Steal the Night (50 page)

We were quiet for a moment as she worked. My hair was a mess but she was patient. I thought about Dev and Danny and she thought about…probably her very uncertain future.

“What’s going to happen to you, Rose?” I asked quietly, looking at her in the mirror. She hadn’t changed out of her pajamas yet. She wore an old-fashioned looking gown that somewhat swallowed her petite figure.

Her lips moved in a semblance of a smile. “I’ll be sold again, I suppose. I didn’t like that part.”

I had seen the ritual auction of a companion once before and it had been completely humiliating. I didn’t like to think about little Rose being put through that not once but twice. “How do you stay so calm?”

“You stay calm. How do you do it?”

I shifted uncomfortably because what I was thinking was a bit uncomplimentary, but I really wanted to know. “I have Dev and…”

Rose’s smile was bright now. “Yes, of course. You have the men you love to bolster you. You think I don’t have anyone I love?”

I felt like shit but she seemed amused. “I don’t mean it like that. You were just very young when they took you and I find it hard to believe you’ve found someone in this hellhole.”

“I found Robert,” Rose said with a look that was wise far beyond her years. “I found a father, not a lover, but I have more than that, Zoey. I have faith. I believe that when the time is right I’ll run and I won’t look back.”

So the little mouse had a backbone. “Yes, Rose, if you get that chance, you run for your life.”

Rose sighed. “I dream about it, you know. I dream about walking into my old home and my mum’s there and I’ll tell her I’m sorry for taking so bloody long to get back from the store.”

I laughed. “I think it would be a bit more emotional than that. Do you think she’s still there?” It had been years.

“Yes, she’s still there. It’s the last place she saw me. She wouldn’t leave. She’ll stay there until I show up again or she dies. I want to go home, Zoey. I want to walk into that flat and find my mum waiting with a book in her hand. I want to tell her what she did for me. I want to thank her because all this time, all these years, I was never really apart from her. They could take me away and not let me see her, but they couldn’t stop her from whispering in my ear. She told me she loved me. She told me that strength comes in many forms and the greatest is to face adversity and stay true to who you are. I’m still her daughter. No matter what happened. I am still Rose Beasley. I would let her know she never let me down.”

“Rose, if you manage to get out…my father’s name is Harry Wharton.” I said, moved so deeply by her courage that I missed my own father sharply. “He lives in Dallas, Texas.”

“I will call him if I can,” she replied. “I’ll let him know you love him. Now dry those tears. I expect the sun is down by now and our master will be here soon. I need to get your hair dry.”

Rose went to work, pulling a brush through my hair as she worked it over with the dryer. I let her do the job as I mentally prepared myself for the coming evening. Daniel was alive. Dev was alive. I had to do everything I could to keep them that way. Rose brushed my hair and I let a sense of acceptance flow over me. Nothing mattered except doing my job. Once the job was done and Dev and I could run, then I would worry about the rest. Then I’d save Neil. Then I would avenge my wolf.

Myrddin had told me the only way I could win was to not give in to my grief.

“I would have expected the two of you not to get along,” Marini said from the doorway of the bathroom.

I saw Rose’s entire demeanor change the moment she knew Marini was in the room. She seemed to shrink in on herself.

I turned slightly to acknowledge the vampire’s presence. “Why would you think that? Rose is very sweet. I like having someone to talk to.”

Louis was dressed to kill in a dark designer suit. His black hair curled just at the nape of his neck and if he wasn’t such an evil son of a bitch, he would have been quite handsome. “I would have assumed Rose would be angry that you’re taking her place.”

I managed to not laugh at him. It was truly a sign of my burgeoning self-control. “Louis, you’re a practical man. Do you really believe you’ve treated her so well that she’s in love with you?”

Louis leaned against the paneled wall and his lips quirked up in amusement. I suspected it had been a long while since any female spoke to him so saucily. It appeared he liked it, but I had to tread carefully so sauciness wasn’t mistaken for disrespect. “I suppose not. I haven’t been particularly kind to Rose. I admit I purchased her when she was far too young. She’s not really to my taste.”

Now it was time to treat him like a man, not just a vampire. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about men it’s that they appreciate a woman’s sensuality. I smiled slightly and let my gaze find Rose. “I think your taste is wrong then, Louis.”

