Tangled Redemption (19 page)

“Yes, about that.” Duncan crossed his arms before his chest.
“Please explain that to us.”

Miguel had to bite his lip to stop himself from shouting
that they were all idiots from Jayden’s mouth.

Jayden rubbed his forehead. “I’m not sure I can. All I know
is she sliced open her wrist and the more blood she lost, the weaker Nasir
became. In the beginning it took too fucking long, so she cut open both of
them.”

Miguel added his own suggestions.

“Miguel believes Nasir used Sydney’s blood primarily to gain
his extra powers, but he had to have at least two more sources. When she
drained herself, those two sources maintained Nasir’s strength, meaning she had
to give far more blood than she could.”

Galen sat down heavily. Nikolai rushed to his side and
supported him. “I’m fine, don’t worry.” He turned to the rest of them. “I had
always thought it was a myth.”

“What?” Jayden asked.

“It was said that the same giver of power to a Vampire can
take it away again. That is why when Vampires first found out about the
properties of our blood they killed their Naema victims. One quick death meant
they could retain their power. By draining the blood the way she did, willingly
and without thought to herself, she took away Nasir’s power.”

“But why didn’t the same happen when the early Vampires
killed the Naemas?” Nikolai asked.

Galen shrugged one shoulder. “I never looked too much into
the details. Something about the sacrifice of blood.”

“Sydney sacrificed far too much.” Jayden said.

“She gave you the opportunity to take down Nasir.” Brooke
frowned at him. “Don’t take that away from her.”

Miguel sent a little touch of support.
She is right. Our
Sydney is a warrior and we have to accept and honor what she did.

That may be, but before that I’ll have to make use of
that flogger the two of you are so fond of. She’s taken decades off my life.

Miguel smiled.
Can you release me?

Jayden gently removed Miguel from his mind and transferred
him back into his body. Once there, Miguel dove along the link. It fought as
valiantly as Sydney. In places it was still nearly see-though, but overall in
much better shape than he had anticipated.

Then he reached Sydney’s spirit. Before the transfusion it
had been barely there, just the slightest shadow of the amazing woman who was
Sydney Radnall. Now she had grown bigger and stronger.

What happened? What are you doing here?

He wanted to hug her tight, wanted to pull her into his arms
and never, ever let go, but this wasn’t the right time.
You drained yourself
of blood thereby weakening Nasir and giving Jayden and myself the opportunity
to kill him. At the moment Galen is giving you a blood transfusion in an effort
to resupply you.
It killed him that another man gave her what she needed,
but neither Jayden nor he were in any shape to donate and Galen’s Naema blood
was more powerful than their Vampire blood.

What happens once he’s finished the donation?

Either your best friend Tanasha will join us or he will
rest until he is able to give you more.

She studied the construct he had built to keep her with him.
What’s all this?

He shrugged.
I needed to come up with something to keep
your spirit here. You were nearly gone.

I remember that. Then there was warmth and love,
something that gave me the strength to hold on.
She stilled.
That was
you.

He continued to watch her. With every minute that went by,
her vitals stabilized and her spirit grew stronger. A tug on his link to Jayden
told him Galen was just about done. He moved his energy a little closer to
Jayden.

Tansha is here and will do the next round of transfusion.
It appears she is a universal donor.
Jayden sent warmth along the link as
well as another dose of energy, helping Miguel to sustain his power output. It
probably was no longer necessary, but he wasn’t about to risk her floating away
again.

Sydney dismantled his construct.
I’m fine now and I have
no plan to leave this existence just yet.

Your friend is here.

Yes, I can feel her. I think I’m getting closer and
closer to gaining consciousness again.

Take it easy and don’t rush back there. The most
important thing is that you are healthy and strong again.

She caressed him.
Mik, you have used too much energy to
keep me on this plane of existence. I am fine. You can let go and look after
yourself. We have a lot to discuss when all three of us are conscious again.

