Steal the Sun Read Free Page A

he’d included me. The minute we’d marched into this impromptu welcoming party, I’d been sent to the sidelines, watching him like a lovelorn teenager.
    It made me realize how used to our ménage I’d gotten. If Daniel hadn’t been relegated to his coffin, I would be sitting in his lap and wouldn’t even notice that Dev was ignoring me. Danny and I would be talking about everything that was going on and I would more than likely be happy. I was completely spoiled, and I tried to remember that Dev had a job to do, too.
    “I was just about to get Her Grace and her friends a mug of my finest ale,” Ross offered with a flourish.
    “Thank god,” Neil said. “Bring on the booze. We could use it.”
    “Amen,” Sarah seconded.
    My face flushed, but I nodded and tried to look happy. I wouldn’t touch the ale but I didn’t want to make a big deal of it. I looked at Neil and he winked. He would make sure my cup got emptied. He would do it on the sly and maybe no one would ask those questions I wasn’t ready to answer.
    “I do not think this is the best idea, Your Grace.” Mara looked down her patrician nose at me. “This is not the most reputable of establishments. You are a member of the royal family. I understand that you grew up outside Fae society, so you must allow me to lead you. You should not be associating with bar owners.”
    “Yeah, I’ll mention that bit of wisdom to my husband tonight.” My favorite place in the world was Dev’s nightclub, Ether.
    Ross and Loran walked off to get us drinks, and Mara took a moment to look at our little group. We had dressed the part of a royal retinue.
    Well, not all of us. Lee had told Declan to stick it, and he was wearing comfy jeans and a T-shirt. My boobs were practically falling out of my dress, so I admired my wolf’s bravado.
    It was Lee who got the brunt of Mara’s disappointment now. “What good are you? I was informed you are the head of Her Grace’s security and yet you allow strange men to accost your charge?”
    “If I beat up every weird creature who hit on Zoey, I’d never get any rest.” Lee never actually opened his eyes. His head was back, with his Rangers ball cap pulled over, shading his eyes. His feet were in scuffed-up boots he’d propped on the table. He appeared to be the perfect slacker, but all I had to do was whisper and my wolf would be at the throat of whatever threatened me.
    Mara huffed and turned back to me. “I was surprised to hear you do not have a social secretary. I will make sure one is assigned to you as soon as we reach the palace. You will have two hours before your meeting with our glorious queen. Please make sure you wear the dress Prince Declan has chosen for you. He took time out of his busy schedule to ensure that his dear sister-in-law will look her best. I will send a maid to help you.” She said that last bit like she wasn’t certain I would be able to dress myself.
    I shook my head because I could feel the noose tightening. Every extra person they put on me was someone I would more than likely have to shake later. “I have a maid. There’s no need to send anyone.”
    “I’ll make sure she’s properly covered,” Sarah promised, sitting back down at the table. “I’ve been dressing Zoey for a long time.”
    It was true. She often picked my clothes when Dev didn’t do it for me.
    “See that you do.” Mara looked back down at the notes she was carrying. “I will consider you to be in charge of her wardrobe. She has fittings arranged with the best dressmakers in the kingdom. Prince Declan set them up himself. Please see that she makes the appointments.”
    Sarah frowned because she knew that getting me to stand still while someone poked me with needles might be difficult.
    Neil was up and standing in front of me before I registered that someone was coming our way. He placed himself strategically in front of me but kept his body relaxed. He wouldn’t give me a reason to panic unless he thought the