His eyebrows shot up and he was suddenly very interested in what I had to say. “So she is to your taste?”

“I have wide and varied tastes.” I let the words drip out like honey. I wanted Louis ready for sex, not violence, by the time my faery prince joined us. “I think Rose is quite lovely. She has a petite little body and perky breasts. I bet they have sweet little nipples.”

The vampire’s smile was sensual as he regarded the two of us. “I will admit her nipples are quite pretty but her breasts are too small.”

“But small breasts are exquisitely sensitive.” I was wandering off into truly unexplored territory here. I hadn’t actually played around with small breasts, but I read that in a romance novel and those couldn’t possibly be wrong. As for the sensuality of my words, I had to thank Devinshea for that lesson. He loved to talk sex. “I bet you could make her come just by sucking on them right.”

Rose blushed all the way to her toes. She stared at me through the mirror and smiled as she ran the brush through my hair again.

Louis was fighting his arousal as he watched us. It was a vampire’s instinct to be private with his companion, but I needed him to see that three could be fun.

“How was your prince this afternoon?” Louis asked, abruptly changing the subject. His change of course didn’t alter the tent in his expensive trousers.

I had to flavor all of my answers with the truth. “He was in one piece, no thanks to you.”

The vampire had the good sense to look slightly embarrassed. “I…was very angry about something Daniel has done. I will apologize this evening.”

I nodded shortly, though an apology really didn’t cover nearly beating someone to death.

“Tell me,
mon ange
,” Louis began, his voice all dark seduction. “Did you kiss your faery prince this afternoon?”

No lies here. If I got hit I would just take it. Lying would only lead to other questions and the vampire wondering just how much I was covering up. “Yes, I did. Then that stupid wolf made me stop.”

I pouted and sounded petulant even to my own ears. Louis’s laugh boomed through the room. “I’ll have a talk with Trent. I expected that you and the prince would be a bit naughty. You will have thirty minutes each day with him as long as your behavior is good. If you wish to kiss the prince, I’ll allow it, but nothing more. Do you understand?”

I nodded and turned back to the mirror. “I don’t like that wolf.”

“Does the little companion not like her bodyguard?” Chad asked as he entered the room. I was grateful the bathroom was quite large as it was becoming full.

“I think she does not,” Marini replied, smiling at the other vampire.

“He must be doing something right then.” Chad had a dippy smile for his “master.” He was wearing his customary leather and black. His hair was disheveled and he appeared even more insane than normal. His eyes softened as he gazed at me. “Your skin is so pretty.”

“Do you think my companion is beautiful, Mr. Thomas?” Louis asked.

Chad sighed. “She’s gorgeous. I want to trade places with her. It would be nice to be so pretty that everyone around you just wants to coddle you. All she has to do is spread her legs and show off that neck of hers and all the vampires come running. She doesn’t have to do anything. They all just want to take care of her so she’ll love them.”

“You sound almost jealous,” Louis noted.

“Then I’m not trying hard enough,” Chad replied. “I’m entirely jealous of her. She gets everything handed to her. The prince treats her like she was made of gold. At least you’ll challenge her, won’t you, master? You’ll show her who the boss is.” Chad sneered at me, his face hard. “Your new master won’t let you run wild. He’ll beat the shit out of you if you step even an inch out of line, bitch. You won’t be able to control him because he just wants your blood. He couldn’t care less about the rest of you.”

Rose had taken a step back and she put her little hand in mine to try to pull me with her.

Louis gripped Chad by the nape of his neck like a dog. Louis’s claws were out and they dug into Chad’s skin, drawing blood. “You will not speak to her like that. I have worked very hard to not frighten her and you come in spouting nonsense. Go.”

Chad seemed to deflate, that violent rage going as quickly as it came. “I’m sorry,” he said, seemingly surprised at himself. “I came in to tell you that you have a visitor in your suite.”

Louis nodded. “Good, then all is ready. Go and do what I need you to do. You may go too, Rose. You’ll find I’ve left money with Robert. He’ll take you shopping. Zoey needs clothes.”

