Steal the Day (Thieves 2)

by Lexi Blake

  “I’m never wearing them again.” I sighed, letting my head rest against his shoulder. Neil smelled clean and like all the really good parts of a Dillard’s men’s fragrance counter. He would take care of things now, and that was a good feeling. I didn’t exactly lose consciousness. I kind of drifted as Neil drove. I heard him make several calls. One was to Michael House. He was to bring the rest of Daniel’s supply of blood to my father’s house. The next call was to my father, Harry Wharton. His house was closest, and as much as my father annoyed me on occasion, he was good in a crisis.

  Neil was cool and collected as he drove through the streets of Dallas. In no time at all, we pulled up to my father’s large home in North Dallas. I opened my eyes and saw the house was lit from what looked like every room. There was a dark Council-issued Benz out front. Michael had beaten us here.

  It was Michael who opened the back door of the Audi and hauled out Daniel. “What the hell happened to you, man?” he asked under his breath.

  He tossed Daniel over his shoulder and started for the house.

  I heard my father curse as he passed Daniel. “Neil, you better start talking. I want to know what happened to my daughter and my son-in-law.”

  Neil opened the door, and I stubbornly tried to get out on my own. It didn’t work. My legs felt like Jell-O.

  Neil picked me up. “She’s fine, Harry. She just lost a lot of blood. We need the doc to look at her after he sees Daniel. If we can get enough blood into Daniel, maybe he can help her.”

  “From what I just saw there might not be enough blood in the world to help our Daniel,” my father said, jogging to keep up.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, suddenly perking up. “He was fine back at the church. He was healing.”

  “He just needs more blood. Your father likes to exaggerate.” Neil entered the house and walked straight to the living room. He settled me on the plush leather couch and my father’s assistant, Christine, was there to wrap a blanket around me. She was dressed for bed in pajama bottoms and a T-shirt. I didn’t like to think about where she was sleeping. She was a year younger than me, but she was also my father’s girlfriend and a fairly decent witch.

  She pressed a mug of something warm in my hands. “It will help until the doctor gets here.”

  I didn’t ask what it was because I didn’t want to know. It was bitter, but I felt warmer. I forced myself to sit up, looking for Daniel. He was a few yards from me. I could see him through the door that led to the kitchen. Michael and Neil were both trying to hold him down, but his big body bucked and convulsed. Michael cursed as he tried again to force Daniel to the floor. I suddenly found the strength to move, throwing off the blanket.

  “Get his legs,” Michael ordered.

  “I’m trying,” Neil yelled back. He looked up and saw me in the doorway. “Damn it, Zoey, get back. Who do you think he’s trying to get to?”

  Daniel suddenly scented me. His head cracked around to get me in his sights. He was all fangs and those alien eyes with no irises, just sapphire blue spheres of his will. “Come to me, companion.”

  I shrank back. I’d only met this version of Daniel once before when he was close to death. Then he took what he needed and managed to not kill me. He was even further gone now, and I worried he wouldn’t stop if I let him start again. Unfortunately, he’d taken enough of my blood to get his strength back, and Neil and Michael were losing their battle. If Daniel managed to get off the ground, there would be no holding him. He would come for me and take what he wanted. My father cursed, walking past me to start up the stairs. I knew where he was going. He would get the crossbow, and if he had to, he would put an arrow in my husband’s heart before he would allow me to die beneath him. I didn’t have very long if I wanted to save him.

  Over the vigorous protests of the two men trying to hold him down, I kneeled at Daniel’s head and started to stroke his hair.

  “Zoey.” He immediately calmed when I touched him. I noticed physical contact with Daniel could sometimes quiet the beast that raged from time to time. A companion was not without her talents. “Zoey, I need you.”

  “And I’m here,” I said soothingly. Daniel was no longer fighting but rather trying to bend me to his will with persuasion. I certainly preferred seduction to force. I didn’t break eye contact but held out my hand. “Give me the bag, please.”

  Neil let up just enough to pass me the bag I’d seen in Daniel’s fridge earlier.

