Tangled Redemption (17 page)

Jayden stepped behind her, his arm wrapping around Miguel
and Sydney’s waist.
After what we have seen today we know how dangerous it
will be to make an attempt on Nasir’s life. We stand a better chance together
and being able to speak mind to mind gives us a tactical advantage.

She rested her forehead against Miguel’s chest and some of
the tension eased, but she still didn’t return the embrace.
So basically you’re
telling me that you’re expecting to die tomorrow. Both of you.

Jayden set his chin on her shoulder.
We’re not expecting
it, but we want to be prepared.

And we want to do everything we can to ensure it doesn’t
happen.
Miguel rubbed a hand up and down her back.

She seemed to think for a moment. Then the rest of the
tension drained out of her and she cuddled close to him.
What’s my part of
the plan?

You will stay in my office. There’s no way for me to get
you out by tomorrow. Nasir wouldn’t believe me selling you. I will leave you
weapons and gear. Backup is on the way. If our plan works, the majority of his
troops will be taken out, leaving limited resistance behind. The compound will
be taken and the security in my office will keep you safe.

Sydney kept her eyes closed as she leaned against Miguel.
Jayden stood at her back, his big body protective. She should feel safe,
secure.

But she didn’t.

She understood their actions on an intellectual level, but
on an emotional level it was as if she hadn’t lived up to expectations and
rejection tore through her. Even though the door between them was closed and
sealed, Sydney knew Miguel would not change his mind. And she wouldn’t beg for
his acceptance.

It wasn’t the first time she hadn’t been good enough and it
most likely wouldn’t be the last. For the first time in her life the rejection
tore her apart inside. She had really believed that she had finally found her
place with Jayden and Miguel, but it was not meant to be. They said their
decision was driven by military advantage, but she didn’t believe that was all
there was to it.

The connection between the two of them shimmered green and black
and silver and emerald. Constantly changing. Always beautiful.

She studied the red link between her and Miguel. The depth
of color had increased a little bit as they spoke mind to mind, but it lacked
the strength and intensity of the connection between the two men.

That was how Jade rolled. Her destiny was to be alone and it
was about time she finally made peace with that. With one last inhale of their
scents to tuck away for those coming lonely nights, she straightened and smiled
at them both. “We should get some sleep. You have a big day coming up.”

She didn’t give either of them the opportunity to study her
expression too closely and climbed under the sheets. She had locked the mental
door again as soon as Miguel had stopped talking.

They followed her example, Jayden at her front and Miguel at
her back. Each of them gave her a soft kiss before they settled down to sleep.
Sydney pressed her eyes closed to keep the tears from falling. She loved them
so much. It killed her that they didn’t feel the same for her, but she couldn’t
give them up. If it meant she had to watch them love each other and be happy
for the scraps they threw her then she would do it.

This was the way it had to be.

No matter how difficult.

* * * * *

The next morning Sydney sat at the table eating breakfast
while the two men got ready for battle. Armored clothing and a lot of weapons
appeared to be the style this year. She was amazed at how many short knives
Jayden managed to line up on his arms.

The door chime sounded and before anyone could respond Nasir
walked in, followed by three Ferals. Her heartbeat stopped for a moment when
she saw his big grin.

He had come for her. For some reason she knew it. And there
would be nothing either of her men could do.

“Good morning, good morning.”

Miguel stood before him. “What brings you to my rooms?”

Jayden had come closer to her and Sydney tried to be
invisible even knowing it would make no difference.

Nasir sat on one of the chairs. “Last night something
occurred to me. With the majority of the troops involved in the attack we
should really collect all our valuables and keep them under close guard. What
do you think?” He waved his hand around. “Just in case our enemies use this
moment to attack.”

Miguel pressed his lips together. “We’re not leaving the
compound weakened. We have a whole company to defend it as well as your
personal guard. I do not see the need to—” He drew quotation marks in the air. “To
collect our valuables.”

“I disagree.” Nasir nodded at his Ferals. “Which is why I’ve
come to collect your pet.”

Two Ferals approached her. Sydney smacked away their hands
when they were about to grab her and rose to her feet without assistance. There
was nothing they could do and all three of them knew it.

