Chapter Twenty-Five

 

“My Lord, I have word that there is a small party moving toward our position,” a young man said from the doorway. He didn’t seem concerned that his master had a naked woman tied to the bed or a chained vampire in the corner. He didn’t give a damn that I’d been pleading for my husband’s life.

“That will be Herne,” Arawn explained shortly. “He’s on his way to discuss our current situation in regards to the Seelie. He’ll be joining us in our journey to the palace to meet with King Angus. See that his needs are met.” The black-haired Lord of the Dead frowned down at his servant as there was another long volley of barking from outside. “Is there a reason the dogs are so loud?”

“It’s not our hounds, My Lord.” The servant wrung his hands in defeat. “There’s a stray dog in the yard. I’ve tried everything I can think of to get the dog to go away, but he just comes back. He just stands out there looking at the house and barking.”

“I’m sure Nim fed him at some point,” Arawn said with a long-suffering sigh. “We’ll never get rid of him now. Well, perhaps if you let our hounds out he’ll be frightened off.”

The servant nodded and left, closing the door behind him. I wasn’t concerned with Arawn’s animal control issues. I had much bigger problems.

“What did you do to him?” I strained to see my husband. His head was slumped forward now and he was still.

Arawn sat down on the bed. He was on one side of me and Nim on the other. Unlike his girlfriend, he was respectful enough to keep his eyes on my face. “He’s only sleeping, companion, as he should be during the day. Even those with the power to daywalk must rest for a time. He was emotional. It cost him much to pretend to be all right with what Nim was doing to you.”

Nim stiffened. “I didn’t hurt her.”

Arawn ignored her. “I gave him respite. He will wake when the sun goes down and he will feel more like himself. It will be no more than thirty minutes.”

“We lost a whole day?” It had been night when Gilliana had taken us hostage and sent us into servitude. Every day we lost brought us closer to Devinshea being in battle and potentially killed. I was on a timer and it was moving fast. I had to find a way out of this cozy domestic situation I found myself in.

Nim smoothed back my hair. She seemed intent on calming me down. “It’s all right, Zoey. Arawn won’t hurt your vampire. As for losing a day, well, travel can be difficult. I know you had to come across the plains, and that is a long journey. Now you can rest and relax and know that I’ll take care of you.”

“Yes, you can relax and tell me what is wrong with the vampire’s heart,” Arawn commanded softly.

“So you can use it against him?”

Arawn shook his head and he and Nim shared a long look. “She’s not very trusting.”

Nim shrugged her slender shoulders. “She was sold into slavery. I suppose that could make you wary. Perhaps if I untied her she would believe me that we don’t intend her harm.”

Jet black eyes looked down at me and after a moment, he made his decision. “We’re going to unbind you, companion. Behave yourself. I would prefer to not have to punish you.” He sighed inwardly. “Yes, Roarke, I know you think it would be fun to spank her, but I have different objectives. There will be time for your games later. Can I trust you not to try anything?”

“For now,” I agreed, wanting much to get the feeling back in my hands. I was willing to bide my time.

Herne was on his way. Hopefully he wasn’t too pissed about the whole being-blamed-for-crimes-he-hadn’t-committed thing. He knew who I was and that I wasn’t a slave. Then, again, I knew the way the Hunter thought. He might advise Nim to wash her hands of the whole thing. She couldn’t get into trouble if no one could find our bodies.

I was untied and finally able to sit up. My wrists ached and I wondered just how long Daniel had enjoyed watching Nim play with my unconscious body. Nim reached over to her nightstand and pulled out a jar of some kind of oil. She dabbed some on my wrists and began to rub away the chafing the heavy ropes had caused.

The Lord of all things Dead looked at me impatiently.

I was still wary. He obviously had powers over my husband that I never imagined possible. I hated the feeling. I wasn’t used to Danny being vulnerable. Daniel was my Superman. I just hoped we hadn’t walked into a whole mess of kryptonite. “How do I know you won’t use the knowledge to harm him?”

“I’m merely curious.” Arawn spoke evenly, as though we were talking about a simple science experiment. “I’m interested in all things dead. He’s an amazing specimen. I’m afraid I always indulge my curiosity. If you refuse to tell me I’ll simply open the vampire up and discover the truth for myself.”

“Well, that makes me feel better,” I spat at him while Nim threw him a dirty look.

“Don’t scare my pet,” Nim demanded.

