“Are you coming in or are you going to stand there and roast all day?”

Jaden rolled his eyes and sauntered into the house. “Fuck. You’ve gotten cranky, old man.” Duncan’s response? A low growl that sent shivers down Jaden’s spine. He quickly thumped his cock, the pain stilling his newborn erection. “So much for connubial bliss.”

“Jaden. Shut the hell up.”

Jaden shut up. He followed Duncan into his study, watching the other man closely. He frowned. What the…? Were those silver hairs in among the gold? Fear skated down his spine. In all the time he’d known Duncan the Sidhe Lord had never changed, not by a hair. New clothes and haircuts came and went, but underneath it all was still the same Duncan Malmayne who had pulled his ass out of a dirty alleyway and given him a home. To see silver there after only two months was frightening. “Duncan?”

Blazing gray eyes met his across the desk. “Henri is pushing for the nullification of my marriage to Moira.”

Bingo. That had to be the beginning of why Robin had sent him here. “Henri likes to talk out of his sphincter. What else is new?” Like silver threads through gold? What the fuck?

“Well, his sphincter is pushing out even more shit. He wants you punished for the murder of Kaitlynn.”

His eyebrows shot up. “That was sanctioned.” In more ways than one, and he’d play that card if it came down to it. Even if the sanction was posthumous. Not even Glorianna would interfere with a sanctioned Blade assassination.

“Even so, the clan is beginning to get on my nerves. They want…hell, I’m not sure what they want. Leo punished for not abiding by the marriage contract and binding himself to Kaitlynn, Ruby for taking Leo away from Kaitlynn, me for not enforcing the contract once Dad was dead.” He rubbed his eyes wearily, the anger beginning to leech from his face. “They believe that Moira isn’t good enough to fulfill the contract.”

Jaden leaned back in his chair, balancing it on two legs. He tried to hide the white-hot flash of rage over the thought that anyone believed Moira wasn’t good enough. “Why are they so frigging eager to see this done the way they want it done?”

Duncan’s expression froze. “Good question.” He settled down behind his desk, becoming visibly less ruffled. “It’s not as if we can bring Kaitlynn back from the dead.”

“Well…”

“Don’t even go there, Jaden.”

He grinned. He’d sooner eat, well, Kaitlynn than bring that bitch back. “Wasn’t going to.”

“Good.” A brief smile crossed Duncan’s face. “Welcome home.”

Jaden hid his wince. “Yeah. About that.” Icy fury once more glazed Duncan’s gray eyes, but before he could say anything Jaden’s chair was yanked back, landing him on his back. “Ow.” He looked up to find a pair of perky tits and furious green eyes glaring down at him. He smiled, inexplicably happy to see her again. “Hello, Moira.”

“Where the hell have you been?”

He licked his lips, tasting his own blood. “Is there an echo in here? At least you didn’t punch me.”

One slender foot began to tap next to his head. “Don’t tempt me.”

He eyed that foot, knowing full well what she was capable of. She couldn’t really hurt him, but she could damn well try. “Sweetheart, would you like to put that away? It might go off, and then how bad would you feel?”

She rolled her eyes and bounced her way over to Duncan’s desk. She perched on the edge, her arms folded across her breasts. “I’m going to repeat myself one more time. Where have you been?”

He didn’t even bother getting up off the floor. Knowing Moira she’d probably just dump him on his ass again. He crossed his leg over his knee and settled his hands behind his head. He smirked up at her. “Recently? Vegas.”

“What were you doing there?”

He mock frowned and wagged his finger at her. “Hey. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”

She ground her teeth together. “Jaden.” Her shoulders slumped. “You know what? Never mind. Just shut the hell up.”

Jaden smiled and shut up. Hell, this might actually be fun.

Duncan watched Jaden, aware that, suddenly, he was…complete. It was a strange sensation, something he shouldn’t be feeling. He had his mate, her glorious hair glistening in the sun streaming through the windows, her eyes glittering down at his bond brother. So why wasn’t it enough for him? Why, only now, did he know true happiness?

He’d missed Jaden. Perhaps it had something to do with the blood bond the two of them shared. Even now Jaden kept the link restricted, kept Duncan mostly out of his mind, but not even that could dampen his pleasure at the other man’s presence.

“We were worried about you, Fangsalot.”

Jaden snorted, his shoulders shaking with laughter. “Fangsalot? You’ve been hanging out with Ruby, haven’t you?”

Moira kicked his shin. “It’s not funny. Duncan and I were worried sick.”

Duncan frowned at Moira. Admittedly, he had damn near worried himself sick but Jaden didn’t need to know that. The vampire was unreasonably protective of him, and if he found out Duncan had been unwell Jaden would be all over him.

“Oh. Sorry to hear that.”

Duncan blinked. The cool nonchalance in Jaden’s tone stunned him. Hurt settled deep inside him. “I’ll be fine.” He shifted in his seat. What had happened to Jaden in Vegas? He’d never been cold to Duncan before. Usually he clowned around him, trying to break through the calm façade Duncan normally wore. “We need to discuss a few things.”

“Yeah, like a bath for me and a meal. I’m starving.” Jaden got to his feet with exquisite grace. “Let me get settled in and then we’ll talk.”

Duncan was seriously beginning to worry. His best friend wasn’t acting like himself. Duncan prided himself on being able to read the young vampire, but today he couldn’t sense a thing. “Is everything all right?” Had Jaden been somehow hurt in Vegas? Damn it, he wished he knew what had happened out there!

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Don’t worry, old man. I just stink.”

A reluctant smile curled Duncan’s lips. Ever since that alley Jaden hated being dirty with a passion. He’d bathe twice a day whenever possible. “Fine. How about we meet here for a light dinner? Moira and I will fill you in on what’s been going on since you left for your…vacation.” He couldn’t keep the displeasure from his voice. “I’ll have Ian inform the kitchen of our needs.”

Jaden grinned, but something was missing. The spark that made Jaden so much fun to be around was gone, and in its place… Duncan couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but it echoed through him down to his bones.

There was nothing left to do but watch Jaden walk out of the room, leaving behind him one very confused, hurt and angry Sidhe Lord.

Duncan narrowed his eyes. Something was very wrong with Jaden. His bond brother was still trying to shut him out. And Duncan was going to find out why.

Moira watched Jaden leave the room. She could just feel the ragged edges of his emotions. The vampire was hurting just as much as she and Duncan were.

Three’s a crowd, eh? Hmph. She crossed her arms over her breasts and thought about the conversation she’d overheard between the two men. Jaden had left to give them time to complete their mating bond, but instead of doing just that Duncan had held off, pining for Jaden.

Yup. A tribond. If she’d had any doubt before, just seeing Duncan and Jaden in the same room removed it. It was like the dark cloud that had been hovering over her and her cranky Sidhe lord had lifted. She pictured Duncan and Jaden kissing and was surprised to find the thought didn’t bother her at all. In fact, it was a surprising turn-on, her entire body heating up at the vision of Duncan’s blond head meshed with Jaden’s dark.

“That was unexpected.”