Steal the Sun (Thieves #4)(93)

“For the last time, I’m human,” I insisted, getting a little pissy.

“For the last time, Unseelie bitch, we don’t let humans in.” The largest one snarled, moving close.

Daniel’s hand shot out and he lifted the larger man up by his shirt. He smiled and his fangs shot out of his mouth. “You don’t let vampires in, either, yet here I am.”

Daniel tossed the faery back into the crowd, knocking several down like bowling pins.

The crowd drew swords and rushed the man they were certain now shouldn’t be among them. Neil barked at my feet and used his head to nudge me back. I followed directions as I always tried to in a fight. I can hold my own, but Daniel…there’s no one who fights like Daniel.

“Get him!” someone yelled. “He doesn’t even have a weapon.”

Daniel actually had two guns and three knives hidden on his body, but he didn’t make a move for them. He didn’t need weapons. He moved into the crowd that now surrounded him. I could have told them that was a mistake. In cases like this, he preferred to have his prey in a nice neat circle.

The first warrior rushed Danny with his sword held high. Daniel punched him in the face and the faery flew back, politely losing his grip on the shiny sword. It was in my vampire’s hands before it could fall to the ground.

Neil herded me back toward the tree line even as Daniel began to move. I watched intently because Daniel was a vision of violent power and grace when he worked. The crowd fell like dominoes as he twisted and whirled that sword in an arc that left not one of the men untouched. Blood began to splatter in a neat circle, saturating the ground around him. Half the men had already fallen.

Daniel stopped, his head down, sword held low and he looked over at me and winked. So f*cking sexy.

I heard moaning and groaning, but not a one of them was dumb enough to get up. My vampire looked at the remaining men and smiled. “Who’s next? You should be glad I’m not Unseelie because if I was, your army would be in serious trouble.”

This incensed three of the remaining sidhe. They looked at each other and nodded, trying to flank Danny. They let out rebel screams as they rushed him. He gutted the first one, allowing the faery to keep his sword deep in his belly as he fell away. Daniel lifted the next one and tossed him to Neil.

“That one’s yours,” he yelled as he faced the third. I felt a deep well of love for him. Handing Neil a kill was a signal that he was softening.

Neil barked happily and then started toward the faery with a low growl.

“Nice puppy.” The warrior shook his head and tried to back away from the lovely display of teeth I was sure Neil was giving him.

While Neil enjoyed terrifying one faery, the last of the three who had rushed Danny laid his sword down. There were three left who had pulled themselves out of the fray after the first assault. They chose to put their weapons down as well.

“A vampire isn’t Unseelie,” one of them pointed out.

“Nope,” another said. “They’re from the Earth plane.”

“So he probably isn’t a spy,” they concluded.

“Then there’s no need to fight him,” a faery with long yellow hair said, his voice shaking even as he stood his ground. “If he ain’t the enemy then we should probably buy him a drink and try to convince him to fight on the Seelie side of this war.”

Daniel growled and his eyes pierced the remaining men. “And why would I fight beside men who insult my wife?”

The faeries all took up the new cause of getting the vampire to calm down. “I never believed she was Unseelie,” one said.

“She’s obviously a woman of good character,” said another.

I rolled my eyes, but now the danger had passed and I didn’t see a need for revenge. I’d been called worse before. The faery Neil was playing with was crying and I think he’d peed just a little. “Neil, stop farting around. This isn’t why we’re here.”

Neil looked back at me and changed, becoming human in an instant. “You’re no fun, Z.”

I turned around and noted that our leprechauns had fled.

“Damn it,” Daniel cursed.

“I’ll go after them.” Neil started for the forest line, but stopped.

Lee walked forward and he had both of the leprechauns, one in each hand. He held them up even as they tried to kick out at him.

“Lose something?” Lee asked with a superior smile. Something caught his eye. “Hey, is that beer?”

Neil headed toward the woods, running quickly. We’d gone over the plan and Neil ran off to do his part.

“Don’t forget the package,” I yelled as he disappeared.

Daniel looked at the sidhe around him. “Clear out. I have business with the wee folk.”

The remaining sidhe tried to pick up the ones on the ground and started to stumble off toward their campsite. They kept their eyes on Daniel, watching to make sure he didn’t make a move. I noted his self-satisfied smile as they regarded him with pure terror.

“Not you.” I put my hand up to stop the black-haired faery who’d been working as the leprechauns’ shill.

“Me?” He seemed determined to act the part of a completely shocked bystander.

“Yes, you,” I replied as Daniel came to my side. “You were on an awfully lucky streak, buddy.”