Steal the Sun (35 page)

“I don’t understand.” And I wanted to. I needed to understand this because nothing made sense.

A small smile crossed his lips. “Would it work if I told you you’re not supposed to?”

I frowned.

“Fine.” He sighed as though he hadn’t really thought his ploy would work. He sought the words to explain it to me. “Normally when something like this goes wrong, the soul finds another vessel, one that’s ready. I don’t know why these things happen. That’s beyond my pay grade. I only know that there is a reason. As I said, usually another vessel would be selected but Rhys prefers to wait.”

“Rhys?” I asked, but I felt a smile spreading across my face. Rhys was a perfect name.

“I probably wasn’t supposed to tell you that,” Oliver allowed with a shrug. “That’s his name. He was allowed a choice and prefers it this way. He would rather wait for his brother.”

My eyes went wide. “His brother?”

Oliver smiled slyly. “Yes, Zoey, his brother. Did you think you could sleep with a fertility god and not have a couple of litters? Your firstborn children will be twin boys. But that ain’t happening if you stay in this bed feeling sorry for yourself. I know it’s not fair. You should probably be allowed to wallow in your grief like a normal person, but you’re not normal. You don’t have time. Things are moving faster than I thought they would. If you want those sons to have a chance a couple of years down the road, you need to get out of that bed.”

“How will that help anything, Oliver?” I was already tossing the covers aside. “Dev is set on his course. I could try to talk to him but he wouldn’t listen to me before and he wouldn’t listen to Daniel.”

Oliver rolled Felix’s eyes. “Do you ever pay attention? I sent you three women to tell you exactly what to do. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get on the washer women’s schedule? They’re busy and they charge out the ass for a rush job.”

I stopped, the truth settling in on me. “I have to find the Blood Stone.”

“She shoots, she scores,” Oliver said sarcastically. “Find the Blood Stone. It will lead you where you need to go.”

“Somehow the Blood Stone can stop the war?”

Oliver shook his head. “No, Zoey, you stop the war. The Blood Stone merely gets you into the place you need to be. Just find the stone. Have a little faith.”

I arched an eyebrow. “I thought that was Felix’s territory.”

When Felix had been an angel, he had represented faith. He had balanced Felicity’s love and Oliver’s justice.

“I have faith,” Oliver said with a shrug. “You met me at a bad time. Felix was gone. We have a new brother now. His name is Jude, and we have found our balance. I suppose I was rude the last time we met.”

“Rude? You nearly killed Danny.” He had unleashed some ultraviolet light that nearly burned my vampire up. It had taken everything I had to keep Daniel alive. It had not endeared the angel to me.

He had the grace to look embarrassed. “About that…you know one of my powers is to be able to filter light around myself. It’s how we do the whole ‘glow like the sun, holy manifestation’ thing. It works really well when I need to get someone’s attention. It’s kind of a parlor trick. It wasn’t exactly God’s light or anything.”

“You know what Daniel thought, you bastard.” Daniel had thought he was standing in the presence of the holy and that burning meant he didn’t have a soul anymore.

“I didn’t have parents so their marital state is of no consequence,” Oliver pointed out. I stared at him. “Sorry. I was in a pissy mood. Tell Donovan his soul’s intact. It would be helpful if he would stop all those assassinations, though. It’s not getting any cleaner.”

“He’s planning his retirement as we speak.” After Danny handled a few more key assassinations, he was planning on hanging it up. I had another question though. “Daniel wants to find Summer.”

Oliver nodded. “And he will when the time is right. Like I said before, all things happen for a reason.”

“Is she safe?” I couldn’t stand the thought that she needed me.

A small smile lit Oliver’s face. “She is giving the Tuatha Dé Danann hell and the tribe curses your name daily.” He shook his head. “She is a light for them now as she will be for the Earth plane one day.”

Tears pierced my eyes, beautiful, healing tears. “I’ll see her again?”

“I believe so, but the
bean si
were right. You are an undone thread to the universe, one of God’s true miracles. I can’t see your future the way I should. I can only tell you that she is safe and loved and she knows who her mother and father are. She remembers you and hopes to reunite when the time is right.” His sympathy disappeared and he was right back to frowning. “But guess what?”

