Dare to Believe
Leo’s mouth quirked up at Ruby’s growled order. That was all he’d needed to ensure that Kaitlynn’s plans were destroyed. He shrugged. “I told you my mate doesn’t like to share.” He looked over at West.
“And neither do I.”
He only meant to throw the man off balance, Raising a tiny section of the floor a few feet off the ground would have accomplished that nicely, and hopefully startle the other man into letting go of Ruby.
Instead, a full circular foot of concrete, gravel and dirt pushed upward at an alarming rate, smashing West against the ceiling so fast he had no time to react, or even yell. Ruby screamed. Blood and tissue spurted out of the flattened body of the man who’d been holding her, drenching her in the disgusting fluids.
The concrete and dirt circle pushed up until the vampire’s arms were severed, dropping a shrieking Ruby to the ground. When she hit the ground he could see that her shirt and jeans had been torn through in spots, revealing a mass of cuts and scraps that would have to be tended to and soon.
“Oh, God. I’m gonna…”
He watched helplessly as Ruby vomited. He was stunned by what he’d done to West. Bits of the vampire were still dripping down the new column of earth.
At least I’m pretty sure the son of a bitch is dead. Too bad his stomach was threatening to join Ruby’s in the old heave-ho.
“Wash her off, quickly.” Leo turned to find Jaden leaning against the doorjamb, a scowl on his face.
“Hurry! His blood is in those wounds! ”
“Fuck!” He picked up Ruby and sprinted for the stairs, moving faster than he’d ever done before. He had to wash the vampire blood off of her before it was too late.
He was fairly certain his still heaving mate had no desire to become a vampire.
Duncan glided into the dungeon room, beautiful and dangerous. Jaden watched him with bleary eyes, knowing he didn’t have long before he collapsed again. It would be worth it, though, to see Duncan give his sister the smack-down she deserved.
“Hello, Kaitlynn.”
The Deranged Darling flinched at the sight of her big brother, the livid bruise on her face in stark contrast to the pallor of her skin. “Duncan.” Her voice was slurred, no doubt due to the hit Dunne had landed.
Duncan was staring at Kaitlynn in a very scary way. Jaden watched and wondered what the Sidhe was up to. He doubted it would go the way he hoped. The woman was Duncan’s sister, unfortunately. “Blood debt is owed, and you’re going to pay it.”
“On whose authority?” One brow tried to rise, but then she winced, the action pulling at her bruised cheek.
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109
Dana Marie Bell
“On mine, as Lord of Clan Malmayne.” The authority in Duncan’s voice sent shivers down Jaden’s spine. He allowed his teeth to drop, determined to back Duncan with his last drop of blood if need be. If his bond-brother was actually going to make Kaitlynn pay for her crimes then Jaden wanted in on the action, even if he only got to be a spectator.
“Father is lord, not you.” Her chin rose. She almost managed a sneer, but her broken cheek prevented it.
“Father is dead, buried in the formal gardens.” Jaden’s jaw dropped. How in hell had he missed that?
It was damn near impossible to hide death from a vampire.
He glanced at the column that pinned Jeremy West to the ceiling. Perhaps the other vamp had somehow managed to hide the tell-tale signs?
Kaitlynn’s skin had gone pale, her expression filled with trepidation.
“Dead by your hand, I believe.” Duncan circled his sister, his eyes cold and without mercy. “For your crime of murder, the sentence is death.”
Kaitlynn gasped.
Goodbye, bitch. Jaden laughed internally, delighted at this turn of events.
“For the crime of kidnapping and torture: also death.”
She whimpered.
“For the crime of the attempted murder of my bondmate: death.”
Wait, bondmate? Jaden nearly chortled. Duncan was breaking out a truly archaic definition of the bond they shared, if he was calling Jaden his bondmate. By using that term, he increased the level of Kaitlynn’s crime from attempted murder to cardinal sin.
“Sentence to be carried out immediately.” Duncan turned to Jaden with a grim look. “She’s all yours.”
Jaden bowed, as best he could in his wounded state, to the man he’d pledged his allegiance and part of his heart to almost a century ago.
Then he turned to Kaitlynn and smiled sweetly. The pain subsided at his lord’s permission to feed.
He was very, very hungry.
He let the predator in him surface, using everything he was to ensure the Deranged Darling paid her debt in full.
Not one drop of Kaitlynn’s blood tainted the floor. Jaden made sure of it.