“Meet you there.”
Akane smiled as they pulled onto Sean’s land. It seriously sucked, but damn if this wasn’t becoming home.
Shane pulled the wriggling Sidhe out of the back of his car. “Hush. You don’t want to piss off my father, do you?”
Tristan stopped wriggling. “You kill me and Glorianna will come down on you like the wrath of god.”
Shane untied the Sidhe’s feet and set him down. “You honestly believe that?” When Tristan nodded, Shane whistled.
The Sidhe’s eyes widened as fifty pounds of salamander landed in front of Shane, his fiery tail going a mile a minute. Happy flames danced up and down the salamander’s sides and legs. “Down, boy.”
Sal toned down his inner fire, his Seeming covering his scales until a German Shepherd sat at his feet.
Shane pointed to Tristan. “Guard.”
Sal’s gaze locked on Tristan. His tail stopped wagging as the salamander went to work, obeying Shane’s command the way he’d obey Akane’s. The salamander was smarter than most gave it credit for. It had known from the beginning that Akane belonged to Shane and had treated him accordingly.
Shane turned to the front of the house, ready to let his parents know what was about to happen, but he needn’t have bothered. Sean Dunne stood on the top step, his hands in the pockets of his thick jacket, his expression hard as he stared at Tristan. “Give me one good reason why someone should be able to find your body after today.”
Tristan glared up at the leprechaun. “Glorianna will kill you.”
Sean smiled, and Shane took a step toward him. “Da. We need him.”
“He hurt my daughter-in-law.” Sean had adored Akane from the very beginning. Tristan wasn’t going to be forgiven easily, not by the leprechaun.
“I thought it would knock her unconscious, not send her into heat.”
“And you think that’s an adequate excuse? You effectively fed her a date-rape drug.”
Tristan winced. “I’m sorry.”
From the way the ground rumbled under their feet Sean was far from appeased. “What if the gold had been poison to her? She’s a hybrid. It could have killed her.” His father’s voice was rich with the lilt of Ireland and filled with anger. “What would you have told me then when my son pined away from mate sickness? When my wife broke from grief? Would you have told me ‘oops’?” Shane watched as his father descended the steps to stand before Tristan, one hand resting easily on the top of Sal’s head. Jaden pulled up behind the Corvette and got slowly out of Akane’s car, his gaze firmly on Sean.
Akane hopped out and raced over to Shane. “Your brother-in-law drives like a freaking maniac.” She stopped in front of Sean and stood on her tip-toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “Aileen have any hot chocolate going? I’m freezing.”
Sean spared her a soft smile. “Go on in, Akane. I’m sure Aileen will be more than happy to make you some.”
“Sweet.” She started off up the stairs. Without pausing she yelled back, “Don’t kill him, Sean.” She glanced back over her shoulder and tossed Shane’s father a wicked grin. “I have
Sean stepped back from Tristan. “One step wrong and you’ll be dead before you know what happened to you.” He shot Tristan one last glare before following Akane into the house without a backward glance.
“I love that man.” Jaden sniffed and wiped away an imaginary tear.
Shane nodded. “He’s the best.” He’d have to tell his father about his chat with the Seer. If what he suspected was right, Akane was in serious danger.
Jaden took hold of Tristan’s arm. “Call off Sal. I’ll escort our guest inside.”
“Sal. Heel.” Sal trotted to sit beside Shane, his tail once more going a mile a minute. Just as he got to the front door Leo and Ruby pulled up in their Land Rover. Behind the wheel was, of all people, the Hob. Somehow, Shane wasn’t surprised. “C’mon in. I think Ma’s making hot chocolate.”
The Hob lifted Ruby out of the SUV, much to her husband’s obvious annoyance. Leo had been just a hair slower than Robin. “Hey, Shane!” Ruby waved, nearly knocking the Hob over. “Sorry, Robin.”
Robin shook his head and placed her on the ground. “You are a dangerous woman, Ruby Halloway Dunne.”
She reached up and patted his cheek. “And don’t you forget it.” She took hold of her husband’s arm and walked with him to the house. The grin on Leo’s face was wicked. He was getting used to Ruby’s ways and must have finally figured out Robin wouldn’t hurt a hair on her head.
The Hob, however, looked delightedly shocked. Shane paused, wondering that such a simple gesture put such a look of yearning on Robin’s face before it was hastily wiped away. “So.” Robin cleared his throat and sauntered to the house. Again, he was dressed way too lightly for the weather. A simple black coat with silver buttons reached his knees, but it was in no way thick enough to keep the cold air from reaching his skin. Black jeans were tucked into high black boots. Shane would bet anything another silk shirt lay under that jacket. Perched on his head was a black cowboy hat with a silver band. His red hair blew about in the cold air, unconfined by anything except that hat. “You have Tristan. What do you plan on doing with him?”
“If my father has his way, feed him to the cat.”
“That hardly seems like a fitting punishment for hurting your fiancee.”
“You haven’t seen the cat.”
Robin hopped up the steps and quickly entered the house, but not before rolling his eyes. “Come along, Shane.”
“Yes, sir.” He patted Sal one last time on the head and set the salamander to guarding the house. He didn’t want another surprise attack from the Malmaynes during a family meeting. The last one had blown up Akane’s car and lost them the barn, but gained them Sal.
This time they might not be so lucky.
He stepped into the house and headed for the kitchen, the heart of his parents’ home. He accepted the hot chocolate his mother handed him and settled in next to Akane who, for the first time, did not growl or glare at him. She put her head against his shoulder wearily, like it was the most natural thing in the world, and not something that stopped the conversation dead in its tracks.
“What?” Akane yawned. “I’m tired.”
Moira relaxed. He hadn’t even realized how tense his sister was around his bondmate until that moment. “We have to figure out the best way to protect Leo and Ruby.”
Robin coughed.
“When Robin is busy elsewhere.”
Everyone chuckled, even Robin.
Shane took a deep breath. “I have a message from the Seer.”
Akane lifted her head. “What did my mother say?”
“First, she said to tell you hello.”
Akane nodded impatiently. “And?”
“‘Ruby is safe. It is
“Mine?” Akane pointed to herself.
Shane shook his head. “No. Mine.”
“What?” Akane jumped out of her seat, flames dancing in her eyes. Her golden horns appeared on her head.
“She also said they know and to tell you to be careful.”
Akane stilled. “They know what?”
“I’m not sure. That you broke into their house?”
“That Shane has visions?” Robin examined his fingernails. “If they have such a gift in their hands they might be able to interpret, or even interrupt, prophecy.”
Aileen’s fist clenched on the table. “They are not taking my child from me again.” Golden sparks danced across her skin as the full-blood Sidhe’s fear took over.
