Tangled Redemption Read online

  Miguel’s gaze narrowed. Jayden chuckled. “Very clever.” He rested his chin on her shoulder. “If you tell him you want neither, that the both of us together are too much for you—”

  Sydney snorted.

  “We all know that’s not the truth, but it might be an incentive for him.”

  Miguel crossed his arms over his chest. “What is going to stop me from going to him and telling him about this little plan? In exchange for having you all to myself?”

  She froze. “But that’s not what I want.”

  Jayden tightened his arms around her.

  “Why would I care?”

  Why would he care? Sydney realized she had assumed both men would agree with her wish, that both of them enjoyed the current situation and wanted it to continue. “Will you?”

  For an endless minute he didn’t respond. “No, but the next time you plan to lie to our leader you may want to take into consideration who you are with.” He nodded at Jayden. “Who is to say that he won’t go to Nasir to get you for himself?”

  She swallowed. He was right. This wasn’t some kind of sex colony where the biggest decision was who she would sleep with. In the time she had been here she’d managed to access her data files due to a number of breadcrumbs she’d left for herself. In between mind-blowing sessions with her two men she had dug deeper into Nasir’s network and tracked down more buyers, but she had no way to tell anyone. The stripped comp Miguel had provided her with had limited capacity to receive, but nothing she’d tried had given her an opportunity to send.

  Even if she found a way, she had no idea where she was. She’d tried calculating the distance traveled, but there were just too many variables for a satisfactory conclusion. She didn’t leave the room but for her daily walk and that took her in the opposite direction from the shuttle launch pad.

  Basically she had done very little but grown to trust her prison wardens.

  It was official. She was completely and utterly insane.

  Jayden kissed the back of her neck again. “Easy, love. He’s just being a jackass.” He lifted her hand and nibbled on her fingers. “Miguel’s right in that we have to be careful who we speak in front of, but here and now it’s just the three of us. I believe we can all agree when I say we want each other and we don’t want this triad to stop. Jade, we haven’t even fucked yet. It would be such a shame to break this up before I get to thrust my hard cock inside you while Miguel fucks me.”

  Fire blazed through her at those words. So far they’d only exchanged one kiss. She wanted to see them doing more. Far more.

  “Are we in agreement?”

  Sydney swallowed and nodded. Miguel lowered his head once.

  “There you go. Out there we can continue to be competitors, each of us having our own little strategies and plans. But in here we leave all that behind and focus on bringing Sydney to more pleasure than she has ever experienced.”

  Sydney smiled and shook her head. “I am not sure I can survive.”

  Miguel’s firm expression eased the slightest bit. “But what a way to go.”

  For a moment everyone stilled and then they burst into laughter.

  Sydney couldn’t believe it. How could she enjoy spending time with her enemies?

  But were they really? From the moment she’d met Miguel there had been something different about him, something that didn’t fit with the rest of the equation. And Jayden, so seemingly out of place with his easygoing, always laughing persona. Were they who they said? Or was she only hoping they were not because her stupid, stupid heart had decided they both looked good?

  * * * * *

  The next day Miguel stood beside Sydney and Jayden, watching Nasir, trying to predict how the Vampire would respond to their plan. Sydney would have to be convincing. Nasir was no fool, even if his sanity was in question.

  The subject of his thoughts strode into the room, followed by his usual entourage, slightly larger today probably because of the occasion. “Well then, there the three of you are. How have the last three days been?” He waved at them to sit. Jayden and Sydney did, but Miguel crossed his arms behind his back and stood at parade rest.

  Nasir smiled, but danger lurked in his eyes. Miguel sent a mental warning to both Sydney and Jayden. He didn’t know how receptive they would be, but didn’t want to leave that avenue untried.

  “Well then, Honorable Radnall, what is your decision?”

  “I don’t want either of them.”

  Nasir paused, then burst into laughter. “Really?” He looked between Jayden and Miguel. “That doesn’t bode well for your reputations.”

