Temptations Mate: Chapter Seventeen

"Nice try little brother, now up with you. Let's go again," Sam said crossing his arms and waiting on Kurt to get up from the ground.

Kurt had returned to Caisle�n that morning to begin his training. He had imagined it would be like when his father attempted to train him; soft words and gentle encouragement, simple spells with easy memorization and Sam holding back a fair bit like his father had.

Kurt had been completely mistaken. Sam had taken him into his training room and after an intense meditation session and some basic spells he'd surprised Kurt by springing a weapons training session on him.

Kurt wasn't a complete novice, having a basic set of skills that had served him well but Sam was far more advanced. Kurt found his every attack blocked and wound up on his backside more often than not. He was sore, exhausted, and more than a little embarrassed.

"No," Kurt panted, shaking his head, "I think I'll just lie here and die thank you very much."

Sam smirked and shook his head. "Kurt, there'll be none of that. We're not done yet, up with you."

Kurt's eyes narrowed and he glared at Sam. "I am finished and I'm not getting up so you can-HEY!"

Kurt found himself pulled up from his position and placed on his feet as if he were a marionette on strings. "We're done when I say we're done," Sam said calmly. "Now raise your sword and come at me."

Kurt deliberately dropped his sword to the ground. "I am finished," he said frostily, directing a challenging gaze at Sam.

Sam shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said before lifting his sword and charging at Kurt.

Kurt yelped as he saw Sam rushing toward him. He threw up his hands and cried out, "No Sam, stop!" before dropping to the ground and curling up in a ball.

A few moments went by and Kurt realized that his brother hadn't crashed into him. He cautiously opened his eyes and saw that Sam was frozen in mid stride.

"Oh my…Sam! What happened?" Kurt asked then winced as he realized that he was had happened and he had no idea how to undo it. "I'm so sorry uh, you can move now," Kurt said. Sam stayed locked place and Kurt glanced at him in a panic.

Suddenly Sam began to laugh and slowly lowered his sword, shaking out his muscles. "Pretty good shot there, but you were supposed to use your sword for defense, not your magic and certainly not a spell you had no idea how to break."

"I wasn't trying to," Kurt pouted. "It's your fault anyway. I had no idea when you offered to train me that meant you were going to try to kill me."

"You're unnecessarily dramatic, if I meant to harm ye, I'd have done so a dozen times since we began," Sam said waving off Kurt's complaints.

"If you meant to harm me," Kurt repeated indignantly. "I'm black and blue and dog-tired. I shudder to think of what you could accomplish should you actually seek to injure my person."

"I'll heal you before you leave," Sam said dismissively. At Kurt's reproachful look he relented. "Perhaps I've bit a forceful-"

"Perhaps?"

"But tis for ye own good, Kurt. You've chosen an influential mate who has powerful enemies. And your insistence on standing beside him when danger comes means that you need to be able to defend not only yourself, but Blaine as well," Sam explained.

"I am not helpless, Samuel."

"Nay, but you can't be relying on blind luck like you did with the Jinn," Sam responded. "What was your plan had Jeremiah somehow managed to get his hands on you?"

Kurt frowned. He honestly hadn't had much of a plan beyond rescue Noah, help Blaine, and live to fight another day.

"That's what I thought," Sam said. "You're going to be a target Kurt. When word breaks that you're my brother and Blaine's mate you'll be seen as a weakness for the both of us. Our enemies will become your enemies. You have to be ready."

Kurt saw the wisdom in Sam's words. "I guess I haven't given a great deal of thought to the downside of things," Kurt admitted.

"Why would you?" Sam returned. "You haven't had to deal with direct threats. William kept you fairly insulated and whatever else he may have been, he was a good protector. So is Blaine, so am I, but I have the feeling a protector is the last thing you want, am I wrong?"

Kurt nodded his agreement. "I'm not weak nor am I a coward. I admit I had…trouble processing what I did at the end with Jeremiah but to protect Blaine, my clan, my kin…I'd do it again."

Sam nodded. "Of course you would," Sam agreed. "You have the instincts, if not the ability, to protect and defend what's yours. And there's no shame in having conflict about taking a life. Your humanity isn't a weakness Kurt; it's one of your greatest strengths. Kurt, your strength, your compassion your purity…you may not realize it but in so many ways you are our mother."

