Steal the Sun (Thieves #4)(20)

“She is beautiful but not obedient,” Declan noted. “That is not the dress I told her to wear.”

“Hush,” she admonished. “The dress is stunning and suits her far more than anything in our style. Our styles would swallow her beautiful body. Declan, you were right about her breasts. They are delicious looking.”

The last bit was said with a slight breathless appreciation. I felt Danny tense beside me as he tried hard not to laugh at my sudden discomfort. My mother-in-law was looking me over with a sensual smile.

“I told you,” Declan said with a lecherous grin.

Dev leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Mother swings both ways. Sorry I didn’t mention that before.”

I gave him a “what the hell” look but Miria was moving on to Daniel.

“I should be upset with your presence, Mr. Donovan,” Miria said, looking him over. “Devinshea was supposed to keep you under control until I decided if you were dangerous or not.”

Dev started to argue but Daniel stepped up to the plate.

“I assure you, Your Highness, I am perfectly harmless,” he said with more charm than I’d heard him use on any woman but me. Dev was rubbing off on my vampire. Daniel was imitating his smooth tones.

Miria looked Daniel up and down, from his Ferragamo loafers to his perfectly cropped blond hair. “I doubt that, Mr. Donovan. I think you could do some serious damage.”

I saw Padric roll his eyes and mutter, “Not again.”

“How about I promise to be a good boy?” Daniel offered, his voice a dark seduction. I stopped myself from giggling because Danny was getting good at this.

“Please don’t.” Miria’s lips curled up. “Where would be the fun in that?”

“Mother!” Dev said sounding completely prudish for the first time in my relationship with him.

Declan snickered beside his brother.

Miria turned her attention back to her son. “Well, Devinshea, when you bring such lovely partners home, what do you expect? They are exotic and look like they would be excellent bedmates. It would be rude not to admire them.”

Yes, she was definitely Declan’s mom.

“The Earth plane has changed my brother,” Declan complained. “It has turned him into a squeamish old woman. He refuses to even think about sharing Zoey with me. He pulled a gun on me just for cuddling with her.”

“I would have done worse.” Daniel looked at Declan and his fangs were long suddenly. “And I don’t need a gun.”

The rest of the room was startled and seemed to take a big step back, but Miria stood her ground. She went toe to toe with Daniel. She was definitely interested in those fangs.

She spoke to her son but her eyes were on Daniel. “Declan, you should know vampires are possessive creatures. It is impressive that Devinshea was able to forge a ménage with such a powerful creature and his companion. It makes a statement about his prowess. I am proud of you, son. You have done well. Tell me, Mr. Donovan, do you bite my son?”

“As often as possible,” Daniel replied with no hint of self-consciousness. “I find faery blood to be quite the treat.”

“Yes,” she returned with regret. “Unfortunately, it is why I was forced to close the mounds to your kind. Your kind likes our blood, and we tend to like your bite, Mr. Donovan. I found it to be a combustible mix.”

“Please call me Daniel,” my vampire offered smoothly.

“I will,” Miria promised. “And you and your companion may refer to me as Miria or Mother if you like. I am your mother-in-law. Formally, of course, for Zoey, but I completely recognize your relationship and approve. I am pleased to welcome you. You will be treated as a member of this family, Daniel.”

“Good,” Dev said between clenched teeth. “Then you can stop hitting on him. And for the record, while I feed my partner, we are not lovers beyond the fact that we share Zoey.”

Miria looked startled. “Whyever not, son? He is attractive. I did not raise you to be so close-minded. You should …what is that human term you told me about, Declan?”

“Hit that,” Declan supplied helpfully.

“Yes, Devinshea, you should hit that,” Miria said seriously.

Daniel finally lost it, and there were tears in his eyes as he laughed. He leaned over, whispering to Dev. “Shit, man, we should have come here earlier. This is awesome.”

Dev turned to me. “My goddess, what are the chances of the floor opening up and swallowing me whole, sending me to a blissful oblivion?”

“Not so good. Sorry.” Miria made me feel better about my dad.

“I think we should begin dinner now,” Padric said sourly, looking at Daniel with a shake of his head. He took Miria’s arm and started to lead her to the head table. Already servants were rushing to action.

Danny just couldn’t help it. “Dev, your mom’s a total cougar, man.”

I grinned as Dev blushed for the first time in…ever. “My mother is five hundred thirty-two years old. Cougar does not apply.”

“Sabertooth, then.” Daniel just had to rub it in.

Yes, it was time for dinner since we’d already put on a show.





Two hours later, I walked up and down the gallery halls of the palace, enjoying the quiet. I glanced up every now and then at the paintings that lined the walls. They were mostly portraits, likely of past kings and queens. The whole place was lit with soft candlelight, and the moonlight seemed to flow in from every open space. There was still a low murmur that came from the great hall, but I could finally think again.