She opened the link between Miguel and her.
The good of
the many outweighs the good of the one.
Their link wavered as if a
frequency disrupter had been fired.
Save the inhabitants of the moon.

Miguel nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. “Just
remember, Nasir, she is mine and I don’t like other people taking my stuff. She
better be in perfect condition when I come back.”

Nasir burst into laughter. “That is what I like about you,
Miguel. You stand your ground.” He climbed to his feet. “But I think this one
time you will have to make an exception.”

Sydney swallowed. The malevolence in the room had suddenly
shot through the roof.

“Why is that?” Jayden now stood beside Miguel, the two of
them facing off against Nasir.

“Because I no longer want to have to go through Jayden here
to get what I want.”

Miguel frowned and glanced at Jayden. “What are you talking
about?”

“Oh, he didn’t tell you. He’s been supplying me with her
blood.”

Time stopped. Sydney did not want to believe Nasir’s words,
but when she looked at Jayden she knew they were the truth. His expression
hadn’t changed, but there was a tightness around his eyes that hadn’t been
there before.

He had betrayed her.

She had trusted him. Neither he nor Miguel had taken blood,
had seemingly accepted her line in the sand and he had done it in secret.

She felt violated.

“After last night’s attack I decided I didn’t want to play
around anymore. It was her blood that made me the man I am today and this time
I
am not prepared to share.”

Gray edged her vision. Sydney took a deep breath to remain
on her feet.

Nasir waved at his minions and they pushed her to the door.
Sydney was numb. The betrayal was too deep to care what was about to happen
next when the implications started to sink in. Marius had mentioned he had a
customer for her blood. She had been certain that she was about to meet that
client when Miguel had kidnapped her. Then Nasir had handed her over to Miguel
and Jayden, making her believe she’d been wrong.

There was a buzzing in her head. It sounded like someone
spoke in her mind, but she couldn’t listen. Her world had narrowed down to one
thing.

She hadn’t been wrong but walked beside the Vampire who had
drunk her blood. And that gave her the one thing no one else had.

The ability to kill Nasir.

Jayden struggled to grasp the events unfolding before him.
When Miguel slammed into the mental door connecting them he didn’t stand in his
way, but allowed the other man to see that he didn’t understand what was
happening. He gave himself up completely and let Miguel see everything he was,
why he had come, who he worked for and what his mission was. Why he had
believed giving Sydney’s blood was the best solution to keep the three of them
together.

He held nothing back.

Naema blood increases power in a Vampire exponentially.

At Miguel’s words he nearly dropped to his knees.
I
didn’t know. I promise you, I didn’t know. I didn’t see giving him her blood in
exchange for letting us stay together as a big deal.

The avalanche that was Miguel and had torn through every
part of his soul calmed. His rage drained away.
It is a secret the Council
has kept very, very quiet.

I was prepared to deal with her anger at me taking her
blood in secret. I didn’t realize I had made our primary mission more
difficult.

Comfort and support flooded into him.

There is nothing we can do about it now. I tried to tell
her you didn’t know and that we would come for her, but she hasn’t responded.
Pain echoed along their link.
It appears as if our bond is fading.

What are we going to do?

Follow my lead.

Miguel shrugged. “I did say that I do not like people taking
my stuff. Sydney was the first pet I found myself interested in. How will you
make it up to me that I have to give her up?”

Nasir laughed again. He stepped closer and tapped Miguel on
the shoulder. “I will come up with something special for you, don’t you worry.”
Still laughing he left the room.

Jayden wanted to roar with rage. He needed to find an outlet
for the pain and despair raging through him.

Miguel grabbed him by the hair and kissed him. Hard. Sharp.
Their teeth clashed. He bit Jayden’s lip and drew blood. Jayden threw himself
into the kiss, let everything power through him until he had found a kernel of
control again.

He wrapped his arms around Miguel and just hung on. The
other man didn’t say anything but cupped his nape and held him.
Thank you.

Always.
Out loud Miguel said, “We need to get ready.”

“Indeed.” Jayden’s voice was rough and uneven. He needed to
find his equilibrium again if he was going to be of any use during the attack.
He didn’t fucking care about the attack.
You go, I will grab one of the
missile throwers and take out Nasir.

