Steal the Sun (Thieves #4)(64)

“Z,” Neil whispered, still watching the vampire do her mating dance. “I think she’s calling to me. She wants me to come to her, to love her, to feed her.”

My insides clenched at the thought of losing Neil. I was going to have to make a move and fast. I was just about to level my gun at her when she reached out to touch Neil’s face. Her mouth was slightly open in a lusty show of desire. Just before she caressed him, his hand shot out and stopped her.

“Not happening, sister,” Neil said with a disgusted groan. “Unless you have a hot brother stashed away somewhere, that shit ain’t working on me. Now, keep your skanky hands to yourself. I have a boyfriend. Trust me, I’ve turned down some super-hot male tail because I love Chad. I’m certainly not going to start my own episode of Cheaters because some ho-bag faery vamp can make me hear music.”

“What’s wrong with you?” She hissed the question as she looked him up and down, trying to see the problem.

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” Neil said simply with no hint of animosity. He didn’t care what anyone thought. He had people who loved him and they were enough. “I just don’t find you even vaguely attractive. I like boys. If I were going to break down and f*ck some chick, it would be Z.”

“Thank you.” I was flattered that I was at the top of his list. I had always kind of thought it would be Sarah.

“You’re welcome,” he said with a coy smile. “I’d do you because you have so many hot dudes going through your bed, I’m sure one of them will eventually slip up and take me instead.”

The vampire obviously didn’t like being turned down. Her face was a mask of rage, and she drew that nasty finger back to slash it across Neil’s throat. Without the aid of her victim being drugged by magic, she was no match for Neil. He slapped her hand back and she found herself on her ass.

“Protect me,” she commanded and Lee and the Hunter moved forward.

“Oh, shit,” Neil said under his breath as we moved backward in perfect time with each other. “I don’t know about the other one, Z, but Lee can kill me and not even break a sweat.”

“I think the other one can, too.” I felt the back of the wall and we had nowhere else to go.

The Hunter gave the dogs a closed fisted gesture and they began to growl.

I took a deep breath. The problem with this whole scenario was that I didn’t want to kill any of the people or animals who were about to come after me. Shuck and Barghest didn’t want to hurt me, but they were the Hunter’s creatures. They had to do his bidding. If I wanted to get everyone out intact, I was going to have to get creative.

“Think about this, Herne.” I didn’t make a single threatening move. “What you are about to do will hurt me. You intend to hurt me if you sic those dogs on me. You will break your oath and my friend will call down the Wild Hunt. They’ll come, Hunter. They’ll come even for you. They won’t care about the spell you’re under. Your oath holds no matter what. It can’t be broken without penalty.”

He stopped and even through his magic addled brain, my logic seemed to penetrate. It went against everything he was to break his oath. He was the keeper of the Wild Hunt and the Wild Hunt was about justice. If he harmed me, he was doing an injustice, and that he could not handle.

I turned to Lee, my voice strong and righteous. It was a voice Lee would understand and relate to. “I own you, wolf. You’re my creature or you’re an oath breaker as well. You promised me. You made vows, Lee Owens. You made vows to me, not this creature before you. Search your brain and you’ll know I speak the truth. The hunt can come for you as well. They can come for royals or nobles who break their oaths or those who commit crimes against them. I am your queen. Don’t make me call them down on you.”

He seemed to fight with everything he had. His muscles bunched up, his eyes closing as though he was in pain. Whether he was fighting to come with me or to stay away, I didn’t know. I only knew which instinct won out. Lee calmed finally and took his place at my back.

The sith backed away and stared at me, suspicion in her eyes. “What are you? Why do you glow so brightly?”

I’d wondered if that shine I had was visible to the faery vampire. I had met one female vampire in my life, and while she could see my glow, she wasn’t particularly taken by it. I used the sith’s ignorance to my advantage. “If you were on the Earth plane, you would know me well. I’m the Queen of all Vampire, and pray you don’t meet my husband. Your wiles won’t work on him and he’ll kill you for even trying. These men are mine. I take them back now.”

“You’re not a vampire,” she insisted even as she backed away.

“I’m something more,” I said, using Bris’s words. They sounded pretty impressive to me, so I tried them on her. I moved forward, staring down at the vampire. “Do you doubt me? I killed the ogre. I own the wolves. My servant is unaffected by your unique brand of magic. I walk the forest with no fear. If you choose to test yourself against me, then you will lose. I’ll enjoy the exercise. It’s your choice, nightwalker.”

“You said I could keep the other,” she argued, pulling back even as she tried to negotiate. She dropped to her knees, her head falling forward into a submissive position. Unfortunately for her, that time was done. I was through bargaining.