Steal the Moon (Thieves)

by Lexi Blake

  “This doesn’t mean you can pet me,” he growled and took the blood that made him my wolf.

  I laughed and promised to keep my hands off of him.

  “You have your army, Donovan.” McKenzie held his hand out to shake Daniel’s and make the deal. “When you’re ready, we’ll fight. When you take your crown, we’ll be at the table to help you form this new government of yours.”

  Lee moved to my side, and Daniel shook the alpha’s hand. I saw something in him release as those wolves started to look at him with respect.

  “Can we go home now?” Neil asked with a tired smile.

  I reached out and grabbed his hand. “Yes. It’s time to go home.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “She looks perfect, Declan.” Dev slapped his brother’s hands away from my dress.

  “Well, she had better,” Declan replied, looking uncertain. “Everyone is waiting to see her. All of Faery is waiting for your return.”

  We stood in front of what my Fae husband assured me was the opening to his sithein. We were in Hill Country, deep in the rolling barrens of Texas. It wasn’t the place one would expect to find an entrance to a magical plane.

  I felt odd and vulnerable in the traditional dress Declan insisted I wear. It was rich and sumptuous. It made my skin glow and offered up my breasts in a way that made Dev’s breath hitch when he stared at them. All of that would be fine if we were in our home playing some sexy game. But we were going to Declan’s kingdom, and I felt like I was walking into a gilded prison.

  The two weeks we’d spent at home after leaving Colorado had been hectic and filled with excitement for everyone else. Even Daniel had been upbeat about this trip to Faery. It was the last little piece to his puzzle, and he was looking forward to tackling it.

  After taking a thorough inventory of my shoes and discovering Tamara hadn’t gotten away with a single pair, I’d spent the time reading over the material Marini had given me. There wasn’t much to it. He wanted me to steal a jewel. The blood stone. He reminded me in a phone call that he could kill Daniel with the flip of a switch. We still had to solve that little problem. We could have the wolves and all of Faery behind us, but if Marini killed Daniel it didn’t mean a damn thing.

  And then there was my small trouble.

  I told myself it was too early to know if I was pregnant. I told myself I should just wait and nature would take its course. I couldn’t be having a child. I used birth control and then it was only the once when we hadn’t used backup. Surely that one slip wasn’t enough. I told myself any story to stem the tide of panic. The one thing I didn’t do was tell my husbands of my fear. I was hoping I never had to do that.

  “Are you ready, my beautiful goddess?” Dev was so happy to be going home that I pushed all of my fears and worries down deep where he wouldn’t know them.

  I simply smiled and said yes.

  I glanced back at the long train of friends and servants behind us. This was a parade in honor of the newly ascended fertility god. All of Faery would welcome us. Devinshea and Declan would lead me in and behind us was Padric. Neil, Lee, and Zack came next, carrying that coffin between them where Daniel lay. I had kissed him as Dev closed the lid and promised to see him soon. Sarah and Felix walked behind the casket, leading the train of luggage we were bringing.

  Dev took my hand and squeezed it encouragingly as the door to the sithein shimmered and faded. There, in the hill, was another world. I could see mountains in the distance and a palace of shimmering white. My mother-in-law waited there to greet us. It was stunning and the people lined the streets leading to the great city. A shout went up as the door opened.

  Declan took my other hand and held it firmly. “It’s tradition,” he explained with a smile as I was caught. “I want everyone to know how much I care for my new sister. I want everyone to know how important she is.”

  We moved forward and the twins helped me walk gracefully down the road as our train began moving into Faery. Dev’s face was alight with excitement as his people greeted him. Declan smiled as he nodded my way. I could practically feel his satisfaction.

  I was in his world now.

  I glanced back and saw the door that separated the worlds shimmer and close and wondered if I would ever see my home again.

  Zoey, Daniel, and Dev will return in Steal the Sun, coming March 2014!

