“How do you think the Queen will feel having the head of one of the major clans mated to that abomination?” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I am positive that a new Lord Malmayne will be declared forthwith once the clan proper makes their dissatisfaction known.”
It was possible. If Glorianna chose to take exception to his tribond he could be removed as Lord Malmayne, and that would open both Moira and Jaden to the machinations of whoever became the next Lord Malmayne. She was the only one who had the power to do so. He’d known all along it was a possibility. But someone like Henri as the next Lord Malmayne?
That was not something he could allow to happen. His clan would be destroyed if Henri was proclaimed Lord.
Duncan could feel his temper beginning to build, the anger swift and hot as flowing blood, as deeply rooted as the earth itself. He had a very bad feeling about this, and from the way Moira and Jaden were murmuring in his head he could tell they shared his concerns. “Who do you propose that next Lord be?”
“Henri.” His name was said with such speed and conviction that Duncan guessed his cousins had decided on him before showing up on Duncan’s doorstep. “He’s been more than supportive of the Malmayne clan and has our best interests at heart.” Cecelia practically cooed as she brushed her hand down Henri’s arm.
Well. That was a wrinkle dear old Dad didn’t know about. Had Cullen been aware of the machinations of his brother Charles? Had Cullen too been duped? How deep was Henri into everything that had happened? “I’m afraid that Henri’s life will also be forfeit once Robin finds out he was the go-between for Charles and the Unseelie Sidhe lord he was conspiring with.”
The look in Cecelia’s eyes would have killed a lesser man. “Prove it.”
He barely stopped himself from growling. He didn’t have proof, not yet. Charles was dead and hardly likely to throw Henri under the bus even if he were still alive. The bastard had a sick sort of honor that would have prevented him from handing over someone he considered inferior to save himself.
So instead Duncan stood. He leaned forward, hands flat on the desk, and met her stare for stare, allowing her to feel the iron determination to root the Black out of his clan. “I will.”
“That went well. What’s next? Red hot spikes up the ass?” Jaden flopped into the chair across from Duncan’s desk and rubbed his forehead. Moira could really shout when she wanted to, and she’d been pissed as hell at the Malmaynes for calling him an “abomination”. Well, they’d called him worse in the past. He’d live. He was more concerned over how livid Duncan was with the results of the meeting.
“We investigate the rest of the clan.” Duncan stalked around the room. He’d moved beyond pissed and into homicidal rage. “I want Henri’s head on a pike.”
Jaden watched his cool Sidhe lord loose his self control, pacing like a caged tiger in front of his desk. “Duncan.”
“Cecelia and Constance are up to their necks in whatever’s going on, too. I want them taken care of.” Silver lights danced around him.
Jaden was starting to get worried. Duncan rarely lost his temper in the hundred years since they’d first met, and in the span of a few days he was losing it on a regular basis. “Duncan!”
Duncan stopped and stared at him. “What?”
“Deep breaths. You’re starting to freak me out.” Duncan actually bared his teeth at him. He had to hold back a laugh. “I’m terrified, oh fangless one.” He rolled his eyes. “You’re going to need anger management therapy if you keep this up.”
Duncan blinked. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“The last time I remember you losing your temper this much was—” Jaden tilted his head, “—never.” He glanced over at Moira and noticed her sudden concern. “Has he been like this since I left?”
That earned him another snarl as Duncan began prowling around the room again. “I am not out of control.”
“He was beyond depressed before you came back, and he’s been, well, upset off and on since you came back.”
He nodded. Then he stood, walked over to Duncan and grabbed his shoulder. He forced the Sidhe to face him again and pointed to his chin. “Go ahead. You know you’ve been dying to.”
Duncan rolled his eyes. “I already laid you out flat, remember?”
“But you’re still pissed at me, and it’s leaking over into everything else.” Jaden threw his arms wide. “I’m not going anywhere ever again, unless it’s on assignment.”
Duncan’s jaw clenched. Ah-hah. There we go.
“You’re ticked because I didn’t tell you I was a Blade?” He tried not to laugh. “That growl would be a lot more terrifying if I didn’t know you’d never really hurt me.”
“Why did you keep that from me?”
Jaden could hear the anguish under the anger, and sighed. “Because everyone knew who I lived with and worked for.”
“It was the perfect cover? Show up somewhere, party down, someone dies, you come home with none the wiser?”
Jaden lowered his arms. “No. Not every assignment has led to someone’s death. Just because I was built to be a fucking soldier doesn’t make me an automatic killer.”
Moira got between them, her hand over his heart. “Stop it. You know Duncan doesn’t feel that way. And you!” She turned on Duncan. “Stop taking it out on him. If Robin Goodfellow told you to keep a secret, what would you do?”
Duncan rubbed his eyes. “I’d probably superglue my lips shut.”
“See? Would you have told Duncan what you were if you could have?”
Jaden saw no point in telling the truth. “Yes.”
“Liar.”
Jaden smiled. “You get why, don’t you?”
“Fucker. You were keeping me safe, weren’t you?”
Jaden nodded.
“Don’t do it again. What if one of your ‘assignments’ had figured out who you were and come after me? I would have had no way of protecting myself.”
And there Duncan was wrong. Robin himself had promised to keep Duncan safe when Jaden gave his oath as a Blade. “Are you done being pissed at me?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
Moira patted their cheeks. “There now. Feel all better?”
“Not yet, but I will soon.” Jaden leered down at her, patting her on the ass. “What say we take this to the bedroom?”
Moira smacked him in the stomach. Hard. Her surprised expression rapidly turned pained.
Huh. Was that supposed to hurt?
“Ow.” She shook her hand out. “We need to figure out what to do about Henri. What if they really go to the Queen? Can she do something to remove Duncan as head of the clan?”
Jaden shrugged. “Never really cared much about White Court politics.”
“She can, if enough of the clan objects to my mating.” Duncan sagged against his desk. “Enough of them have felt the rough edge of Jaden’s tongue that they might relish the idea of hurting him through me.”
“There are options, but they might not be ones you like.” Akane rose from her seat. She’d been so quiet he’d almost forgotten his sometime-partner was still there. “Option one, remain White Court, even knowing you’ll more than likely lose your position as head of the clan. If that happens, Jaden should still be safe because of his, um, connections.” She looked non-plussed for a moment before her features smoothed back out into their usual calm façade. “Option two, remain White Court and fight not only your clan but your Queen to remain its lord. It will be an uphill battle I’m not sure you’ll win, especially since I can sense that most of your clan is leaning toward the Black now even if they don’t realize it.”