Thief's Desire

by Isabo Kelly

  “Looks like our best gambler’s moving up in the world.”

  “Yeah.” She frowned and stared at the ground. “What brings you out, Gip?”

  “Thought you might like to know you’re off Charlie’s list. War’s over.”

  “Ren?”

  “Back to picking pockets.”

  She let out a breath and raised her gaze. “What happened?”

  “Well, seems Joe Missek got wind of the whole situation and, among other things, claimed it was messing the games. After the goblin attack, no one doubted the news of the blood magicians. So Joe told Charlie to leave off or he’d have to deal with Joe’s boys.”

  “And that made Charlie back off? I didn’t think Joe had that many guys working for him.”

  Gip studied her before answering. “Charlie knows what only a few of us know. I can trust you with it, right?”

  “Sure, but….”

  “Joe’s the head of Silence.”

  “The assassin group?” Her stomach dropped.

  He chuckled and shifted his hands to his pockets. “Keep that quiet, Flash. He’s real private about that part of his life. But that’s why a threat was enough to make Charlie back off.”

  She stared at Gip for a long time. Then with an exhale of amazement, she said, “But won’t Charlie just come after me again? Instead of all-out war.”

  “No. Joe took care of it.”

  “Why?”

  “He called it professional courtesy. Says you owe him a game, though. Another crack at catching your quick hands.”

  Gip laughed loud, and she was sure her expression showed her shock and fear.

  “Don’t worry. If he were mad at you because of that hand, you wouldn’t be here right now. He’s got a healthy respect for talented people. He says you’re one of the best. He’s right.”

  “Thanks, Gip.” She smiled crookedly, though her pulse still beat a little too fast. “Tell Joe I’ll let him know when I’m good for a game.” She swallowed to loosen the knot in her chest. “Speaking of games…what happened with the big game?”

  “Joe won. Goblins and blood magicians caused a delay, had to push back the final night for a week. But then Joe cleaned the table.”

  “Brad?”

  “He’s turned up missing. Sort of vanished right before the goblin attack.”

  “Charlie?”

  Gip shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe the blood magicians. Maybe Joe. Maybe he just ran. Better not to know.”

  For once in her life, she had to agree.

  “Did you ever find Malkiney? We heard he escaped with the two magicians.”

  She frowned. “Never saw him again, Gip. He wasn’t with the kidnappers when we caught them. It’s been bothering me, but…”

  “No ideas?”

  She could only shrug and shake her head.

  “He’s probably dead. No bother to me if he’s gone. Just curious.”

  The Thieves’ Hole boss looked into her eyes, his lips pursed. His gaze wandered to Jacob where he hovered at the edge of the crowd of nobility, close enough to keep an eye on her but far enough away to give them privacy.

  “So what now, Vic Flash?”

  She meet his penetrating black-eyed gaze. “Think I’m gonna have to find a new profession,” she said evenly.

  “Yeah. I sort of suspected. You sure?”

  She looked over her shoulder at Jacob. He was talking to one of the noblewomen, a lady in her late sixties, who from her size had led a highly pampered life. The woman was completely awed by Jacob’s storytelling, her small mouth a perfect O. Vic grinned and looked back at Gip. “Yeah. I’m sure.”

  “You know, I always thought you’d take over Thieves’ Hole one of these days. Guess I’ll have to find another protégé.”

  “How ’bout Ren? Got a good head on his shoulders, that kid. Little bit of training…”

  Gip raised his brows. “Hmm. Might not be a bad idea, Flash. Got a message for him?”

  “Yeah. Tell him to watch his butt and stay standing. I’ll catch him soon, to make sure he’s staying in trouble.” She winked. Then more seriously added, “I need to talk to Kritta, too. I’ve got a message.”

  Gip frowned, then looked back to the surviving soldiers, and she saw understanding spread across his sharp features.

  “Henry?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You want me to deliver it?”

  “No. I’ll tell her myself. I promised. Henry saved Jacob’s life right before… Since I couldn’t stop him from dying, I can at least relay the message in person.”

  “Okay, I’ll let her know you’re looking for her.”

  “Thanks, Gip. And thanks for bringing me all the news.”