“The time can’t be right until I get out of this bed.” He’d made that clear. My time as an invalid was at an end.

“Excellent,” Oliver said and he stood up. “There’s one more thing I was asked to speak with you about, though it is all connected, of course. Felicity is worried about her charge.”

“Devinshea?”

Oliver nodded. “If this war is allowed to rage, she believes he will die. This war could be bad. If the faery dies…”

“No babies for me.” It wasn’t hard to figure that out.

“He’s your mate, Zoey,” Oliver said. “Your life is hard, but allowances have been made for you. Daniel can’t provide you with children, so you were granted a second soul mate. Be grateful. Most people have a hard time finding one.”

I smiled a real, true smile and I leaned up impulsively. I kissed Oliver Day right on Felix’s cheek. “Thank you, Ollie.”

“Don’t call me Ollie,” he groused. He shook his head and grinned anyway. “I picked you, you know. Worst mistake I ever made.”

“You get to pick, huh?”

“Yep. The odds on you were like 200 to 1. The others thought I was crazy. Do you want to know what the odds are now?”

“Probably not.” I never wanted to hear the odds against me. They were usually phenomenal. “They let you gamble in Heaven?”

“Yeah, it’s that or harp playing, and I could never get my fingers to do that,” he explained. “The odds are now 20 to 1. I am damn good, Zoey. I picked you because I knew you would beat those odds. I can be an ass sometimes, but I’m an ass who has faith in you. Now, get off your butt and do what you were born to do.”

“And what is that, Oliver Day?”

“Change everything.” He smiled and gave me a wink.

The door to the bedroom opened. “Are you ready, Z? Albert has everything we need. We should be leaving in an hour or so. Oh, hello, Felix. Sarah is looking for you,” Daniel said as he walked into the room. He looked beyond tired. His skin was looking ashen.

“That was weird.” Felix shook his head and seemed to be Felix again. “I thought I would be able to listen in, but I found myself in a waiting room. There was coffee and cheesecake and a radio tuned to someone playing Britney Spears’s greatest hits on a harp.”

“What is he talking about?” Daniel asked.

I grinned at him, and Daniel’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’ll tell you all about it, but there’s something I need from you first.”

“What’s that?” He was ready to do anything I asked.

“I need you to eat, Danny.” I looked at Felix. “He hasn’t fed in days, has he?”

Felix shook his head. “We’ve all offered, even Lee offered.”

Daniel’s eyes avoided mine. “I wasn’t hungry.”

I moved to him and forced him to look at me. I knew why he hadn’t fed. He was in a fight with Dev and he thought I was too fragile. Feeding was an intimate thing for Daniel. He would rather go hungry than share that with anyone else. My vampire was faithful even when it cost him. “You were heartsick, baby. I know the feeling, but we’re going to be okay. Felix is going to go tell Albert that I need a cheeseburger and fries and you’re going to have a nice snack. I need you strong because we have work to do, my love. And I have something that will make you feel like fighting again, babe.” Tears fell again, but they were happy because I suddenly had faith and hope where before there had been none. I had faith that I would meet my sons, faith that my daughter was out there living a good life. “Felix, you should probably go now if you don’t want to see me naked because I’m dropping this gown in five seconds.”

The door slammed in three. I tried not to take it personally. Daniel pulled the gown off for me.

“What happened to you, Z?” he asked, dragging me into his arms.

“I just needed a little divine intervention, baby.” I let my head fall back so the line of my neck was arched and long. Daniel groaned as he accepted everything I had to give.

* * * *

Two hours later, I’d told Daniel everything and we stood outside the “war room” with a feeling of great sadness. The palace was one big ball of stress. There were warriors everywhere, and they were all itching for a fight. I had to wonder—if this was what everyone wanted, why did absolutely no one seem happy? There was a specter of doom hanging over everything as I stood waiting to see my husband. The throne room was doubling as the war room. From what I understood, Devinshea had been sleeping in there, when he slept at all.

“Come with me.” I held my hand out to Daniel.

He stood back with our little raiding party. We’d decided to travel light. We weren’t exactly sure where this quest would take us, so we thought a smaller group would be best. It was me and Danny and Neil and Lee. Albert, Sarah, and Felix were staying behind and had instructions to keep their heads down. Zack was sticking to Dev like superglue. He had strict orders to not let his boss die.

