Текст книги "Artistic Vision"
Автор книги: Dana Bell
сообщить о нарушении
Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 12 страниц)
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 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’dbat 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 wedone?”
“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 allthe 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 isthe 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 waiting for… Oh. Oh. Her head fell back as his fingers continued to stroke his tattoo in all the right places. “Oh fuck. Shane.”
“What a good idea.” Shane grabbed her shoulders and pushed her to her knees. “Mind giving me a hand with something?”
Akane rolled her eyes. “Let me guess.”
He pulled down his zipper and unleashed the beast. “Good guess.” His finger stroked between the dragon’s thighs and Akane jumped. “But I have a unique rewards system set up by my loving fiancée.”
Akane smirked. “Does she know you’re about to do me in your workroom?”
Shane’s expression was anything but innocent. “Shh. Don’t tell her.”
Akane snorted and licked the head of his cock. She looked up from under her lashes, using every wile she’d ever used on a mark to get Shane to be as crazy for her as she was for him. “If she finds out she’ll fry your ass.”
“Then we’d better make this quick. She’ll be back any minute now.”
Akane blew warm smoke over his cock. “Is she dangerous?”
Shane nodded. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the sight of her lips so close to his cock. Akane licked them, and those sapphire eyes darkened with want. “More dangerous than you could ever imagine.”
She smiled. She liked that. She rewarded him by taking him into her mouth, sucking on the head of his cock until his hand left that damn tattoo. He buried his hands in her hair, toying with the long curls. He let her set the pace, how deep she took him. But those hands remained, reminding her that of what she needed. All she had to do was drop enough of her Seeming to allow her horns to peek through, and Shane would take care of her.
If she let him, he would always take care of her.
Shane watched as Akane swallowed him down. He bit back a moan at the feel of her hot mouth around his dick. Gods, he’d never get enough of the heat of his dragon mate. It took everything in him not to thrust, not to force himself further into her mouth. He wanted her to do this, to know that he might be able to torture her with the tattoo but all she had to do was give him one look from those pretty eyes of hers and he was lost.
She glanced up at him and suckled, her tongue stroking the underside of his cock in a firm, mind-blowing rhythm. Shane swore his eyes crossed. “Gods, a ghrà. Suck it. Please.”
Akane obeyed, her head bobbing, her curls swinging around her face. He bent down and managed to reach her nipple. He stroked it, teased it, twisted it until her hips were moving, practically begging him to take down her jeans and fuck her.
“I’m going to fuck you on my workbench. I’m going to lift you up, rip those jeans off and spread you wide.” Shane couldn’t stop himself. He began to fuck her mouth, sliding between her lips. He glared wildly at the table top, the metal shavings he’d been toying with still there. He couldn’t put her naked ass onto the table without damaging it, not with the metal there.
“It won’t hurt me, remember?”
He stared at her, confused. What in hell was she talking about?
Akane rolled her eyes and stood. “Someone’s brains have traveled south.” She breathed flame hot enough to melt metal, smiling in satisfaction as it pooled down to molten silver and copper. “There. Problem solved.”
He nodded. “I love an inventive woman.”
He unzipped her jeans. Oh. Oh hell, she’d worn white lace again. He was such a goner. He tugged the jeans down her legs, loving the smooth, silky skin he unveiled. Shane gripped her hips and pulled her close, licking that white lace and what lay beneath.
She tapped the top of his head. “Up on the table, Farm Boy.”
That wicked smile was back on her face. He had no idea what she had in mind, but if the heat in her gaze was any indication he was going to love every minute of it. Shane slipped his pants and shoes off before hopping onto the table. Strangely, the heat from the silver didn’t seem to bother him. Perhaps the mark she’d given him protected him?
Akane didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. She slid her top and jeans off, revealing more white lace.
Shane stroked his cock. “Have I mentioned I love you in white lace?”
She climbed up onto the table and dropped her Seeming. Her wings stretched above them. Shane watched as his personal debauched angel straddled his hips. “I’m spread. Now what?”
He thrust up. “Hungry?”
She licked her lips. “Oh yeah.”
Akane surprised him. She turned on the table, straddling his head and presenting him with her lace-covered pussy. When her mouth once more engulfed his cock Shane was more than willing to provide what she wanted.
He licked around the edges of the lace. He pulled it aside, revealing the wet lips of her pussy. He thrust his tongue into her sweetness, enjoying the moans around his cock.
He needed to get the panties off of her. He couldn’t enjoy her properly with them in the way, but he didn’t want Akane destroying them the way she had the last pair. He began tugging them off of her, grateful when she lifted and twisted enough for him to take them off. He tossed them on the floor and pulled her back down to him, eager to sample her again.