  He dipped his head. “Take care of yourself, Flash. If you’re ever in need, Thieves’ Hole is at your service.” He smiled one last time and disappeared into the crowd outside the gate.

  She watched the milling throng of people for a long minute, saying goodbye to her old life, when she felt Jacob step in behind her.

  “You all right, little thief?”

  Dropping her head back, she looked up into his eyes and grinned. “Yeah. I’m all right.”

  “Come on. Let’s go get cleaned up for the feast.”

  He took her hand and led the way back through the mass of admirers and into the castle.

  As they strolled along the bright corridors, toward his rooms, she said, “Do you suppose the king might have a job for me?”

  “What?”

  “Well, it looks like I’m gonna have to find a new career.”

  He stopped. “You…you quit Thieves’ Hole?”

  “Yup.”

  His face lit with a smile that warmed her like the sun.

  “You know,” he said casually, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and continuing toward his rooms, “I’ve been giving some thought to your future lately.”

  “Really? And what have you come up with?”

  “Well, I think you should get married.”

  It was her turn to stop. Her stomach danced, her heartbeat pounding out the rhythm. “You do?”

  “Um hmm. Problem is finding the right man for you. Now, I’ve been thinking long and hard about that part, but I’m having some trouble… Well, what do you think? Anyone in particular you might want to marry?”

  She grinned and started walking again. He fell in beside her. “Hmm…” she mused. She gripped her hands behind her back to control their trembling. “Well, Garath is awfully handsome and a nice man. But…he’s got those blue eyes.”

  “Ah, yes. You prefer brown eyes, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That does limit your options, doesn’t it?”

  “Yeah, it does.”

  “Anyone else?”

  She looked sideways. “Can’t think of anyone else.”

  “Well, there’s nothing for it then. I guess you’ll just have to marry me.”

  Stopping, she dropped her head back to meet his dancing gaze. “You, huh?”

  He nodded.

  “Well…” she drawled. “Okay.” He hoisted her off the ground, hugging her tight, and she laughed. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, Jacob Marin,” she said, kissing him soundly.

  “I love you, too, Victoria Von Marin.”

  She raised a brow. “Victoria Von Marin? I like the way that sounds.”

  “Good.” He kissed her again then put her down.

  “You realize there’ll be a lot of angry women all across Karasnia after this?”

  “Oh?” He cocked an eyebrow.

  “And the flower merchants will hate me.”

  “Actually…” He took her hand and started walking again. “I thought I’d keep sending the flowers. If you don’t mind, that is.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “They go to special people, love. People who should have a flower on their birthdays.”

  She stared at him then looked back down the corridor. “Well, I suppose as long as I get a flower,
too. Not like it’s my money.”

  “Anything that’s mine is yours now, little thief,” he whispered at her ear. “But I wasn’t planning on getting you flowers on your birthday.”

  “You weren’t? Why not?”

  “I thought you might prefer something…with a sharper edge.”

  She started to giggle. “Okay. But hide it in some flowers.”

  “Anything you want, little thief.”

  They reached his door and, to her surprise, Jacob scooped her off the ground, cradling her in his arms as he stepped into the sitting room. “I hope you don’t expect me to give up everything,” she said, as she cuddled closer into his embrace.

  “What do you mean?” He carried her toward the bedroom.

  “Well, I’m off Charlie’s kill list now…”

  “Good.”

  “But it means I owe Joe Missek a game.”

  “Joe? Why?”

  “He’s the one who got Charlie off my back.”

  “Why?” He kicked open the bedroom door.

  “Professional courtesy,” she said through a grin.

  He sat on the edge of the bed, holding her in his lap. “Gambling is what got you in trouble in the first place, little thief.”

  “Hey, if you can keep sending flowers, I can keep gambling.” To her amusement, Jacob bit his lip and frowned.

  “Okay. But I’m going with you.”

  “Now how am I gonna play with you hovering like a bodyguard? No respectable gambler is gonna want to sit at a table with me.”

  “They’ll have to get used to it.”

