Dare to Believe

Kaitlynn sighed, totally exasperated. “Bring me the little human whore, stuff her in the cage Shane was in, and leave her to me. Even someone of your limited intellect can understand that order, yes?”

Jaden snarled. “Careful, sweet cheeks.”

He shuddered once again when she smiled. There was just something…off…about her that made him think of spiders.

Jaden hated spiders.

“Bring me the girl, stuff her in a cage, and forget about her. Understand, Mr. Blackthorn?”

Jaden took a deep breath. He did not like the direction her thoughts, obvious on her face, were going.

“Duncan will not be happy if we hurt an innocent girl.”

That saccharine sweet expression crossed her face once again, and Jaden wondered where Daddy Dearest had gotten to. Cullen was one of the few people capable of dealing with the Deranged Darling.

“Duncan can go to hell. Do what I told you, vampire.”

Jaden did his best to mimic her smile. “No.”

He was pretty sure the slap she landed on his face was supposed to hurt. It probably would have left a bruise on a Sidhe face. On a vampire, it was barely noticeable. “Do as I tell you or I call Mr. West.”

The fact that the threat was delivered in the same sickly sweet tones she normally spoke in only made her seem creepier. Time was running out on Kaitlynn Malmayne.

If it wasn’t for Duncan, the bitch would already be dead. It was becoming his damn mantra. If it wasn’t for Duncan, if it wasn’t for Duncan…

Jaden turned and stormed out of her office and out of the house. He headed straight towards his car, a classic black Mustang. As soon as he was off Malmayne land he pulled out his cell phone.

“Duncan? Jaden. Where the hell are you? Get your ass to Nebraska. We have more trouble.”

He was worried. Duncan hadn’t responded mentally in almost a week. Wherever he was, he was out of range of their bond and a cell phone tower.

Or he was dead. In which case Jaden had every intention of finding the person or persons responsible and making them pay in exquisitely painful ways.

“Contact Duncan? But why?” Aileen’s voice was tight with anxiety and hope.

“I don’t know, but Robin mentioned it just before he left. He said, and I quote, ‘There is another Malmayne.’”

Ruby watched Leo pace back and forth before the sofa. His parents sat together on it, Sean’s hand resting firmly on top of Aileen’s clasped ones. Ruby had the impression he was keeping her from wringing her fingers to pieces. Moira was currently reading in her room. Ruby knew that the pressure of Leo’s mating and Shane’s continued absence was beginning to tell on her.

“Maybe he meant Duncan and Moira could fulfill the contract.” Ruby turned back to Leo to catch his reaction.

“Oh, no! Duncan’s much too old for Moira!” Aileen’s voice was very firm.

“Um, no offense, but you guys live practically forever. What would age have to do with it?”

“Moira’s barely fifty years old!”

Leo nodded. “Anyone under fifty is considered a child still.”

“What does that make you? A precocious teenager?”

Leo’s expression heated. “Yup. Wait until I hit my prime.”

“Oh, hell.” Ruby rolled her eyes. “So how old is Duncan?”

“Duncan Malmayne is over five hundred years old.”

Ruby whistled. “Wow. A mature man, huh?” She ignored Leo’s growl and focused on Aileen. “So he’d have to wait to claim her?”

Aileen looked absolutely horrified. “My Moira couldn’t handle a man like Duncan Malmayne!”

Ruby smiled tightly. “Moira could handle just about anything.” She still hadn’t quite forgiven Moira for the pain she’d caused Leo, despite the fact that they’d apparently made up. She turned to Sean. “Do leprechauns mature more quickly than Sidhe?”

Sean nodded reluctantly. “Yes. By fifty we’re considered adults, but our life spans are shorter than the Sidhe.”

Ruby looked at Aileen, who had “stubborn refusal” written all over her face. She shrugged. “It was just a thought.”

“Perhaps he meant Duncan could help us get Kaitlynn off my back.” Leo ran both hands through his hair, tugging on it in frustration. “I just wish Shane was back already.”

“Can we take the Hob’s word for it that Shane is free?” Sean’s voice and expression were skeptical.

Leo nodded. “Yeah, Robin still feels he owes Mom for something, so I believe him. Besides,” Leo shot an irritated look at Ruby, “he likes my wife.”

Ruby grinned. “Your wife likes him, too.” And despite their conversation that one word sent a thrill through her. She was married to Leo Dunne.

Granted, in the human world it wasn’t legal, but they’d be taking care of that once Shane was home.

Leo tried to stare her down, one black brow rising arrogantly. “Don’t like him too much.”

She blew him a kiss just as Sean bolted up from the sofa.

“Sean?” Aileen’s face was full of fear as she stared at her husband.

“I feel Shane!”

Ruby got to see just how quickly a leprechaun could move on his land. Sean disappeared so quickly she didn’t even see a blur.

Leo said something to his mother in that lyrical language Ruby didn’t know then ran out the door after his father at a much more human pace. Aileen and Ruby stared at each other, Aileen’s eyes filled with hope and dread.

“What’s happening?” Moira’s voice came from the top of the stairs. She made her way down, a light frown on her face. “I just saw Dad run like a bat out of hell down the drive, with Leo right behind him.”

“Shane.” Aileen beamed at her daughter, tears in her eyes. “Your father sensed Shane.”

Moira gasped, her hand clenching on the banister. “He’s sure?”

At Aileen’s nod, Moira let out a war-whoop that practically shook the house. “Where is he?”

“Right behind me, darling.”

Jaden watched the human, Ruby, turn to face him. He was leaning against the doorjamb, making sure to keep his body out of the Dunne house. Some vampires really did have to be invited inside, and he was hoping this would lull the women into a false sense of security.

“Shane?” Ruby tried to peer around him, her expression happy. He hated that very soon he’d be forced to wipe that expression from her face.

“Shane’s not there,” Aileen answered. She stepped forward, her Sidhe power wrapped around her like a golden cloak. “Get away from my house, vampire.” Aileen began to glow. The golden flecks sprinkling her skin held a life of their own as they danced in a hypnotic pattern, one that Jaden ignored. He smirked at Aileen, keeping it smug even though he felt anything but.

“Of course.” His gaze drifted over to Ruby. “As soon as the girl comes out.” His eyes changed, black growing impossibly blacker, pulling his prey to him. “Come here, girl.”

His voice was seduction itself, a promise that coiled around the woman’s senses and tightened, drawing her forward one hesitant step at a time.

“I don’t think so, vampire.”

He blinked at the vision of redheaded fury standing between him and his prey. Moira Dunne growled, positioning herself in front of Ruby, ready to defend her sister-in-law to the death.

Jaden tsk’d. It wouldn’t do to let Moira know he was impressed. It took a lot of guts for a Sidhe that young to stand up to a fully mature vampire, no matter the circumstances. “Get out of the way, sweetheart.

I’m not here for you.”

“Are you kidding me? Do you know what my brother would do if I let someone like you touch his mate? Hell, he’ll probably be pissed you breathed the same air.”

Jaden didn’t bother to hide his fangs as they dropped down. “Sidhe. So stuck up.” He focused his will on Moira