Akane was making it damn hard to concentrate on what he was doing. The feel of her hot mouth on his cock was killing him. He was going to blow soon, and blow hard.
He wanted to do it inside her. He wanted to give her his seed, his life, his all. “Akane.”
“Hmm?”
That hum around him had him arching off the table. It was definitely time to fuck his mate. “Turn around. Ride me, a ghrà. Make us come.”
Akane turned and straddled him. A smile on her face, she lowered herself onto him, those sharp claws of hers digging into the wood of his worktable, scarring it further. Her wings fluttered above them as she sank down, pulling him into her balls deep. Akane rotated her hips and moaned. “Oh gods.”
Shane went to grab her hips, help her ride him, but Akane moved, holding his hands down. She pushed them until they were above his head. He let her do it, wondering what his dragon was up to.
“Uh uh uh. Naughty Shane. You got caught fucking around, and now you have to pay the dragon.”
Shane decided to play around. “But she tasted so sweet.”
Akane’s hips moved. “Did she?”
“Mm-hmm. I’m dying to taste her again.” He thrust up into her, chuckling when she gasped. “She tasted like hot, sweet cinnamon.”
Her eyes glowed. Dragon fire lit her skin from within. Her wings were golden, flaming glory above them. She rolled her hips again, and Shane bucked beneath her. Her lips curled up in a feminine smile. “Maybe you’ll get a chance to taste her again.”
He planned on it.
Akane began to ride her mate. She was leaning over him, pinning his wrists to the table, her breasts threatening to spill out of her bra. Her hair hung down, brushing Shane’s cheeks with each stroke. The curls at the base of his cock brushed against her clit, teasing her, tantalizing her.
She couldn’t wait to see his reaction to the white garter belt and stockings. She had the feeling he’d go insane when she wore them for him.
Shane thrust into her, distracting her from her thoughts. She wrapped her fingers around his wrists, pinning down her prey while she took what she wanted from him. His velvety hard cock slid inside her over and over again, dragging her closer and closer to orgasm.
He shifted, and she realized he’d planted his feet on the table. It gave him the leverage he needed to truly thrust into her. “Hurry.”
From the strain on his face he was close. Akane lifted his hands to her horns, ready to give in, ready to come with him.
Shane stroked her just right. One hand slipped down her body to pet her lace-covered breasts. The other stroked the tips of her horns. Her body quivered as their movements became jerky. They were both so close she could taste it.
Shane was panting. He was fucking her so hard she could hear the loud slap of their bodies.
Then Shane flicked the tip of her horn over and over again, sending her screaming over the edge. Her wings ignited at the force of the orgasm, the glow lighting the room behind her.
Shane yelled, his lights dancing around them, sparks landing on her skin as his Sidhe half once more Claimed her. He came, following her into ecstasy as she watched, still reeling from the strength of her own orgasm.
Finally it was over. Akane collapsed on top of Shane, the sound her gasps joining his.
“We need to buy more white lace.”
She began to laugh.
“I’m serious.” She could hear the humor in his voice, but was too tired to lift her head from his shoulder. “I know someone who can make an entire gown out of the stuff.”
“We’d never leave the bedroom.”
He tilted her head up. “Your point?”
“I have to go.”
Shane paused, his hand still on his zipper. They’d gotten dressed much more quickly than he would have liked, but she was right. She had a job to do, and he’d delayed her longer than he’d meant to. “Let me come with you.”
Her brows rose. “How would we do that?”
“I can sit and have tea with Ruby and Leo while you do your fly-bys.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I could ride you over there.”
If he hadn’t sounded so falsely innocent her mind might not have dropped right into the gutter. As it was she was getting visions of a different sort of aerial acrobatics than the ones Robin had in mind. “I’m working.”
His hand hovered over the tattoo for just a second before it dropped with a sigh. “Damn. Trumped my ace.” He shook his head. “Curses. Foiled again.”
She ventured close and hoped he wasn’t faking it. She really didneed to boogie. “Give me a kiss before I go?”
His eyes went wide before he swooped down, capturing her mouth, laying claim to it in no uncertain terms. He released her with a sigh. “Remember your mother’s warning. Be careful.”
She licked her lips. How long his taste would linger there? He hoped it stayed forever. “I will.”
“Promise?”
She crossed her heart. “Promise. Do me a favor and have Sal guard you while you sleep, okay? Jaden’s still sleeping off whatever Duncan and Moira did to him, and I want to make sure you’re safe while I’m gone.”
“I will. I promise.”