  She ran her hand along his broad shoulder, tracing a pattern with her fingertips. “If you insist, then I guess I can get used to it. Maybe we can dirty you up enough to blend in.” Her fingers moved along his neck and cradled his cheek. “You’re just lucky I love you.”

  “Yes,” he said very seriously, “I am. You’ve stolen my heart, little thief. Right out from under my nose.”

  “Don’t worry.” She tilted her mouth to meet his. “I’ll take good care of it.”

  Epilogue

  He looked at what was left of Bserea and sighed. A hand gesture brought a skittering servant to clean away the pile of gray ash. Then his gaze darted to the cowering, whimpering shape of Malkiney, huddled against the far wall of his throne room.

  All the time invested in the man, and now he’s a useless imbecile. But he’d been a good focus while it lasted. And an acceptable servant. He sighed again and sat. The black stone of his throne warmed beneath him, subtly soothing in contrast to his frustration.

  It had almost worked. They’d been so close. He still wasn’t sure what had gone wrong. But this would make things more difficult.

  He’d thought those louts could handle this job. Even without him influencing the Mimis and sending the hallucinations to slow the King’s Guard, the magicians should have been able to deal with them. And the GeMorin…

  The hesitant clearing of a throat brought his head up. “Yes?”

  “Master, GeNol has just arrived,” a servant announced.

  “Send him in.”

  He stared at the door until the GeMorin warrior entered. He continued to stare until the goblin dropped his gaze and knelt before the throne. His anger lay just beneath the surface, waiting for an outlet. But anger wasn’t productive.

  “GeNol. Your father failed.”

  GeNol didn’t look up. His head bowed farther. Shame.

  “You’ll be made clan chief now?”

  “Yes, master.”

  He stood, taking a single step toward the kneeling goblin. “For the disgrace of your father’s failure, I have the right to take your life and that of your immediate family. Your son. It’s GeMorin law.”

  “It is your right, master.”

  A smile tugged his mouth. He enjoyed the reverence in the goblin’s voice. “Yes. It is my right.” He paused, milking the tension. “However, the GeMorin have served me faithfully for almost two centuries. And I still have need of you. I’ll spare your life and the life of your son in exchange for the continuation of the blood oath. She’s not yet in my care. I must have her.”

  “Yes, master.”

  “It is agreed then?”

  “I pledge my loyalty, that of my son, and that of my clan, master. I give you my personal GeMorin blood oath. We are yours to command.”

  GeNol raised his gaze at last. Pride in being able to atone for his father’s failure replacing the heavy yoke of shame.

  With a gracious nod, he stepped back to his throne and sat. “This…failure is most upsetting to me, GeNol. I’ll expect better from you.”

  “Of course, master. We will attempt to take the child again?”

  He’d been considering this very question since the gate had exploded. To try again? They would know by now. Know of the child’s potential. At the least, they’d suspect. But no one really knew. Even he had underestimated her.

  That wouldn’t happen again.

  “No, GeNol,” he said, tapping the black stone armrest of his throne. A slow smile stretched his mouth. The goblin warrior shuddered and dropped his gaze. “We won’t attempt a second kidnapping. It’s time for a more subtle approach, I think. Something more…personal.”

  Don’t miss the exciting sequel to Thief’s Desire

  Destiny’s Seduction

  Out Now!

  About the Author

  Isabo Kelly is the award-winning author of numerous science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal romances. She also writes best-selling paranormal romance under the name Kat Simons. Her life has taken her from Las Vegas to Hawaii, where she got her BA in Zoology, back to Vegas where she looked after sharks, then on to Germany and Ireland where she got her Ph.D. in Animal Behavior. Now Isabo focuses on writing. She lives in New York with her Irish husband and two beautiful boys, working as a full time writer and stay-at-home mom.

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  Website: http://www.isabokelly.com

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  Books by Isabo Kelly

  Fate’s Hand Series

  Thief’s Desire

  Destiny’s Seduction

  Kellyn’s Sacrifice

  The Last Guardian

  Fire and Tears Series

  Brightarrow Burning

  Darkness Singed (was Darkness of Glengowyn)

  Dawn Ignited (was Warrior’s Dawn)

  For more information on Isabo’s books, visit: http://www.isabokelly.com