Текст книги "Noble Blood"
Автор книги: Dana Bell
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She eyed his naked chest, the hunger already building again. “You bet.” Moira tugged her shirt on with eager hands, dying to get him upstairs and naked again.
He put his hand around her waist and kissed her. “Let’s go.”
She allowed him to guide her out of the room and to the stairs.
“Good morning, Master Jaden, Lady Moira. Will you be having breakfast?”
Moira turned to face Ian, surprised to find herself blushing under the butler’s knowing gaze. “Um. In a little bit. Duncan and Jaden will be sleeping in.”
One of the butler’s eyebrows rose. “Very good, Lady Moira.” His lips quirked. “Sleep well, Lord Jaden.” He turned and headed back for the servant’s quarters, his shoulders suspiciously rigid.
“Good grief.” Jaden sagged against the banister. “Now he’s going to Lord me to death, isn’t he?”
Moira shrugged. “That’s what you get when you truebond a lord, Jaden.”
He sighed. “We aren’t truebonded yet.”
She stiffened, narrowing her eyes at him. “Meaning?” If he thought he was getting out of the bond, he had another thing coming.
“Down, tiger. I just meant we haven’t completed the Sidhe ceremony.” He took her hand and pulled her up the steps. “The Vampiric one is already done. You and Duncan belong to me, and no one can change that.”
She blinked. The Vampiric bond was a great deal more simplistic than the Sidhe bond. “You doknow the Vows, right?”
“Yup.” He continued forward, his stride easy, his voice low and full of promise. “I vow that from this day forward you shall not walk alone. My strength is your protection, my heart is your shelter, and my arms are your home. I shall serve you in all those ways that you require. I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care. Yours is the name I whisper at the close of each day and the eyes into which I smile each morning. I give you all that is mine to give. My heart and my soul I pledge to you. You are my Chosen One, you are my mate, and you are bound to me for eternity.”
Moira shuddered. To hear the Vows spoken in his rich, deep voice while she and Duncan held him was one of her deepest wishes. It wouldn’t mean shit in the cosmic scheme of things, but damn if she didn’t need that from him. “Yeah. Those are the Vows.” She longed to say them to both her men, but the time wasn’t quite right. She wanted her family there when they exchanged Vows, Binding them together through shared Sidhe magic, entwining their life forces for all eternity.
She blinked. “How long do vampires live?” Vampires were long lived and difficult to kill, but she had no idea if they aged at all.
“Forever, unless we’re killed. Luckily we’re very difficult to kill.”
Forever? “Do I want to know?”
He opened the bedroom door and pulled her through. “Every vampire, upon creation, is both blessed and cursed.” He kept his voice quiet so as not to wake Duncan. “Blessed with long life, but cursed with a weakness that will kill us instantly. That weakness is whispered over our bodies as we change, a magic so devastating not even the gods can remove it. The so-called gift of the Dark Queen to her chosen warriors.” The acidic contempt in his voice was mirrored in his face. “For each of us it’s something different. It could be as simple as a wooden stake through the heart, or as complex as a rowan branch, blessed in a sacred grove by a druid under a blue moon, thrust through your liver. The reasons that the folklore on how to kill a vampire varies wildly are because of that.” He dropped her hand and removed his jeans. “If I ever created another vampire I would be forced to name the way he dies. The magic would make me.”
She began removing her own clothes, eager to finish what they’d started. Where was her bra? She must have dropped it on the sofa. Ian would probably have a heart attack when he found it. “Have you thought about it?”
“Some. When the loneliness was bad.”
She wasn’t sure she wanted to know, and his expression didn’t exactly invite her to ask. “Oh.” She got up on her toes and kissed him. “You know you’ll never be alone again, right?”
“It’s okay, Moira.” He pointed toward the bed, where Duncan slept soundly. “Get in. I want to see if I can fuck you without waking the old… hmm.” He chuckled softly. “I have to remember not to call him that anymore.”
She slid into the bed, careful not to jar Duncan. “Why not?”
