Steal the Sun (Thieves #4)(52)

“According to the Hunter, Bris has had many chances to bond with a host. In the end, it isn’t merely the magic that calls to the god, but also the personality and life of the host. Bris is concerned with love and passion. The Hunter tells me that when Bris was corporeal, he had but one goddess and he loved her with all his heart. He seeks to feel that again, though he must feel that through his host now. Bris turned down several when he realized they would use the magic he gave them to attract many women. None of the previous hosts wanted a settled life. Dev is the odd man with sex magic who is willing to settle down.”

I smiled brightly, feeling better about the god in my husband. “It’s nice to know Bris isn’t a player.”

Herne looked confused. “Sometimes when you speak, I don’t understand you.”

“Well, Herne, I think you’ve spent too much time in the forest. The next time you hit the Earth plane, you’ll have to visit Dallas and I’ll show you around. I can even set you up on a date.” I had several female werewolves begging to be set up. I was turning out to be quite the matchmaker. “Unless there’s a lady huntress, of course.”

Herne snorted his frustration at that thought. “Are you kidding me? Do you know how hard it is to get a date with this man inside me? He isn’t smooth. He doesn’t know how to talk to women and he won’t listen to my advice. I’m a strong, talented warrior. I have the spirit of the hunt coursing through my body and…”

“You can’t get laid,” I finished for him.

“I can’t. Even Arawn has a girlfriend.” He stood up and lent me a hand.

“We’ll have to work on that, Herne,” I promised with a smile. He turned all kinds of serious now as he helped me to my feet.

“I must leave you, Zoey. The time has come to walk the forest, and he prefers to be in control. This is his place of power.” Herne smiled down on me. “Don’t take offense. As I said before, he doesn’t know how to deal with women. I’ve enjoyed my time with you. Don’t judge me by his actions.”

The Hunter was now staring down at me. He looked me up and down and there was disapproval all over his face. “Is there a reason you chose to be naked in my presence, Your Grace?”

I looked down to make sure everything was covered. I didn’t have anything hanging out, so I wasn’t sure what the problem was. The tank top was even black so I knew he couldn’t see anything I didn’t want him to see. “This is what I wear when I go hunting. It’s very Tomb Raider.”

“I can see all of your limbs,” the Hunter noted as his eyes roamed across my body. “And much of your skin. It looks creamy and soft in the moonlight. It makes me want to rip off what little clothing you have on and pound myself into your softness.”

Okay, ewww. “I wouldn’t try it if I were you.”

“I am not going to do it. Prince Devinshea is a friend. I wouldn’t dishonor him in such a fashion. I just thought you should know that dressing like a trollop has an effect on men. If you want to be treated like the lady you are then you should be properly covered.” On that pronouncement he began to hike. The black dogs followed along happily.

“Yes, because I don’t deserve respect for just being a human being,” I replied bitterly, following after him.

“Of course not.” The Hunter sounded pleased that I understood him.

“Can I get the other one back?” I grumbled more to myself than to him.

“No. I’m better in the woods. Why would you wish to be led by an inferior guide?”

“Well, he’s less of an *, for one,” I muttered.

“What does an anus have to do with…oh, you have insulted me,” he said with a frown, catching up. “Well, I did call you a trollop.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“Let me ask you something, Your Grace.” The Hunter began to lead me through the heavily treed forest. “Are the knives for ornamentation?”

“No, the knives are for killing things.”

He stopped and looked at me like I was crazy. “Do you think I won’t care for you? I gave you my oath. Do you think I won’t defend you?”

“I’m hoping you will, but I’d like the opportunity to defend myself should the need arise,” I explained, surprised by the question.

“Your men don’t defend you?” His question was tinged with outrage. He lived in a different world.

I laughed at the thought. “My husbands spend altogether too much time defending me, but one of the ways they protect me is to teach me to defend myself.”

It was true for all the men in my life. My father hadn’t cared that I was a girl. He taught me his trade and he was the first to put a knife in my hand. Danny took me to the gun range and taught me everything I knew about guns. Devinshea spent time teaching me how to fight with a sword. It would never occur to them that I should be helpless simply because I was female. In their minds, I was more vulnerable and should damn well know how to strike back.

“Seelie noblewomen keep a knife on them so they may fall upon it if they are dishonored.”

I gaped at him. “Seriously? What the hell kind of women are they? And what man wants his woman to choose death over dishonor? Let me tell you something, Hunter, if someone raped me I wouldn’t feel any dishonor. You know what I would feel? I would feel pissed off. I would feel like revenge. And I know neither of my husbands would want me to cry and fall on my sword. They’ll take me ‘dishonored’ or not.”