Steal the Moon

Chapter Twenty

I gazed down at the beautiful meal Albert had prepared for us and questioned if I was just destined to make myself unhappy. I was sitting in a beautiful place surrounded by good friends. Dev had kissed me soundly before he left and told me he loved me. He’d enveloped me in his particular warmth. His joy in being in this place, preparing to do what he was born to do, should have been contagious. I really did love that he was happy. I just wished Danny could share in that, and that was the crux of my problem. I loved two men and I had begun to worry that having only one of them would never be enough for me.

“Z, what’s wrong?” Sarah looked up from her meal, concern in her eyes. “I know it’s not the food because the food is unbelievable, so I have to think it’s Daniel.”

I frowned at my friend. “Why would you say that?”

She smiled, but there was no humor to it. “When you’re unhappy, Daniel is almost always the root cause, Zoey.”

A little overdramatically stated, but Danny certainly had a strong effect on my moods. “I think he blames me for Joel’s death.”

Felix shook his head. “You’re wrong about that. I think he blames himself, and he doesn’t know how to deal with it. Daniel tends to push away the people he loves when he feels he’s done something wrong.”

“Yeah, well, he’s pushing me pretty hard,” I replied.

“He’s been doing it for a long time. It’s his default state. He’s been happy since Vegas. What happened with Halfer just proved to him that everything in his life goes wrong in the end. If it helps you, I’m almost certain Devinshea feels as disconnected from Daniel as you do,” Felix said sagely.

I studied the former angel for a moment before speaking. I always took what Felix said seriously. He had millennia of experience watching human behavior backing up his opinions. “He’s spent every spare minute with Dev. I doubt Dev feels neglected.”

“Daniel is no longer sharing a bed with the two of you,” Felix pointed out. “Dev is a creature of physical affection. Though he and Daniel don’t share their bodies, I assure you he feels his partner’s loss.”

“Partner?”

“What else would you call them, Zoey? Dev and Daniel have shared a business, a home, a quest, a female for almost a year now. Their lives have become intertwined in a way most people can’t comprehend. They depend on each other. Daniel will never find another person who understands him the way Devinshea can, and I include you in that. You don’t understand what it means to love you but Dev and Daniel do.” Felix fixed me with a soft stare. “I believe Daniel has come to rely on Dev in a way he never imagined. But his past informs his future. Daniel learned at a young age what it means to lose the people he loved, the people who loved him. He lost his own human life. I’m sure he sees what happened with Halfer as a wake-up call. He imagines his life will always be filled with loss. In his head, it’s a matter of time before he loses you and very likely Dev as well.”

So we were right back where we started. “How do I fix it?”

“If you want Daniel to come back, you must stop thinking of it as a solo venture. You are a threesome. You must show a united front.”

“You think I should talk to Dev about it?” I’d avoided talking to Dev, thinking it was my problem.

“I think you and Dev should talk to Daniel about it,” Felix corrected. “It’s far past time you got serious about your relationship. It’s not just sex and pleasure. The three of you must care about each other. You must want to be together.”

I smiled at Felix. “I do. I know Dev does, too. What if Daniel doesn’t?”

Felix’s head shook slightly. “No one has gained more from this relationship than Daniel. Daniel has gained power and the ability to walk in the daylight. Dev’s magic gave him back that part of his life. More than this, Dev has given him a companionship he lacked before. If he wishes to end it then he’s a fool. You move on with Dev. I think you’ll find that Daniel is reacting, not thinking. Make it plain to him what the two of you need and what you deserve from him. He’ll either come around or he’ll leave. Either way, you’ll have your answer.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be non-confrontational, cousin?” I didn’t like the possible outcome of his scenario. I never like to face realities that don’t suit me.

“I’m nonviolent,” Felix amended. “Confrontation is unavoidable in a relationship. If you choose to hide, then Daniel will make the choice for all three of you.”

Sarah patted her husband’s hand. “He’s right, you know.”

“He’s always right. It’s disgusting.”

“I know,” Sarah confided. “It’s really hard to live with him sometimes.”

I heard the flap to the tent open and then the audible sound of not one but two safeties being clicked off. Sarah and I exchanged glances, both of us standing. I hoped she was armed because I’d left my Ruger in the bedroom and Felix would just try to talk whoever it was to death. I walked out of the dining room, Sarah and Felix hard on my heels.

“Stand down, lady.” Lee stood in the middle of the front room, staring down the blonde women in the entryway. “Surrender that weapon and maybe I’ll think about letting you live.”

“Funny.” Jane Nichols looked cool and comfortable in jeans and a tank top. I just knew there would be a whole lot of tank tops at a place like this. The private investigator gave my bodyguard the once-over. “I was just about to say the same thing to you.”

