Noble Blood

“Go away. Please go away.”

Her gloved hand went to her mouth. Jaden sounded scared, desperate. Desolate.

Young. Gods above, how old had he been when he’d been changed?

“Who is there?” Wariness had entered Duncan’s voice, but it was an act, part of the illusion Duncan wove for the vampire. It might have been real all those years ago, but now Duncan trusted Jaden with his life.

“Nightmares. Go away.”

“Come out where I can see you.”

“No.”

“I will not hurt you.”

At that Jaden laughed. “No. But I might hurt you, and I do not want to do that.”

“I doubt you could hurt me, little one.”

“I am not a little one.”

“No, I can see that.”

Jaden gasped, his head rapping against the brick wall. Duncan’s fingers had reached out and tipped up Jaden’s chin, but the vampire ripped his face away, hiding his fangs behind his arm. “Get away.”

“No.”

“Go!”

Duncan shook his head. “No. You need help.”

“I don’t need help.”

Moira was astonished. If this was the way it had originally happened, Jaden had fought every instinct he had to save Duncan’s life. Even she could see how much pain he was in, how hungry he was. Duncan had seen that inner strength, that shining nobility, and taken him in, given him a life that wasn’t about pain and degradation. No wonder Jaden loved him so.

Duncan reached out and cupped Jaden’s cheek. “Yes, you do.” He smiled, slow and sensual. “I know exactly what you need.”

Jaden frowned, looking confused before the hopeless defeat took over once more. “Go away.” His eyes closed, his head banging once more against the filthy bricks.

“No. Jaden, I won’t leave you.”

The confused frown returned at Duncan’s declaration. “What?”

Duncan smiled. “Moira?”

She stepped forward, avoiding a rather large, angry-looking rat. If she hadn’t known this was a Sidhe fantasy she would have been shrieking and climbing the nearest wall. “Hello, Jaden.”

He shivered. The rags he wore barely covered him. “Who are you?”

She smiled. “Deep down, you know who I am.” She reached his side and took his hand. “We belong to you, and you belong to us.” Her free hand reached for his cheek. Even through the glove she could feel how cold he was. “We’ve needed you.”

His eyes closed again. “No. I’m a monster.” His eyes opened, those dark, Vampiric eyes, red flames dancing deep within their depths. “You have to leave.”

“Jaden.” Duncan placed his hand on the back of Jaden’s head. “I told you I know what you need.” He gently pulled the vampire forward, tilting his head and exposing his throat. “Drink, and bond with me.”

With a sob Jaden struck, sinking his fangs into Duncan’s neck. She could hear the faint sucking sounds as Jaden drank deep. He moaned, snuggling up against the taller Sidhe, his arms wrapped so tightly around Duncan she was surprised the other man could breathe.

Duncan’s head tipped back, a look of pure ecstasy on his face. He cradled the vampire to him, holding him, rocking against him. With a start she realized that Duncan was getting off on Jaden’s bite.

How could he not have known? He must have felt this the first time Jaden bit him. Or what about all of the times since then? Did he fool himself into thinking that the desire he felt was nothing more than the result of the bite, Jaden’s vampiric nature taking hold and playing with his body?

“Jaden. Amoureaux. Enough. Moira needs you now.”

Jaden lifted his crimson dotted lips, his gaze centering on her. The hunger in their black depths would have frightened her if she hadn’t seen the way he’d taken Duncan. For all his hunger he’d been surprisingly gentle, keeping the Sidhe from feeling anything more than he had to.

A red-stained tongue licked his lips. “Moira.” The hungry way he said her name had her quaking in her boots partially from fear, partially from lust. His eyes narrowed on her, his body quivering as if he expected her to run.

She had no intention of doing anything so stupid. She smiled and held out her hand. “Jaden.”

He was on her so fast she didn’t even have time to gasp. Twin pricks of white-hot pain were her only warning before pure liquid lust shot through her system. Every pull on her neck felt like he’d scraped his tongue across her clit. Her nipples throbbed with unfulfilled need. She pulled him down to her, content to let him take what he needed and give her everything he was.

Duncan stepped up behind Jaden, circling him from behind, his arm wrapping around Jaden’s waist. “You belong to us now.”

Jaden whimpered, his fangs retracting. There was wetness along her neck and she had no idea if it was blood, tears or a combination of both. She couldn’t find it in her to care, other than her bondmate suffered needlessly, something borne out by his words. “You don’t…you don’t need me.”

Duncan snorted. “Oh, really?” She watched him kiss Jaden’s ear. “We weren’t complete without you. Please, Jaden. Please come home with us.” He pressed a kiss to Jaden’s neck. “Make us whole.”

She nodded. “Don’t leave us alone again.”

Jaden stiffened in her arms. When his head lifted they were human again and filled with tears. “I don’t want to be alone.”

The momentary grief in Duncan’s expression matched the loneliness in Jaden’s. She had to fix this, had to be the one who warmed them both. “None of us have to be. We’re one now, like we were always meant to be.” She reached around until she had taken a hand of each of them. “Are we ready to go?”

Jaden gasped. “Wait!” He turned back. “The cat. Please? Let me take the cat.”

Duncan smiled. “Of course, Jaden. We can’t leave Jezebel here.”

“You named her already?” Jaden picked up the now docile cat, cradling her gently in his arms.

“You’ll name her after we get the both of you cleaned up.” Duncan took Moira’s arm and began to lead her from the alley.

Jaden petted the scrawny, filthy cat. “I like the name Jezebel.” He smiled, a ghost of the quirky humor he’d display in his prime. “She’s a streetwalker like me.”

Duncan’s free hand went to the small of Jaden’s back, but Moira could sense his irritation. He didn’t like hearing Jaden describe himself that way. She wondered how he’d reacted the first time he’d heard it. “I’ll have us all home shortly. I promise you, you’ll never be alone again.”

The frown was back in Jaden’s eyes, but it was too late. Mist swirled, and suddenly they were in a sumptuous bedroom. The style of the furniture was definitely turn of the century, the pieces done in mahogany with painted floral panels. The wardrobe was mirrored, the legs on all of the pieces tapered and straight with a slight bend at the bottom that led to a club-like end. The mirror on the dressing table had that sort of shield shape common to pieces of the period. The large four poster bed could easily fit all three of them. The floors were polished hardwood. The chair by the dressing table was done in a rose patterned fabric. The windows were covered in airy lace, the walls done in a pale rose.

She hated it on sight. She shuddered delicately. “Grandma, we’re home.”

Duncan sighed. “Moira.”

She shrugged. What could she say? She’d always been something of a mid-century modern girl. If she had her way the farmhouse back home would be done in bright colors and contemporary furniture. As it was she was going to have a lot of redecorating to do at Duncan’s place.

Jaden was looking around the bedroom with dazed eyes. “She’s right. This is…”

“Mothballs and Ben Gay.” She turned to Duncan with her hands on her hips. “Either the decor is going or I’m not coming.”