Rose nodded but there was a little spark in her eyes as she left the room. Chad followed and I was happy he was gone, even if it left me alone to deal with Louis. At least I had some sort of a handle on how to deal with him. I took a deep breath and let myself look very vulnerable. Chad had given me the chance to be afraid of Louis again. Big hands cupped my shoulders.

“I left you a dress on the bed,” Louis said quietly, his eyes filled with desire as he looked at me in the mirror. “I want you to wear it and come with me to my apartments.”

I was very interested in the latter part of that statement. I wanted to get into his office.

“I will,” I said quietly, turning my head to look up at him. His eyes were on my neck. “Are you hungry?”

Fangs shot out with a little snap. “I am. I am always hungry for you. Get up.”

He sat me on the sink and with a flick of his fingers, my towel came undone. I forced myself not to cover my body. I felt his eyes trying to pull me in and gave over because there was nothing else to do.

* * * *

An hour later I found myself dressed in an all-white silky sheath. It was tasteful but sexy. The bra he’d left for me was decadently lovely and just a tiny bit small. It shoved my breasts together but I didn’t complain. I was barefoot because the sneakers I had come in didn’t really go with the dress. Louis promised to rectify the situation as soon as possible. He’d dressed me himself, his fingers smoothing the silk over my skin, and then clasping a diamond collar around my neck. It was a gorgeous piece of jewelry that was far too much like a slave collar for my liking. The vampire had enjoyed dressing me and playing with my naked skin. He’d especially liked my navel ring but wanted a large diamond in the place of my emerald and sapphire. I don’t know if he understood I’d chosen the stones to match Dev and Daniel’s eyes, but he wanted the belly button ring to complement his collar.

I tried not to think about the fact that I couldn’t say I’d only slept with my husbands now. Even though I wanted to cry and rage at the situation, I’d managed to get through it without throwing up on him.

I just wanted to see Dev again. I wanted him to hold me, to promise me he still loved me.

We stood outside the door to Louis’s suite and he held my hand in his. “Zoey, you will remain quiet unless I give you permission to speak. Is that understood?”

I was a trophy and nothing more. I was all right with that. It would give me the opportunity to get the lay of the land.

“You will sit at my side and do everything I ask of you,” he continued as he opened the door.

I followed him. His rooms were elegantly decorated. The first room was a sitting area with darkly paneled walls and tasteful art. I thought I recognized some of the painters, but I hadn’t seen the paintings before. One resembled a Picasso but it wasn’t one I was familiar with. It occurred to me it wouldn’t be hard for a man like Louis to convince a painter to create a work just for him. He probably hadn’t even paid for it.

“He’s here,” Niles said in his upper-crust British accent. He appeared slightly haggard, like his rest had been interrupted. I wondered what fresh trouble Danny was causing. Niles caught sight of me and he stared. “God, she’s so fucking bright.”

“Get used to her,” Niko said from his place on the sofa. He wasn’t haggard at all. The tall Greek was downright calm compared to Niles and the Norwegian Elof. “She’s Louis’s new pet. I think he’ll keep her close to his side. Donovan is on the prowl. Louis wouldn’t want to lose her.”

“I have no intention of losing anything to that fucker,” Louis growled.

“You mean anything else, don’t you?” Elof asked. “He’s already hit us where we’ll feel it for decades. I can’t get into any of my accounts and he blew up my safe house last night. I got word this evening.”

“He’s a busy man,” Niles said. “My London home was raided by MI5. They found some very suspicious materials. Bomb-making materials. I can’t bloody well go home but Louis is far too busy fucking Donovan’s queen to take care of Donovan.”

“How the hell is he everywhere at once?” Louis asked, his voice a low growl. He sank into a leather chair. I stood beside him because there wasn’t room for me. “Zoey, sit.”

Louis pointed at his feet. I thought of Dev in his cell and our babies in my womb and gracefully sank to the floor at his feet. His hand came out and nudged my head onto his lap. It forced me to hold onto his legs.

“There is only one group who has that kind of power and any interest at all in the supernatural underworld,” I heard Elof say as my eyes wandered as much as my position allowed.

“Yes, the Order of Galahad,” Niles replied.

Niko laughed. “Why would the Order have anything to do with Donovan? He’s a vampire, not a demon. They try not to get involved in our politics.”