  Author’s Note

  I’m often asked by generous readers how they can help get the word out about a book they enjoyed. There are so many ways to help an author you like. Leave a review. If your e-reader allows you to lend a book to a friend, please share it. Go to Goodreads and connect with others. Recommend the books you love because stories are meant to be shared. Thank you so much for reading this book and for supporting all the authors you love!

  Steal the Sun

  Thieves, Book 4

  By Lexi Blake

  Coming March 18, 2014!

  Click here to purchase.

  Zoey thought she would never have to choose, but to save one husband, she will have to betray the other…

  As Zoey Donovan-Quinn first sets foot in the faery homeland of her beloved Devinshea, life is perfect. Her enemy is defeated, her heart is full, and Neil and Sarah are at her side. Daniel and Dev are happy, so their visit to the sithein should be a pleasant honeymoon full of wonder and joy. Well, except for the part where Zoey needs to steal an ancient gem from the Queen of Faery in order to prevent Louis Marini from killing Daniel.

  Reunited with her whole crew, stealing the magical artifact should be relatively easy, but unknown to Zoey, Dev, and Daniel, there are dark forces gathering against them. As her search for the Blood Stone gets underway, Zoey makes a startling discovery that will change her life, and Dev and Daniel’s forever.

  When her new enemy finally strikes at Zoey from the shadows, her newfound happiness is shattered, and to avenge the horrific attack, Dev prepares his mother’s kingdom for war. Recovering from the attempt on her life, Zoey and Daniel desperately search for the stone and in the process unmask the real monster behind the assault.

  Stopping the real threat, and saving Daniel, will force Zoey to choose sides in an epic war between the Seelie and Unseelie Fae, even if it means betraying Dev and his people.

  * * * *

  Dev nodded that we were ready to be announced and then we walked down a magnificent marble staircase. Twenty steps lead us into a huge ballroom that had been set for the royal banquet.

  I held on firmly to both their arms because the last thing I needed was to tumble down the stairs and break a limb. I looked out over the crowd and realized Dev had been right. Everyone was hoping for a big scene. They were whispering behind their hands and gawking. They moved their attention between the three of us and the woman at the end of the hall.

  I glanced up and got my first glimpse of my mother-in-law.

  Miria, Queen of Faery, sat upon her throne before me. There was a raised platform with three chairs. Miria sat on the largest of the three in between two slightly smaller thrones. All three were carved from oak and elaborate in their design. Declan sat in one to her right, a look of aloof superiority on his face. I suspected the seat to her left was the one Dev used. There were several people standing around the queen and I suspected they were counselors and high nobles. Padric stood closest to the queen. It was fitting as he was both the head of security for the royal family and the queen’s lover.

  Miria, Queen of Faery, was gloriously lovely. I was surprised to find she had long strawberry-blonde hair. I guessed the twins got their dark good looks from their father. Miria was very fair but by no means bland. Her face was delicately sculpted with high cheek bones and a lush mouth. Her eyes marked her as the twins’ relative. They were emerald green and sparkled with the same intelligence Dev had.

  “Dude,” Daniel said as we approached the throne. “That’s your mom?”

  I knew what he was thinking. She didn’t look old enough to be his mom, but that was the way it was with the Fae.
They reached their prime and just stopped aging. Miria looked to be about twenty-five. Dev was twenty-seven now and would look older than his mother or brother had he not been taking Daniel’s blood regularly. Daniel’s blood stopped the aging process in humans when taken on a regular basis. I’d begun noticing that for Dev, it seemed to actually reverse aging a little. The fine lines around his eyes he got when he laughed had disappeared.

  Miria tried to maintain her cool composure but the closer we got the more her eyes ate up the sight of her son. I saw her eyes get glossy with unshed tears, and she reached out to Declan. He patted his mother’s hand and for a moment looked less like a brat prince.

  “Good evening, mother,” Dev said formally as we reached the throne. He bowed deeply.