“He told me he doesn’t like it when his lover calls him that.” From the way he stood she could tell he still didn’t quite believe what was happening. True, he’d made them his bondmates, but she bet part of him still expected to be repudiated. His cheeks held an intriguing blush, though, so maybe Duncan had finally begun to get through to him. How could such a strong man be so vulnerable at the same time? It melted her heart to see that vulnerability, to know that she was one of the few people graced with the honor of seeing it. That made the gift of it all the more precious.
Well, she’d just have to prove to him that she wasn’t going anywhere. She crooked her finger at him. “C’mere, you. Let’s see what we can do without waking Duncan.” Jaden shot her one hell of a sexy grin before crawling over her. He stopped once they were nose to nose. Moira spread her legs, cradling him between her thighs. “You’re mine. You know that, right?” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m never going to let you go.”
He frowned. “We haven’t completed the Vows yet.”
She almost laughed. “Duncan and I discussed this. I want to say the Vows in front of my family and claim you both with them as witnesses.”
He paled. “You’re kidding, right?”
She shook her head. “No, love.”
“Your father will kill me.”
She tightened her arms. “No, he won’t.” Moira wouldn’t let him.
“Oh, yes he will. If he doesn’t, Leo will.”
Moira scoffed. “You forget something.”
“That would be?”
She smiled. “I’m half-Sidhe.” She pulled him down to her, letting her sparkling green lights envelope him. He jumped, startled at the soft caress of her light. “I protect what’s mine, even from my family.” She kissed him but wouldn’t allow him to deepen it. “But I don’t think it will be the issue you seem to think it will be.”
He looked skeptical. “We’ll see.” He leaned down and licked the side of her neck. “Are we going to make love or not?”
He was changing the subject, but that was all right. He’d see, and in the end they’d both get what they wanted. All three of them in one happy family knot.
Speaking of… “Can vampires have children?”
He stiffened. “No.”
She heard the question, and the pain, behind that word. “It’s all right. Any children Duncan and I have will be yours as well.” She petted his hair. “Yours to protect.”
His arms tightened around her to the point where she could barely breathe. “Mine.” His fangs sank deep, a white-hot pain that quickly became a blinding pleasure. He drew her into him, his mouth working against her flesh. Goosebumps ran up and down her body. Her arms tightened around him convulsively, holding him to her. His fangs lifted away from her neck, his tongue darting out. He licked the wounds, sealing them closed. “You’re so beautiful. My leprechaun. I thought I’d lost you.”
The thick voice told her just how much her acceptance meant to him. “You will never lose me, Jaden. We’re bondmates. You’ve held half my heart since the day we met.”
“I’d better be the one holding the other half,” Duncan muttered, rolling over to face them.
“Damn. Busted.” Jaden lifted his head, laughing down at her. There was a suspicious dampness to his lashes that she chose to ignore.
Duncan kissed Jaden’s shoulder. “I want to watch you fuck her, Jaden. I want you to know we’re both yours.”
“Will you let me take you later?” Jaden’s voice was rough, his body trembling in her embrace.
Duncan put his arm around Jaden’s waist. “You’ll be my first.”
Jaden closed his eyes and shivered. “Fuck me.”
“No, fuck Moira.” She tugged on his hair. “C’mon, Jaden. I’m waiting.”
“You shouldn’t leave a lady waiting.” Duncan slapped Jaden’s ass, making the vampire jump. “So get to it.” Duncan yawned.
Jaden leaned down and whispered in her ear. “He’ll be asleep before you come the second time.”
“I heard that, oh ye of little faith.”
She hid her giggle in Jaden’s shoulder. Duncan’s indignant statement would have worked if he hadn’t yawned in the middle of it.
“You know, I have two naked people in bed with me, one with a fit of the giggles and the other one yawning in my face. If I’m not careful I could develop a complex.” Jaden slid his hand down to her breast and began plucking her nipple. “Luckily I have an ego the size of Nebraska.”
