you the swift kick in the pants you need. Lee is too loyal. Dev and Danny are too much in love, and Zack is too submissive. Maybe if Sarah was around she could have this conversation with you and then you wouldn’t be so pissed with me, but she had to go get knocked up, so that leaves me.”

I gave him the floor with a bitter frown. “Well, don’t hold back, Neil. If I need a kick in the ass you should give it to me.”

Neil’s hands clenched at his sides. “He’s over there waiting patiently to find out what horrific way they’re going to use to pull a bomb off his heart, Zoey. He knows there’s a giant possibility that he’s going to die and you’re going to be at the mercy of everything he’s been fighting against, but are you over there working with him? No. You’re standing here plotting against him just like you always do. You’re so stubborn.”

“I’m not working against him,” I denied vehemently. “I’m trying to keep us together.”

“But he needs to know if the worst happens, that you’ll be all right,” Neil insisted. “God, Dev understands, at least. When we were out there with the Order, do you think Dev wanted to leave Daniel? He didn’t but he knew what Daniel really needed was to know that the people he loved were safe so he sucked it up. You think what you’re doing is noble but, Z, it f*cking kills him. How can he concentrate on anything if he’s always worried about what you’re doing? It will get him killed in the end and you aren’t going to be able to live with that.”