"Did you…did you have a lot of time with her?" Kurt asked softly.

Sam nodded. "Not nearly enough but I had a good bit."

"Did she…did you get to say goodbye?"

"Aye, I did," Sam's eyes softened as he looked at Kurt. "You didn't."

Kurt shook his head. "No, no I didn't."

Sam clapped Kurt on the shoulder. "Well, we can't undo the past but how about we get back to your training so there'll be precious few goodbyes in your future, eh?"

Kurt groaned. "I still think this is some sort of medieval torture you've resurrected."

Sam smiled. "I have fond memories of the Dark Ages. The Pear of Anguish, The Coffin Torture, The Knee Splitter…good times those were. Now, you ready?"

Kurt gulped. "As I'll ever be," he said squaring his shoulders.

Mercedes moved through Blaine's lair quickly, rifling through the drawers before carefully putting everything back as she'd found it. She was determined to find out who the mysterious Santana was and what exactly she was to Blaine. Mercedes was sure if evidence of the woman existed it was to be found in his lair.

Coming up empty in the bureau, she scanned the room. She caught sight of an old chest at the foot of the bed and knelt down in front of it. As soon as she went to raise the lid she found cool hands on top of hers preventing her from doing so.

"And just what, pray tell, is it you think you're doing?" Blaine asked quietly.

Mercedes' mouth went dry and she struggled to find an answer. "It's daytime! I...I thought you'd be asleep. I mean, um I just uh, I…I was cleaning, my lord."

Blaine's mouth twisted in a wry smile. "I was under the impression that you were somewhat intelligent," he said softly. He took a hand and tipped her chin up, forcing her to look into his eyes.

Blaine's eyes glowed golden and the pupil dilated. Mercedes found she was unable to look away and suddenly felt as if she were being shrouded in a dense fog.

"Good girl," Blaine murmured. "Now, again, what were you doing in here?"

"Noah and I heard you and your brother last night," Mercedes answered. "We heard you talking about people named Jeff, Brittany and Santana and we were worried because Santana sounded like trouble for Kurt. We know you're lying to him about something that involves her and I was trying to find information on her to report back to Noah."

Blaine resisted the urge to shift and dispatch Mercedes and then go hunt down Noah. "Insufferable humans and damn lycans," Blaine swore. "Running loose throughout my house, scurrying and sneaking about in the night like vermin. I should exterminate the both of you, but that would upset Kurt. His attachment to you and that dog has saved your hides," Blaine said.

He tilted his head to the side. "I suppose I should be somewhat lenient since you are acting out of concern for Kurt. So, Ms. Jones you are granted a reprieve. Go from this room. Lie down and sleep. When you awake you'll remember nothing of this conversation or the one you overheard last night."

Mercedes nodded and rose to her feet. She moved slowly, as if in a trance out of the room and down the hall, making her way to her quarters.

Just as Blaine was about to scour the premises in search of Noah he got an overwhelming sense of panic flooding his veins.

Kurt.

Blaine dashed through the manor at inhuman speed to where his senses told him he'd find Kurt. He came to a stop just outside of the music room to find Kurt in the midst of a full fledged breakdown.

"He's gone," Kurt wailed, throwing himself into Blaine's arms.

"Who's gone?" Nick asked from the doorway, Mike and Jesse on his heels, the latter had clearly sprung from their slumber. Jesse was bare chested and clad in only sleeping pants and Mike was in a similar state of undress.

"I have no idea," Blaine answered. "Love, talk to me. I thought you were with Sam."

Kurt took calming breaths to relax. "I was," he began," but we finished early and I came home and went to Noah's room and he's gone. His bed hasn't been slept in and no one has seen him since last night."

Nick rolled his eyes and sent Mike and Jesse back to rest. "I'm sure he's fine, Kurt."

Kurt shook his head. "He was injured, Nick. He was injured and we're too close to the city for him to be roaming about. If anyone sees him he'll be killed and-"

"Kurt calm down!" Blaine said sternly. "Your lycan is foolish yes, but he doesn't strike me as particularly stupid," Blaine said soothingly.

"He strikes me as being exceedingly stupid," Nick muttered.

"I'm sure he's fine," Blaine soothed, shooting Nick a warning look.

"I know he's fine," Nick said suddenly. "He just came around the corner."

