Steal the Sun (Thieves #4)(98)

He laughed as the wolves caught up. We started the rest of the climb together.





I clung to Danny’s neck as he dug his claws into the rock face. He tried once to swing his leg over the cave’s ridge but couldn’t quite make it. After we had gone as far as Danny could safely fly us, he’d put me on his back and made quick work of the climb. The claws he could pop out of his hands helped enormously. He’d clawed and scratched his way to the top. I was sure my weight on his back held him up, but he convinced me it was the easiest way to get this done. So I held on for dear life, my arms around his neck and legs hooked around his waist.

I felt a warm presence underneath me, and Lee pushed his back against Daniel’s legs. Wordlessly communicating, the vampire and the wolf got on the same page. Daniel stepped as lightly as possible on Lee’s back and managed to swing us up over the final hurdle. We landed in a heap and had to scramble to get up. Daniel leaned over the rock face and helped pull the wolves.

“God, he’s heavier than he looks,” Danny groaned as he hauled Lee over the ridge. “And he looks heavy.” Neil he only had to use one hand on. The wolves stayed in their furry bodies as we entered the cave, padding cautiously across the cave floor.

My hands shook as we moved carefully. I let my eyes adjust to the dark of the cave before carefully pulling out the small flashlight I’d placed in my pocket. It was a penlight, illuminating only a few feet ahead of me.

“Keep that down, Z.” Danny shielded his eyes when the small light hit them. He didn’t need anything so technological as a flashlight to see in the dark. “My eyes already adjusted and I’m sure the wolves’ have, too.”

I held the light down, shining where I was walking because my eyes wouldn’t adjust to being able to see in this blackness. It wasn’t always easy being the only pitiful human in the group. I took inventory of the cave, careful to keep my light away from preternatural eyes.

From what I could see, the cave was large, though the ceiling seemed to taper down after roughly a hundred feet. I bet we would find what we were looking for in the back of this cave. I found my footing much firmer as we hit rock. The ground was even this far into the cave, and I caught a glimpse of something metallic shining. It was just a shimmer, but that was all I needed. Bingo. X marks the spot and all that. I tripped slightly and fell to my side, hitting something kind of soft and…furry.

“Danny.” I spoke slowly, not moving at all because whatever I had hit was breathing in and out.

“Z, what the f*ck are you doing? Get up. We have work to do.” Daniel moved close, reaching out to me.

I scrambled up and away from the now shifting body.

“Shit,” Danny said as an enormous eye opened. Even in the dark I could tell it was red and angry. It glowed like a stoplight.

The leprechauns had neglected to mention their enormous guard.





Chapter Twenty-Three





All of the trolls I’ve ever met personally are the type who could almost pass for human. They tend to be of Scandinavian descent. They’re not the only trolls to come from the north countries. There are a small number of trolls who used to rule Norway and Sweden before the humans hunted them down and they passed into legend.

I fell into one of those legendary frost giants, and when he sat up, the mountain moved.

“Holy shit,” Daniel yelled as the frost giant stood up.

The giant had to be at least twelve feet tall and he weighed what an eighteen wheeler would. Daniel looked like a leprechaun next to him. Lee growled and Neil moved in beside him, the hair on his back standing at rigid attention.

Daniel reached into his pocket and pulled out his handgun. I was wondering what he was going to do with it besides annoy the enormous frost giant. The bullets would be like mosquitoes to the giant. “Move your ass, Z. Get what we need so we can get out of here.”

I stepped back from the gigantic shadow against the cave wall. My penlight could only help me see bits and pieces of the enormous creature. He had white, mangy fur that looked like it could use a good conditioner and a blow out. As I moved the light up, I caught a glimpse of razor-sharp teeth. The giant took way better care of his choppers than the ogre had. They looked like his pride and joy. It was easy to see why the leprechauns had felt their treasure was safe here. Even if a thief could find their hiding place, they would have to deal with the frost giant—who did not like having his nap disturbed.

“What are you going to do?” I asked Daniel as the frost giant regarded us carefully with his red eyes.

“Distract him,” Daniel said with more confidence than I would have had.

“How?”

“I don’t know. I’m probably about to do a nice impression of a toothpick. Could you hurry up this heist?” Danny held the gun in his right hand and aimed it at the frost giant, who was still curious about the odd creatures who had invaded his home. He reached down and plucked Daniel up, hauling him into the air.

“Now would be a good time!” my husband yelled as he fired off three quick rounds.

The frost giant’s howl shook the world. Seriously, I think it moved my liver around.

I picked up the pace and started to the back of the cave. “I would aim for the eyes if I were you.” I shouted my helpful advice over my shoulder.

Daniel shot off four quick rounds. The giant roared again. Exactly as I knew would happen, the bullets just stung him and pissed him off because Danny hadn’t hit him in the eye. The whole cave shook with the force of the giant’s rage, and I had to clasp my hands over my ears because the sound was so loud. The echo after it did nothing to assuage the assault on my hearing.