She couldn’t stop laughing. “Only Nebraska?” She screeched as he began tickling her. “Stop, stop! Uncle!” Jaden stopped. Both men were looking at her with wicked amusement. “Oh, no. I swear. I willget even.” She squirmed, trying to buck Jaden off her, but the vampire wasn’t moving.
Duncan flexed his fingers. “Worth it?”
Jaden grabbed her hands and held her down. “Yup.”
“I will cut both of you off! I mean it.” She tried to clamp her legs shut but Jaden’s body was in the way.
“Now why would you do that?” Duncan’s hand landed on her breast. He plucked at her nipple, sending a jolt of pleasure/pain straight to her clit.
“You’d think we were planning on torturing her or something.” Jaden licked her other nipple before sucking it into his mouth.
“Oh boy.”
Jaden continued to suckle her while Duncan plucked her nipple. “You want Jaden inside you, sweetheart? Hmm? You want him to fuck you?”
“Yes.” She arched her back, her body confused. Should she move closer to Duncan and his wicked fingers or Jaden and his hot mouth?
The decision was taken out of her hands when Duncan’s hand moved down to her wet pussy. He began to circle her clit in a teasing glide. Her hips moved restlessly under his fingers, the combination of his strokes and Jaden’s mouth almost too much.
“You ready for me?”
She had a sudden vision of what she would like to do to both of them. “Wait.”
Duncan’s fingers stopped. Jaden stared down at her, his eyes bled all the way to black.
“I need to move.”
Jaden was frowning, but Duncan began to smile. “I like the way you think.”
She grinned and shoved at Jaden, who reluctantly moved from between her legs. “Okay. What’s going on?”
Duncan rolled over onto his back, his arms going behind his head. He spread his legs with an inviting smile. Moira got on her hands and knees between them and took hold of his cock.
“Getting the picture?”
Jaden grunted and got behind her, his hands on her hips. “I think I got it.”
She leaned down and sucked Duncan into her mouth, her tongue lapping at the vein running along the underside. Duncan moaned, his eyes drifting closed. Moira began to move, taking him as far down as she could. He tasted sweet and effervescent, like sparkling wine.
When Jaden’s cock nudged her opening she lifted her hips, inviting him inside. He slid against her. She was already wet and ready for him. “Please. Need you.”
He slid into her easily, setting a slow rhythm designed to drive her mad. She used the momentum of his thrusts to set the rhythm she used to suck Duncan’s cock, keeping them all on a slow, steady ride to orgasm. Jaden leaned over her, peppering her back with kisses. His hands went around her to press into the mattress, keeping his weight off of her but still enveloping her in his warmth. One of Duncan’s hands reached out and wrapped around Jaden’s forearm, connecting them all together. Silver lights began to dance as Duncan’s touch wove them together.
“Fuck, yes. Fuck her mouth, Duncan. Let her know how much you love it.”
Duncan’s eyes drifted open, landing first on Jaden and then on Moira.
Hell, she was all for picking up the pace. She tightened the muscles of her pussy, earning a groan from Jaden. She nodded, refusing to let Duncan slip from between her lips, her gaze locked on his face. She wanted him to know that she needed this as badly as he did.
Duncan thrust up into her mouth. She hummed in pleasure around him, loving the soft groan the vibration earned her. She used her tongue, licking the underside of his cock as he glided in and out of her mouth.
Behind her, Jaden was fucking her harder, faster, picking up Duncan’s rhythm, keeping them all connected. It wasn’t perfect, they weren’t living in each other’s minds this time, but it was damn close.
Jaden moved, the arm not held by Duncan lifting from the bed. His hand took hold of hers and brought it to her clit. “Stroke yourself, sweetheart. Make yourself come.”
She began to do as he said, but it wasn’t as easy as she thought it would be. Stroking herself, sucking Duncan and fucking Jaden, she had to find her own balance between the three. Once she did, she teetered on the verge of orgasm.
Duncan’s free hand landed in her hair. He drew in a hissing breath. “Close, sweetheart. Ready?”
She nodded, glad he’d warned her first. She was ready when he came in her mouth, swallowing every drop he gave her. He fell back with a sigh and a smile, his eyes glittering behind half-closed lids.
