Noble Blood [The Gray Court, Book 2]

by Dana Marie Bell

  Oh, crap. “That's not possible. I don't have enough Sidhe blood to recognize or Claim a true bond."

  She blinked. Or did she?

  The children of Sean Dunne each had unique abilities their half-Sidhe, half-Leprechaun blood granted them. Leo, for all that his powers tended toward his Sidhe half, had still managed to claim land in the leprechaun way. He'd used the leprechaun's bond with the earth to find and rescue his true bond, Ruby, but the bond was weak and his powers over the land miniscule.

  Shane, a true half-blood, could summon whatever his imagination could conjure up so long as the materials it was made out of were “of the earth", a concept he'd tried and failed to explain to her. He couldn't make a plastic water bottle, but he could make silk shirts. Unfortunately, using the ability exhausted him beyond belief. The more intricate the item, the more tired he became.

  As for herself, Moira took after her father the most. She would count herself almost pure leprechaun. Her bond to the earth was strong. She could hear the trees whisper to one another, feel the grass grow beneath her feet. The earth itself told her things in her dreams, things that would send her father into a tizzy if he knew about them. She hadn't ever planned on leaving the Dunne farm; the land called to her the same way it did to her father. She couldn't imagine living in a big city, surrounded by concrete and glass. She needed dirt beneath her feet and green, growing things. She hoped Duncan understood that or they'd have problems from the get-go.

  "You know I'm right, Moira."

  She blew her bangs out of her eyes. Yes, he was right, and it was her mother's fault. Aileen Joloun Dunne was pure blooded Sidhe, and aristocratic. It was possible that Moira could tap into that part of her heritage unconsciously, know her true bond when she tasted him. Maybe even Claim him and Bind him with the Vows, though she had to ask herself if it would be as strong a bond.

  Besides, who knew she'd find her mate so young? By Sidhe standards she was still a child at only fifty years old. Sidhe weren't considered adults until they reached the age of one hundred years. She eyed the man next to her, feeling anything but childish. Then again, by leprechaun standards I'm a grown woman.

  She had to admit, Duncan Malmayne tasted damn good. She licked her lips, remembering when his mouth had descended on hers. She'd stood there in her father's yard, watching Jaden by the limo, his long, dark hair dancing on the evening breeze. She'd been strangely eager to see him again, to know that the mental voice he'd used to soothe her fears and calm her mind had been the true man. The vampire who'd kidnapped Ruby and forced Moira to fight to defend her had turned out to be their greatest ally in the Malmayne house. The thought of seeing him again had her twitchy, restless. She needed to see him, to see for herself that the terrible wound Jeremy West had inflicted on him had in fact healed. She'd felt the piercing of the stake through Jaden's back, had known that he would have died if Jeremy's aim had been truer. The blood on her own back had terrified her parents, but Moira knew that she'd suffered along with the vampire, if only mildly in comparison.

  Then he was there, his dark eyes dancing, and she'd known beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was fine.

  They'd arranged to meet with the new Malmayne lord at night due to the vampire's susceptibility to sunlight, a courtesy that hadn't gone unnoticed by Jaden. Jaden had looked pleased to see her, a gleam in his dark eyes that seemed directed solely at her. His Native American heritage was obvious in his dark hair and bronzed skin, skin that hadn't faded in the years since he'd been turned. Her belly had turned in lazy circles, her breath coming faster. Somehow she'd just known the vampire had come solely to claim her. The affection that had poured out of him for her had eased her fears about the other man in the limo, the newly minted lord of the Malmayne clan and her mother's ex-fiance. Despite Leo's reassurances that the new head of the Malmayne clan had not come to claim blood debt, she still felt that his entrance into their lives would change things forever.

  Duncan had stepped out of the limo and proceeded to prove her right.

  "Perhaps we should test the theory. See if what I believe is true.” Duncan tipped up her face with a smile.

  She blinked, the memory of Jaden's face when Duncan had descended on her fading from her mind. The vampire had looked stunned, even...hurt? But then Duncan's face had blocked out the night, the startled joy in his face making her heart race. He'd kissed her, and nothing else had mattered.

