Steal the Sun (Thieves #4)(133)

“You managed for years,” Nim pointed out.

“Not because I did not want Chima.” Declan’s voice softened. “I stayed away because our relationship was not workable. But you should know, my lover, that every woman I have f*cked since we broke up I have pretended was you.”

“And that is an enormous amount of women, Chima,” Dev offered magnanimously. “Really, it proves his devotion.”

“Yes, I can see that.” Chima turned to Lee. “Could you point me to where these people are hiding?”

Lee didn’t need to because a brownie was rushing across the yard as fast as her small legs would carry her. “Your Highness!”

Recognition lit Chima’s face. “Bridgit, thank the goddess. What’s happening? Where is my father? Where is the court?”

Bridgit’s small, flat face looked confused as she stared at us. “Princess, isn’t that the Seelie prince?”

“Yes,” Chima said impatiently. “It’s Prince Declan and his brother and his brother’s family. Now where is my father?”

Large brown eyes widened. “Miria called off all negotiations when she heard the news that her sons had been killed by our warriors. The battle has already begun. Miria has promised to kill all of us.”

“Why does Mother think we are dead?” Declan asked. “She knew we were going to look for Zoey and Daniel. I explained to her that I had to go with my brother.”

Daniel crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m sure the Duke of Ain saw it as a great opportunity to press his case. He controls the information that flows from gate to gate. Why wouldn’t he lie about your death? Con was going to try to make it the truth.”

Chima passed Sean to the brownie. “Please take Sean to our rooms.”

Declan snapped his fingers and five guards appeared, twisting reality around them. I always wondered if they just sat in some magical waiting room. Declan looked at the warriors. “You will protect my son with your life. You will not pick a fight. You will remain silent unless absolutely necessary. Can the brownie be trusted?”

Chima nodded emphatically. “She raised me, Declan. Sean is like her grandchild.”

Declan nodded. “You will follow the brownie’s orders in everything. Consider her your temporary mistress.”

One of the guards opened his mouth in obvious protest.

Declan stared him down. “He is my son. He will one day be your king. If you will not do my bidding in this then consider yourselves enemies of the state. I will consider your disobedience to be treason.”

The guards bowed their head in acquiescence. They surrounded the brownie and her charge.

“He’s serious,” Chima assured the servant. “They’ll follow your orders and keep you and Sean safe until we return.”

The brownie nodded and her arms formed a protective circle around the boy. After saying good-bye one last time, the brownie started into the palace and the Seelie guards followed.

Chima turned to Declan. Her blue eyes were serious as she regarded him. “Thank you, Declan.”

“I should have sent you with them, Chima.” Declan watched the guard like he wanted to call them back. “I should have ordered them to keep you safe and not let you out of their sight, but I am trying. My brother’s wife seems to find it irritating when her husbands try to keep her safe.”

“Then I will have to thank Zoey for training you well,” Chima said with a small smile. “But for the record, Declan, we’re not married.”

“We certainly are,” Declan insisted, taking her hand. “And I shall call your father out for keeping my wife and son from me.”

“You certainly will not!” Chima yelled.

Lee groaned and looked at Dev. “I’m ready to go in that damn wind again because that awful sound will drown the two of them out.”

Lee didn’t need to ask. Dev was already looking to the sky and taking my hand. In the blink of an eye we were riding the wind to the Unseelie gate and the battlefield.





Our landing was smoother this time. Daniel managed to stay on his feet and he caught me in a neat motion. As the rest of the party made it to our destination, we were immediately faced with a problem. The gate to the plains was closed and heavily guarded.

Fifty armed Unseelie warriors stood as a phalanx against a possible Seelie invasion. They had been facing the closed gates but they turned and stared at us as we hit the ground.

“Shit, Z, get back,” Daniel shouted as Lee landed behind us.

The minute he heard the worry in Danny’s voice, he exploded in a mass of fur and claws. Lee and Daniel stood in front of me as the guard made their charge.

“Stand down!” Chima yelled when she made it to the ground.

Declan was already pushing her back. “Stay with Zoey.”

“I’m their princess and they will follow my orders,” she insisted.

Declan notched three arrows at once, splaying them between his fingers. He drew back and carefully sprayed the crowd, managing to avoid Daniel and all three wolves, who were fighting the guards.

“Or they will assume that the Seelie royals have taken you as a hostage,” Declan explained, preparing his weapon for another assault. “They will attempt to kill all of us to protect you. Nim, get back here.”