Miguel struggled with her request, reluctant and terrified
she would drift away once he released her. She didn’t rush him but maintained
their connection, sharing her confidence in him. Slowly he let go of her,
always checking to make sure she was good without his support.

Finally they were separated. To him it was as if he had lost
a limb. She sent him a burst of energy that felt like a kiss. He sent her his
own caress and retreated along their connection, now in much better shape with
the reds growing nearly as mesmerizing as her wings.

When he returned to his body, every single part of it ached.
With a low groan he opened his eyes and met Jayden’s worried gaze.
She will
be all right. She’ll probably regain consciousness soon.

His lifemate slumped and rested his forehead against
Miguel’s.
Jade, don’t ever to this to me again. Between the two of you I’m
ready for an early grave.

Miguel’s lips quirked.
Just make sure it’s big enough for
the three of us.

Jayden laughed and pressed a soft kiss to Miguel’s lips.
Go
to sleep. I’m just waiting for Tanasha to finish and then a couple of hover
beds will take you to a shuttle and back home.

Home.
Miguel no longer knew where that was or if he
even had one.

Your home is with Sydney and me. Stop worrying and get
some rest.

For once Miguel did exactly as he was told.

* * * * *

Sydney woke up surrounded by heat and strength. She smiled
but didn’t open her eyes. Miguel was behind her and Jayden in front of her. She
was glad everyone was safe. She smiled as she opened her eyes, but the smile
dimmed as she looked into Jayden’s worried eyes.

“I am so sorry, love. I cannot tell you how sorry I am I had
to break your trust. At that point in time I thought it was our only choice,
but the end never justifies the means.” He picked up her hand and pressed his
lips into her palm. “Can you forgive me?”

“What happened?” She listened to him describe Nasir’s
conditions. Miguel shared Jayden’s memories at the same time, giving her the
full experience.

She sighed when Jayden was done. “I can understand why you
believed lying to me was the only way.”

“But?” Jayden’s green eyes burned with desolation and
regret.

Not knowing how to make him understand what his lies had
cost her, she shared her memory of realizing Jayden had betrayed her with Miguel,
knowing he would share it with the other man.

Both of them hissed. Miguel pulled her tight against his
chest, dropping soft kisses along her nape.

Jayden balled a fist and dropped his gaze. She didn’t need
Miguel to read his response. “I didn’t share with you to make you feel bad, but
to help you understand.” She scrambled out from under Miguel’s arms and leaned
against the headboard so she could see both of them without having to turn.
“All three of us have baggage we’re bringing into this slightly insane
relationship. I’ve been lied to too many times to forgive and forget it
easily.”

She cupped Jayden’s cheek. “I understand why you did what
you did and I forgive you. But if you ever lie to me again—” She released him
and looked at both her men. “That works for both of you. If either of you lies
to me ever again, I am gone.”

They nodded.

“And that goes both ways. I will never lie to you. We can
talk through,” she chuckled, “or shout through whatever obstacle we’re facing,
but lying to me because you don’t think I need to know or should know means the
immediate end of our triad.”

Miguel took one hand and kissed it. “Understood.”

Jayden copied his actions on her other hand. “I understand
and am grateful you have it in you to forgive me.”

She nodded, glad they were willing to live with her little
quirk. “Now, bring me up to date. Where are we and what’s the plan for the
immediate future?”

Miguel rose until he sat beside her and pulled her into his
arms. The feel of his skin against hers, his arms around her reminded her how
close it had been. She turned in his arms and held him tight.

“Hey.” He rubbed up and down her back. “What is it?”

“I nearly lost you.”

He returned her tight hug and gave her all the time she
needed to process. Finally she released him and studied his chest. There was a
new scar, but it looked like it was months old. “How long was I out?”

“Five days,” Jayden said.

She stroked her fingers along the line. “It looks healed.”

Miguel kissed her hand. “It appears your blood does have
superpowers.”

“I’m glad.”

