Steal the Night (15 page)

“Could we get down to business?” Daniel interrupted.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. You have all just changed so much since the last time I was allowed in your glorious presence. I’m taking it all in.” Stewart bowed regally to Daniel. “How may I be of service this evening?”

Daniel nodded to Nim. “He’s all yours.”

Stewart’s mouth hung open as he turned to the witch. “Is it really…after so many years? What sort of trick is this, Your Highness?”

“It isn’t a trick, Hell Lord,” Nim said quietly. “If you do not believe, please, try the blood at your feet. It will tell you all you need to know.”

Stewart knelt down and drew a long talon through the little pool. He brought it to his lips and savored it, his eyes closing. I noticed how Daniel sat up a little and watched. Stewart let the blood sit for a moment and began to talk like a connoisseur. “Now, see that’s just delicious. Two men, one extraordinarily powerful female. There’s not a human in there. I taste werewolf. Oh, my sweet little puppy donated for the cause.” He sighed a little. “What is the amazing, savory flavor I’m getting? It tastes almost…angelic.”

Dev flushed and I reached over to take his hand. I always got amused at the things that embarrassed Dev. Public sex was fine but a stranger telling him he tasted nice got him blushing. “You knew you tasted good, baby. Hasn’t Daniel told you a million times?”

Stewart gave him a wink. “Well, no wonder the king jumped into bed with you. You really are the complete package, aren’t you? But the female…” Stewart was almost reverent as he turned to Nim. “Nimue, Queen of the Dark Arts, it is an honor to stand in your presence. Have you taken the king under your wing?”

“I have,” Nimue replied.

Stewart practically jumped up and down. “Will he need a mentor as the last one did?”

“Perhaps not a mentor,” Nim said, her eyes thoughtful. “But he has need of the old one all the same.”

Stewart put a clawed hand to his lips and seemed to take the moment in. He was a very dramatic demon. “Are you asking me to do what I think you’re asking me to do?”

“I need your help, Nemcox,” Nimue said formally. “Will you aid me in searching for Merlin Satanspawn?”

Stewart bent on one knee and bowed his head. “I would be honored, great one, to aid you in bringing such darkness into the world once more.”

Chapter Ten

“I don’t like the sound of that,” I whispered to Daniel.

“It is fine, Z,” he assured me. “Nim knows what she’s doing. From what I understand, Merlin isn’t evil per se.”

“Per se? That isn’t exactly ramping up my confidence.” I didn’t want to be the one to unleash darkness on the universe. I’d done that once too often.

Dev squeezed my hand. “What Daniel is trying to say is that Merlin is neither good nor evil. Like most, he’s a combination of both. We simply need to be cautious and never underestimate him. He will do what’s best for Merlin, and we should never forget that. Stewart is sure of himself because he’s been listening to all the demon bedtime stories about Merlin. He’s a legend on the Hell plane. They like to claim him as their own.”

Stewart looked expectantly at Daniel. “Am I supposed to aid the sorceress from this very small, very confined circle? I’m not complaining, of course. It’s a very nice circle. If this is to be my room, then I’m happy for it, though a pillow would be nice.”

Daniel rolled his eyes and I found myself being moved into Dev’s lap. Dev took immediate advantage, pulling me close and tugging my arms around his shoulders. Daniel winked down at us. “Behave yourself,” he said to Dev with a smile. He turned to the demon. “I have no intention of leaving you in the circle, Stewart, but we need to make a few things very clear. If you don’t agree to my terms then we’ll just send you back to the Hell plane.”

Stewart stood up straight and gave Daniel a jaunty salute. “Of course, Your Highness. I’m completely at your beck and call.”

Crossing his arms, Daniel stood just outside the circle. “You will remember, at all times, that you are here to do a job. There will be no side projects.”

“I promise.” The demon was very good at looking sincere. “You have my full attention. Consider my calendar cleared.”

“You’ll follow my instructions.”

“To the letter,” Stewart affirmed. “I’m going to be such a good boy.”