“Yeah, don’t scare her pet,” I agreed. She was working on my feet now. I decided Arawn was serious and proceeded cautiously. “It’s a control measure. It’s a device filled with injectable silver. They had it surgically implanted on his heart shortly after he died and rose as vampire.”

“‘They’ being the Council, I assume,” Arawn murmured, looking at Daniel. “I’ve always been interested in the vampires. They’re fascinating creatures. Their bodies are dead, only reanimated by the blood of those they feed upon. They’re so much more interesting than other dead things. They have an entire society and laws that are different from the living. Most undead creatures are solitary, but the vampires have formed their own little world. Is that Frenchman still in charge?”

I nodded. He was up to date on his politics. “Yes, Louis Marini still heads the Council. He placed the device on Danny’s heart. If he wants to, he can push a button and that device will pump silver through his system.”

“Very efficient,” the death god said. “I suppose he wanted to keep the king from reaching his full potential while still using him as an asset. I never liked that Frenchman. He’s arrogant and ambitious. I suppose the device has fail-safes.”

I nodded and raised my voice because it didn’t sound like the hounds were driving off that dog of Nim’s. The barking had gotten louder. “If we try to extract the device, it will go off.”

“Have you considered staying on this plane? I assume the detonator only works in close proximity.”

Of course, I’d thought about it. We could be safe here but everyone on the Earth plane would end up under Marini’s dominion. Daniel was the only one who could stop Marini. “We have people we care about back on the Earth plane. Marini has plans. That army of vampires you talked about, well, Marini wants to revisit the good old days. He’s preparing for war, first against the other supernaturals and then the humans.”

“Yet another reason to stay here,” Arawn said reasonably.

“No.” I’d had this argument in my head a thousand times. “We have to go back and we have to fight. I won’t allow them to take my home and my people. We were given the tools and strength to fight back and we will damn well use them.”

“And probably die in the process.”

“Probably.” At least we would go down together.

Nim crawled up the bed and kissed my cheek. Her soft hands tried to smooth the tension from my shoulders. “Now she doesn’t have to. She can stay with us and we’ll protect her and pamper her. Why should something so pretty have to fight?”

“Because she believes,” Arawn said, and there was suddenly respect in his voice. “I wish you luck against the Frenchman. He’s more formidable than he looks. You must solve the vampire’s heart issue, though. It will be the death of him.”

“He doesn’t believe it.” Dev and I took the issue more seriously than Danny.

A dark brow arched. “I am the Lord of Death. I can see all possible deaths for a person. Right now, if you continue on your course, the most likely event is the vampire dying from his heart exploding.” Arawn reached out and touched my face lightly. I was surprised his touch was warm and not cold. I held still but it was hard. My skin tingled where he touched me. “His death leads to yours. You will die at Marini’s hands, attempting to avenge your husband.”

“She won’t if she stays here,” Nim insisted.

Arawn ignored her. “It’s what I see. You must get that thing off his heart. It’s an interesting quandary. I shall think on it for a while. Stop pawing the girl, Nim. She’s obviously not a slave. There’s been a mistake. The vampire is important. I can feel that and she’s important as well.”

Nim made a little huffing sound but did nothing to stop pawing me. As her “paws” were doing a damn fine job on my bunched up muscles, I didn’t protest. When she was done there, my aching feet could use a good pawing, too.

I looked at the death lord and let my gratitude show. “Thank you. My husband will be grateful.”

“I’m sure the vampire will,” he commented.

“How about the other one?” Nim asked.

“Other one?” Her boyfriend looked at her.

Nim nodded as her eyes lit with righteous fire. “Yes, she has two husbands. Imagine that. She has two men willing to make a commitment. I didn’t think there was even one out there with the guts to step up and push aside their issues to make the woman they love feel secure.”

“Yes, yes, that’s sad for you,” a sarcastic voice said. When I looked up, the death lord’s eyes looked human again. “Give a guy a chance, Nim.”

“Roarke, you’ve had several hundred years of chances and Arawn many more before that.” She pulled the sheet up, covering both of us.

“Hey, you don’t have to do that,” Roarke protested because he’d obviously liked the show.

“I’ve decided not to share,” she said, hugging me to her. I kept my hands carefully at my sides. “Tell Arawn he can go to hell. He knows the way. I bought her and I’m keeping her. I’m keeping the vampire, too. He didn’t like you boys, so he can just play with us girls.”

“That’s not fair, Nim,” Roarke protested. “Why do I get punished when Arawn is an ass? Have I ever denied you anything?”