  I could see her son’s formal tone was not what the queen had been hoping for. “Devinshea, it is good to see you.”

  Dev didn’t give her anything. He nodded but chose to introduce us rather than reply. “Mother, this is my goddess, Zoey. And this is my partner, Daniel Donovan. I assume Declan brought you up to speed on my living arrangements.”

  That last was said coolly and with just a hint of challenge. He was just begging for his mother to say something disparaging about his lifestyle.

  Miria was having none of that. She smiled broadly and stood, causing Declan to quickly get his butt up as well. She wore a lovely white gown and a crown that sparkled in the candlelight. “Yes, of course. Declan and Padric both spoke very highly of your wife and partner.”

  Declan snorted at that. He didn’t like Danny. It probably had something to do with the fact that Daniel had kicked his ass the first time they met. “I certainly did not. I spoke very poorly of him.”

  Miria ignored her elder son. She stepped off the platform and walked to us. She stood before me. “It is so good to meet you, daughter,” she said with what seemed like complete sincerity. She kissed my cheek and gave me a long look. She laughed brightly. “Well, Devinshea, you certainly brought a beauty home. You are lovely, dear.”

  “She is beautiful but not very obedient,” Declan noted. “That is not the dress I told her to wear.”

  “Hush,” she admonished. “The dress is stunning and suits her far more than anything in our style. Our styles would swallow her beautiful body. Declan, you were right about her breasts. They are delicious looking.”

  The last bit was said with a slight breathless appreciation. I felt Danny tense beside me as he tried really hard not to laugh at my sudden discomfort. My mother-in-law was looking me over with a sensual smile.

  “I told you,” Declan said with a lecherous grin.

  Dev leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Mother swings both ways. Sorry I didn’t mention that before.”

  I gave him a “what the hell” look but Miria was moving on to Daniel.

  “I should be upset with your presence, Mr. Donovan,” Miria said, looking him over. “Devinshea was supposed to keep you under control until I decided if you were dangerous or not.”

  Dev started to argue but Daniel stepped up to the plate.

  “I assure you, Your Highness, I am perfectly harmless,” he said with more charm than I’d heard him use on any woman but me. Dev was rubbing off on my vampire. Daniel was imitating his smooth tones.

  Miria looked Daniel up and down, from his Ferragamo loafers to his perfectly cropped blond hair. “I doubt that, Mr. Donovan. I think you could do some serious damage.”

  I saw Padric roll his eyes and mutter, “Not again.”

  “How about I promise to be a very good boy?” Daniel offered, his voice a dark seduction. I stopped myself from giggling because Danny was getting good at this.

  “Please don’t,” Miria said, her lips curling up. “Where would be the fun in that?”

  “Mother!” Dev said sounding completely prudish for the first time in my relationship with him.

  Declan snickered beside his brother.

  Miria turned her attention back to her son. “Well, Devinshea, when you bring such lovely bodies home, what do you expect? They are very exotic and look like they would be excellent bedmates. It would be rude not to admire them.”

  Yes, she was definitely Declan’s mom.

  “The Earth plane has changed my brother,” Declan complained. “It has turned him into a squeamish old woman. He refuses to even think about sharing Zoey with me. He pulled a gun on me just for cuddling with her.”

  “I would have done worse,” Daniel growled. He looked at Declan and his fangs were long suddenly. “And I don’t need a gun.”

  The rest of the room was startled and seemed to take a big step back, but Miria stood her ground. She went toe to toe with Daniel. She was definitely interested in those fangs.

  She spoke to her son but her eyes were on Daniel. “Declan, you should know vampires are possessive creatures. It is impressive that Devinshea was able to forge a ménage with such a powerful creature and his companion. It makes a statement about his prowess. I am very proud of you, son. You have done well. Tell me, Mr. Donovan, do you bite my son?”

  “As often as possible,” Daniel replied with no hint of self-consciousness. “I find faery blood to be quite the treat.”

