Jaden stared at Shane and Moira. “What did I do now?”
Duncan began herding them all back toward the house. “I think we need to finish that chat we were all having.”
“You go on. I think it’s time I left.” Akane stepped in front of Shane, her hands on her hips. “Where is my car?”
Shane, for the first time, looked uneasy. “The barn?” He gave her a weak grin, backing away from her slowly. “What kind of car was it again?”
Steam literally began to pour from the dragon’s ears. “A Porsche Boxster.”
Shane swallowed hard. “What year?”
“Brand new.”
Ouch. That was going to sting the man’s wallet. Duncan was pretty sure Shane could afford to replace the dragon’s car, but he was dressed so modestly that he wasn’t certain if the man wanted Akane to know how rich he truly was. Dragons were known to covet either wealth or the rare and exotic, and until he got to know her better Akane’s preferences would remain a mystery. But from the car she drove and the clothes she wore, he was betting she preferred wealth. Duncan decided to give his bondmate’s brother a hand keeping his wealth a secret. “Allow me replace it.”
Akane gifted him with a sweet smile. “Thank you, Mr. Malmayne. At least there are some gentlemen left in the world.”
Duncan wasn’t buying that for a moment, but he’d let her get away with it for now. He bowed his head before the Blade. “You’re welcome.”
“Whew. I’m not sure how much corn I’d have to sell before I could replace a fancy car like that.” Shane stuck his hands into his back pockets and rocked on his heels. “How much does one of them go for, anyway? Ten, fifteen thousand?”
The dragoness looked ready to sic her new pet on Shane. Duncan stepped between them, gesturing toward the house once more. “We could use your help, m’lady.”
She blew her hair out of her eyes. “Sure. It’s not like I can go anywhere, can I, Rhubarb?”
Shane shook his head. “Nope. Not until we get you a rental. Unless you want me to drive you in the tractor?”
Akane spun on her heel and headed for the house, stomping the entire way. The “dog” followed her, obviously seeing her as its new master. The heels of her expensive boots kept sinking into the earth. She let out an annoyed screech and leapt for the porch. She turned the corner and they could hear the screen door slam shut behind her.
“You’re bad.” Jaden draped his arm around Shane’s shoulders. “I like that about you.”
Shane’s shoulders were shaking with laughter. “Thank you kindly.”
“We need to do something about the…” Duncan turned, but there was no sign that the redcaps had ever been there. Even the one gazing at his own navel was missing. “Hmm.”
Sean merely whistled and ambled up onto his porch. “Coming?”
“Remind me not to piss him off.” Jaden followed his new father-in-law up onto the porch.
Duncan took Moira’s hand and followed them. Jaden wasn’t fooling him one little bit. That amused nonchalance was hiding a terrible anger. He had the feeling his personal Gray Knight was going to disappear some time during the night, and in the morning Duncan would hear about a tragedy at Charles Malmayne’s house.
Why? Why had Charles done something so drastically stupid? It didn’t make sense! Why hit the Dunne house?
Duncan pulled out his cell phone and quickly dialed home.
“Hello?”
Shit. Ian sounded breathless. “Is everyone safe?”
“We’ve held off an invasion of redcaps, my lord.”
Duncan swore. “Is anyone injured?”
“No, thank goodness. But the strangest thing happened. One moment they were almost through the door, and the next they were…well, gone. All we could hear were these horrible screams and—” the man gulped, “—wet, crunching sounds.”
Duncan blinked. “Was there anything left of them?”
“No, sir. But we did find a note on the front step.”
“What did the note say?”
“Whoever it was charged us fifty dollars for yard clean up, sir.”
“Anything else?”
“The bill was made out to Lord Jaden, my lord.”
What the hell? “Thank you, Ian. Keep an eye out on things. We think Charles may be behind the attacks.”
“Very good, sir. If I may say so, please be careful.”
“I will. And thank you.” Duncan hung up the phone. There could only be two explanations for this. The first, Charles had declared war on him, deciding to take him out when he least expected it. By hitting the Dunnes and his home he guaranteed that the redcaps would find him. The other possibility was that Charles was aware that Jaden had been in his house. It was possible that he also knew Jaden had found incriminating evidence of his collusion with the Black Court. Either way, he had to have known what Jaden would do once he recognized those redcaps. Jaden would make a beeline to Charles, intent on killing him.
Duncan stopped. He had to have known.
“Jaden!” He raced toward the house, but it was too late. He heard the roar of an engine, and Jaden was gone.
“What the hell is going on?” Moira watched Duncan’s face pale. “What?”
“He’s going to kill Charles.”
Duh. “I know. And?”
“Charles had to know what Jaden would do if we were threatened, Moira. He had to. That means he planned on it.”
Her entire body went cold. “It’s a trap.”
“Of one kind or another. Either he intends to capture Jaden, or he intends to be a martyr. Either way, the Malmaynes will demand Jaden’s head.”
“Despite evidence that Charles is using help from the Black Court.” Moira took a deep breath and turned in a circle, searching for something, anything that could help, but only one thought kept revolving through her mind. “We haven’t completed the Vows, Duncan.” She’d planned on doing that here, in front of family.
His eyes narrowed. “No. But he completed the blood bond. We’re his mates.” He ran around to the front of the house. The car was gone. “Son of a bitch!” Duncan’s Seeming exploded from him, silver lights dancing in a furious display. “We have to go after him.”
“How? We don’t have a car.” Moira took Duncan into her arms. “Contact him. Let him know we think this is a trap.”
“Jaden? Answer me, damn it. We think you’re heading into a trap.”
“I know. But I’ve been ordered by Robin to take care of the Malmayne problem. We’ll have to use the evidence of the redcap attack and what was found in the computer files to prove that he’s been working with the Black.”
“There is no evidence of the attack, Jaden.” Moira tightened her grip on Duncan. “My father buried it.”
“Well. That makes things a bit more difficult. Still, I was told to handle this any way I see fit, and I see fit to take his stupid ass out.”
“That might be just what he wants.” Duncan pulled away from Moira and strode toward the house. “If he becomes a martyr, you know what the clan will do?”
“They can’t touch me, Duncan, we both know that. Not if it’s a sanctioned Blade hit.”
“We both know that’s not entirely true.” Duncan stepped into the house and nodded toward Shane. “I need your help.”
Shane followed him back out. “What can I do for you?”