  Not her family. Not even the defeat of the Malmaynes who had done their best to destroy the Dunnes. Only the presence of Jaden had continued to tickle her senses.

  Just the thought of him still did.

  She stomped out the shiver of unease at the thought of the vampire. She was almost positive Duncan was her true bond. She shouldn't be entertaining thoughts of the seductive vampire. She licked his lips and could almost taste him again. “Maybe we should."

  Duncan bent to her, his lips touching hers with reverence. She smiled against his mouth, waiting for the Sidhe lord to take what he so obviously believed was his.

  He played with her mouth, teasing little sips that left her wanting more. By the time he parted her lips she was dying for a real taste. He dipped inside, offering her the spicy taste of a Sidhe, and she took it and demanded more.

  He gave it to her. He hauled her into his arms and devoured her. His taste exploded on her tongue, drove through her with a shaft of need, of want that left her writhing on the leather seat.

  Oh, yeah. He's the One. She no longer had any doubts.

  Duncan Malmayne was meant to be hers.

  So why did her thoughts instantly return to the vampire they'd left behind? Some small part of her knew he suffered agony, but she didn't know why. If it was a physical pain she would have ordered Duncan to turn the limo around and damn the consequences.

  But something had hurt Jaden's heart before he shut her out of their weak blood bond. Was it the knowledge that Duncan had found his true bond and begun to Claim her? Was he jealous that he'd have to share his bond brother's affections?

  She didn't know. She just hoped whatever had caused Jaden grief he would get over it, and soon. She didn't like the thought of him suffering. Not one little bit.

  Duncan was ecstatic. He'd found his true bond, the one person the universe had created just for him. To find out that she was the descendant of the woman he'd been contracted to wed was irony of the tallest order.

  Duncan couldn't believe the luck he'd had. All of the things that made Aileen Dunne such a beautiful woman existed in her daughter, but they were refined, honed, tempered by her inner fire. While Aileen was gorgeous, there was a gentleness about her that no one could deny.

  Despite what others might say, she was well-matched to her leprechaun husband. Duncan was quite glad things had worked out the way they had. If they had gone through with the arranged marriage the way their families had wanted they both would have been miserable. He needed someone to keep him on his toes, and Aileen was too soft for that. Her softness grounded her husband, Sean, tempered his wild ways. They were a perfect match in every way.

  Her daughter, on the other hand, was truly stunning, with her mother's gentle eyes and her father's warrior's stance. He'd stepped one foot out of the limousine and felt like he'd been punched right in the stomach.

  There had been only one other time when he'd felt like that. He frowned, but shook thoughts of Jaden aside. He couldn't allow himself to be distracted by thoughts of his bond brother. Besides, his bond with Jaden was nothing like the one he'd have with Moira.

  He had a mate to Claim, and he couldn't be happier about it.

  His first sight of Moira Dunne would be burned into his memory for all eternity. Waist length red-gold curls, bound in a loose braid, had called his fingers to bathe in their fire. Stunning green eyes flashed at him, intelligence simmering in their depths. Her pink lips had curled up in a welcoming smile even while her fisted hands revealed her wariness. She'd stood with her feet braced apart, a warrior queen ready to defend her own. Something h
ad passed between Jaden and Moira, something that brought a softening of the smile on her lips, relaxed the tense set of her shoulders. He'd been grateful for whatever reassurances Jaden had given her, but he had no time to thank the man.

  Duncan had to have Moira. After four hundred years of waiting, of longing, he'd finally seen the woman meant to be his. The breath had left his lungs in a rush. The lust nearly toppled him to his knees. He was damn surprised he'd been able to walk toward her without falling at her feet. His cock had been rock-hard in seconds, an ache between his legs he had no intention of denying. He'd moved forward in a daze, his hands reaching for her, his mind reeling with the knowledge that here, here where he'd least expected it, he'd found the keeper of his heart. He'd kissed her, tasted her and known what he had to do.

  He had to take her. She belonged to him.

  So he bundled her into the limo with a smile, informed her family that she was his, and waited for Jaden to get into the car.

