Artistic Vision

hand as Tristan began to protest. “No. There is a haven for those who do not wish to fall, but not all will take it and you know it.”

“The Gray Court.” Tristan said it without emotion, but his shoulders slumped.

“Aye.” Robin smiled. “’Tis not a bad place to wash ashore when you are set adrift.”

“And all those who do will be clanless.”

“Better clanless than a bad guy.” Ruby sipped her hot chocolate. “Think about it. Would you rather work for Robin or against him?” She shrugged. “I know which team I’d bat for.”

“You wouldn’t be clanless for long,” Duncan added, stepping into the room. He looked weary, but relieved. Whatever he and Moira had done for Jaden must have worked. “If you object to Clan Blackthorn, there are other Gray Clans who would accept you and any who followed you.”

“You bested a dragon and a seer. If you wish, training as a Blade would be made available to you.”

Tristan ran his fingers through his hair. “We haven’t fallen to the Black.”

“Are you sure?” Shane held out his hands, his light dancing around him, forming odd shapes. “Want to see what the future holds?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation in Tristan’s voice.

“Then watch.” Shane exhaled, and his lights danced.

When he was done Tristan was pale and sweating. Akane didn’t understand half of the images in Shane’s lights but apparently Tristan did. “Dear gods. What have they done?” He collapsed into his chair, his head in his hands. “What have we done?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Leo was watching the whole thing. Gods alone knew what was going on behind those green eyes of his, but Akane doubted it was the same thing going through hers. Leo was a good man, but he wasn’t a Blade and never would be.

“You helped, didn’t you?” Akane opened her sight, hoping she’d catch a glimpse of how Tristan wound up Glorianna’s errand boy on this one. “She knew all along, didn’t she?”

“Who?” Leo threw his hands up. “I swear if someone doesn’t start explaining this shit to me I’m going to explode!” Golden sparks danced across his skin and through his hair.

“Then let me shed some light for you.” Akane allowed her inner fire to glow under her skin, reminding Tristan just what he was dealing with. “You helped first Cullen, then Kaitlynn, and finally Charles, didn’t you?”

Tristan nodded. “My goal was to get information, but somehow each one died before I had enough to bring to Glorianna. She blames Jaden rather than my own failures.” He lifted his head, his face ravaged. “If they succeed… But how do I take visions to my Queen as proof?”

“You don’t. Jaden said you found enough on Henri’s computer to get him eliminated.”

“But the hydra would live on.” Robin, almost forgotten he’d gone so still and quiet, stepped into Akane’s light. “We need to chop off all the heads.”

“Or fulfill the prophecy.” Shane slipped his arms around Akane, unafraid of her fire. “One way or another, we have to stop Henri from gaining control of Leo.”

“The thing is, the prophecy is so fucking vague how will we even know if it’s been fulfilled?”

“What is the prophecy?” Tristan stared around at all of them, his confusion clear. “I’ve heard that we need the child of Dunne but I’m not far enough in the inner circle to find out anything more.”

Akane spoke the words her mother had given Clan Malmayne, sealing all of their fates. “The child of Dunne will one day perform an act that will change our world.”

Tristan blinked. “That’s it?”

Akane shrugged. “That’s it.”

“But…that could be any of you!”

“Exactly. But for some reason the Malmaynes have it in their thick skulls that only Leo can produce the child spoken of in the prophecy.”

Tristan shook his head. “But…what about Sean’s children? I’d think one of them would be the one to fulfill the prophecy, not some unnamed, unborn child.” His expression turned horrified. “Unless that was why they’re pushing so hard for marriage with Leo. They’re hedging their bets.”

“That’s what we think.” Duncan pushed away from the wall and stared up at the ceiling. “Jaden’s out. Moira’s going to stay with him a bit longer and make sure the nightmares don’t return.” He transferred his gaze to Tristan, silver lights dancing around him like fireflies, a Sidhe lord in full wrath. Tristan’s power paled beside Duncan’s. “Now. Tell me what the hell is going on in my former clan.”

He left unspoken the or else.

Chapter Seven

“I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

Akane glanced up at Shane through her lashes. They’d retired to Shane’s workshop, and now he was at his workbench, staring into space. He was busy curling metal shavings, for what she had no clue. “About?”

“The tattoo on my arm.”

Akane froze. Tattoo? “Let me see.” She grabbed hold of his arm and pulled it toward her. There, curled on his forearm, was her dragon, its tail forming the symbol of infinity. She thought back to when they’d made love, and her idea that, if he was going to mate a dragon, he was going to do it right. She barely remembered taking the energy of their combined orgasm and focusing it on his arm. It had been pure instinct to do so, and now they were bound by more than a Sidhe’s Claiming. “Oh crap.”

“What?”

“Crappity crap crap.” She ran her fingers through her hair. What was she supposed to do now? This wasn’t supposed to happen yet!

A slow grin began to take over Shane’s face. “You marked me.”

Akane began to back up as Shane started toward her, a feral gleam in his eye. “You know, maybe we should concentrate on what Tristan said earlier.”

“About what? Henri, the computer files, or his refusal to name his partner?”

Akane nodded.

“Nah. I’m more interested in my new tat, Miz Akane.” He stroked his finger down the dragon’s back, and Akane shivered. Beneath her skin she could feel her wings trying to unfurl.

They were back in his studio, the one place where Shane was completely free to be himself. Akane found herself liking the space more and more the longer she stayed here, but if they were going to live on the damn farm she planned on having her own house built. She’d have to corner Sean and find out what piece of land he was willing to let his son and daughter-in-law have. Hell, she planned on making Shane buy her a condo in Omaha. She already owned one in New York and L.A.

Maybe she could get him to buy one in Milan?

“Eep!” She dodged out of the way of his grasping hands, startled to realize how close she’d allowed him to get to her. All because she’d been distracted by visions of enjoying her mate in Italy. Pasta and piazzas and her mate naked in the light of Milan? Or better yet, Tuscany? Mrow. “Down boy.”

“You mated me.” The gleam in his eye did not bode well for her plans that evening. She was tired, but Robin had requested she do an aerial recon over Leo’s place “just in case”. When the Hob asked you to do something “just in case” it usually meant he had a good idea that something was about to go down and you were his best defense against it.

Shane ran his finger down the front of the dragon, and Akane squealed. It was like he’d stroked her from head to toe. She shook her finger at him. “Bad Shane!”

His brows rose. “Oh?” That wicked, evil finger flicked over the horns of his dragon tattoo and Akane’s knees damn near gave out. She stumbled back against his workbench, her pussy clenching at the sensations he’d managed to pull from her just by touching her mark on his arm.

“Interesting.”

“Shane.” He looked way too satisfied, and she had far too much to do to get sucked in right then. Robin was