  Miguel remained impassive, a trait he knew Nasir hated.

  Jayden laughed and shrugged. “Actually I think this time it’ll work in our favor. We’ve worn her out, so she’s decided she wants nothing to do with us.”

  “Is that so?” Nasir’s smile dropped. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. “And why would you believe you have the right to make any decision at all, Honorable Radnall?”

  Sydney pressed her lips together, anger and disgust shimmering in her eyes. She was good. Better than Miguel had anticipated. “I don’t believe I said anything about my wishes being taken into consideration. I am only responding to your initial question and my response remains the same—neither of them.”

  Tension invaded his body. She was pushing Nasir with that bite in her voice. It was just a touch too much.

  The Vampire’s gaze narrowed and he studied Sydney like a bug under a microscope. He tapped his finger against the top of the armrest. Tap. Tap. Tap. Silence spread across the room.

  Miguel didn’t move, but he knew they were screwed. He wasn’t sure what had given them away, but Nasir didn’t believe them.

  Just before he was about to speak Jayden rose to his feet. “Nasir, can I take you away for a moment while you make your decision? I received intel on an unrelated matter I need to bring to your attention.”

  Miguel straightened, unable to stop himself. What was Jayden doing? Suspicion swirled through him. Why did he need to speak with Nasir alone? Unrelated? Not likely.

  Nasir’s brows rose. He looked between Miguel and Jayden, saw Miguel’s change of position and curled his lips. “Unrelated, you say?”

  Jayden nodded.

  “I can’t wait to hear about this.” He rose and stepped through the door into his soundproofed office. No matter how sensitive the hearing it was impossible to overhear what happened in the office unless Nasir wanted them to. Jayden followed after throwing Sydney a quick wink.

  Miguel suppressed the growl rising in his chest. He met Sydney’s questioning gaze, but gave her an infinitesimal shake of head. She sobered up and cleared her expression.

  He stared at the closed door.

  What the hell were they talking about?

  Jayden followed Nasir and closed the door behind himself. The other Vampire sank into the chair behind his desk as Jayden sat before him. For a moment his course of action made him feel bad, but Sydney’s safety came above everything else.

  “I believe Calatrave is behind the attempts on your life.” It was an outright lie because Jayden had done his best during one of the attempts and failed. Didn’t mean Miguel wasn’t responsible for the other two.

  Nasir leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desktop. “Indeed? And why do you believe my second-in-command would be after me?”

  “I don’t have details yet, but I’d like to request that you allow me to remain in this triad so I can stay close to him. There’s something about him that has my senses tingling.”

  “You mean your senses other than the ones that want to fuck him?”

  Jayden shrugged. “He is an attractive man for sure, but it’s more than that.”

  Nasir leaned back and once again tapped his finger, this time against the top of the wooden desk. “You are aware Calatrave’s been with me for nearly five years? He worked himself up through the ranks and has shown his loyalty more than once.”

  �
��I am sure he has.”

  “Whereas you have only been working with me for what? Nine months? And now you want me to believe that you have evidence indicating Calatrave?”

  Jayden nodded. “I come in with fresh eyes and see things people who have been here for longer may overlook.” He held up his hand. “I’m not saying he is guilty, I’m just asking that you give me the opportunity to investigate. Remaining in the triad is my best chance to see what he’s up to.”

  Nasir rubbed his chin. “Very well.”

  Elation shot through Jayden. It had been a long shot, but for once it seemed to have paid off.

  “But I want you to supply me with Sydney Radnall’s blood in exchange.”

  Jayden froze. That was an impossible ask. Sydney had made it more than clear that she would die before allowing anyone to take her blood.

  Nasir raised his brows. “Is there a problem?”

  Bastard. He knew exactly how Sydney felt about sharing her blood. He knew the only way Jayden could agree to this would be to go behind both Miguel’s and Sydney’s back.