  Jaden had refused. Duncan was still trying to figure that one out. If he'd stayed behind only to fill in the gaps for the Dunne family why had he shut Duncan out of his mind? True, he'd mentioned something about giving him privacy with Moira, but still. They'd never been apart for long, at least not mentally. The last few weeks in Paris, unable to communicate with Jaden, had been a strange sort of torture he'd never before been forced to endure.

  Another thing he needed to discuss with the vampire. Was it possible that their bond had become too strong? Duncan had actually started to feel ill while in France, a rare occurrence for the Sidhe. He'd returned home as soon as possible only to feel the near-fatal blow Kaitlynn's “friend", Jeremy West, had dealt Jaden. The pain had nearly dropped him. Only the knowledge that Jaden had survived kept Duncan from losing his mind long enough to get to him.

  Only to find Leo Dunne had connected with the land in order to save his wife from Kaitlynn. The reassurance that Jaden would live, that the land itself was sustaining him, had eased the terror riding him. If Leo hadn't killed Jeremy in such a spectacular way Duncan was certain he would have found a way to make the Black Court vampire suffer a thousand deaths for harming Jaden.

  Duncan shook his head and turned his attention back to Moira. Jaden would be home soon, and then everything would come clear. In the meantime, he had Moira in his arms, and he had no intention of wasting any time in making her his.

  Too bad he just couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

  Jaden watched the fading dust of the limo and turned to the Dunne family with a smile. Inside, his heart was broken in two. He laughed to himself. It made perfect sense that it was in two pieces. It had just been ripped from his chest, and wasn't it fitting that Moira and Duncan each held a piece? Still, he had things to do, places to go, yadda yadda. He was certain that someday he'd be able to see Duncan and Moira together, happily bonded, and not want to drop to his knees in agony.

  And maybe someday monkeys will fly out of my butt.

  "What the hell is going on?"

  Jaden turned to Aileen Dunne, the sight of her reminding him of the woman who had just taken off with a piece of him in her little hands. “Seems Duncan has found his true bond.” He shrugged. “You know how it goes. You get a little kiss, do a little mattress mambo, mutter a few words and before you know it you've got a little wife nagging at you to lower the toilet seat."

  Leo Dunne was the only one of the Dunne family to look even remotely amused. Sean Dunne glared at him, his green eyes flashing, the pebbles at his feet popping like water on a hot skillet. “That isn't remotely amusing, vampire."

  "Dad, chill. It's okay. Jaden's cool."

  Jaden blinked in shock. The last person he'd expected to stand up for him just had. “Thanks, Shane."

  Shane Joloun Dunne shrugged his shoulders, an easy grin on his face. “I know what you did in that control room, and I know how you saved Ruby. You're all right as far as I'm concerned.” The man brushed his golden curls off his forehead, his emerald eyes twinkling. “Besides, something tells me that you're not done with us. Not by a long shot. We might as well get used to you being around, right?” Shane winked at him, looking like he knew something no one else did, including Jaden.

  That's it. I hereby declare you a freaky-ass dude. “Yeah. Well. My bond brother just mated your sister. I'm betting we'll see each other over Thanksgiving turkey once in a while.” Not. If the pain he was experiencing now was anything like what he'd feel when he saw Moira and Duncan happily snuggled together he'd probably be forced to do a little sunbathing. Enough sunlight would eventually render him dead enough not to care what happened between the only two people he'd ever loved.

  Even Leo, the normally easy-going brother, was looking at Shane like he'd lost his damn mind. “What the hell are you talking about?” From the amused exasperation in the Sidhe's voice it wasn't the first time he'd been forced to ask Shane that question.

  "You'll see.” Shane slung an arm around his mother's shoulder. The poor woman was so tense she jumped. “Let's go inside and have a nice cup of tea. Okay, Ma?"

  "But, Moira.” Aileen refused to allow her son to turn her, keeping her gaze focused on Jaden. She was wringing her delicate hands. Jaden was worried she'd start ripping off fingers if she tugged any harder. “Where is Duncan taking my daughter?"