Now she could concentrate solely on what Jaden was doing to her. She bucked back into him, no longer allowing him to be the one who controlled their lovemaking. She was ready to come, and she wanted him to come with her.
She tightened her muscles, milking him, trying to drag him closer to the edge. He shuddered, her actions threatening to push him over an edge he was fighting away from. “I’ll come after you do, sweetheart. I want to feel you go over first.”
She shared a look with Duncan. “Make him come.”
The corners of Duncan’s mouth lifted.
“Wait– Oh, hell.”
She had no idea what Duncan was doing to Jaden, but from the sounds of it Jaden reallyliked it. Jaden’s smooth strokes became jerky, uneven. He began to pound into her, driving himself to orgasm. The hand holding her own let go and grabbed hold of her hip, holding so tightly she’d have a bruise there.
She loved it. Moira gave back everything her vampire gave her, and finally begged for one thing more. “Bite me.”
Sharp pain, then a pleasure so intense she thought she would black out. Her entire body seized as the orgasm consumed her, leaving her too breathless to cry out.
When she was finally able to open her eyes she found her head resting on Duncan’s stomach, his limp, sated cock still close to her lips. Jaden lay beside her, panting softly, one arm draped over both her and Duncan, keeping them connected.
Underneath her, Duncan snored lightly.
“I told you he’d be asleep before you came for the second time.”
She turned her head to glare at him. “That was only one.”
He yawned. “True. I owe you one.” He snuggled closer, pulling her up so that she was sandwiched between him and Duncan. Duncan, oblivious, slumbered on.
Moira kissed Jaden’s forehead, knowing he was fading fast. “Sleep, a ghra.You can pay me back later.”
She waited until both men were breathing evenly before slipping out of the bed. She watched them for a moment before slipping into her clothes and gliding out the door.
No one would harm her men while she stood watch.
No one.
Chapter Eight
Akane sat at the Dunne kitchen table and pondered how to get out of the trap she found herself in. She couldn’t exactly chew her own arm off, but she was thinking about it. Maybe if she bled enough they’d try and take her to the hospital where she could make her escape.
The Dunnes had been everything hospitable, making her feel welcome, even giving her a room at Shane’s insistence. He’d even arranged to have her car parked…somewhere. The bastard. He’d guessed she wouldn’t leave without her baby.
If he hid it in some kind of pasture she’d kill him. She did notwant her baby to smell of eau de cow patty.
She’d crawled into bed only after Shane made it clear she wasn’t going anywhere. He’d locked the door on her, leaving her no option but to go out the window. When she had, he’d been waiting. Bastard. He’d given her that smug smile, escorted her back to her room and left her with a fucking pat on the head.
That was when she knew she was in hell.
Shane was watching her out of those damn sapphire eyes. His big body was relaxed, his scarred farmer’s hands curled around his cup of coffee. He studied her like she was an exotic bug and he was just waiting to see which way she would crawl.
She hated it.
She was pretty sure she hated him. Never mind in the bright light of day he’d been even better looking than she’d first thought. His red-gold hair curled ever so slightly at the nape of his neck. She had the wicked urge to drag her nails through it. His kissable lips were quirked in a knowing smile. His big, booted feet were stretched out under the table, nearly reaching her chair. She bet he broke six foot two easily.
She especially hated that he was so much taller than she was. At five foot four she was shorter than average, but still.
“Shane, does your guest need more coffee?”
He didn’t even look at the tiny Sidhe female. “No, Ma. She’s fine.”
“Well, then. I hope the room was to your liking, Miss Russo.”
She couldn’t bring herself to bite off Aileen Dunne’s head. The woman had done nothing to deserve it other than give birth to the hulking ape across from her. She pasted a smile on her face for the poor woman. “It was fine, thank you.”
Sean Dunne settled into the chair next to his son. He had a suspiciously blank look on his face. “When did they say they’d be here?”
“Moira wanted to wait until dusk.” Aileen glanced out the kitchen window. “I’d give them another ten minutes.”