  Daniel shook his head, his hand covering mine. “I don’t want that. I want you. Let me have you and it’ll be good. It’ll be so fucking good. Baby, you know how it feels when we’re together.”

  I felt him try to assert his will, but I was better at ignoring the effects now. I held the blood above his mouth. “You’ve already had me, baby. You had too much of me. This is all you’re going to get. Now take your medicine like a big boy or I’ll leave. I’ll get in the car and drive away and leave you alone.”

  It wasn’t the nicest thing to do, but I knew if he was this out of control, there was an edge of fear. He wouldn’t want me to leave. He needed me close.

  I put the bag to his lips and watched him sullenly concede. His fangs punctured the bag and he began to suck. I held his head in my lap and stroked his hair until I watched the beast finally leave, and he was Daniel again. I motioned to Michael and Neil to leave us, and they got up to go. Even my father put his crossbow down.

  “It’s all right now, Danny,” I said, quietly satisfied that he was going to survive.

  Danny drained the last drop and tossed away the package. He twisted until he could get his arms around my waist, holding me tightly. He just sat there breathing in and out and letting me rock back and forth. It was the way I held him when we were children, after his father died. That first night he’d been so bereft. He’d cried because he was worried no one would take care of him. He’d been thirteen at the time so it was a reasonable fear. Now I felt him trying not to cry, and I wondered why. It wasn’t the first time he’d come close to death, and now his wounds were visibly healing. Pain wouldn’t make Danny cry. Pain just pissed him off. This was something else.

  “What is it, baby?” I asked, falling easily back into endearment.

  His eyes opened, a brilliant blue that kicked me in the gut every time I looked at him. “That was an angel, wasn’t it, Z?”

  “Oh, yeah, that was an asshole angel.”

  “I burned, Zoey,” he said quietly. “I stood in front of an angel of God and I burned like I was nothing. I wasn’t worthy to stand in the light.”

  My heart ached for him. “Danny?”

  “I don’t have a soul anymore.”

  There was such sadness in those six words that tears came to my eyes, and I held him tighter.

  “That’s not true.” I knew he had a soul. I’d seen it. Soulless creatures didn’t care about the people around them, didn’t sacrifice for them.

  His grip loosened, and he went limp as he settled his head on my lap. “I think Heaven would disagree with you, baby. I’m tired. So fucking tired.”

  “Then sleep,” I urged him, trying to keep control of my emotions. He needed to rest. He didn’t need to deal with my angst.

  “I love you, Z. Soul or no, I love you.” His voice was quiet and sleep overtook him.

  “The doctor’s here, darlin’.” My father leaned down and kissed my forehead. “He’s got a soul, Zoey. Don’t let him forget it. Now let the doctor have a look at our boy, and then he can take care of you.”

  “My, is this my patient?” a cultured British accent asked from the doorway. Alexander Sharpe looked down on us with a superior smile. His body was lean and elegant, reminding me of a predatory insect, all arms and legs and black as night eyes. He carried an antique doctor’s kit. I really hoped it wasn’t fully stocked with leeches. Alexander was that old.

  “Not a chance,” I said because the vampire always made my skin crawl. “Get another doctor.”

  Alexander scoffed, his shoulders shrugging
negligently. “I’d like to see you try, Mrs. Donovan. There isn’t another doctor in three states who knows as much about vampire physiology as I do. I believe the nearest with any competence at all is located in Los Angeles. I’m afraid I’ll have to do. Trust me, the Council would insist. Can’t have our prodigal son passing away now, could we?”

  “It’ll be fine, Zoey,” Michael said. “He really is an excellent physician.”

  “Would you let Jack the Ripper examine you?” I shot back.

  Alexander smiled, not even attempting to hide his fangs. “I find that accusation offensive, Mrs. Donovan. No one has ever proven that allegation. At least no one who lived.”

  Neil came over and helped me up. Alexander examined the now unconscious Daniel. He looked at Neil and me with a curious gleam. “If I hadn’t seen him earlier tonight, I would accuse the two of you of all manner of crime. He looks like he was staked out to meet the sun.”

  “It was an angel,” Neil explained.