She gave him one last kiss before flying out the door, her dragon eager to take flight. Shane watched his mate take off and sighed. Damn. He’d known she had to obey Robin, but what was about to come would break her heart. She would know she could have prevented it. Worse, she’d understand he’d allowed it to happen. He almost stroked the tattoo, but by doing so he might cause her flight to falter or, worse, call her back. It was too late now to stop what was coming anyway. If this didn’t happen the way he’d foreseen it the entire prophecy would mean nothing. He hadto let things follow their course, or Oberon’s future would be beyond grim.
Akane was going to kill him when she found out.
Heart racing, he shut the outer lights of the studio. He conveniently “forgot” to summon Sal, unwilling to risk the salamander. He couldn’t allow Akane’s pet to be hurt in any way. She loved that silly salamander.
Shane walked through the workspace of his studio, past the display space, and found himself standing outside the vault. It took but a moment to unlock it before he swung the door open.
Here was a treasure trove of unfinished pieces and unrealized visions, things circumstances had forced to come to naught. Precious and semi-precious stones, balls of silver and gold and the occasional bit of cold iron, anathema to any of Sidhe blood, were thrown into bins and across surfaces like discarded Tinker toys. Shane, like most with Sidhe blood, had to wear special gloves whenever he worked with iron or run the risk of serious damage. He walked past several of the unfinished statues before finding the one he sought, the one that had once more begun to dance behind his eyes after talking with Tristan. He pulled the sheet off the piece and sighed.
No. Akane was notgoing to like this one little bit. But he wasn’t leaving this vision out for hereyes.
Shane pulled the piece out and brought it to his workbench, intent on finishing as much as possible before it was too late.
Akane flew over the Dunne estate three times before coming in for a landing. Nothing seemed out of place. None of her senses tingled. The place seemed well defended. Leo had even shown her some of the tricks up his unique sleeves. His ability to use the land to amplify his Sidhe mind powers was amazing. No wonder he’d been able to sneak up on Kaitlynn and her guards. He’d been able to enter all of their minds, erasing his image and that of Duncan from their sight until he was past the security cameras and down in Kaitlynn’s dungeon.
Then, looking a little green around the gills, Leo had shown her the spot where he’d killed the vampire Jeremy West and saved his true bond. Akane was impressed, but understood on several levels why Robin had never tried to recruit the Sidhe into the Blades. With his powers Leo was phenomenally strong, but onlyon his own land.
Add in the fact that the man had no stomach for bloodshed, and his usefulness as a Blade would be severely limited. He didn’t seem to have any of the specialized skills that would keep him out of combat the way Red did, or the healing abilities of the nymphs. No, he was just a Sidhe with a little something extra, not enough for Robin to pull into the fold.
She found Robin watching over Leo, who was holding a sleeping Ruby. The human was curled up in the living room on a red velvet sofa in front of the fireplace. The way Leo’s face softened as he gazed at his sleeping bondmate, tender yet fierce, reminded Akane of the way Shane had looked at her. That same expression had adorned Shane’s face more than once when he watched Akane, but she hadn’t wanted to admit to herself that it was there, let alone what it could mean.
The truly scary part was the way Robin watched Ruby with that same look. Was the Hob in love with Leo’s mate?
Robin nodded in welcome, the tender expression smoothing out to his normal, cheerful look. “She’s as safe as we can make her.”
“What about Shane?” Leo’s voice was soft in deference to his sleeping bondmate.
Akane shrugged, but something deep inside her squirmed. She wasn’t entirely comfortable being away from Shane. “Sal and your father are standing guard.”
“Dad has to sleep sometimes. He’s running the farm and guarding Shane. He’s going to run out of juice soon.”
Akane sighed. “We can call for reinforcements if you like, but if we do that we’re less likely to draw the Malmaynes out of hiding.” She fingered the puzzle box in her coat pocket and wished she could bring it out to play with. She needed to remain vigilant, but the golden toy called to her, Solve me, Akane! Solve me!
She was going to kill Shane. He should have known better than to give a dragon a puzzle. Her fingers stroked over it again, feeling the lines and grooves of its carving. She’d never hand the puzzle box over to anyone else, even after she solved it.
“And your father has declared his desire to see this war ended.” Robin leaned his head back against his seat. If Akane didn’t know better she’d swear the Hob was weary, but Robin was like the fucking Energizer bunny. He kept going and going until whatever needed doing was done.
“I can’t help thinking that they’re not going to make a move until they’re good and ready.” Leo stroked his wife’s hair, careful not to wake her. “We have to keep her safe.”
