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 Dunne marry into the Malmayne clan?” When Charles turned away from him Duncan reacted, grabbing hold of the man’s collar and yanking him forward. His Seeming dropped away, revealing him in all his Sidhe glory. He glowed with silver light. He looked beautiful and deadly. “You’re going to tell me what the hell is so important about Leo that he simply must be the Dunne that fulfills our contract, and you’re going to explain it now.”
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 Dunne once more.” Charles preened. “Dealing with his truebond should be no problem. The little human won’t know what hit her.”
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 Dunne. The leprechaun is quite powerful.”
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 Dunne will one day perform an act that will change our world.”
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 Dunne Sidhe. We need him bound to us, otherwise we would have let the contract lapse when that bitch mated the leprechaun all those years ago.” Charles made a moue of distaste. “A leprechaun? You might as well mate my butler, or worse, a human.”
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 Dunne.”
“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.”
For one brief moment Duncan looked horrified before his expression smoothed out. “Yes, I do. Thank you, Charles.”
Charles blinked rapidly. “You.” He started to lunge for Duncan but pulled himself up short. “You rolled my mind.”
Duncan turned away in disgust. “Jaden.”
“Yes, my lord?”
Moira smiled. Jaden’s tone was respectful, his stance one of easy readiness. She’d seen that stillness in him just before she’d attacked him that day he’d kidnapped Ruby.
“Blood debt is owed. Charles is going to pay it.”
“Wait! Duncan, I owe no blood debt. The Dunnes owe us!”
Duncan snarled. “You conspired to have me killed. You’re working with an agent of the Black Court, trying to circumvent prophecy for your own gain. You attacked the Dunne farm knowing that I was there with my mates, hoping one or all of us would be killed. For the crime of working with the Black alone your life is forfeit.” Charles paled. “For the crime of attacking your lord and his bondmates, your life is forfeit. I judge you guilty by your own word and hand. The sentence is death, to be carried out immediately.”
“That stupid human female stole our destiny, Duncan! We should have been mated into the Dunnes, the precious child ours to shape. Think about it! What could we do with such a child! All we have to do is arrange a co-marriage with one of the Malmayne females and the world is ours!”
Duncan let Charles go. “The Hob himself has sent his Blade to mete out justice for your crimes.”