The two wolves stared at each other, neither willing to give up the standoff. I had zero doubt that they would shoot if necessary. They were both hardened professionals who wouldn’t back off. They were both being drama llamas, but then I seemed to be surrounded by them.

“It’s fine, Lee. You remember Jane from Ether. She’s the PI I hired to find Neil. Please don’t shoot her before she tells me if she found him or not.”

Lee lowered his gun with a grudging sigh, and Jane did the same.

“She should knock,” Lee grumbled, but I noticed his eyes took in every inch of Jane Nichols, and not in a size-up-the-competition way. I was already thinking about how I could play the matchmaker. It had worked really well with Zack. He was so much less obnoxious since he started dating Lisa. Maybe Lee would be less grumpy if he was getting laid.

“It’s canvas,” Jane pointed out, giving as good as she got. “I doubt a knock would have worked.

“I would have heard you,” Lee replied misanthropically, but I noticed he tried to smooth down his wrinkled T-shirt. He kicked his empty beer bottle behind the chair he’d been dozing in.

Jane rolled her eyes and turned toward me. “I have some news for you.”

“Please come in.” I gestured toward the sofa in the large room we were in. It was set up like a parlor or sitting room. I assumed this was where Dev intended to have guests.

Albert walked out of the dining room. Jane gasped slightly at the sight of the demon, who ignored her, preferring to pin me with a disappointed stare. “Dinner was not to your liking, mistress?”

“It was delicious.” I’d barely touched it, but I was sure it was good. Everything Albert did was spectacular.

“It was amazing, Albert.” Felix patted his belly with a smile. “The risotto was divine. You have a delicate hand with it. We were merely interrupted with some business.”

“I can set another place if that is your wish,” Albert offered.

I shook my head, gesturing toward Jane. “I don’t think she’s the salad type.”

Jane nodded. “I’m a carnivore.”

Albert looked gravely disappointed in all of us, and I shifted uncomfortably. “Perhaps you will eat breakfast in the morning, mistress. You have to keep your strength up. If you faint, I assure you the master will blame me though I have spent every bit of my energy trying to please you. I’ll serve dessert. It’s a pineapple tart with a lovely dry wine.”

Albert turned and disappeared into the kitchen.

Sarah couldn’t stop the giggle now. “Man, no one can pull a guilt trip like a demon. You better think twice the next time you try to free him.”

“I’m never mentioning it again,” I assured her.

Jane walked around our shelter, shaking her head. “This is what passes for a tent with a vampire king?”

I had to correct that misunderstanding. “This isn’t Daniel’s doing. If it had been up to Danny, we’d be sleeping in the back of Lee’s pickup. This is what passes for roughing it for royal faery kind. Devinshea doesn’t believe in discomfort.”

“Obviously,” she muttered.

“It’s one of the reasons he got along so well with Neil.” It was time to bring the conversation around to the point.

Albert reentered with a tray. He passed everyone a small china dish with a perfectly presented tart in the center. The china was expensive and exquisite, and Lee clutched it uncomfortably, like he was terrified he was going to break it. The small plastic fork was incongruous against the wealth of the china, but one does not bring the good silver to a werewolf gathering. They get offended.

Everyone else got a glass of wine. I got handed a stupid bottle of water. I begrudgingly ate my tart.

“I believed the prince was as upset with Neil as the vampire.” Jane got back to our conversation once the butler was gone.

“He was, but he’ll come around. It’s difficult for Dev to stay mad at people. He’s infinitely more reasonable than Daniel.”

“And why should I believe Neil will be safe or even welcomed into this home?” Jane asked. It was obvious she’d come to like Neil.

It made me trust her more that she could accept him. I’d been blatantly honest about Neil’s past. I thought it necessary that Jane know as much about the situation as possible. She hadn’t blinked when I talked about Neil’s homosexuality. As the great majority of the wolf world was at least a little homophobic, it had bought big points with me that it didn’t bother Jane.

“She doesn’t know you very well, does she?” Sarah asked with a little laugh.

I had some guilt about not talking this over with Dev and Daniel. I’d tried, but they avoided the subject like the plague. Neil was in trouble, and I wasn’t going to allow their stubbornness to cause him more pain. “Neil will be more than welcome here. If Daniel doesn’t like it, then he can find somewhere else to sleep. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s burrowed into the ground for a daytime nap. When he decides to acquiesce, he can come home.”

If he wanted to come home.