“I gather, since Kaitlynn’s scheme didn’t work, that Ruby was unwilling to share?” A Sidhe lord could take a second spouse despite a bond, but only if his bondmate agreed. Otherwise the bond itself would protect the Sidhe, preventing anyone from touching him or her by gifting the offender with nasty shocks that increased in intensity until the offender gave up or passed out. Akane remembered one instance where the would-be spouse persisted to the point where the shocks had resulted in death.
“Even if she had agreed I wouldn’t have. They tortured her to get my compliance. Kaitlynn used her powers to make Ruby experience electrocution over and over again.” He shuddered. “No matter what else happens I’ll never give a child of mine to the Malmaynes.”
Robin froze. “What did you say?”
Leo frowned. “I’ll never give a child of mine to the Malmaynes.”
Robin and Akane exchanged looks. “Could it be that simple?”
“The child would be half human. They might think it would be easy to control.” Akane began to pace. “But I thought they wanted to use Leo’s seed to create their own child, one as close to Sidhe as possible.”
“When life hands you lemons, make lemonade?” Robin rubbed his eyes. “All of this could be ghost chasing. We know they want to control the prophecy, but do they even understand what it means?”
Akane bit her lip and hoped Shane wouldn’t have a hissy fit. “It could have something to do with the statues Shane created.” Leo was listening to every word they said, the frown still on his face as he stroked his sleeping mate. “The ones about you and Oberon?”
Robin shook his head even as Akane nodded. Robin stood fast as lightning, his pretty blue eyes burning bright green. “What do you know?”
“Just that the statues dohave something to do with the prophecy, but Shane wasn’t sure how.”
Robin took a deep breath. “I need to speak to Shane.” A miniature tornado whirled around the Hob and he was gone, the only sign of his presence the cooling cup of tea he’d left behind.
“Do you think the prophecy has to do with Robin’s statue or Oberon’s?”
“Oberon’s.” She was almost positive. Shane had finished Robin’s, but hadn’t quite finished Oberon’s. The time for him to do so was coming.
She stood and began to pace, her fingers twitching. She had the urge to fly, to check on Shane, but Robin had given her a task and she had to complete it. She had to protect Leo and Ruby. Besides, Robin himself had gone to speak to Shane. If something were wrong, Robin would take care of it.
She danced her fingers along golden swirls. Robin would take care of Shane. She had to trust in that.
Shane could hear them moving around. Not even his father would be able to stop what was about to happen; the one who’d come for him had been too careful. Shane winced and ran his hand down the cold iron blade. He watched the blood well through haunted eyes. If he could avoid this, dear gods he would, but there was no other way.
Shane flung out his hand and allowed his blood to paint the story he wanted to tell.
“Shane.”
Shane turned. Behind him stood someone he’d thought he was familiar with, someone he could trust. The betrayal was shattering. He must have planned this from the start. When the first blow came he tried to block it, but there was no stopping what was coming, no way to save him. He fought enough that they wouldn’t think he’d given in, but not enough to cause himself permanent damage. He made sure both of them bled, adding their essence to the canvas he’d be leaving behind.
The blow to the back of his head sent him hurtling into darkness.
Robin stared at the wreckage of Shane Joloun Dunne’s workshop and snarled. Blood, too much blood, tinted the concrete floor. Not all of it was the hybrid’s, but enough that Robin would have to keep Akane from entering the room. If the dragoness scented her mate’s blood splattered around the room she would go feral, uncontrollable until her mate was found and returned safely to her side.
Woe unto those who had harmed him, for dragons were fierce when it came to protecting their own.
He eyed the spot where his statue had been and stilled. Where once the ball of jagged metal and glass had stood was a new statue, one that had Robin swearing in several different languages. Upon a silver table, a figure made of gold and green glass writhed in agony. Fire somehow glittered in the glass man’s core, some trick of the light that, when Robin moved, disappeared from view. Dark tendrils drifted like smoke from the table and into the man’s body, the sight all too familiar to Robin’s eyes. The glass man’s mouth was open in a silent scream, one fist clenched around a golden, thorny rose, one petal poised to fall. Beneath the figure’s clenched fist rose petals littered the floor, black glass rimmed with faded gold. The figure’s other hand reached for something unseen, away from the agonized face.
Over it stood a figure in black, robed and hooded, like all cheesy villains were. But what chilled Robin to the core was the glowing green eyes in the face of the figure. Eyes he was intimately familiar with, for he saw them in his mirror every day.
Robin breathed, and the black figure shattered.
“Robin?”
He turned to find Sean Dunne standing behind him, the leprechaun’s fury a match for his own. Sean was staring at the shattered black glass, his expression unreadable, but beneath his feet the earth itself heaved. If Robin hadn’t been who he was he would have been knocked on his ass. As it was he almost staggered, startled anew at the strength the Dunne leprechauns showed.