Kurt struggled free from Blaine and nearly knocked Nick over in his haste to get out the door. Blaine glowered at Kurt's show of concern for Noah but followed after him silently.

"Where were you?" Kurt demanded from his position with his head in Noah's chest.

"What is wrong, brother? Who upset you?" Noah asked, wrapping his arms around Kurt and snarling at Nick and Blaine.

"You upset me," Kurt sniffled. "I went into your room to tell you about my training and you were gone and your bed looked like it hadn't been used at all. You can't go traipsing about London, Noah. If someone sees you-"

"Shh, brother I'm fine," Noah consoled Kurt, "I was not seen and I did not mean to worry you. I had hoped to come home before you arrived. I had an idea that required me to act upon it quickly."

"Where were you?"

Noah sighed. "I went back to Jeremiah's den," he said confessed.

Kurt stiffened. "Why? Why would you ever return to such a horrid place?"

Nick suddenly began to laugh, causing the other three to look at him in confusion. "I know why he went back. You went back for what got you in trouble in the first place didn't you?" He said, challenging Noah.

Noah's chest rumbled with a suppressed growl but he didn't give in to his instincts to spar with Nick. Instead he merely nodded. "Yes, I liberated the Jinn's treasure from it's location."

Kurt drew back in shock and a smile ghosted over Blaine's lips. "Why would you…"

Noah kissed Kurt on the forehead. "Kurt, Jeremiah certainly won't be making any use of it. Letting it go to waste or remain there to be discovered by humans would be foolish. With this treasure I'm not beholden to anyone. I have my own means and I perhaps I can use some of it to pay a tribute to the council, maybe it would entice them to lift my ban and allow me to register and walk about freely in the city."

Kurt still looked unconvinced but Nick spoke up. "He's right Kurt," the vampire said. "Blaine should have sent someone to retrieve it by now. Eventually someone was going to claim it, might as well be Noah."

Blaine hummed his agreement. "You could say he earned it after the hell Jeremiah put him through."

Kurt shook his head. He knew logically it made sense that Noah had claimed Jeremiah's treasure and that his brother had just become very wealthy but he couldn't help but feel everything that had to do with Jeremiah was evil and tainted.

"I know I'm not being sensible," Kurt acknowledged, "It's just Jeremiah was pure evil and-"

"It's only money, Kurt," Noah said quietly. "Tis the same as magic or power. How you use it what determines whether or not it's evil."

Kurt nodded. "I know. I just…I'd rather forget everything about Jeremiah."

"As would I little brother, but that's no reason to look a gift horse in the mouth."

"Well," Blaine interrupted, coming up and purposefully removing Kurt from Noah, "now that that's settled, Kurt and I need to spend some time alone."

Nick smirked and Noah grimaced at the implication in Blaine's words while Kurt flushed. "We'll talk more later," Noah said to Kurt before pressing another kiss onto his forehead and giving Blaine a hard look. "I think I'll go find Mercedes and chat with her for a bit."

Blaine hid his smile, knowing that Noah wouldn't find the information he sought. "Have a good chat," he said cheerfully as Noah left.

Nick shot his brother a questioning glance.

Trouble?

We had uninvited guests for our conversation last night.

The lycan?

And Mercedes.

They'll go straight to Kurt-

They won't. I caught Mercedes lurking about my lair. I compelled her. She told me the whole story and then I removed her memory. She won't be of any use to the lycan and he won't go to Kurt without proof.

You need to tell Kurt about Santana and all the rest now, Blaine.

I am, I will. I just need time to prepare him. He's going to be shocked.

That's one way of putting it.

Goodbye Nikolas…and you might want to put some thought to how you're going to get your own house in order. Jeff will be here sooner rather than later.

"Kurt, Blaine, I'll see you two later." Nick said stiffly, turning and leaving the room.

"I'm sorry," Kurt said quietly. "I'm usually not so…hysterical."

Blaine gave Kurt a tender kiss on the lips. "The last few days have been anything but usual, Kurt. We're all a little on edge," Blaine said. "You'll be back to your haughty, bitchy self in no time."

"Well, I see the events of the past few days haven't made you any less of an ass," Kurt retorted.

"You wound me, dear one."

"Do you need me to kiss it better?"

"Yes please."