Moira Dunne?Shit, that meant Jaden was on his way. “Can I go now?”
The elder Dunnes lowered their heads, probably to hide their fucking laughter.
Shane shook his head. “Nope.”
Nope?“That’s all you can come up with, Jethro? Nope?”
His father got up from the table and stood at the back door. “They’re here.”
Shit.She couldn’t let Jaden see her. She looked at Aileen, letting some of her desperation show through. Surely the woman would understand and let her sneak out somehow. “Can I use the bathroom?”
“I don’t think so.” Shane took a sip of his coffee.
She kicked him. Hard.
“Ow.”
Her head tilted in complete disbelief. The last guy she’d kicked that hard had to deal with a broken bone. This idiot sounded like he’d barely banged a knuckle. “I have to pee,” she gritted out through clenched teeth.
“Liar liar, pants on fire.”
That was it. She was going to reach across that table and splatter Mrs. Dunne’s baby boy all over her nice, clean kitchen.
“Good evening, Dad!” A tall man who bore a striking resemblance to Sean Dunne stepped into the kitchen. Behind him was a short redhead with big, smiling brown eyes. “Hello, Mom. What’s the emergency?”
“Hello, Leo, Ruby.” Aileen kissed her tall son, then embraced her daughter-in-law. “The emergency is getting out of the blue sports car.”
“Duncan’s having problems?” Leo grabbed the coffeepot and poured himself a mug. He held it up. “Ruby?”
She shook her head and took a seat at the Dunne table. “Hi. I’m Ruby Dunne. You are?”
Akane stared at the hand held out to her. “Out of here.” She stood up, ready to bolt out the door.
“Too late.” His voice whispered across her senses, so low she doubted that any of the others had heard him.
“Ma, we’re home!” A fiery little redhead the spitting image of Aileen Dunne bounced through the back door and straight into Aileen’s waiting arms. Behind her came two men, one dark as sin, the other fair as the sun.
“Aw, shit.” Her shoulders slumped.
Jaden looked startled for only a moment before his brows drew down. “Akane? What the hell are you doing here?”
Now she’d have to explain why Robin had sent her, and what she was doing on the Dunne farm.
Could things get any worse?
Jaden glared at the dragoness. Robin had to have sent her to keep an eye on him, and he didn’t like it one little bit. “Well?”
She turned to face him, delicate hands on tiny little hips. If he didn’t know better he’d think she was fragile. “This wasn’t my idea.” She pointed at Shane, one foot tapping impatiently. “ Hemade me stay.”
He glanced over at the eldest Dunne child. “Are you causing trouble again?”
Shane pointed at himself, his eyes wide. Probably the only person falling for the man’s innocent act was his mother, who patted him on the shoulder and handed him a cookie. “There, dear. I’m sure there’s no trouble.” The Sidhe female glared at Jaden like it was all somehow hisfault.
Jaden had a hard time not laughing in his mother-in-law’s face. Gods, he likedthe hybrid. He had a dragon female corralled on his farm, growling in aggravation. It was the most emotion he’d ever seen in Akane, and he’d known her for years. He had a high Sidhe lady up in arms, and…yup, a leprechaun hiding in his den, having a laughing fit.
Damn, that man can move fast.
A stinging slap landed on his arm. “Ow.”
“Who’s that?” Moira had her arms crossed over her chest. She stared at Akane, her green eyes glittering like emeralds.
Uh-oh.“That’s Akane.”
“And?” Moira drawled.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, darling.”“She’s a Blade.”
Now Akane was glaring at him. “Thanks a lot.”
He returned her glare with interest. “If you think I’m the only one getting run over by that particular bus you are sadly mistaken.”
“So? I mean, why is she here?” Moira was still glaring at Akane, who could probably eat Moira in one dainty bite.
“She’s sometimes my partner.” “Before you ask, no, we’ve never slept together.”
Arms reached around, plucking Moira from his side. “Down, girl.” Duncan’s soothing tones took the fight right out of his little leprechaun. “I’ve met Akane once or twice. Trust me when I say she’s never been Jaden’s type.”