Miguel grabbed his arm and held on hard enough to break
through the haze of emotion swirling through him.
Nasir will have her with
him. He will not let her out of his sight. He wants her for her blood, but he
is also using her to keep us in line. Now snap out of it or I will punch you in
the face.
He released Jayden and finished getting dressed.

Jayden bent over, hands on his thighs, and breathed. He
needed to put his emotions to one side and focus on the mission. After about
five minutes of breathing he was back where he needed to be and straightened.
Miguel waited with the rest of his weapons and helped him put everything on.

Are our covers blown? Is that why you think he is using
Sydney to keep us in line?
he asked as they strode through the compound to
the shuttle launch area.

If he truly knew who we are we would be dead. He knows of
my connection to the people on this moon and is using it to test me, to test my
loyalty. As long as he believes us on his side she will be safe.

I know we are making the right decision, that saving all
those people is necessary and important, but for the first time in my life I
want to throw duty to the wind and just do what is right for me,
Jayden
said.

Miguel clasped his shoulder.
If Sydney’s calculations are
correct we will be able to take out the majority of the attacking forces
without too much difficulty. We have both sent for backup. If they make it, we
can turn around and come back to get Sydney.
He exhaled.
But I hear you.

They reached the shuttle launch area and boarded their ride.
Within minutes they were in the air and on their way to Baikal.

Hours later the shuttles went into stealth mode and
approached the moon.

It took another fifteen minutes to land just outside of
Kajaani. Miguel killed their pilots and Jayden took out the two other Ferals
onboard with them in one quick strike.

Miguel ordered the troops to line up outside and to launch
the missiles. Only a very small contingent of Ferals remained inside the
shuttles. Jayden hoped that Duncan and Malachy had understood his message and
came prepared with masks. Then had to chuckle. Malachy was always prepared, as
was his team.

He stood at the window looking outside. At the Ferals. “We
will have to join them soon otherwise some of them will grow suspicious.”

Miguel nodded but remained focused on the launch pattern of
the missiles.

“Doesn’t it feel like we’re cheating?”

Miguel looked up, brows raised.

Jayden rubbed his jaw. “We’re not giving them a chance. No
warning. No opportunity. If the gas works they’ll just be dead.”

Miguel rose and stood at his side. “When I contacted Nikolai
I told him to pull back anyone else who is undercover with us. No one left. I
don’t see a single Feral out there who in the time I was with Nasir didn’t kill
with vigor and delight.” He growled. “And none of them planned to give the
humans a chance.”

Jayden grimaced. “I know. I’m just not used to pressing a
button.”

Miguel cupped his nape. “The faster we are done, the faster
we can get back to Sydney.”

Jayden nodded. He knew that the companies outside were no
innocents, unlike the humans in Kajaani, but the whole operation still left a
queasy feeling in his stomach.

“The missiles have reached optimal altitude and are dispersing
the gas now.” Miguel picked up an oxygenator, a small mask that adhered just
under the nostrils and filtered out any harmful substances. It flickered once
and turned invisible. He passed a second to Jayden and headed to the exit ramp.

Jayden put on the mask and fell into step behind him. They
exited and stood a little apart from the Ferals. He used his comp to inform the
company leaders that the gas had been dispersed successfully and instructed
them on how long they had to wait for the gas to cover the town.

The troops shuffled in place, impatient and raring to go.

Seeing the malicious intent, the bloodlust in their eyes,
Jayden felt a little better. They were saving lives.

Minutes later the first Feral fell to the ground. More and
more grasped their necks, coughing and choking, trying to breathe, trying to
move as the babote attacked their nervous systems and shut down their bodies. A
few of the men ran toward them, clearly understanding that they were not
affected.

Miguel executed them before they even got close, his face
completely expressionless.

Jayden gently opened the door between them and slid into his
lover’s mind. Miguel had shut down fully. All he saw before his internal eye
when he killed the approaching Ferals were scenes of each of them torturing and
killing humans. Jayden withdrew but kept their link open. He pushed the last
bit of hesitation away and allowed himself to sink into his own battle state.

The companies fell. Some of them were affected faster, some
of them appearing more resistant. Those were the ones he focused on and took
out.