Noble Blood

She didn’t have to wait for long. “Ah, I see you brought your…wife with you.” The sneer that crossed Charles’s face and the relaxed, easy posture he held by the mantelpiece were belied by the shaking of his hand as he lit his pipe. “To what do I owe the honor?”

Duncan walked forward, taking Moira with him. From the look on her Sidhe lord’s face, things were not going to go well for Charles. “I know you sent the powrie to kill me.”

Moira hid her surprise. Powrie? She hadn’t heard that name for redcaps in years, not since that trip to visit the Du

“What makes you think I want you dead?”

“I looked into the mind of one of them before Sean Du

Charles’s eyes darted to her before returning to his pipe. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He took a drag, blowing out a fragrant stream of smoke. “Besides, it’s entirely possible that an enemy of ours merely made the redcap think I’m the one who gave him those orders.”

“Oh, no. I know tampering when I see it, and I saw no signs of it. This was all done by you, Charles.”

Charles gave him a cocky grin. “You can’t prove that, Duncan, and we both know it.”

“One of the powrie was in your employ as a bodyguard.”

Charles shook his head. “I would never employ a redcap, Duncan. I did have an invasion of them, true, but it was dealt with.”

“Oh? How?”

“At least two of them were found unconscious near the entrance to my attic. Several more were found beaten around the estate. They were removed forthwith by my own men.” He took another drag off the stem of his pipe, blowing the smoke right at Moira. “I wonder how they came to be here?” He shifted, shoving one of his hands into his pocket. “They are Black Court, and it’s well known the Malmaynes are White Court.” He eyed Duncan sideways, a sly smile on his mouth. “One of them appeared to have been bitten. Perhaps your pet vampire knows something about that?”

Duncan returned Charles’s smile with interest. “Why don’t we ask my bondmate when he gets here?”

The pipe froze. Charles stiffened. “Bondmate?”

Duncan nodded regally. “I have the great good fortune to have formed a tribond, Charles. Congratulate me.”

That last was no request. Duncan demanded respect for his two mates as Lord Malmayne, and Charles, unless he wanted to prove himself a traitor, would have no choice but to comply.

“Congratulations.” The tone was strained, but Charles gave what was required of him. “Although I’m certain how the rest of the clan will feel about this.”

“Does it matter?” Moira kept her eyes on Charles, despite the urge to look at Duncan. His tone and posture were so arrogant she was startled. “I think you keep forgetting something.” Silver sparks began dancing in the air. “I am Lord Malmayne. The clan follows me. If they object to my matings, that is their problem, not mine.”

She’d never seen this side of him before, the cold lord demanding respect from someone beneath him.

“It is our problem when you mate with someone so far beneath you, nephew. Think! By marrying Moira you’ve caused endless trouble, not to mention what your mating to that damn vampire will do.”

“Why is it so important that Leo Du

Charles tried to shrug off Duncan’s grip but didn’t succeed. He looked surprised at his nephew’s strength. “I don’t have to tell you anything.”

Duncan pulled him closer until they were nose to nose. “Wrong answer.”

Charles gasped, struggling in Duncan’s grip for only a moment. Moira had no idea what was going on until she saw the look on Duncan’s face.

He was building Charles a fantasy from Charles’s own memories, one in which the Sidhe wouldn’t know he was spilling his secrets to Duncan. Duncan had once said that Charles was strong, almost strong enough to roll Duncan’s mind. Apparently he’d been wrong, or the bond he shared with her and Jaden had strengthened him, because he was easily taking control of Charles’s senses. She watched, waiting for the show to begin.

“You should have brought popcorn, sweetheart.”

Jaden was close. She could feel him, almost as if he were right behind her. She almost turned to look, but it was futile. Jaden wasn’t there. Not yet, anyway.

“Hello, Charles,” Duncan purred, pulling her attention back to her Sidhe mate. He eased Charles back, moving his hand from the other Sidhe’s collar down to his arm. “How is the plan coming along?”

Charles bowed low. “Our plan to replace Duncan is coming apace, my lord.”

“How go things with the marriage contract?”

“Once Duncan is removed we can begin pressuring Leo Du

Duncan’s eyebrow rose. “You are not considering killing her? Their life forces are bound together.”

Charles scoffed, waving off Duncan’s concerns. “Of course not. We know they’re bound. No, Leo will take one of my daughters to wife, and the contract will be fulfilled the way we’d always dreamed.”

Duncan’s head tilted. “You’ll have to explain exactly how you plan on dealing with Sean Du

That sneer was back on Charles’s face. “Once his precious son is in our hands he’ll have nothing to say.”

“And the bond Leo has with his land? You intend to find a way to break that?”

Charles looked confused. “He’s Sidhe. He’s not really bound to the land.”

Moira thought Duncan hid his shock admirably. How could Charles be so deluded? Leo’s bond with the land he’d claimed as his own was as strong as her father’s was. Taking Leo from his land would eventually kill him. “How exactly will the Malmaynes benefit from this?”

The confusion smoothed out and Charles relaxed, serene certainty lending him an air of childlike faith. “The child of Du

Moira frowned. “What the hell?”

Duncan squeezed her hand, silencing her. “Who told you that?”

“The Seer.” Charles shivered. Moira understood why. The Seer was something of an enigma. The last of her kind, her wisdom was sought by many and she gave to all, White, Black or Gray, equally. She claimed no allegiance, though rumor had it that Oberon had offered her sanctuary on more than one occasion when her predictions had caused friction between the Courts.

Duncan took a deep breath. “What makes you think that child will come from Leo?”

“Because he is the only one who is a Du

Moira saw Jaden slip into the room without a sound. He put his finger to his lips, his eyes glued to the man in Duncan’s grip. From the revulsion he exuded he’d heard more than enough of Charles’s twisted logic.

“You want to be able to control this child of Du

“He must be a Malmayne, you know that! You know why.” Charles shuddered. “You know what she’ll do to us if we don’t deliver what we promised.”