“But that isn’t why I came.” Robin perched on the railing, balancing on the balls of his feet as he crouched, his head cocked to the side as he stared at Leo. “First, the Malmaynes are not taking your truebond lightly. I fear they may make a move against your Ruby.”
Leo’s eyes glowed green, his glamour forgotten. “I see. I’ll take care of that. And the other?”
Robin looked delighted. “Rumor has it that the Malmayne’s caged bird has flown, but where he’s flown to is a mystery.”
“Shane’s free?” Leo couldn’t quite believe it, but if the Hob said it was so then he’d have to.
“Aye, which is why I believe they will make a move on your woman. They will need new leverage to get you to agree to their terms.” Robin looked down at his black nails. “So, what did you think of Kaitlynn and Cullen?”
Leo sighed. “Cullen is indulging Kaitlynn in this, I think. He would be willing, if not happy, to have Shane or Moira fulfill the contract, but Kaitlynn seems fixed on me.”
“It’s that pretty face of yours. She covets it.”
“She can’t have it.” Leo stared out at the night sky. “Why did you agree to help us?”
Robin chuckled, the first genuine expression Leo had seen on that pretty face. “I owed your mother a favor for something she’s not even certain she did.” Robin looked up at Leo, his eyes glowing green. “The Hob always pays his debts. Always.”
And with that, quick as he’d come, the Hob was gone, his voice floating back on the evening breeze.
“Remember: there is another Malmayne.”
Jaden blinked, feeling totally put upon. Where the fuck are you, Duncan? “You want me to what?”
Kaitlynn sighed, totally exasperated. “Bring me the little human whore, stuff her in the cage Shane was in, and leave her to me. Even someone of your limited intellect can understand that order, yes?”
Jaden snarled. “Careful, sweet cheeks.”
He shuddered once again when she smiled. There was just something…off…about her that made him think of spiders.
Jaden hated spiders.
“Bring me the girl, stuff her in a cage, and forget about her. Understand, Mr. Blackthorn?”
Jaden took a deep breath. He did not like the direction her thoughts, obvious on her face, were going.
“Duncan will not be happy if we hurt an innocent girl.”
That saccharine sweet expression crossed her face once again, and Jaden wondered where Daddy Dearest had gotten to. Cullen was one of the few people capable of dealing with the Deranged Darling.
“Duncan can go to hell. Do what I told you, vampire.”
Jaden did his best to mimic her smile. “No.”
94
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Dare to Believe
He was pretty sure the slap she landed on his face was supposed to hurt. It probably would have left a bruise on a Sidhe face. On a vampire, it was barely noticeable. “Do as I tell you or I call Mr. West.”
The fact that the threat was delivered in the same sickly sweet tones she normally spoke in only made her seem creepier. Time was running out on Kaitlynn Malmayne.
If it wasn’t for Duncan, the bitch would already be dead. It was becoming his damn mantra. If it wasn’t for Duncan, if it wasn’t for Duncan…
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!”