Jaden Blackthorn, newly minted Lord of the Blackthorn clan, could not be far away. His Blade would never allow his mates so far out of his sight without direct orders from either Robin or Oberon, which meant Robin could safely assign the Blade to guard Michaela with impunity.
He stepped aside and allowed Duncan and Moira to pass into the conference room without greeting them. He would let his presence be known to them later.
Right now, he had a vampire to talk to. Using his blood connection to the young vampire, Robin found him in the lounge, staring at the conference goers with an expression of unholy glee.
“I thought you were nearby.”
Robin twitched. The Blackthorn-Dunnes continually surprised him. He bowed, allowing some green to flash through his currently brown eyes. “Jaden.”
“Robin.” Jaden grinned and waved toward a seat. “Cop a squat and have a cup of coffee with me.” He tilted his head, one midnight brow rising nearly into his hair. “I gather you’re here for the Yates boy?”
Robin returned Jaden’s grin. “I’m here to find out what our dear Dark Queen is up to with this mad start of hers.”
Jaden practically bounced in his seat. “Oh. Can I help? Can I? Huh? Huh? Pleeease? I’m so bored .”
Robin laughed, delighted. “Yes, you may.”
“Yes!” Jaden rubbed his hands together. “Akane’s gonna be so jealous.”
“I have something special in mind for you, in fact.”
Jaden leaned forward eagerly. “Do tell.”
“I need you to guard someone.”
Jaden whimpered.
“Someone Raven MacSweeney has taken an interest in.”
At that, Jaden’s pained expression disappeared. He sat up slowly, that quick mind of his already going over the implications. “Oh? The Fear Dearc has a girlfriend?”
The handle of Jaden’s coffee cup snapped off, overturning the cup and spilling hot coffee all over his hand. Jaden yelped and grabbed a napkin, wiping the burning liquid off his hand. He glared at Robin. “What the hell?”
Robin sat back in his chair and took a deep breath. It wouldn’t do to allow the vampire to see him shaken. Just the thought of Michaela with MacSweeney was enough to set him off.
Something was going on. Something Robin would have to deal with personally. “Perhaps I should give you my assignment and take the girl on myself.”
“The girl?” Jaden’s sudden stillness gave him pause. “Not MacSweeney?” The knowing look Jaden shot him had a tinge of fear. “Could she be the one?”
“Fate is a cruel mistress with very bad timing.”
Jaden’s brows rose. “I’ll take that as a yes. Fate has an odd way of giving you what you need when you least expect it.” Jaden smiled grimly, his gaze turning inward as he spoke to his bondmates. “Duncan and Moira say hello, and they’re willing to help protect your female. When she’s near the Fear Dearc, Duncan will keep an eye on her. Moira’s going to try and find her and make nice. I’ll watch over her when I’m not protecting Duncan.”
He hadn’t even had to order Jaden to watch Michaela. He’d volunteered, as had his bondmates. “Are they certain? The Fear Dearc is not one to fool around with, and Michaela is mortal. She would be of no help to Moira in a fight.”
Jaden waved his hand. “You watched over my bondmates when I couldn’t. It only seems fair we watch over yours. Besides, Moira’s dying to meet her. Hell, she’s already on her way out of the room. Duncan agreed she should go, and for once she didn’t argue too hard.”
Robin was, once again, touched by the generosity of the Dunne-Blackthorn family. There was only one response he could give, and he would, gladly. “You have my thanks.”
Jaden lifted his broken cup, grimacing at its emptiness. The vampire had already healed the minor burn to his hand. “You’re welcome.” He set his cup down and stood. “Moira’s made contact.” He grimaced. “She wants a pair of strap-on wings for some strange reason.”
Robin shuddered
He stepped aside and allowed Duncan and Moira to pass into the conference room without greeting them. He would let his presence be known to them later.
Right now, he had a vampire to talk to. Using his blood connection to the young vampire, Robin found him in the lounge, staring at the conference goers with an expression of unholy glee.
“I thought you were nearby.”
Robin twitched. The Blackthorn-Dunnes continually surprised him. He bowed, allowing some green to flash through his currently brown eyes. “Jaden.”
“Robin.” Jaden grinned and waved toward a seat. “Cop a squat and have a cup of coffee with me.” He tilted his head, one midnight brow rising nearly into his hair. “I gather you’re here for the Yates boy?”
Robin returned Jaden’s grin. “I’m here to find out what our dear Dark Queen is up to with this mad start of hers.”
Jaden practically bounced in his seat. “Oh. Can I help? Can I? Huh? Huh? Pleeease? I’m so bored .”
Robin laughed, delighted. “Yes, you may.”
“Yes!” Jaden rubbed his hands together. “Akane’s gonna be so jealous.”
“I have something special in mind for you, in fact.”
Jaden leaned forward eagerly. “Do tell.”
“I need you to guard someone.”
Jaden whimpered.
“Someone Raven MacSweeney has taken an interest in.”
At that, Jaden’s pained expression disappeared. He sat up slowly, that quick mind of his already going over the implications. “Oh? The Fear Dearc has a girlfriend?”
The handle of Jaden’s coffee cup snapped off, overturning the cup and spilling hot coffee all over his hand. Jaden yelped and grabbed a napkin, wiping the burning liquid off his hand. He glared at Robin. “What the hell?”
Robin sat back in his chair and took a deep breath. It wouldn’t do to allow the vampire to see him shaken. Just the thought of Michaela with MacSweeney was enough to set him off.
Something was going on. Something Robin would have to deal with personally. “Perhaps I should give you my assignment and take the girl on myself.”
“The girl?” Jaden’s sudden stillness gave him pause. “Not MacSweeney?” The knowing look Jaden shot him had a tinge of fear. “Could she be the one?”
“Fate is a cruel mistress with very bad timing.”
Jaden’s brows rose. “I’ll take that as a yes. Fate has an odd way of giving you what you need when you least expect it.” Jaden smiled grimly, his gaze turning inward as he spoke to his bondmates. “Duncan and Moira say hello, and they’re willing to help protect your female. When she’s near the Fear Dearc, Duncan will keep an eye on her. Moira’s going to try and find her and make nice. I’ll watch over her when I’m not protecting Duncan.”
He hadn’t even had to order Jaden to watch Michaela. He’d volunteered, as had his bondmates. “Are they certain? The Fear Dearc is not one to fool around with, and Michaela is mortal. She would be of no help to Moira in a fight.”
Jaden waved his hand. “You watched over my bondmates when I couldn’t. It only seems fair we watch over yours. Besides, Moira’s dying to meet her. Hell, she’s already on her way out of the room. Duncan agreed she should go, and for once she didn’t argue too hard.”
Robin was, once again, touched by the generosity of the Dunne-Blackthorn family. There was only one response he could give, and he would, gladly. “You have my thanks.”
Jaden lifted his broken cup, grimacing at its emptiness. The vampire had already healed the minor burn to his hand. “You’re welcome.” He set his cup down and stood. “Moira’s made contact.” He grimaced. “She wants a pair of strap-on wings for some strange reason.”
Robin shuddered
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