  The doctor’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “You don’t say? You’re keeping curious company. How did he manage to survive? No, don’t tell me. The wayward companion did her duty and fed her master. It looks like you fed him well, too. Your lips are blue. I’m surprised you’re still standing.”

  “I’m tough,” I replied, though I found myself leaning against Neil.

  “Well, you’re going to need a transfusion,” Alexander stated flatly. “Your master will survive thanks to you, but he can’t help you. In fact, tomorrow he’ll need more blood. You, wolf, you’ll do. Werewolf blood is rich. It’s not as good as companion blood, but she can’t donate for a day or two.”

  I leaned back against Neil as the vampire got uncomfortably close and sniffed me in a vulgar fashion. “Hey, has anyone explained the idea of personal space to you?”

  “O neg,” Alexander said, pulling back. “No wonder he craves you. You smell delicious. Unfortunately, that’s very rare. The wolf won’t work unless you would enjoy doing it doggy style once a month.”

  “Pass.” I looked back at Neil. “No offense.”

  “Don’t knock it ’til you tried it, sister.”

  “The humans here aren’t the right type, either. Michael or I would greatly enjoy donating to you, love. I assure you we would find the task immensely pleasurable right up to the point that your master cut our heads off. What we need is the supernatural equivalent of a universal donor. You’re lucky, dear. There happens to be one species who can donate to any blood type.”

  “And where would I find this magical creature?” Why wouldn’t he just get to the point? I was tired and cold. I had donated a great deal of my blood volume, and no one had even offered me a cookie.

  Alexander’s face lit with menace. “It’s faeries, of course, dear. Faery blood is so vital and versatile. I think you won’t have any trouble finding some. From what I hear, you have a faery willing to donate other bodily fluids. I doubt he’ll deny you a little blood.”

  “No, don’t you call him,” I said, but Michael had already pulled out a phone and I was betting he’d dialed the number to Ether. The last thing I needed was the utter chaos that would happen if Dev walked through the door. He would be so mad at me. Everything had gone wrong. I didn’t want a fight with Dev, too.

  And then it was all just too much. My vision narrowed in that strange way it does just before you pass out. I felt Neil’s arms go around me, and I hoped it was all just a dream.

  Chapter Six

  “You’re playing a dangerous game with that one. And I certainly would like to know why we have so many visitors in town.” Alexander’s voice was the first thing I heard as I slowly came back to consciousness.

  I couldn’t have been out for too long. I was on the couch and someone had covered me with a blanket. I tried to stay as still as I could because I wanted to know what dangerous game was being played and by whom. What can I say? I’d had a rough night and I like good gossip.

  “It isn’t a game.” Michael’s words sounded careful, almost wary. “They aren’t here for any reason other than to get to know Daniel.”

  Now I was really listening. In all the chaos of the evening, I’d never gotten around to asking Daniel about the new vampires in town. Michael seemed to think they had come as some sort of group hoping to socialize with the vampire of the moment.

  “Well, he is an interesting chap. I will admit that. Wish he dressed better, though. He’s having a bad influence on you, as well. I don’t see the point in blue jeans,” Alexander admitted.

  The table beside me rattled as the doctor placed something on it. He was more than likely getting ready for my inevitable introduction to nineteenth century blood transfusion practices. I doubted it would be as nice as it was when I took blood from Daniel.

  Alexander huffed a little, his British accent crisp and neat. “I just find it difficult to believe there are five vampires I’ve never met before. It’s a rather small world.”

  “William says he met you a couple of years back,” Michael offered.

  “Funny, I don’t remember him.”

  “He says you were in Seattle and there was a rash of unexplained killings,” Michael said, disgust plain in his voice. “Prostitutes, I believe. William was working with the police. Night shift, of course.”

  “Now that does sound like me.” Through slitted eyes, I could see the smug smile on Alexander’s face. I really didn’t like him. There was a small part of me that wished he would do something, just anything that would justify Daniel killing him. Unfortunately, he’d had centuries to perfect his techniques, and the Council didn’t care what he did as long as he didn’t get caught. “Well, that explains it. I was distracted at the time. Ah, you’re awake, Mrs. Donovan.”