Now Akane looked offended. Great.Jaden pinched the bridge of his nose and wondered if he’d be considered a coward if he ducked into the den with Sean.
Then again, did he really want to face his new father-in-law by himself?
Hmm. Pissed off dragon, pissed off leprechaun.He mentally shrugged. Might as well piss off the Sidhe lady. I wouldn’t want to miss anybody.He pressed a kiss to Moira’s forehead. “You know you’re one of my onlys, sweetheart.”
He risked a quick glance at the Dunne family. Shane looked amused, Leo looked outraged, and Aileen looked…smug?
It’s official. This whole family is freaky.
“I heard that.”Moira turned to look over Duncan’s shoulder at her family. She had to stand on tip-toe to do it. “Didn’t Mom tell you about the tribond?”
Shane continued to sit there, looking amused. He was beginning to understand why Akane was so pissed off. Leo, on the other hand, did as predicted. “What tribond?” The Sidhe’s eyes had narrowed dangerously, little golden sparks dancing along his skin.
“Leo.” Ruby took hold of her husband’s arm. “Down boy. Jaden’s one of the good guys, remember?”
Leo’s hand covered Ruby’s, holding her to him. Jaden didn’t know if it was out of affection for the woman or to protect his mate from the big bad vampire. “I’m trying to.”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Jaden blinked. Shane was standing, ambling through the kitchen toward Akane, who was a lot closer to the dining room now.
“I’m leaving.”
Shane shook his head. “I’m still not sure why. You’ll only fly back and eavesdrop anyway, so why not sit, be comfortable and have some of Ma’s apple pie?”
Akane snorted. “God, Farm Boy. Why not offer to let me milk the cows, because that would be so much fun.”
Shane took hold of her arm and began leading her back to the kitchen table. Akane pulled on his hold, but to Jaden’s shock she didn’t get free. “As you wish.” He set Akane down in a chair and handed her a plate. “Enjoy your pie.”
What the fuck?Jaden had taken the hybrid with difficulty, true, but the fact that he’d just manhandled a dragon? That took strong to a whole new level.
Did that crazy hybridlet me kidnap him?
The small jump Moira gave, the speculative gleam in her eyes as she stared at her brother, let him know she’d heard his thoughts loud and clear. If Moira thought Shane had allowed Jaden to take him, then maybe Jaden was on the right track.
Akane ate her pie, her body tense. Jaden bet she was ready to bolt at the first sign that Shane’s vigilance had waned.
“Shane, be nice to the girl. She’s not used to us yet.” Aileen Dunne smiled at Akane, and the dragon suddenly looked terrified. “But I’m thinking she will be.”
“Not in this lifetime.” Akane shoveled another piece of pie in her mouth. “Thanks for the pie, though.”
Jaden almost laughed. Akane was brutally honest when cornered, and it looked like Shane had managed to push all her freak-out buttons. “All right. Let me hazard a guess. Akane, Robin sent you here to make sure I didn’t fuck up—”
“Jaden Blackthorn! Language!”
Jaden pretended to wince. It had been a very long time since he’d been scolded by a mother. “Sorry. Shane caught you and made you come inside. Did he threaten the car?”
The dragon snarled, the sound low and inhuman.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He turned to Leo. “The rest of us are here for a family meeting about the Malmaynes.”
“Kaitlynn and Cullen are dead. I thought it was over.” Leo sat, pulling a blushing Ruby into his lap. Those two were so cute together it made his fangs ache. “How wrong was I?”
“Completely.” Duncan sat, placing Moira next to him. He gestured for Jaden to take the empty chair to her left, bracketing her between them. Duncan was making a statement, but it put him dangerously close to Leo, who still didn’t look happy about how close Jaden was to his baby sister. The Sidhe was giving him some serious stink-eye. “Charles is set to try and take over the clan. If he does, he’ll begin pressuring Leo to mate with one of his daughters.”
Leo winced. “Ugh. Not those two. Constance and Cecelia are almost as bad as Kaitlynn was.”