“That’s just weird,” I said because it was. Roarke and Arawn worked flawlessly together. It was a completely different relationship than my husband’s with Bris. When I was in the presence of Bris, it was obvious and it took a little time for them to tag team out. Herne and the Hunter were extremely different. Roarke and Arawn were like two halves of a whole. Other than the deepness of their voices and the shift in the eyes, it was hard to tell who was who. Nim and Roarke were staring at me. “Sorry to interrupt the relationship fight, but you’re good with the whole ascended god thing.”

Nim looked at me, surprised. “You’re well informed. I was actually wondering how I was going to explain it all to you. I thought you would be a little freaked out by the two souls in one body thing.”

I smiled an intimate smile, thinking of Dev and the ever-horny, gentle Bris. “I know one. He’s over on the Seelie side.”

Nim shot her boyfriend a confused look. “I thought it was just you and Herne.”

Roarke shook his head. “Didn’t you hear? Dev Quinn ascended. He took the fertility god Bris into his body. It’s why we’re in this mess. His brand new goddess lost their babe and they blamed Herne.”

But Nim wasn’t interested in war talk. Her violet eyes narrowed. “You asked if you had ever denied me anything. There’s one. Dev Quinn. You denied me him. He was perfectly willing to join us and you said no.”

I smiled and said a little hallelujah. I had found one female who my husband hadn’t slept with. It was truly a miracle.

“You know why I wouldn’t do that,” Roarke replied. “Arawn and I both thought it was a bad idea. He is a Green Man. You sleep with him and you’ll never want to go back. We’d never get him out of our bed.”

I heard Daniel’s husky laugh. “Good call, man. Once he’s in, he is hell to get out. I haven’t managed it yet. I’ve pretty much given up hope of ever kicking his ass out of our bed.”

Arawn was back suddenly, his dark eyes turning. He stood and walked to the vampire. “You’re strong. You should be out for at least another twenty minutes.”

“I will not leave my companion alone. If you put me under again I’ll fight my way out,” Daniel swore, struggling against the need to sleep with everything he had. “Why are you talking about Dev? Is he here? Did he come for us?” His question was hopeful, and he shot a look my way.

“No, baby,” I said with a frown, knowing exactly how Danny felt. “He probably still thinks we’ll be back any minute. He’s going to get worried soon. He’ll be disappointed that he missed my sexual servitude.”

“I’ll describe it for him in vivid detail,” Danny promised with a slight smile. “I’ll probably exaggerate, too. He would do the same for me.”

Arawn paled. He turned his head between me and Daniel and he looked a little ill as he put things together. “Oh, shit.”

“So you know Dev?” Nim grinned, her face showing her great affection. “He and his nasty brother spent a year here. He was just delicious. He’s the filthiest guy ever. Whoever you’re married to could learn a thing or two from him.”

“Nim, back away from Her Grace,” Arawn ordered.

“Her name is Zoey, Arawn,” Nim corrected.

I smiled up at the death lord, loving the fact that I briefly had the upper hand. “I never blamed Herne. He’s an asshole who tried to use me as ogre bait, but he had nothing to do with me losing my baby.”

“Goddess, Nim, what have you done?” Arawn asked.

Nim looked at me, finally catching up. “She’s Dev’s goddess? Well, that’s unfair. I finally find a girl and she’s unavailable. Or is she? I bet Devinshea wouldn’t mind us playing around as long as he got to watch.”

“He would mind,” Daniel growled.

“You are missing the point, Nim.” Roarke had taken back over. Apparently death gods didn’t do patience well. “Think about it for a second. We’re on the verge of war with the Seelie. You’re currently in bed with a Seelie royal and it wasn’t her idea. You bought the High Priest’s goddess and made her your sex slave.”

Nim chewed her lower lip. “Put like that it does sound bad. I didn’t mean to start a war. I was just a little horny.”

I laughed long and hard because I was pretty comfortable with the fact that these two probably wouldn’t kill us. I still didn’t like the way that old death god looked at Danny, but I thought I could handle the other two. “It’s not your fault, Nim. I totally blame Gilliana.”

Now there were three dogs barking. Someone had unleashed the hounds. At first it sounded like a fight but after a minute the barking and growls changed.

“I should have known something was wrong,” Nim complained, standing up. Roarke held out a robe and she slid it on. “I should have been charged way more for smuggling someone off the Earth plane. Isn’t Gilliana the Duke of Ain’s daughter?”

