Authors: Dana Marie Bell
Tags: #Paranormal Romance, #Fiction, #General, #Romance, #Paranormal, #Contemporary
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!”
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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.
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“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 and pulled. “Come out here, my pretty. Come to me, sweet.” His gaze remained locked on her face though it longed to roam over her luscious curves. “I’ve always been partial to redheads.”
Moira began to move forward. He heard a gasp of fear.
“No!” Aileen pushed Ruby out of the way in a desperate attempt to get to her daughter, causing Ruby to stumble. Moira turned and, without blinking, backhanded her mother into the wall.
Huh. Wonder what that’s all about.
Apparently Moira had some unresolved issues with her mother.
He didn’t bother hiding his grin. Aileen had already made her opinion of him known.
Aileen slumped to the ground, dazed, as Moira continued forward.
“I thought you preferred brunettes?” Ruby asked, obviously trying to get his attention off Moira.
Jaden kept his eyes on what he suspected was the
real
prize in the Dunne house. “Sorry, sweet. I’ve always had a thing for feisty redheads.” Moira started to step over the threshold and into the vampire’s waiting arms.
“Oh, hell.” Ruby ran forward, pushing in front of Moira. “Leave her alone, Bunnicula, I’m here.”
Jaden blinked, accidentally breaking his thrall on Moira. “Bunnicula?
Bunnicula?
Do I look like the type to suck on carrots?”
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Moira shuddered and stepped back. “I don’t know. Bunnicula seems pretty appropriate. How many carrots
have
you sucked on?” And she smirked in that annoying way that men everywhere recognized.
“Women.” Jaden shook his head sadly. “They don’t pay me enough for this shit.” He glared at Ruby.
“Come on out here and let’s get this over with.”
“No.” Moira pulled Ruby back, once again standing in front of her.
Jaden sighed.
Damn. Now I’m going to have to bruise that porcelain skin
. “You know, I tried to do this nicely. Now I’m just going to have to do it the other way.” And with that, he stepped over the threshold, his eyes once again glowing red.
“Um, I thought he couldn’t come in here without an invitation.” Ruby backed up warily.
“Wrong kind of vampire, apparently,” Moira breathed, backing up along with her.
“Apparently.” Jaden crooked a finger at Ruby, allowing the nail to grow into a long, black claw. He had no intention of actually
using
his claws on either girl, but damn if they weren’t great for intimidation.
He only hoped they worked. “Come here, girl. Someone wants to see you.”
“No!” And Moira rushed him, determination in every line of her small body.
Moira knew some kick boxing from the way she used her feet. Jaden was beyond impressed. She lashed out with a spinning heel kick that would have knocked the head off a lesser being, one not meant to be a soldier in the Dark Queen’s army.
Fortunately, thanks to his son-of-a-bitch sire, her ploy didn’t work. All it did was rock his head on his neck. He moved to block her next strike, holding his greater strength in check. It had to be obvious to Moira that she was going to lose. He could see it in her face that she knew she couldn’t defeat him, but that rock solid determination to keep him away from her sister-in-law still burned brightly enough to
really
impress him.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ruby dash out of the house, screaming for lover-boy at the top of her lungs.
Perfect.
Time to end this.
Jaden put Moira down as gently as he could, knocking her out with the least amount of damage he could inflict.
He stared down at Moira with a wicked smile. “Beautiful, brave Moira.” He brushed his hands through her hair, reluctant to leave her behind.
She’d proven herself to him. Now he was going to prove himself to her.
He pressed a soft kiss to her lips just before he sank his teeth into her neck.
That kiss promised that they weren’t done. Not by a long shot.
“You shouldn’t have interfered, beautiful.” He stroked her hair away from her forehead, his expression hot and possessive. He licked her sweet
leprechaun
blood from his lips. He’d forgotten that 98
Dare to Believe
about her, though he’d never forget it again. He pressed a soft kiss to her unresponsive lips. “I’ll be seeing you soon.”
“Leo! Leo! Help me!” Ruby ran screaming, knowing somehow that hiding wouldn’t work against the creature that pursued her.
Ruby felt a strong wind pass her by and she stopped, hoping against hope that Sean was heading back to the house.
The roar that came from the Dunne house had the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. The ground beneath her feet buckled and heaved. Sean was letting loose his anger in a very visible way. Ruby gasped out a sob and turned back towards the house, every fiber of her being calling out for her mate.
“Ruby?” She turned, nearly falling. Leo’s arms came around her, protecting her. “Shhh. It’s okay, kitten, I have you.”
“There’s a vampire in the house with your mother and sister,” she gasped out, falling against him and hugging him to her so tightly she was surprised his ribs didn’t crack.
She felt him stiffen. “Vampire? In Dad’s house?”
She nodded, still gasping for breath. Running was so not her forte. “Uh-huh. Moira fought him.”
“Holy hell.” And Leo took off running towards the house.
Leaving her alone on the dark driveway, half a mile from the house. “Oh no.”
A dark figure stepped onto the driveway, its eyes glowing an eerie red. “Hello, beautiful.” The vampire sighed, his voice pulling her into his arms.
“Ruby!” Leo ran back down the drive, horrified. His mate was in a strange car, being driven away.
Being taken from him. The ground at his feet rippled with his anger. If he’d been faster, he could have stopped the vampire. But this wasn’t his land, and what little leprechaun blood that did run through his veins wasn’t enough to save her. Leo gritted his teeth, knowing his own stupidity in leaving her in the driveway had led to her abduction. He began running back towards the house and his car, his only thought to get to his wife.
The vampire would pay for taking what was his.
Jaden looked at the woman sleeping next to him and grimaced. Leo was going to take his head off his shoulders for drugging his bondmate, but it was the only way he could think of to get the woman to Kaitlynn without hurting her. Her mind was fairly strong. Getting her to walk calmly off Dunne land, without alerting Sean Dunne to his presence, had taken most of his strength. He’d had just enough left to get her to swallow the roofie he’d brought with him before seating her in the car and taking off.
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Thank the gods he’d had a taste of sexy leprechaun before leaving the ole homestead, or he would never have pulled it off.
Damn, but Moira made him hot. Just picturing her lips in that maddening sneer gave him a hell of a hard-on. Add that glorious red-gold hair, that pale, smooth complexion, and blue eyes a man could drown in, and you had one happy, horny vampire. She fought like a she-cat to defend her sister-in-law and mother, something Jaden could admire even as he deplored the need for it.
Damn Kaitlynn for making him meet a woman like that under circumstances like these. He wished he could tell her he was on her side, but he couldn’t.
Not yet.
He could feel, through the light blood bond he’d established, that Moira was well. He could feel her irritation at being fussed over, her fear of what he’d do to Ruby, and did his best to send his reassurances down the light link he’d established with his bite. He’d keep Ruby safe, if only because she meant something to the feisty redhead.
If Duncan didn’t come back soon Jaden was going to kill Kaitlynn personally and damn the consequences. Either way, he had every intention of coming back to Dunne land and finishing what he’d started with their daughter.