Steal the Sun (Thieves #4)(33)

On our plane, Daniel trusted my protection to Dev, freeing him to do what he needed to do. It was obvious Danny intended to give Dev the same treatment in Faery. I leaned on Daniel, enjoying having him to myself for once, even if our time was going to be limited because that procession was getting closer and closer.

My eyes were probably playing tricks on me but I would have sworn the man leading the party had enormous antlers.

It was going to be an interesting day.





Chapter Eight





I held Daniel’s hand as we stepped out of the palace and onto the white steps where the royals watched the Unseelie approach with suspicious eyes.

While I had been pushed and pulled into my dress, Bibi had patiently answered many of my questions concerning the dark court of Faery. The Unseelie had their own king who had been on his throne for two hundred years longer than Miria. Dev’s mother was considered a young queen and many Seelie nobles had been waiting for the dark court to test her will. The Unseelie king was named Angus and he was half sidhe and half goblin. It was said he was descended from Balor and like the legendary warrior, he had a third eye which when opened could kill a man with a single glance. Bibi had explained that the envoy would be one of two ascended gods who served as Angus’s seconds, and the identity of the selected ambassador would be telling.

The queen looked approvingly on Daniel and me as we took our places behind Devinshea and Declan. She reached behind, pulling my hand into hers. “Hello, daughter. I am so happy to see you well. And you, Daniel.”

Daniel nodded her way. “We’re happy to stand beside you, Your Highness.”

Dev winked at me.

“All of Faery rejoices at your fertility, daughter. You have brought such joy to our house.”

Daniel’s arm went around my waist, his mouth coming to my ear. “You always bring joy to our house with or without a child.”

He knew exactly what to say. My vampire made me feel secure and safe. He loved me without a care to my ability to produce a child. I knew Dev loved me, too, but I needed to hear it from Danny.

Miria reached for Daniel. She took his hand in her free one. “Daniel, I want to congratulate you. I know you will be a wonderful father. I cannot thank you enough for everything you do for this family. I am proud to call you son.”

Yeah, she was making it hard for me to hate her.

Declan made a gagging sound. “Must you, Mother?”

She gently slapped the back of his head. “Quiet.”

Really hard for me to hate her.

Unlike our parade to the palace, the Seelie were silent as this caravan marched through the town. The villagers were out of their houses and businesses. They lined the streets but their silence spoke volumes. They were wary, watching every move the small party made.

Bibi had explained that a door located past the great mountains to the north connected the sitheins of the Seelie and the Unseelie. The door led to a vast plain travelers must cross to eventually find the entrance to the Unseelie sithein. She told me that the envoy more than likely had traveled across the plain by riding an eddy wind, but once on Seelie land, they would be forced to walk. The plain between the sitheins was there as a buffer and had once been the sight of many battles between the light and dark courts.

“Can you see who it is?” Declan asked.

I heard Dev let loose a great sigh of relief. “Yes. I would know those hounds anywhere.” He turned back to me. “It is all right, my goddess. They sent Herne. If they meant to start a war, they would have sent the other one. Come, he is a friend. Well, his vessel is my friend. The Hunter can be difficult. We will meet him. Daniel, bring the wolves. Herne will appreciate them.”

I steeled myself because he’d stopped using contractions. It meant he was definitely thinking about playing the part of the Seelie royal and I needed to back him up. Dev took my hand as Daniel motioned for our bodyguards to join us. Dev looked at his brother. “Can you be civil?”

“As long as he doesn’t sic those dogs of his on me,” Declan allowed. He nodded his mother’s way. “We will greet the Hunter. I suppose it is good news, though I cannot stand the man.”

“Please follow your brother’s lead for once,” Miria said in an irritated voice. She called for one of her assistants and began making arrangements for the envoy’s stay.

Dev smiled broadly and began to lead us down the steps. The name they mentioned began to sink in.

“You’re telling me that man is Herne? As in Herne the Hunter?” My father is Irish, a Galway boy. He never forgot the old country, and my childhood stories had centered on the Celtic myths and legends. From what I could recall, I didn’t see how this was a good thing. If Herne the Hunter was the good one, I didn’t want to think about who the Unseelie might have sent instead.

“Yes,” Dev replied. “You’ll love him. He’s interesting.”

My slippered feet hit the grass and Daniel took my other hand. He’d heard the same stories. “Yes, I’m sure the Wild Hunt is interesting to the people it hunts down and drags to the Hell plane. How is this good?”

“Don’t believe all the faery stories,” Dev said. “The Wild Hunt hasn’t been used in many years, and then only when a noble breaks his vows. And they aren’t dragged to the Hell plane. It’s so much worse than that.” He stopped briefly and gave his brother a dark look. “You haven’t done anything, have you?”