  “Yes,” she returned with regret. “Unfortunately, it is why I was forced to close the mounds to your kind. Your kind likes our blood, and we tend to like your bite, Mr. Donovan. I found it to be a combustible mix.”

  “Please call me Daniel,” my vampire offered smoothly.

  “I will,” Miria promised. “And you and your companion may refer to me as Miria or mother if you like. I am your mother-in-law. Formally, of course, for Zoey, but I completely recognize your relationship and approve. I am pleased to welcome you. You will be treated as a member of this family, Daniel.”

  “Good,” Dev said between clenched teeth. “Then you can stop hitting on him. And for the record, while I feed my partner, we are not lovers beyond the fact that we share Zoey.”

  Miria looked startled. “Why ever not, son? He is very attractive. I did not raise you to be so close minded. You should really…what is that human term you told me about, Declan?”

  “Hit that,” Declan supplied helpfully.

  “Yes, Devinshea, you should hit that,” Miria said seriously.

  Daniel finally lost it and there were tears in his eyes as he laughed. He looked at Dev. “Shit, man, we should have come here earlier. This is awesome.”

  Dev leaned in. “My goddess, what are the chances of the floor opening up and swallowing me whole, sending me to a blissful oblivion?”

  “Not so good. Sorry.” Miria made me feel better about my dad.

  “I think we should begin dinner now,” Padric said sourly, looking at Daniel with a shake of his head. He took Miria’s arm and began to lead her to the head table. Already servants were rushing to action.

  Danny just couldn’t help it. “Dev, your mom’s a total cougar, man.”

  I grinned as Dev blushed for the first time in…ever. “My mother is five hundred thirty-two years old. Cougar does not apply.”

  “Sabertooth, then.” Daniel just had to rub it in.

  Yes, it was time for dinner since we’d already put on a show.

  For more information or to purchase, click here.

  Unconditional: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  Masters and Mercenaries, Book 5.5

  By Lexi Blake

  Coming January 28, 2014

  Click here to purchase.

  A curious woman

  Ashley Paxon understands responsibility. After her fiancé left her alone and pregnant, she forged a new life for herself and her daughter. Moving to Dallas, she went back to school and found a job at a club called Sanctum. As one of the BDSM club’s waitresses, she watches the Doms and their submissives every night. She yearns to explore their lifestyle of discipline and power exchange, but she knows she wouldn’t belong.

  A wounded man

  Keith Langston believes in living in the moment. Haunted by the past, he moves fr
om one casual relationship to the next and never looks back. But the moment he lays eyes on Ashley, something primal and possessive takes over. He can’t stop thinking about her and yet he knows he can’t offer her what she needs. Having her seems impossible until Sanctum’s owner, the mysterious Ian Taggart, makes him an offer he can’t refuse.

  The perfect contract

  Offered the chance to train Ashley and initiate her into the D/s lifestyle, Keith is delighted to accept. Under the guidelines of a carefully crafted contract, they lose themselves in the pleasures and intimacies of being Master and submissive. But when Ashley and her daughter are threatened, Keith realizes she needs much more than a part-time Dom. To protect her, he will have to break through the barriers of their contract and finally face the demons haunting his heart.

  * * * *

  “Hey, calm down. Are you afraid?” His hands changed to soothing strokes down her legs.

  Afraid? Yes and no. “I’m worried you won’t like me when you realize I’m not one of those girls who can…”

  “Come?”

  It seemed so easy for him to say it. “Yes. I read somewhere that not every woman can.”

  His hands were dangerously close to the junction of her thighs. “Turn over again. I need to see something.”

  Why did they have to talk about this? She’d been so happy. He was insistent, his hands moving her. She finally rolled over. He’d been kind to her. Maybe it was for the best they get this out of the way. She’d been looking forward to the next couple of weeks of their contract, but if he was thinking she was going to be some kind of sex kitten, then he should find out the truth about her sooner rather than later.