“He won’t want to see me,” Danny insisted. He understood that I needed to see Dev before we left, but he didn’t want to start another fight. There was a horrible distance between them that I hated.

“You don’t know what he wants. He’s in a bad place, Danny. He should know we’re here even if he doesn’t want to see us.” Dev and I had made it clear to Danny that we wouldn’t leave him even when he was being an ass. It was Dev’s turn to be a stubborn idiot, but I hoped Daniel was willing to stand beside me.

Daniel nodded and followed me inside.

Declan and Dev were pouring over maps with Padric. All three men were in what looked like the Fae version of military uniforms.

Miria watched them, her mouth turned down. Her eyes seemed old for the first time since I met her. She glanced up first and her mouth became a startled
O
. “Zoey, Daniel. I am surprised to see you. I was told you were leaving to return to the Earth plane.”

Dev looked up and the weariness on his face made me want to cry. “You’re up, Zoey,” he said and for a moment he sounded happy. Then a cloud passed over his eyes. “You are leaving, then. I wish you a safe journey.” He nodded at Daniel and went back to his maps.

I wanted to run to him but I didn’t think a big scene would help anything, so I stood my ground. “I’m leaving, Devinshea, but I’m not going home.”

All eyes were on me now.

“I’m going after the Blood Stone.” I was dressed for hunting. No more gossamer gowns for me. “I need a couple of things, though. I don’t know how long it will take or where we’re going to have to go. I could use a set of camping gear. The wolves don’t mind not having shelter, but I’d rather at least have a tent.”

I’d rather have a suite at the Hilton, but I doubted I would find one of those out here. I had to track down leprechauns, and they would likely be working their cons in the countryside.

Declan crossed his arms. “I think it would be best for everyone if you went home, Your Grace. This is not a place for humans.”

Dev shook his head dismissively. “There is no purpose in looking for it now, Zoey. You cannot stop this war. When it is done, I will help you search for the Blood Stone. Until then, it is very dangerous.”

“The people have spoken,” Miria said tightly. “They are angry. If I do not…”

“What Mother is saying,” Declan took up his mother’s explanation, “is that even if we wanted to stop the war, we could not. The people would view her as weak and we would lose the army as well. There would almost certainly be a coup.”

“You see, my wife, the path is set,” Dev said, his voice low and full of his willpower.

“If you’re so sure I can’t stop this then there’s no harm in giving me a couple of tents and some camping gear. The war won’t take place here. I’ll avoid the plane between the
sitheins
. I doubt my target is there anyway,” I pointed out sensibly.

Dev turned to me and I noticed for the first time that he was wearing a sword on his belt. I knew there would be a few knives hidden somewhere on his person as well. I hoped he was smart enough to have a gun or two. Declan would consider them to be dishonorable weapons, but they were effective and that was all I cared about. “I would prefer it if you would see her safely home, Daniel.”

“She would just come back, man,” Daniel replied. “She’s set on saving your ass, and she thinks this is the way to do it.”

“I could have the royal guard escort you to the door,” Dev threatened.

Daniel frowned and now his will was fully on display. “You could do that if you wanted to lose a couple of royal guards. I’m with her on this one, Dev. If you throw us out, I’ll find a way back in.”

Dev’s eyes tightened. “I would think you would want to see our wife safe, Daniel.”

“Our wife is not the only one in danger,” Daniel replied quietly.

“I will have a servant ready the gear,” Declan said to his brother, who nodded his assent. “It will be waiting for you at the palace gates. I will have them issue you some soldier’s rations as well. Do you need horses?”

Daniel shook his head. “Lee and Neil will run and I’ll fly Z wherever we need to go.”

Declan went off to order people around and Miria drew herself up, looking regal in her small crown. “I wish the two of you luck. Please be safe, all of you,” she said sincerely before taking Padric by the hand. “Come, dear. Let us allow them a private good-bye.”

The three of us were alone finally and the silence threatened to crush me. Daniel and I stood looking at Dev across the room, the space between us a chasm I hoped we could cross.

“I wish you luck as well.” Dev looked uncertain what to do so he turned his face back down to study his briefs.