  If I know my bond brother, to the nearest bed. “Probably back to Dunne's new house.” He pointed to Leo, who was cuddling his wife close to his side. Ruby was a delightful armful, with rounded breasts and hips and a pouty mouth that Jaden, under other circumstances, would have loved to taste. “Don't worry.” He stared down the road. He couldn't catch even a fleeting glimpse of the limo. “Your daughter's with the best man I know.” He turned to face them again and plastered a smile on his face. “Tea sounds good.” The bow he gave them was exaggerated. He was delighted when Ruby giggled. “Shall we?” He offered the brunette his arm, grinning when she took it. He stuck his tongue out at Leo and sauntered into the house with the newest Dunne, trying his best to pretend that he wasn't bleeding to death inside.

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  Chapter Two

  Las Vegas, two weeks before Christmas...

  Jaden danced across the floor, wondering what the fuck was wrong with him. He was starving, and not just for blood. But none of the many hot, available bodies called to him. Hell, at this point he'd be willing to pay for a body that appealed, but none of them did. Not one, damn it. Not even the blond with the blue eyes whose build so reminded him of...

  Okay, not going there.

  Jaden loved a big, strong man, and dayum if that guy didn't have big and strong down to an art form. Not even the stupid Santa hat detracted from his looks.

  Then the guy had to go and ruin it by lifting some little twink up in the air and almost dropping him.

  Jaden laughed and rolled his eyes. Or not.

  He hit the edge of the dance floor and made his way through the crowd, pausing only long enough to check his watch. Almost two thirty, and he still hadn't fed or gotten laid like he'd originally planned. As a vampire he couldn't even get good and drunk without a little veinicular help.

  Heh. Veinicular.

  Jaden sighed and propped up a wall. It was pretty fucking bad when the best part of the evening was a lame vampire joke. He hadn't been laid in more months than he could count, and sucking without fucking was, well, chocolate without peanut butter. Coke without rum.

  Turner without Hooch.

  Jaden rubbed his chest. The ache that kept him from following that blond's tight end right to nirvana had been growing by the night. He knew exactly who to blame for it too.

  Damn it, he missed them. He missed them both so much it hurt.

  "You okay?"

  He grimaced and stared down at the small Asian woman in front of him. “Yeah, I'm good."

  She shook her head, her glossy black hair shimmering under the lights. “If you're hungry I could feed you.” Her startling eyes looked up at him with a mild e
xpression, almost as if she was offering to order him something off the dollar menu at Taco Bell.

  Akane Russo had the weirdest eyes of anyone he'd ever met. One eye was dark brown with a startling light hazel star in the center. The other eye was a pure light hazel. Black brows were a straight slash above them, giving her a stern expression.

  Those eyes freaked him the fuck out every time he saw the woman. Considering how many times they'd worked together over the years, he'd found himself freaked out quite a lot. He'd long ago become used to the sensation and counted her as one of his few real friends. “Nah. I'm good."

  One brow rose in disbelief. It was almost Spockish in its elegance. “You sure? You look really hungry, Jade."

  He grinned and tried to make it look like he meant it. “I'll be fine."

  She shrugged. “All right then. But eat soon, okay? I'd hate to have to hunt your ass if you go feral.” She started to walk away, ignoring his shiver, but before she got very far she turned back. That golden star in the center of one of her eyes widened. “There's something different about you."

  Oh, boy. He had no idea what she was seeing, but there was a curiosity in her expression he could live without. He had no desire to be dragged off to her lair and dissected. “My shirt is new. It's Marc Jacobs.” He spun, making sure to leer at her over his shoulder. “You like?"

  Her eyes rolled, the star shrinking to its normal proportions. “Please. I'm probably the only piece of ass in this bar not interested."

  He wiggled his butt, confident she would turn him down. “You sure?"

  She laughed, the sound remarkably sweet from a woman he'd once seen rip the head off a Black Court vampire. “I'm sure. I don't poach, remember?"

  He frowned and wondered what the hell she was talking about. Before he could ask she waved good-bye and headed back to the dance floor.

  "Freaky ass dragon bitch."

  She glared over her shoulder at him. “I heard that."

  That startled a laugh out of him. How she did that he'd never know, but it sounded like she was standing next to him in a nice, quiet room. He shook his head and turned back to the dancers. He had no idea if he was going to be able to find a real meal tonight, but he was sure as hell going to try.