He chuckled and pulled her back against his chest. She held
her hand out to Jayden and he lifted her legs across his lap. His hand rested
on her inner thigh and his thumb rubbed back and forth. Tingles began to spread
through her. She smiled and savored that she was alive and could enjoy them.

She clapped her hands together. “Now, come on, boys, bring
me up to speed. What has happened in the last five days and where are we?”

Miguel caught her hands, crossed her arms over her chest and
held them. “You have become pretty feisty and demanding. I may have to do
something about that.”

She laughed and cuddled closer. “Oh, are you going to spank
me?”

“No.” He bit her earlobe. “I am going to watch as Jayden
does so.”

A shiver ran through her. Her pussy grew moist and her
nipples hardened.

“It looks like she likes this idea.” Jayden stroked his hand
up her inner thigh until he cupped her.

Sydney dropped her head back and moaned. “Of course I do,
but please tell me what happened. Were all the Ferals taken out? Were we able
to save the humans at the compound? Has Nasir’s sick empire collapsed? Is
Marissa all right?”

Her men burst out laughing. Miguel kissed her neck. “You
have a lot of questions. Because I’m in a good mood we will answer them, but
don’t expect to always win.”

“We are on Yisun. Miguel has a house here.”

She stilled. “We’re very close to Catullus, the Naema home
world.”

“Your family is just a hop, skip and a jump away. Do you
want to go visit them?”

Sydney was torn. The men stopped their teasing and held her
close so she was in her favorite place—the filling in their sandwich.

What is it?
Miguel’s voice inside her mind eased her
tension. He just made her feel better.

My parents are about as conservative as they come. They
told me to stop being friends with Tanasha when she married Duncan. My father
will freak out when he finds out about you.

“We’ll take you to your District and remain outside. Your
family wouldn’t have to see us.”

Jayden’s suggestion made sense. He must have heard her
comment through Miguel, but it rubbed her the wrong way. She shook her head. “I
love the two of you. I’m not going to hide that. If they no longer want to see
me, that’s their decision.” She cupped each of their cheeks. “I have a new
family now.”

“Are you certain?” Miguel clasped her chin and forced her to
look him in the eyes.

She smiled and nodded. “I love my family, but I’m not
willing to live my life to their standards and expectations. This is my life
and I’ll live it to the fullest.” She kissed him. “Now, please fill me in. I
promise I won’t interrupt again.”

Jayden laughed. “We’ll see. We did indeed take down Nasir’s
empire. Our code breakers are working on his database using the key you built.
We are hoping to find everyone who paid him as well as the delivery details for
the humans.”

“All the humans in the compound who were still alive have
been collected and taken to the facility on Rabelaise.” Miguel flattened his
hand on her stomach and stroked his thumb back and forth.

Now she had Miguel caressing her stomach and Jayden teasing
her moist entrance. Her concentration wavered, but she dragged it back with
effort. “What about Marissa?”

Miguel chuckled. “The two Vampires who bought her worked for
me and somehow managed to link with your Marissa.”

Sydney turned so she could see his face. “Linked? As in
being a lifemate to both of them?” She looked between the two of them. “I
thought two lifemates was the exception. Suddenly they are turning up left,
right and center.”

Her guys didn’t say anything but shrugged. “I want to see
her.”

“Sure,” Jayden pulled over his comp. “I’ll schedule a
visit.”

“As to our future endeavors we are taking a very, very long
holiday.” Miguel’s eyes darkened. “Both of us have been undercover for some
time.” Jayden took Miguel’s hand and kissed it. “We need some time to recharge
and become part of regular life again.”

Sydney’s heart clenched when she thought of what both of
them had been through undercover working for Nasir. She nodded. “I like to
travel, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Give me access to your funds and I’ll
make sure we don’t run out of money.” She roared with laughter when she saw
their faces. “Haven’t you heard, I have a gift with numbers.”

Jayden shrugged. “What’s mine is yours. You’re welcome to
it.”

She continued to giggle when Miguel struggled to give over
control. In the end she kissed him. “It’s all right. We’ll learn each other
together.”