  He wanted to curse and ball his fists but didn’t allow any of his anger and disgust to seep through. “Not at all.” A little bit of Naema blood would not change the course of the war and in the end may even save the life of one or two humans from the pen.

  The last was a slim hope, but it worked as justification.

  Jayden rose.

  “I’m looking forward to my first donation.” Nasir rose as well. The cunning satisfaction in his eyes made Jayden want to punch him, but he only turned away and planned his next steps. The first of which would be to alleviate Miguel’s suspicions. The second would be to gather what he needed to take Sydney’s blood without her knowing.

  His stomach clenched at the thought of doing something so completely against her will, but there was no other choice and sometimes the means justified the ends.

  He stepped out of the office and grinned at the other two. Sydney responded with a smile, but Miguel was his usual impassive self. Jayden really wanted to get the other man to share more of his emotions, but doing so outside the bedroom would endanger all of them.

  Nasir clasped his hands before his chest. “Now, about this…arrangement you are so unhappy about. Unfortunately, Honorable Radnall, I don’t want to give you what you want. You will remain in the custody and care of Estimable Calatrave and Maywater as their sexual pet. They are free to do with you whatever they desire as long as it doesn’t outright kill you. Understood?”

  Chapter Six

  Sydney’s mouth went dry, but she forced herself not to swallow. Instead she counted Jayden’s freckles. It eased her and helped her to keep her heart rate steady. There was just something about the way the Vampire stood before her, as if he only had her best interest at heart. But when she looked into his light blue eyes, she saw they had turned nearly gray and showed a raging volcano of emotion. And none of it happy.

  She slowly rose to her feet, the baggy black uniform she’d been given on her first day absorbing and hiding the sweat on her lower back. She met Nasir’s gaze and nodded. “Understood.”

  His smile cut like the blade on his desk. “Wonderful.” He turned away from her and addressed Miguel. “So sorry, Miguel, you will have to share your pet and food with another.”

  Miguel didn’t move. “You know what I like. This scenario gives me more than one way to fulfill my desires.”

  For a moment the volcano of emotions in Nasir’s eyes turned black. Sydney clenched her jaw, expecting the worst, but instead he burst into laughter. “Well done.” He glanced at Jayden. “You may have bitten off more than you can chew.”

  Jayden shrugged. “Nothing I don’t want to swallow.”

  Nasir laughed some more.

  The laughter grated across Sydney’s senses. She walked over to Miguel. He gripped her nape and turned her to the door. His claim, blatantly possessive and dominant, helped her stomach to settle.

  He escorted her out of the chamber of horrors. Jayden fell into step behind them.

  She was about to say something, but Miguel tightened his grip. She took the hint. He didn’t take her back to her room but turned on the walkway that took them outside. They walked farther than they had before. The forest surrounding them kept the air cool and comfortable, and made it completely impossible for her to decipher more about her location.

  Sydney pushed that thought aside. Her opportunity would come.

  After about thirty minutes they reached a small clearing, the sunlight turning the forest greens into an idyllic picture. She smiled. Being away from the compound lifted the cloud of dread that hovered over the place. She twirled in place and stretched her arms to the sky. “It’s so pretty.”

  Jayden laughed and took her hands. The sun brought out the deep auburn in his hair, making her want to run her hands through its fire. Once again he guided her into a dance, leading her with an ease and grace that was at odds with his bulk. She laughed and followed. He hummed a few notes of a classic. They turned to Miguel who held his comp and had pulled up a classic tunes site.

  Jayden laughed and spun her around.

  “May I cut in?”

  Butterflies danced through Sydney’s stomach at Miguel’s words. His old-fashioned approach made her respond in kind. “The next time we pass here.”

  He smiled and nodded. Jayden led her around the imaginary dance floor. When they returned to Miguel he handed his comp to Jayden and took Sydney into his arms. A little breathless she followed where he led.