Kurt covered Blaine's lips with his own, gently nipping and licking his way into Blaine's mouth. Blaine's hands drifted down Kurt's sides to grab at his hips and push their groins into contact with one another. Just as Blaine was about to begin undoing the buttons on Kurt's shirt they heard yelling coming down the hall.

"If you loved me the way you say you do Mike it wouldn't matter!" Tina yelled

"Of course it matters! You are being foolish and unreasonable. This is exactly why-"

"Oh spare me the lecture Michael! I thought you loved me!"

"I do love you! This is not a matter of love it is-"

"ENOUGH!" Blaine's voice boomed out. Kurt felt an inappropriate flood of heat at the dominating tone.

Tina's eyes widened in fear and Mike immediately dropped to his knees. "I apologize Master. Please forgive my insolence and-"

"It was my fault, please don't punish Mike-"

"Silence, the both of you," Blaine ordered.

Mike and Tina both stopped speaking at once and Blaine continued. "I don't know what this disturbance is about and I don't-"

"Blaine," Kurt interrupted quietly. "Let me talk to Tina alone, please."

Blaine began to argue then thought better of it. "Fine," Blaine agreed. "Michael, go back to your chambers. Kurt, I'll see you when you finish."

As soon as the vampires had left them alone Kurt led Tina over to one of the couches. They sat in silence for a few moments before she began to speak.

"He doesn't love me the way I love him," she said morosely.

Kurt studied Tina before taking her hand in his. "Why would you think such a thing?"

"I would do anything for Mike," Tina said tearfully. "I've given up my family, my life for him. But he refuses to go against Blaine's wishes. I don't want to wait a year. I want to be his. What if something happens to him or to me? If he loved me the way he says he does he'd change me no matter what Blaine said."

Kurt shook his head. "Tina," he said slowly, "this is precisely why Blaine asked that you wait and learn the customs of the clan before Mike turned you. Mike can't go against Blaine. Not only would it result in his death, but yours as well. Blaine's word is law and he rules with absolute authority."

"We could leave," Tina argued stubbornly.

"Mike would never survive," Kurt said softly. "Even if Blaine didn't set the clan after him as a traitor, Mike would spend eternity in torment being separated from his clan and especially from his sire."

Tina gasped. "What do you mean?"

"Tina," Kurt said giving her hand a squeeze, "you're human. Your customs dictate that you grow and leave the nest, create a new family unit with the one you choose to be your spouse," at her nod Kurt continued on," that's not the way of vampires. They never travel far from their clan. They are connected through blood and through spirit. To be apart from the clan is to be missing a piece of who they are. The strength of the clan is their togetherness, the clan is one."

"But…if I'm to be his mate-"

"It won't make Blaine stop being his master," Kurt pointed out. "And more than his leader, Blaine is his sire. It's like he's Mike's mother, father, brother, mentor and teacher all in one. Every instinct Mike has tells him to submit to Blaine, to please him, to honor and defend him. You have to understand Mike is not a human. This isn't a matter of him choosing Blaine over you, he has no choice. This is his nature. This is who he is and who you'll be if you go through with the changing. You will still be an individual yes, but you'll also become a part of a whole. You're asking Mike to do the impossible."

"But…you go against Blaine," Tina pointed out.

"I'm not his fledgling and he hasn't turned me," Kurt replied. "But even so…he's my mate and I'm bound to him for eternity now. Mike and I are alike in that I could never leave Blaine and have serenity. My blood would cry out for him. I wouldn't know a moment's peace if I ever left from his side."

"I'm being selfish, aren't I?"

Kurt shook his head. "I don't know if it's selfish to want to come first with the person you love. I think you just need to realize that you need this time to get to know the clan, their ways and how you would fit into it and Mike needs it too so that he can figure out how to balance out his responsibilities to his clan, to his sire and to his mate. Don't tell him I said so because it will make him unbearable but…Blaine was right to make you wait. He tends to be right about most things."

Tina laughed and hugged Kurt. "Your secret is safe with me," she promised. "Thank you Kurt. I owe Mike an apology so I'm going to go apologize…over and over again," she said with a saucy wink.

"Oh my goddess, that is not a mental picture I wanted," Kurt groaned.

"Serves you right," Tina replied. "The whole house heard you and Blaine. Oh Blaine, oh please, oh right there, right there, don't stop," Tina said in a dead on imitation of Kurt's voice.

Kurt paled then turned bright red and buried his face in the cushions as Tina laughed.