“In return for helping us out, I’ll consider giving you a seat on the new Council,” Daniel offered. Daniel’s plan was to get rid of the Vampire Council and begin a new government that included all the plane’s supernatural creatures. Unfortunately, that included demons as they seemed to be everywhere. Several demons knew about Daniel’s bid for the crown. Luckily they’d been told by Lucifer Morningstar to stay out of the battle or we might have been found out.

Stewart gasped a little. “That’s a position of considerable power, Your Highness. I’m greatly honored by the offer. I will do my utmost to prove your faith in me is deserved.”

Daniel nodded to Nim, who handed him a small package. He turned back to the demon. “We have attempted to follow protocols. This is a gift for you. We know the calling can be…difficult.”

Stewart caught the small package. He played with the bow. “Yes, being ripped through time and space can be unnerving. Tell me, Your Highness, did you choose this yourself?”

“No,” Daniel replied, a little dour.

Stewart smiled brilliantly and made puppy eyes Neil’s way. “I will cherish this forever.”

Neil sent me a disgusted stare. I shrugged back at him. I couldn’t help it if he had really good taste.

Stewart got even more excited when he got the wrapping paper off and saw the Rolex in the box. “This is so thoughtful. Thank you. I won’t ever take it off.”

My vampire sighed as Nim indicated the ritual was complete. She and Christine, who was still wide-eyed, stepped back. There was only one thing left to do. Daniel used the heel of his boot to break the circle, and Stewart was gone in an instant. Faster than my eyes could track him, he was out of the circle and flying across the room. The front door opened and slammed shut.

Daniel had been pushed back by the force of the demon’s escape. He grimaced as he shook his head, glaring at the door. “Well, that went just as I expected. What the hell are we supposed to do now? Don’t tell me to find another demon.”

Shaking her sable curls, Nim stared at the path Stewart had taken. “I certainly didn’t expect that, Daniel. I thought he was quite reasonable for a demon. I didn’t think he would run. I thought he might try to hit on Neil but…”

And then an incredibly attractive young man was walking in the door. He was six foot and lanky, with a killer face and bright blue eyes. He was dressed in a T-shirt and jeans and had probably been carrying a skateboard before Stewart had taken over. The Rolex on his wrist looked odd since the rest of the young man’s accessories were chains.

“I’m ready to go, Your Highness.” Stewart’s accent seemed lighter, his voice younger in his borrowed body. “Sorry about the quick change. I needed a body to go with my lovely new watch.”

I got off Dev’s lap and stood with Daniel. It was always startling to realize the demon could just switch bodies like that. “Stewart, you can’t bring civilians into this.”

Daniel and Dev were both looking at me, staring like I’d said something really dumb.

“Baby,” Daniel started, holding his hands up in the universal sign for “what the fuck.” He shook his head at me. “Were you expecting to run around England with a big red demon? We might have to answer some questions when we try to get him through security at the airport. How would we explain the horns?”

“Don’t feel bad, companion. This one is an awful person,” Stewart offered with a bright smile. “He’s a bully and tells girls he’s going to call and then he doesn’t, but only after he has used them sexually.” He turned to Neil again. “I know what it feels like to be rejected so I try to be a very conscientious lover. I always call the very next day.”

I shook my head. I hated compromising but we had to find Merlin and Danny was right. We really couldn’t go anywhere with Stewart if he wasn’t nicely hidden inside a host body.

Dev ran his hands soothingly up and down my arms. “If it helps, I’ll set up a monetary fund for his mental health care after Stewart’s done with him.”

Stewart laughed at that. “Oh, how silly, Fae creature. He won’t need mental health care. I seriously doubt he’ll survive the experience.” He showed off his new body to Neil. “So do you like my suit? I thought he would look good with you. Our eyes match now. I’ll have to get a haircut and certainly some new clothes. He’s dressed atrociously, and I believe I reek of marijuana. Really, I prefer something designer. Calvin Klein’s Obsession will do.”

Neil rolled his eyes and walked out of the room.