  Unsurprisingly, he was as good a dancer as Jayden, but there was an edge to his leadership that made her heart race. Jayden danced with a wink and a smile, not taking it too seriously, whereas Miguel guided her as if the world depended on it.

  She loved both.

  His black gaze held her captive as he took her through the steps.

  The melody changed. She looked over and saw Jayden fiddling with the comp. “Ah, here we are.” Another quick and fun tune pealed through the clearing.

  Miguel quirked his lips and lived up to the challenge by twisting and swiveling her like a pro. She laughed, enjoying herself immensely.

  At the end of the dance Jayden grinned broadly and gave them another song. Miguel didn’t miss a beat. Jayden added his voice to the melody.

  Lightness fluttered through Sydney. She wanted to freeze this moment in time. This moment where Miguel smiled and allowed his impassive mask to drop. This moment where her two men discovered a mutual enjoyment of music. This moment where the world around them disappeared and they just were.

  Miguel cradled her against him, one arm around her waist, the other on her neck. As Jayden brought the song to an end, Miguel turned her and led her into a dip. Knowing he would hold her she shifted her weight and stretched one leg into the air.

  He smiled and pulled her back to her feet.

  Jayden clapped. “You should do this professionally.”

  “I have.”

  Sydney gaped.

  Miguel rolled his eyes as he led her to a hoverbox at the edge of the clearing. “I am twelve-hundred-and-ninety-three years old. There are very few things I haven’t done.” He tapped in a code, opened the box and lifted out a picnic basket. “Every warrior should know how to dance. It makes you lighter on your feet.”

  She closed her eyes and shook her head. Of course he had to bring fighting back into it. His age made her swallow a little bit. There were a lot of years between them. She gaped some more when he snapped open a blanket and added a food container. He also pulled two bottles out of the basket. One was clear, probably water, the other mirrored a wine bottle. Her stomach curled when she imagined where the blood had come from. Then she saw the fine sheen of dust.

  “I have a personal supply of blood. The only way to ensure no contamination.”

  Jayden dropped onto the blanket and pulled her down beside him. Sydney made herself comfortable, but she didn’t quite believe Miguel’s words. They made sense, but there was something benea
th them. He was a master of making statements that could be interpreted multiple ways.

  Jayden stroked his hand over her shoulder and handed her the food container. She opened it to another delicious stir-fry. She inhaled and moaned. “Jade, this smells amazing.”

  Miguel handed her a fork. “Eat.”

  She wanted to roll her eyes at his demand but dug in instead. She hadn’t felt like eating before their confrontation with Nasir. Sydney pushed that thought away. “When and where did you dance professionally?”

  For a moment she thought he wouldn’t respond. He poured two glasses of blood and handed one to Jayden. “It must have been around five hundred years ago. There was a woman—“

  Jayden burst into laughter. “There usually is.”

  She tried to smile but couldn’t quite pull it off. She didn’t want to hear about his passionate affair with another woman. Lifting the fork she hid her expression.

  “I had just lost a very close friend in a stupid and unnecessary war. I needed a change and ended up on a small moon. I went to explore the main town because it had interesting geography. Rock and mountain surround it on three sides. It sounded diverting and I wanted to see it. A major dance competition had the whole town in a frenzy.” He shrugged and sipped his drink. “One of the home girls was without a partner due to an accident. I offered to help.”

  Sydney wanted to slap the fond smile off his lips. This had happened centuries before they even met and it wasn’t as if she had any claim to him.

  Jayden caressed the back of her neck, giving her something other than the anger inside her to focus on. “What happened next?” he asked.

  “We managed to come third in this competition, which qualified us for another round. Margaret worked me like a dog until I was up to her standards and I joined the circuit.” His smile dimmed. “We did that for a few years, but she wanted a family. I couldn’t give it to her so we parted ways.” He was about to say something else but looked around and grimaced. “She died of old age as humans are prone to do.”

  “Do you still think of her?” Sydney wanted to pull the words back before they finished leaving her mouth.