Steal the Sun (Thieves #4)(5)

I shook my head because I could feel the noose tightening. Every extra person they put on me was someone I would more than likely have to shake later. “I have a maid. There’s no need to send anyone.”

“I’ll make sure she’s properly covered,” Sarah promised, sitting back down at the table. “I’ve been dressing Zoey for a long time.”

It was true. She often picked my clothes when Dev didn’t do it for me.

“See that you do.” Mara looked back down at the notes she was carrying. “I will consider you to be in charge of her wardrobe. She has fittings arranged with the best dressmakers in the kingdom. Prince Declan set them up himself. Please see that she makes the appointments.”

Sarah frowned because she knew that getting me to stand still while someone poked me with needles might be difficult.

Neil was up and standing in front of me before I registered that someone was coming our way. He placed himself strategically in front of me but kept his body relaxed. He wouldn’t give me a reason to panic unless he thought the situation was serious, but he also wouldn’t let anyone he didn’t know get too close to me.

“Trouble?” Lee asked, yawning.

“I’ll let you know,” Neil replied.

Neil and Lee had settled into a nice partnership. Neil did all the energetic running around with me while Lee paced himself, waiting for something bad to happen before interrupting his nap. I was happy they seemed to get along well since the two were polar opposites. Neil was a flaming homosexual and Lee was a manly lone wolf. It could have been a combustible concoction, but Lee treated Neil like a little brother and Neil lapped up the attention. It was a good thing since Neil’s own brother was a nasty bastard who Daniel had killed earlier this summer.

“Your Grace.” A young man with dark hair and a paper and quill greeted me with an arched brow. “I am with the Royal Examiner. I have a few questions for you.”

Mara shook her head and tried to shoo the reporter away. “No, no, no. Her Royal Highness was clear. Any interviews with Prince Devinshea’s new bride must go through the palace. Her Grace does not speak our language and needs a translator.”

“Of course I speak the language.” Were they so worried I would screw up a few simple questions that they were willing to lie about my language skills? I was almost certain Declan was behind that particular royal edict. He didn’t seem to have a ton of faith in my abilities, but then I had given him trouble every chance I got. I turned back to the reporter, my stubbornness threatening to get the best of me. How hard could it be to answer a couple of questions? “What do you want to know?”

The reporter gave Mara a triumphant smile, and I guessed they were old adversaries. He turned back to me and he was all business. “The rumor is that Prince Dev finds himself in an unusual ménage a trois with you and a vampire. Could you please give us some details on how you manage to keep two men satisfied?”

I felt my face heat as Mara leaned in. “The Royal Examiner is a tabloid. We tend to avoid commenting,” she explained in a condescending tone.

I said the only thing I could think of. “No hablo Inglés.”





Chapter Two





“No, absolutely not.” Declan charged into the tavern’s courtyard. His eyes were on the reporter, and he looked like he’d call that hidden guard of his at any moment. “Her Grace is not to be bothered by reporters. There will be a party at the palace and all of the proper questions will be answered then.”

Said bothersome reporter rolled his eyes and walked away. I was pretty sure he was going to write something about the dullard the prince had married. If the tabloids worked in Faery the same way they worked in my world, they didn’t need to actually talk to me to write the story. Neil and I exchanged a glance. We hadn’t figured on gossip rags in our medieval adventure land. If they had them, Neil would probably get a subscription. Declan turned to fix Mara with his steeliest gaze.

“I thought I warned you about my brother’s wife. You cannot let her out of your sight for a moment.” Declan shook a finger at the blonde.

“You did, Your Highness. I am so sorry.” Her head was down, and she listened carefully to everything Declan said.

“She will burn the town down before you blink. And do not count on those guards of hers because they will help her light the fire. Think of them less as guards and more as accomplices.”

Lee shot Declan the bird, but Neil just smiled. I couldn’t argue because they actually were my accomplices. We’d run many heists together over the years. Sarah, too. Lee was new and the only heist we’d run had been hard on him, but Zack was actually kind of awesome. I found Zack and his butt kissing annoying, but in the field he was a perfect partner. He never argued with whoever was in charge. All in all, they were a damn fine crew. Sure they sometimes ran away for months at a time because they were mad at my husband or on some occasions had actually shot me, but other than that they were totally solid.

“Now that we are here in Faery,” Declan continued as he looked at Lee dismissively, “perhaps a more formal guard can be found. I would not want my sweet sister without a truly responsible guard. I would be a careless host if I allowed anything to happen to her.”

Lee sat up, and his eyes were on Declan. My wolf had excellent instincts. The reporter had been no real threat, but my brother-in-law certainly was. It was no great love on his part for me that had Declan wanting to surround me with his trusty men. Declan was certain I was carrying a child who could save his kingdom. Just weeks ago he’d vowed to do anything to protect the baby, including make me a prisoner if it came to that. I’d kept that conversation to myself, though Lee and Neil had been there at the time. Lee had begged me to let him kill the man he thought would take away my baby. I was willing to wait to see if there even was a baby to take.