Artistic Vision

“We’ll protect him, Ma.” Moira gestured to her mates. “Jaden can watch over him when Akane’s asleep.”

Jaden nodded. “It won’t be a problem.”

Leo sighed. “I feel kind of useless. I’m surrounded by Blades. Sit. Stay. Good boy. Woof.”

“You’re still their primary target. Don’t forget that.” Akane patted his shoulder. “If they can get you to agree to a mating they think they’ve succeeded. If Shane has become a target it’s because they know about the visions.”

“Which means they’re willing to hurt him where they aren’t willing to hurt Leo.” Sean sighed. “We need this over with. I’m tired of my family being in danger.”

Tristan watched everything silently. Shane had no idea what was going through the Sidhe’s head. Tristan’s expression was carefully closed off, giving no clue to what he was thinking.

Ruby bit her lip. “If we stay on our land, Leo should be able to keep us both safe, right? He’s bonded there the way Sean is here. He could use the land itself to stop someone.”

“Only if he knows they’re coming,” Akane pointed out.

Ruby snorted. “Please. The day something gets past Robin Goodfellow is the day I go up on the roof naked and sing show tunes.”

Everyone turned and stared at the small human perched delicately on her husband’s lap. “Ruby,” Leo sighed. His hand covered his eyes. “Don’t tempt him.”

Robin tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. He tapped one black fingernail against his chin. “Would it be worth it?”

Ruby patted her husband’s cheek. “It’s okay. I trust him.”

That simple, honest answer brought a flush to the Hob’s cheeks. Shane was certain that the number of times the Hob had blushed could be counted on one hand.

But then the Hob’s attention turned to Tristan and any trace of a blush was gone. He straddled the man’s chair, those black nails lengthening into talons. His blue eyes flashed to glowing green. Tristan paled beneath the cold touch of the Hob’s claws.

“You are at the heart of this.”

Tristan swallowed so hard his Adam’s apple bobbed visibly. “I am an agent of the White Queen.”

“You are interfering in a duly appointed Blade’s operation.” One claw drifted down Tristan’s cheek, leaving behind a thin trail of blood. His hand gripped Tristan’s chin tightly. “Now. Don’t lie to me. I will know it if you lie.”

Jaden began to pant and clutch his stomach. He moaned, the sound agonized.

“Shit.” Duncan stood and hauled Jaden to his feet. “Moira, I need you.”

The two concentrated on Jaden and, whatever they did, it soothed the vampire. He slumped between them, the two holding him, protecting him from whatever it was that tormented him.

“Get him out or the memories will break free.” Robin turned his head. “Patrol if you must, or slip away and help him forget, but for now he must be removed.”

Duncan nodded distantly, but not for one moment did Shane think he was angry with the Hob. The Sidhe was building a fantasy for his mate, keeping Jaden trapped there to protect him from whatever painful memories were trying to erupt.

The trio walked slowly out of the room, headed for the stairs. Duncan and Moira had decided to distract their mate, and Shane just hoped they didn’t get too loud. There were just some things a man shouldn’t hear his baby sister doing.

“So much for Duncan talking to Tristan.” Akane flopped back down next to Shane and stared at the Sidhe currently serving as Robin’s perch. “Are you beginning to understand what’s really going on?”

“Why are they protecting a vampire?” Tristan shook his head and earned himself another scratch from Robin’s claws. “He’s a vile child of the Dark Queen. I will never understand how they can just accept him that way.”

Akane gasped when Shane began to laugh. “You will. Oh, you will understand, and when you do you’ll regret those words.”

Akane opened her inner sight and gasped. Shane’s power rippled around him, his visions in overdrive. “Something tells me Tristan is going to become a Shane Joloun original.”

“Soon. Not yet. Other things must happen first before his future comes to pass.”

“Let him see.” Robin crooned the words as he tapped Tristan’s forehead. “Let him see what he risks by his refusal to help us.”

Shane stood. “I’m not sure. I’ve never dropped my Seeming around anyone but my family before.”

Robin nodded without ever taking his eyes off of Tristan. “Trust me, Shane.”

Shane sighed and dropped his Seeming. Ruby gasped as Shane’s true appearance dazzled everyone in the room. He was a golden god, and Akane ached to lick him one inch at a time. His power swirled around him, pieces of art being created in light, and Akane longed to touch, to hold. To hoard. He pushed his longer hair behind his ears, and for the first time she noticed the delicate points. Looking even closer she realized he had the classic oval pupils of the Sidhe.

“Wow,” Ruby breathed.

Tristan blinked. “Gods above. He’s a true hybrid.” His breath hitched. “I’d heard tales, but I assumed they were wrong, that Shane was merely a closer blend than most between his parents. But no. He’s truly a hybrid.”

Robin nodded. “Rarest of the rare, and mated to another true hybrid as well.”

Tristan’s eyes closed. “Akane.”

“You didn’t believe the daughter of the Seer was also a hybrid?” Robin’s laugh was low. “More fool you.”

Tristan’s eyes opened. He stared at Akane, who’d also dropped her Seeming. While she didn’t have Shane’s golden splendor, her own looks were intimidating in their own way. She hissed at Tristan but left her wings furled. The kitchen was too small to stretch them out. That night in the park he hadn’t gotten a good look at her. Now he could see her in all her glory, and he winced at the sight.

“Double wow.” A feather-light touch along her wings startled her. “That is so cool.” She turned to find Ruby practically bouncing around her like an over-eager Tigger while Leo looked on indulgently. Ruby played with her claws briefly and eyed her horns before she looked over at Shane. “You have got to use her as a model.”

Shane smiled at his bubbly sister-in-law and wrapped his arms around Akane, careful of her wings. She maneuvered them so that he could rest his head against her shoulder. “I already did.”

“Good.” Ruby turned to Robin. “You know, I’m tired of this song and dance where the Malmaynes try and take me to force Leo to be a sperm donor. Can we change the music?”

Robin blinked. “Ah.” His face stilled, but Shane could almost see the plans whirling through the Hob’s head at lightning speed. “What an excellent suggestion.” He tapped his claw on Tristan’s chin much the same way he tapped it on his own. “We know Charles and Cullen were working with the Black. Do we yet have proof that Henri is as well?”

“Even if we do, if we execute him someone else will just take his place.” Sean was practically growling, his own Seeming failing. Brown swirls appeared on his suddenly darker skin, his eyes turning a stormy blue-green. “Cecelia or Constance will see to it that another male of the blood becomes lord of the clan.”

“So, ’tis a hydra, not a snake, we play with here.” Robin stood and got a fresh mug of hot chocolate. He handed it to Ruby, who smiled and accepted it with quiet thanks. “The only way to stop a hydra is to lop off its heads and burn the stumps.”

Leo’s eyes were wide, his expression horrified. “You’re talking about the death of a clan.”

Tristan twitched. “My clan is not Black.”

“But they are no longer entirely White, either.” Robin paused and waved his hand. Tristan’s bindings fell, tattered, to the ground. “Henri, Cecelia and Constance are but a part of the whole.”

“Just because my clan objected to Duncan’s mating a vampire does not mean all of them are turning to the Black.” Tristan stood and faced the Hob squarely, but Shane could see the fear in him.

“But they follow where their leaders take them, even if it’s into darkness.” The Hob sighed and held up his