“Not quite.” Jaden leaned forward, folding his hands on the table top. “They aren’t bat-shit crazy. They’re just mean.”
“True.” Leo glanced at Duncan, his cheeks turning pink. “No offense.”
“None taken. My sister wasbat-shit crazy.” Duncan held Moira’s hand. “They’re also trying to set aside my bond with Moira and Jaden.”
There was silence around the Dunne table. “ Bothof them?” Leo leaned forward, staring at Duncan. “You’ve declared them bothyour mates?”
Duncan opened his mouth to respond when an explosion rocked the house. Jaden had Moira on the ground so fast he didn’t know if she even understood what had happened. He pulled Duncan down next, forcing the Sidhe over Moira. “Protect her. I’ll find out what’s going on.”
Duncan nodded, his Seeming falling away, silver stars dancing around him. “Be careful, amoureaux.”
“I will.” He stood and gestured toward Akane to join him. “Let’s go.”
“I’ve got the front, you get the back.” That freaky eye of hers was glowing. Golden horns peeked out of her hair. She was moments from changing into her dragon form, ready to do battle and defend the Dunnes.
He nodded and misted through the door, rematerializing on the roof of the porch. Lucky for him night had fallen while sitting in the Dunne kitchen.
That luck was offset by the blast radius around what used to be the Dunne barn. “Fuck me.”
“No thanks, your mates might not appreciate it.” That hissing voice had him smiling. Akane had joined him, her wings flapping silently beside him, her amber gaze narrowed on the barn. “Smell anything funny?”
He sniffed, sorting through the various scents. “Redcaps.”
“Headed this way. Guess what else is out there?”
He sniffed again. “Shit. Someone is using a salamander?” The creatures were animals, trainable but not very bright. Salamanders were one of the few things that could kill a vampire before he knew what hit him.
“Let me deal with the salamander. You take on the redcaps.”
“My pleasure.” Jaden allowed his Seeming to drop.
“There. Go.”
He saw where her claw was pointing. Three figures stalked across the ground. He recognized one of them as the redcap he’d drunk from earlier. “They’re Charles’s pets.”
“Great. We now have proof positive he’s working with the Black, if not a card-carrying member himself. We’ll deal with him later.”
Jaden nodded, not taking the time to fill her in. He already had proof positive, but this wasn’t the time and place to give out the deets on Charles’s bad boy ways. He flowed along the roof, eager for the coming fight. He waited until they were almost to the house before dropping into the middle of them, startling them all.
Once again he found himself thanking the gods that redcaps were dumber than a box of rocks. He got hold of the first redcap, determined to take him out quickly. Jaden grabbed the redcap’s head and twisted, snapping his neck. He let the redcap fall and raced toward the next one. He couldn’t afford to let them into the house.
The ground under him trembled. The redcap on his left let out a horrified screech as he was sucked into the earth through a hole the size of a pin. There should have been a fountain of blood and gore flying through the air as the redcap was essentially strung through that hole, but the immense gravity just sucked everything in until there was nothing left, not even a drop.
Sean Dunne stood on the porch, the light of battle in his eyes. He grinned down at the last redcap. “Do you want to be joining your friend?” The strong lilt of Ireland was in the leprechaun’s voice. His black hair gleamed like the richest earth, his skin showing the faintest whorls common among those whose element was the earth itself. His green eyes had darkened to the color of summer leaves.
And he looked pissed.
Jaden damn near did a happy dance. These idiots had confronted a leprechaun on his own fucking land, threatened his family. He bowed to Sean Dunne, according him the respect he deserved. “Allow me.”
Sean, never taking his eyes from the redcap, nodded.
“Da! More on the south side!” Leo came running, golden sparks trailing behind him.
“Where’s your brother?” Sean followed his middle child around the house and out of Jaden’s sight.
Jaden pointed toward the redcap. “I know you! Didn’t I feed from you?” He licked his lips. “God, I hope you bathed today. Last time you left a nasty aftertaste.”
The redcap’s hand went to his neck, his eyes wide. “NO!” The idiot turned and ran, hand still over his neck.
