Noble Blood

“See? Would you have told Duncan what you were if you could have?”

Jaden saw no point in telling the truth. “Yes.”

“Liar.”

Jaden smiled. “You get why, don’t you?”

“Fucker. You were keeping me safe, weren’t you?”

Jaden nodded.

“Don’t do it again. What if one of your ‘assignments’ had figured out who you were and come after me? I would have had no way of protecting myself.”

And there Duncan was wrong. Robin himself had promised to keep Duncan safe when Jaden gave his oath as a Blade. “Are you done being pissed at me?”

“I’m thinking about it.”

Moira patted their cheeks. “There now. Feel all better?”

“Not yet, but I will soon.” Jaden leered down at her, patting her on the ass. “What say we take this to the bedroom?”

Moira smacked him in the stomach. Hard. Her surprised expression rapidly turned pained.

Huh. Was that supposed to hurt?

“Ow.” She shook her hand out. “We need to figure out what to do about Henri. What if they really go to the Queen? Can she do something to remove Duncan as head of the clan?”

Jaden shrugged. “Never really cared much about White Court politics.”

“She can, if enough of the clan objects to my mating.” Duncan sagged against his desk. “Enough of them have felt the rough edge of Jaden’s tongue that they might relish the idea of hurting him through me.”

“There are options, but they might not be ones you like.” Akane rose from her seat. She’d been so quiet he’d almost forgotten his sometime-partner was still there. “Option one, remain White Court, even knowing you’ll more than likely lose your position as head of the clan. If that happens, Jaden should still be safe because of his, um, connections.” She looked non-plussed for a moment before her features smoothed back out into their usual calm facade. “Option two, remain White Court and fight not only your clan but your Queen to remain its lord. It will be an uphill battle I’m not sure you’ll win, especially since I can sense that most of your clan is leaning toward the Black now even if they don’t realize it.”

“Option three?” Jaden had the feeling he knew where this was heading.

“Give oaths to Oberon and join the Gray.”

“That would save us but leave the rest of the clan to Henri’s mercies.” Duncan’s fingers drummed on the edge of the desk. “I’m not sure that’s an option we can take.”

“We need to find out how much of the clan is still loyal to the White and Duncan, and how many are in this for what the Seer told Charles it will gain them.”

Akane’s head tilted, her expression one that sent dread through Jaden’s whole body. “The Seer?”

“She told Charles that the child of Dunne will one day perform an act that will change our world.”

Akane’s eyes closed. “That stupid fucker. Idiot male.” Her eyes snapped open. “When did she tell him that?”

Duncan opened his mouth to answer, but his brow furrowed. “I’m not sure. I do know that the reason they didn’t just give up on the marriage contract when Aileen mated Sean was because of that prophecy.” Duncan jerked. “Oh, fuck.”

Moira’s eyes met his, a hint of panic in them. “It’s not a child of Leo’s, is it? It’s a child of my father’s.” She looked around the room, her eyes wide and wild. “What the hell?”

“Don’t panic, sweetheart.” Jaden pulled her into the cradle of her arms, frowning when he noticed her shivers. “The thing about prophecy? It’s going to happen no matter what you do. If you’re the one who makes the decision, then so be it. If it’s Leo or Shane, then so be it. Fighting it will only make it happen in such a way that you’ll live to regret it.”

“He’s right.” Akane sat back down, her demeanor once more serene. “Don’t fight it. Make the decisions you feel are right. It’s possible it will be your child or another one of Sean’s grandchildren who make the crucial decision. Who knows? It’s the child of Dunne.”

“Then it won’t be Moira’s child.” Duncan smiled. “She’s a Malmayne now.”

Akane shook her head. “No, she’s not. She’s a Blackthorn.”

Jaden blinked. What the hell?

“You completed your blood bond with them first, right? That makes them both Blackthorns. The first bond is the one first recognized when it comes to a tribond.” Akane frowned. “Didn’t you know that?”

All three of them blushed. “No. Besides, we were busy.”

“I know.” Akane smirked. “I was keeping an eye on you, remember?”

Moira stepped in front of both of them. “Do I really want to know how much you saw?”

Akane huffed out a laugh. “Probably not.”

Something was itching at the back of Jaden’s brain. Something that might mean something, something a Dunne had said to Duncan. “Crap. What was it that Shane called you about the other night?”

“You mean that weird rhyme? ‘Darkness stalks the Malmayne clan. Salvation lies within one man. Accept the bond and pay the price. Shadow wraps around you thrice.’”

The three of them stared at each other.

“Oh, crap,” Akane whispered. “Where did he hear that?”

“He said he had his sources, but wouldn’t say.”

“Darkness stalks the Malmayne clan. The Black, obviously.” Duncan was off, once more prowling the room, but the difference was obvious. This time he was thinking, not stewing. “Salvation lies within one man.”

Jaden sprawled in the chair in front of Duncan’s desk, his preferred thinking spot. “One man. You?”

Duncan snorted. “Obviously not. You, perhaps?”

“Not sure. Accept the bond and pay the price?”

“The tribond,” Moira whispered, settling against the edge of Duncan’s desk. It was a good spot to watch them both, something she seemed to enjoy doing. “But what’s the price? The loss of the clan?”

“My rulership of the clan.” Duncan shook his head. “I would gladly give that up for my bond with you both. It’s not that hard a price to pay. I know I don’t want to live without either of you.”

Jaden was warmed straight through. Duncan had hoped to lead the Malmaynes into the future once Cullen had passed on. He’d spoken of it at length on the nights when his father’s autocratic decrees had weighed on him heavily. But now wasn’t the time to get sentimental. “Shadows wrap around you thrice.”

“The Gray Court?” Moira blew her hair out of her eyes. “We’ll leave the White for the Gray?”

“All of the Malmaynes who don’t wish to fall into the Black, or just the three of us?”

“Shadows wrap around you thrice. Was he speaking only of you, Duncan, or the three of you?” Akane watched them all, her eyes sparkling. She loved a good riddle. All dragons did.

“Either way, it seems to dictate our course, doesn’t it?” Jaden stood. “What say we all?”

Duncan took hold of Jaden’s hand. “If I have to give up my status at least I know you’ll be kept safe. Just because I give oaths to the Gray that doesn’t mean I don’t have every intention of continuing to investigate the clan. They’re still my family and not all of them are leaning toward the Black. I’m in.”

Moira took his other hand. “I’m in. I’ll have to let my family know, but I get the feeling it won’t bother them much. They’d rather see us safe and Gray than White and in constant danger.”

Jaden grinned. “Agreed.” He tugged them both closer. “Now can we go to bed and fuck like bunnies?” Two elbows hit him in the stomach. “Ow.”

“In the meantime, Duncan can always tell Glorianna what’s going on himself so that she knows to watch the rest of the Malmaynes.” Akane stood. “I’m going to make myself scarce for that conversation. You have fun!” She walked out of the room, headed for the gods knew where. It wasn’t like she had a car and Duncan hadn’t given her permission to borrow any of his.

“Hell. She’s right. I’d better call Glorianna. You two want to be here for this?”

Jaden already had hold of Moira and was dragging her out of the room. “We’ll be naked and waiting. Don’t take too long or we might start without you.” He looked down at Moira, who was desperately trying not to laugh