Stewart looked over at me. “Was it something I said?”

“Is it over then?” My father strode into the room. His eyes found Christine. “Are you happy now, dear?”

She smiled brilliantly. “Yes, it was wonderful, Harry.”

“It will be even more wonderful when we get the blood up off the hardwoods,” he said, inspecting the circle on his walnut floors. “Those grandkids better be worth it, my darlin’ daughter. I’ve had to replace those floors twice now because you like to play around with demons.”

Lee followed my father. He took one look at the new guy and growled, his senses telling him exactly who he was.

“Why are all wolves so unfriendly?” Stewart asked, pouting. He regarded Lee seriously. “Well, you can’t help it, can you? Poor loner. Always so alone. You’re rather happy right now, but you’re waiting for it to all fall apart.”

“What’s he talking about?” Lee asked.

“He’s an empath,” Nim explained with a wave of her hand. She was already putting things to rights. “He can’t help it. Let him get it out of his system.”

Stewart moved in on Zack. “What’s wrong with this wolf?”

We all turned and looked toward Zack, who seemed a little confused. “I think I’m fine,” the werewolf said.

“I’m getting nothing off him.” Stewart walked around the chair Zack sat in, contemplating the wolf. “He’s completely content. Oh, there’s a worry. What did you just think, wolf?”

“I was just worried that Lee ate the last of the ham I saw in the fridge earlier. I was thinking about making a sandwich,” Zack answered. “I’m hungry.”

“It was pretty good,” Lee answered and Zack’s stomach grumbled.

Stewart shook his head. “The rest of you are filled with worries and small miseries. This idiot is completely content.”

Zack shrugged. “I have a nice place and a hot girl who always buys my favorite beer. My master is awesome and I trust him completely. My brother’s with me. What do I have to be worried about? I’m upset about that sandwich, though.”

Stewart shuddered. “It’s just wrong.” He turned and sighed contentedly as he caught sight of Dev. “Thank you, Fae creature. I feel so much better now. He just sent out the most delicious wave of hurt. Zack’s brother cares for him but you can’t please yours, can you? He can’t stand the sight of you. You’re never going to have that family you want. You’ll never be able to pull it off.” He brightened and turned toward Daniel. “Yes, yes. You worry that when those two kids with the fully functional sex organs start popping out babies there won’t be any place for a vampire in their suburban paradise. Why would anyone want a death machine around their precious little ones? He’ll win in the end because you can never give her those children. And you, companion, are terrified you’re going to be the reason they both die. You’re probably right, you know.”

My father walked straight up to Stewart and smacked him upside the head.

“Well, that was rude.” Stewart rubbed the back of his borrowed head.

“Shut yer trap, demon,” Dad said forcefully. “You leave my kids alone or I’ll forcibly evict you from that body yer riding and you won’t like how I do it. I don’t believe in exorcisms. They’re for pussies and priests. I’d rather just beat that body until you can’t take the pain no more and you leave. And I don’t give a damn what happens to the host. Do we understand each other?”

Stewart held a hand up and managed to look halfway apologetic. “I believe you. Sorry. I got carried away. I really am pulling for the three of you, you know. I love a romance, especially when it involves a good old-fashioned double play. I think the vampire king will look awfully cute with one of those baby carriers strapped on his chest, and obviously two fathers will be required to keep the Fae creature’s spawn in check.”

“How soon can we leave?” Daniel asked Dev, a pained expression on his face.

I was with Danny on this one. The sooner we left, the sooner Stewart did his job, the sooner we got to give him the boot.

“We leave two days from now, Dan,” Dev said with a shake of his head. “I couldn’t get the jet until then and don’t think you’re going to go ahead and fly out before us. You aren’t leaving me with him.”

I could see the thought had crossed Daniel’s mind. “No way, mister. You are grounded until the rest of us can go with you.”

“Fine,” he said.

“Then we have a few days,” Stewart interjected. “Who wants to go to Six Flags?”

Daniel ignored him. “Where the hell are you planning on putting him for two days, Dev?”