  I gave up the game and opened my eyes. “Is Dev here?”

  “Do you hear accusations and righteous indignation? No, he hasn’t made it yet. Apparently you have his vehicle. He had to get his driver up,” Alexander stated blandly. “That club of his shouldn’t pay so well. Makes you wonder what he does on the sideline.”

  He held a piece of weird medical equipment. At least I thought it was medical equipment. I winced at the sight. It was a metal and glass tube. On the top was a plunger with a circular handle. Tubing came from both sides and each was tipped with the largest, nastiest needle I’d ever seen. I got a little nauseous at the sight. Give me fangs any day.

  “Can’t we go to a hospital? Or maybe I could just rest and everything will be all right in the morning?” I could last a day or two, right? Blood builds back up. Maybe a few days of bed rest and I’d be fine. My DVR was backed up anyway.

  “Not at all, dear,” Alexander said, smiling his creepy grin. “You’ll be dead by the morning if we don’t get some blood in you. I believe it’s the residual effects of sharing blood with your husband that’s managed to keep you alive and talking this long. I’m surprised. I didn’t think you shared blood with him. The gossip is you donate but choose not to receive.”

  “I haven’t taken Daniel’s blood in months.” Seven months to be precise.

  Alexander stared at me, for once his mouth closed in shock. He looked back at Michael. “He really is a bloody king, isn’t he?”

  “I told you,” Michael said.

  The door opened, and Dev’s voice rang through the house. “Where the hell is she, Harry?”

  “Ahh, let the recriminations begin.” Alexander smiled, obviously enjoying the drama. “Your lover is here, dear.”

  My father stalked into the room, a fierce frown on his face. He didn’t like Dev, and he certainly didn’t approve of my relationship with him. Daddy was firmly on Team Daniel. I’d been asked several times in the last few months when I was going to stop “fucking around with that faery.” Dad was just one more person who didn’t understand how I felt. In his view, Danny and I had been planning to get married and Danny had finally come around, so I should fall in line with the life plan that had been laid out when I was seventeen. It didn’t matter that I’d been lied
to. It didn’t matter that I had questions no one seemed willing to answer.

  I pushed Felicity Day’s promises firmly out of my mind.

  Dev followed my father. He’d gotten dressed in a hurry, it seemed. His clothes were usually immaculate, but now his slacks were slightly wrinkled, and I recognized the dress shirt he’d worn earlier in the evening.

  “Well, I don’t need to ask how the meeting went, do I?” Dev asked, looking down at me.

  Gosh, he was tall. He towered over me, six foot five inches of pure disapproval. His green eyes didn’t look sexy now. Anger had replaced his natural sensuality. I was glad the blanket was up around my neck. I’d pulled it up because I was so damn cold, but now it offered a certain amount of protection from his disapproving eyes.

  “There might have been a few minor problems.” I tried to look as cute and vulnerable as possible, hoping to tap into his softer side. I didn’t want another lecture, especially not in front of company.

  “Let’s see it, Zoey.” He braced himself for the sight, his feet planted on the floor, his shoulders squared. “There’s no point in putting it off. I’m not an idiot. I get called in the middle of the night because you need a freaking blood transfusion. I can put two and two together, sweetheart. Let’s see how stupid you got tonight.”

  “Hey, you treat her with respect,” Michael demanded, to my surprise. “Watch your mouth around her.”

  Dev turned, his eyes flashing and ready for a fight. “Asshole, I’m not the one who caused her to need a blood transfusion. You want to get pissed off at someone, talk to her husband. Trust me, buddy, when I fuck her she doesn’t end up needing a doctor.”

  “Dev!” Even in my weakness, I wasn’t going to stand for that.

  Ugly claws popped out of Michael’s hands, a particular talent of his. He pointed one at Dev, who proved he had a death wish. He moved aggressively toward the angry vampire. It was one of those testosterone fueled gestures that no female can understand.

  “If my mas…my friend hadn’t forbidden it, I would kill you here and now,” Michael proclaimed. “I would kill you and it would be a righteous kill, you understand. You live on his sufferance.”