Steal the Sun (Thieves #4)(67)

“He is unharmed. He was mounting a horse to search for you himself when one of the guards recalled seeing you running across the fields with the Unseelie ambassador. He meant to alert us before then but he was knocked out by those pesky zombies. Needless to say, Devinshea was surprised that his pregnant wife would run off with another man. He shouldn’t have been. You were cheating on Daniel with him. He should have thought about that before he chose to bind himself to you.”

“I wasn’t starting an affair with Herne,” I said because that should have been self-evident and I never considered what Dev and I had to be cheating. I slept exclusively with Dev until Dev had asked to bring Daniel into our relationship. It was only through Dev that Danny and I reconnected. “I was trying to save my husband.”

“Well, I know how you like to save men, Zoey.”

I turned up to face him. He looked so much like Dev it hurt to have his contempt directed my way. “Someone led the Unseelie’s ogre into the forest. Herne was worried that the ogre would be the thing that killed Dev because it would most definitely start a war.”

“Yes, Zoey, if the Unseelie sent an ogre to kill my brother it will certainly start a war.”

“You aren’t listening to me. That ogre couldn’t have gotten in without Seelie help. Are you telling me that something that big and that stupid managed to make it all the way to the forests outside the palace and no one noticed?”

“Well, I would believe that before I would believe that a Seelie would aid the enemy,” Declan said stubbornly. “I suppose you have some proof of this ogre? Or am I to just take you at your word that you didn’t sleep with the Hunter?”

“Well, I killed the f*cker so I guess the body might be my alibi.” I let go of Declan’s waist and forced my hands into my lap. If he wanted to keep me on the horse, he could just work that out himself. I wasn’t going to touch him.

“Damn it, Zoey,” Declan swore as he tightened his hold. “Do you want to break your neck?” I stayed still in his arms. “Did you really kill an ogre?”

“Yes.” We reached the courtyard. Every lamp and candle in the palace seemed to have been lit. “Dev didn’t want to come get me himself?” I supposed that Declan could have stopped him, but I doubted that was the case.

“He asked if I wouldn’t mind retrieving you and taking you back to your room.” Declan replied.

A sick feeling took hold of my stomach. “I suppose you told him what you thought I was doing.”

“I did not,” Declan admitted. “I thought it was evident and I did not wish to rub his face in his folly. It is not that I hate you, Zoey. I am actually rather fond of you. I simply think you are not suitable to be the wife of a Seelie prince. You would be a fine mistress, but that is where Devinshea should have kept you.”

I went silent because I had nothing further to say to my husband’s brother. I sat as still as the horse’s movements would allow and held myself as far from Declan as I possibly could. The real trouble was I was wondering if Declan wasn’t right.

I didn’t fit into Devinshea’s world. The nobles didn’t know what to make of me. I behaved more like an Unseelie, and the Seelie would never accept that. Our marriage had seemed like a good idea when Dev was estranged from his family and his world. He was back now and they accepted him as they never had before. I was a bit of an inconvenience.

The courtyard was littered with corpses, and I had to try not to breathe to avoid puking. I saw Sarah being led through the yard by Felix, on their way to their rooms. Her face was red, her eyes puffy from crying.

Felix rushed over and gave me a hand down. I was happy because I didn’t want Declan to touch me any more than he had to. Felix hauled me gently down and then Sarah was hugging me.

“I’m so sorry, Z.” Sarah sobbed into my shoulder.

I hugged her tightly. I had no idea what had happened, but I was sure that she hadn’t meant to plunge Faery into a remake of Night of the Living Dead. “It’s all right.”

“Yes,” Declan said, his sarcasm flowing. “It is fine that you turned our palace into a graveyard. We do not mind at all.”

“Shut up, Declan.” I sent him a frown.

“I got the incantation wrong.” She sniffled, wiping her tears away. “I’m out of practice.”

“Yes, you’re out of practice with black magic.” Felix gave Declan the dirtiest look a former angel from the Heaven plane could muster. “They should never have asked you to try it in the first place. Let’s go to bed, dear. It’s been a long night.”

Sarah pulled away and gave me a sympathetic look. “Dev is upset, Z. Danny tried to tell him you were off somewhere coming up with an insane plan to save his ass, but he wouldn’t listen. He left. I don’t know where he went.”

I nodded as she walked away with Felix. Declan took my arm, and I pulled away as hard as I could. I’d had enough of him. “I know the way to my rooms.”

I just wondered if Dev would show up in them.

Declan was a stubborn ass. He reached for me again. “You know your way to your rooms, but you have no idea where Devinshea is. Luckily, I do.”

I let him pull me along because it seemed easier than fighting him. “Why would you take me to Dev? You might get your wish, Declan. Maybe Dev will talk to your mom and she can annul the marriage.”