Noble Blood

Moira frowned. “What the hell?”

Duncan squeezed her hand, silencing her. “Who told you that?”

“The Seer.” Charles shivered. Moira understood why. The Seer was something of an enigma. The last of her kind, her wisdom was sought by many and she gave to all, White, Black or Gray, equally. She claimed no allegiance, though rumor had it that Oberon had offered her sanctuary on more than one occasion when her predictions had caused friction between the Courts.

Duncan took a deep breath. “What makes you think that child will come from Leo?”

“Because he is the only one who is a Dunne Sidhe. We need him bound to us, otherwise we would have let the contract lapse when that bitch mated the leprechaun all those years ago.” Charles made a moue of distaste. “A leprechaun? You might as well mate my butler, or worse, a human.”

Moira saw Jaden slip into the room without a sound. He put his finger to his lips, his eyes glued to the man in Duncan’s grip. From the revulsion he exuded he’d heard more than enough of Charles’s twisted logic.

“You want to be able to control this child of Dunne.”

“He must be a Malmayne, you know that! You know why.” Charles shuddered. “You know what she’ll do to us if we don’t deliver what we promised.”

For one brief moment Duncan looked horrified before his expression smoothed out. “Yes, I do. Thank you, Charles.”

Charles blinked rapidly. “You.” He started to lunge for Duncan but pulled himself up short. “You rolled my mind.”

Duncan turned away in disgust. “Jaden.”

“Yes, my lord?”

Moira smiled. Jaden’s tone was respectful, his stance one of easy readiness. She’d seen that stillness in him just before she’d attacked him that day he’d kidnapped Ruby.

“Blood debt is owed. Charles is going to pay it.”

“Wait! Duncan, I owe no blood debt. The Dunnes owe us!”

Duncan snarled. “You conspired to have me killed. You’re working with an agent of the Black Court, trying to circumvent prophecy for your own gain. You attacked the Dunne farm knowing that I was there with my mates, hoping one or all of us would be killed. For the crime of working with the Black alone your life is forfeit.” Charles paled. “For the crime of attacking your lord and his bondmates, your life is forfeit. I judge you guilty by your own word and hand. The sentence is death, to be carried out immediately.”

“That stupid human female stole our destiny, Duncan! We should have been mated into the Dunnes, the precious child ours to shape. Think about it! What could we do with such a child! All we have to do is arrange a co-marriage with one of the Malmayne females and the world is ours!”

Duncan let Charles go. “The Hob himself has sent his Blade to mete out justice for your crimes.”

Charles gulped. “Blade?” He looked around the room wildly.

Duncan nodded. “Jaden?”

“Yes, my lord?”

“He’s all yours.”

Jaden smiled and dropped his seeming. Moira, for all that she’d seen Jaden feeding before, hid her face in Duncan’s chest when the first scream was ripped out of Charles’s throat.

Duncan led her out of the room. “This is a side of him, of us, you’ll have to get used to, Moira.”

She nodded. “I know.” She lifted her head and stared into his loving, worried eyes. “I guess I’m not the warrior I thought I was.”

One brow rose. “You pelted a redcap with stones hard enough to break bones and didn’t flinch when I put a bullet into its head. But this bothers you?”

“Jaden’s bite is…intimate. It’s ours. You understand? And now he’s using it to kill.”

Duncan nodded slowly. “Would it help if he tore Charles limb from limb instead?”

She pictured Jaden doing just that and shuddered. “No.”

“You have to let it go. He’s a Blade. Most of the time we won’t see that side of him. We’ll just get to clean him up and love him when he comes home to us.”

“Thank you for that.” Jaden stepped out of the room, carefully wiping the blood from his lips. “It’s done. I need to contact Robin so he knows what happened here. The rest of the clan will also need to be investigated to make sure Charles wasn’t the only one in the Black’s pocket.”

“Kaitlynn, Charles, Henri, possibly my father. Who knows how far or deep into the clan this goes?” Duncan sighed wearily. “What has happened to my clan? How come I didn’t see it?”

Moira smacked him in the arm. “No pity party. You’ve been lord for a few months, most of those spent in the throes of mating sickness. Your father was murdered, your sister put to death. Your father worked hard to keep you ignorant, didn’t he?” Duncan winced, confirming her thoughts. “A lot has happened. Now we know there’s a problem and we can deal with it, hopefully before it’s too late.”

Duncan’s slow smile was precious to her. “My practical leprechaun.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re right. We need to find the root of the problem and kill it before it drags the rest of the clan down.”

“I agree.” Jaden stepped toward them, holding out his hands. “But first things first. Moira?”

He stood as if he was uncertain of his welcome. Moira ran into his arms, eager to let her lover know that, no matter what, she would be there for him.

He held her tight, his body relaxing into her. “Thank you.”

That soft whisper told her all she needed to know.

Chapter Nine

Akane sat back on her bed with a smile. “They’re fine. I have a report to file with Robin, though.” She pushed her hair out of her eyes. “I think I’m going to request to be assigned to this case. It’s right up my alley.” She rubbed her hands together with glee. “Nailing bastards working with the Black is always a joy.”

Sean Dunne handed her a cup of tea. “It must be difficult for you, being what you are.”

How he’d figured out her most closely guarded secret she’d never know, but he’d followed her into her bedroom and asked her to “keep an eye” on his daughter with a wink and a roguish smile. She glared at him, daring him to say more.

And, like the cheeky Irishman he was, he did. “A hybrid, like my son, and the daughter of the Seer herself. That’s quite a burden to live with.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, his expression more fatherly than any she’d seen on his face yet. “We know what a burden it is to be a hybrid, Akane. We know what a blessing it can be. If you need to talk, my family is here. We’re in your debt.”

She blinked back sudden tears. Sean Dunne had just offered something she’d gotten from very few people in her long life: complete acceptance. There was no pity or awe in his face when he gave her that gift, just the look of a father who understood what it was like to raise a special child. “Shane is a lucky man.”

Sean smiled. “Luckier than you know.” He patted her absently before walking toward the bedroom door. “Get some rest. If you’re going to be calling the Hob here I’d best warn Aileen. That man can eat quite a bit for all his small size.”

She blinked. Robin Goodfellow had eaten here? When? The way Sean spoke of him, partly resigned, partly amused, the Hob must make regular visits.

The Hob never made regular visits to anyone but Oberon.

“Huh.” She shook her head and decided to take Sean’s advice. She was exhausted after the battle and in need of some sleep. She’d contact Robin tomorrow, after a good night’s rest.

“Go boy! Go!”

She was on her feet in a trice, heading for the window to look down into the yard. She hid a surprised smile behind her hand. A glowing red figure dropped what looked like a metallic ball at the feet of the eldest Dunne child, its tail wagging a mile a minute. Shane picked it up and threw it, encouraging the creature to run after it.

Shane Dunne was playing fetch with her salamander.

“That man is so strange.”