I could feel my face getting hard at the thought of that bitch. “She is. She’s also the one responsible for our brief foray into servitude. She gave us to whoever sold us to you. Her father is behind everything, including my miscarriage.”

“I suppose no one on the Seelie side believes this?” Nim asked.

Daniel took that one. “The duke has been careful. He’s covered his tracks and used the Seelies’ prejudice against them. They’re more than willing to believe that the Unseelie killed our baby out of jealousy.”

“Jealousy of what?” Nim shook her head, obviously confused. “If Devinshea has ascended and is proving his fertility powers, how can that be bad? The child might have been a fertility god in his or her own right. Why would we be jealous of that?”

Daniel sighed. “Because it is a Seelie power. Some think to keep Dev’s power strictly to the Seelie side.”

“The priest would never do that,” Roarke said firmly.

“Is that what everyone believes here?” I wondered if the mistrust went both ways.

Nim and Roarke exchanged a glance before Roarke explained. “Everyone who knows Dev understands that he takes his duties seriously. He wouldn’t deny the Unseelie fertility.”

“But…” I started because there was a big old but coming.

“The problem is with his brother.” Nim’s frown told me she didn’t like the prince. “He came over and told us all about how Dev would ignore the temple on the Unseelie side if we didn’t pledge fealty and submit to Seelie demands.”

“Yeah,” Danny said. “That sounds like Declan. Uhmm, now that we’ve ascertained Z and I aren’t slaves, could I get out of the uncomfortable, burning my flesh, silver chains?”

Nim nodded and started toward him. “Of course, sugar. I’ll have you out in no time. I’ll sadly find something for Zoey to wear. I didn’t buy anything for you because I planned to keep you naked.”

“Good to know.” I clung to my sheet.

Arawn made a sudden appearance. He stayed Nim’s hand. “Vampires are dangerous creatures, my love. You have offended him greatly.”

“I can forgive her,” Daniel said, his voice slightly surly. “She rubbed my wife’s boobs and got me hot as hell. At the end of the day, she would have taken no for an answer. I have no intentions of harming Nim. You’re an entirely different story.”

Arawn stared at Daniel and then gave him an arrogant smile. “Go on then, Nim. He’s telling the truth. He means you no harm. As for me, we shall see.”

“Danny,” I started. “We need them. They’re the only ones who can help us.”

Roarke drifted back. “Help you how?”

“We need to stop this war,” I said. “We need to get back to Miria and Dev and tell them everything.”

“That’s easier said than done, Your Grace.” Nim began to carefully unwind Daniel’s chains. I got up, wrapping the sheet around me to help.

“We have to do it.” I ran my hands through Daniel’s sandy, slightly overgrown hair. When the chains were off, I sat down in his lap and held him. Daniel’s previous thoughts of beating the shit out of Arawn took a back seat to hugging me tightly as the dogs’ barking reached a crescendo. Daniel put his ear right over my heart and sighed.

“What a mess.” Roarke ran a frustrated hand through his long, dark hair. He walked over to the window and sighed heavily. “What is the use of having hell hounds if they make friends with every stray to come through?” He turned on Nim. “This is your fault. I tried to train them but no, Nim knew better. Nim just had to give them treats and toys to play with. Now we can’t even scare off a single big white dog.”

I looked up from Daniel’s lap. “Did you say white dog?”

Daniel and I were at the window, shoving Roarke out of the way. We looked down because apparently we were on the second floor.

“Neil!” I yelled at that gorgeous ball of white fur.

Neil stopped his frolicking with the enormous black hell hounds and when he looked up, he changed.

“Hey, Z,” he yelled up. “How’s the whole slavery thing working out?”

“So far, so good. Herne’s on his way. Why don’t you come in and we can wait for him.” If anyone could get us out of the Unseelie sithein, it was Herne. I didn’t trust anyone on the Seelie side outside of our own household. Who knew how many were willing to follow the Duke of Ain’s lead?

“I don’t know about the Hunter,” Neil said, his face concerned. “But what are we going to do about the army on its way here?”

Roarke pushed his way in so he had a view to the outside. There in the distance we could see a group walking in perfect lockstep, their heavy weapons held high on their meaty shoulders. Even from where I stood, I could see the way their caps glistened.

“Nim, pack a small bag,” Roarke said calmly but I could hear the fear in his voice. “King Angus has sent the red caps. They’re coming to execute us.”