Jane leaned forward, her brows in a concerned V. “Those men have reputations, Zoey. They’re considered seriously dangerous. Donovan is a hardened killer. He’s the freaking Nex Apparatus, for god’s sake. It’s said that the faery is more reasonable, but he’s also the one who’ll smile and make you feel comfortable and then shove a knife in your back.”

“That sounds about right,” Lee agreed.

I disagreed with all of those statements, but the boys had worked hard to build their reputations and I had to respect that. In my business, a ferocious reputation was as important as actual skill. My father’s rep had been fierce even though he was a big old teddy bear at home. And Dev would never shove a knife in someone’s back if he could avoid it. It would ruin his clothes. He would pay someone to do it for him.

“Neither Daniel or Dev would hurt Neil,” Felix added.

Lee’s amusement rumbled through his body. “They sure as hell wouldn’t do it if they thought Zoey could ever find out. That wolf will be safe here. Trust me, she has her boys by the short hairs and she’s not letting go.”

“Eww. That’s rude.” Sometimes Lee’s turns of phrases were a little vulgar.

“It’s also true,” Lee shot back.

Jane held up a hand. “All right, then, I’ll work on the premise that Zoey is in charge of her household.”

“Does all of this checking Z out mean you’ve convinced him to come home?” Sarah asked.

“He’s willing to meet with you and Zoey,” Jane affirmed, and my heart soared. “He’ll meet with you tomorrow at noon. I’ll guide you to the spot in the north woods. Just the two of you, though.”

“Not a chance in hell, lady.” Lee stood over the blonde, his face a grim mask. “You think I’m letting her run around the woods in the middle of a thousand freaking werewolves by herself?”

“I’ll be with her.” Jane stood as well, erasing Lee’s height advantage. She didn’t mind getting into his space either. “I’ll make sure nothing happens to them.”

“Over my dead body,” Lee growled.

“That can be arranged,” Jane growled right back.

Sarah and I exchanged a nervous look. I wasn’t sure if this was going to be a fight or if I was watching some strange werewolf mating ritual.

“I think Jane can handle it, Lee,” I said calmly, not certain I wanted to stop the fight. It might be interesting to see if Jane could handle Lee.

When Lee stared at me, I felt the full force of his will. He was one pissed-off wolf. “Look here, Zoey, have I done everything I promised? I let you kill that weird-ass thing with the bird. I let you fight the freaky zombies. I hijacked a damn truck with you and became an art thief. I let you castrate me in front of fucking John McKenzie who I hate. Foot’s down now, Zoey.”

I knew then that I’d hit Lee’s brick wall. I smiled at Jane. “Lee will be accompanying us.”

“Damn straight,” he muttered under his breath.

“He might run.” Jane backed down.

Lee shoved a hand through his hair. “He won’t get far. I’m sick of Zoey being upset over this. He’s being a stubborn idiot. If he runs, I’ll chase him down and haul his ass home.”

“That actually might be for the best,” Jane said with a sigh. “I was going to recommend bringing him in whether he wants to come or not. He’s very sick.”

My stomach rolled at the thought. It was what I’d been really worried about. Though Neil was a werewolf, he’d lived in the city all of his life. He had all the instincts necessary to survive in the wild, but I worried about his will to live. Before he became Danny’s servant, he’d had a rough life. The loss of Chad and Neil’s whole support network would have taken a hard toll on my friend.

“Do I need to call in a doctor?” I was sure I would be able to find at least one doctor among all these wolves. It wasn’t a profession known for a high werewolf population, but there had to be at least one.

“I won’t know until we get him to change forms,” Jane admitted. “As far as I can tell, he’s been in wolf form for months with no physical contact at all.”

Lee whistled at that. “None? No wonder he’s sick.”

“I don’t understand,” I said.

“When Neil was around, did he seem to require physical contact more than say a normal human would?” Jane asked.

I nodded vigorously. “Oh, yes. Neil was always holding my hand. If we were watching TV, he would lay his head in my lap and I would rub his belly.” I gave Lee a pointed stare because he had been serious about that no-petting rule. “And he didn’t like to sleep alone. He had his own bed, but most of the time he ended up cuddled up with me. It surprised Dev the first time he turned over and Neil was in bed with us.”

It had surprised him, but in true Dev fashion, he’d merely taken back his fair share of the covers, rolled over, and gone back to sleep.

“All wolves need that contact,” Jane explained. “It’s necessary for the wolf to be healthy. Without it they tend to fade. I think that’s what’s happening to Neil. I’m hoping he’ll come out of it when he realizes he’s still loved and wanted.”

I reached out and held Sarah’s hand. There was a sheen of tears in her eyes I knew mirrored my own. “He is wanted. And he is definitely loved.”

And tomorrow, one way or another, he was coming home.