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"Yes I do You’re his father," Matthew said

"I’m only his sire," Hubbard said softly "You’re Jack’s father, Matthew You always have been"

19

Matthew carried Jack up to the third floor, cradling his body as if he were a baby Lobero and Corra accompanied us, both beasts aware of the job they had to do While Matthew stripped off Jack’s blood-soaked shirt, I ru he could wear instead Jack was easily six feet tall, but he had a ier frame than Matthew I found an oversize Yaleit would do Matthew slipped Jack’s see head My spell had knocked hiether we settled hi unless it was absolutely necessary I drew the sheet up around Jack’s shoulders while Lobero watched my every move from the floor Corra perched on the la the shade to an alarree

I touched Jack’s sandy hair and the dark mark on his neck, then pressed h he was asleep, I could feel the parts of hih Hubbard had ensured that Jack would be twenty-one forever, he had a weariness that e

Jack had been through so much Too much, thanks to Benjamin I wanted that ers onwhere the knot circledmore than desire made real, and the power in e

"Jack was our responsibility, and eren’t there for him" My voice was low and fierce "And Annie"

"We’re here for Jack now" Matthew’s eyes held the saer that I kneere inwe can do for Annie, except pray that her soul found rest"

I nodded, controlling my emotions with difficulty

"Take a shower, ma lionne Hubbard’s touch and Jack’s blood" Matthew couldn’t abide it when my skin carried the scent of another creature "I’ll stay with hio downstairs and talk torandson" His final words were slow and deliberate, as though he were getting his tongue used to thehtly on the forehead, and reluctantly headed into the bathroo’s events

Thirtyopposite each other at the sirowled I was glad Jack wasn’t awake to witness it

Matthew dropped my hand and walked the few steps to the kitchen He pulled out a bottle of sparkling water forthelasses

"You may be lass’s growl subsided into an inhu

"It’s mutual" Hubbard hoisted his black briefcase onto the table and left it within easy reach

Mattheorked the corkscrew into his bottle, watching his nephew and Hubbard jockey for position without colass of wine and drank it down in two gulps

"You’re not fit to be a parent," Gallowglass said, eyes narrowing

"Who is?" Hubbard shot back

"Enough" Matthew didn’t raise his voice, but there was a timbre in it that lifted the hairs on lass and Hubbard "Has the blood rage always affected Jack this way, Andrew, or has it worsened since he met Benjamin?"

Hubbard sat back in his chair with a sardonic smile "That’s where you want to start, is it?"

"How about you start by explaining why you e!" My anger had burned straight through any courtesy I ave him a choice, Diana," Hubbard retorted, "not to ue!" I cried "He wasn’t capable of rown-up Jack was a child"

"Jack was full on twenty years--a man, not the boy you left with Lord Northu in vain for your return!" Hubbard said

Afraid we ht wake Jack, I lowered my voice "I left you with plenty of money to keep both Jack and Annie out of har"

"You think a warm bed and food in his belly could mend Jack’s broken heart?" Hubbard’s otherworldly eyes were cold "He looked for you every day for twelve years That’s twelve years of going to the docks to meet the ships from Europe in hopes that you would be aboard; twelve years interviewing every foreigner he could find in London to inquire if you had been seen in A up to anyone he suspected of being a witch to show that person a picture he’d drawn of the faue took his life and not the queen’s justices!"

I blanched

"You had a choice, too," Hubbard re a vampire, blame yourself or blame Matthew He was your responsibility You ain, and you know it!" The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them I froze, a look of horror on my face This was another secret I’d kept froht was safely behind aze splintered against my skin Then the roorandson, Gallowglass Alone," Matthew said The erandson" was subtle but unlass stood, his face set in lines of disapproval "I’ll be upstairs with Jack"

Matthew shook his head "Go home and wait for Miriam I’ll call when Andrew and Jack are ready to join you"

"Jack will stay here," I said, s"

The forbidding look Matthew directed h the twenty-first century was no place for a Renaissance prince and a year ago I would have protested his high-handedness Now I knew thaton to his control by a very slender thread

"I’ under the same roof as a de Clerlass’s direction

"You forget, Andrew," Matthew said, "you are a de Clermont So is Jack"

"I was never a de Clermont," Hubbard said viciously

"Once you drank Benja else" Matthew’s voice was clipped

"In this family you do what I say"

"Family?" Hubbard scoffed "You were part of Philippe’s pack, and now you answer to Baldwin

You don’t have a family of your own"

"Apparently I do" Matthew’s lass"

"Very well, Matthew I’ll let you send o far And ifback and to hell with vaot up and kissed me on the cheek "Holler if you need me, Auntie"