Akane took the statue and tilted it up. “Look at the bottom.”
Moira gasped. Jaden grinned, but his eyes looked a bit wild. Duncan merely nodded, as if he’d known what he’d see all along.
Shane had marked the date he’d created the statue on the bottom. It was dated precisely one year before Shane’s abduction. “He made a similar one of Ruby and Leo.”
“Has he made one of you?”
Akane avoided Duncan’s knowing eyes. “There are two others he’s made, and they scare even him.” She described both the Robin figure and the one she assumed was Oberon, the one Shane hadn’t been able to finish yet.
“Holy fuck.” Jaden stared at the statue of the three mates. “Does he know what they mean?”
“I think he gets flashes, little glimpses, but until certain things happen they’re mysteries to him. He must have known Moira was the female in this statue, but until he met you two he might not have known who you were.”
“Damn. He has no idea who Robin’s female is then, does he?”
Akane shook her head. It was obvious Jaden was thinking the same thing she was. “Or what’s missing from Oberon’s.”
Jaden stood, suddenly every inch the Blade he was. “We need to find out.”
“Before it’s too late.”
“Deal with the Malmaynes first.” Duncan rubbed his hand down Jaden’s back. “Robin’s woman will show up. We just need to keep an eye out for her. We’ll protect her so she doesn’t fall.”
Moira leaned back against the edge of Duncan’s desk. “What about the vision of Oberon?”
“Shane says it’s incomplete. He doesn’t know yet what is supposed to be in the center of the sculpture.”
Duncan wrapped his arms around his mates. “I think I do.” He kissed each one on the cheek, his expression full of love for them. “Perhaps it’s time for Oberon’s heart to open up once more.”
Akane stared at the three of them and decided Duncan might be right.
“Are you sure about this?” Shane watched Leo pace his office. He’d snuck out once he was sure Akane was gone. His brother was planning something, and Shane wanted in on it.
“As sure as I can be.” Leo stopped and stared blankly at the wall. “Ruby and I have been over this again and again. Until I get the Malmaynes to realize they’ll never have me this will just keep going on and on.”
“The Energizer bunny of fuck-ups.” Shane nodded. “Count me in.”
Leo’s smile was more of a grimace. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. I mean that. If Akane finds out about this my ass is toast.” Shane stood. “Where’s Ruby?”
“Here.” The little redhead swept into the room and curled up against her spouse. “Just finishing up some work before we face off with the Dork Brigade.”
Shane grinned. “You’ve been hanging out with Jaden again.”
She grinned back. “Nah. Robin’s been by a few times.” She tilted her head. “I think he’s lonely.”
Shane hid his shock. She’d seen below the surface Robin showed the world to find the desperately lonely fae beneath. “Yeah. I think so too.”
“I think you’re both insane, but okay.” Leo jolted at the sound of the doorbell, betraying his nervousness. “Okay. It’ll be okay.”
“You want me to get the door?” Shane was already out of the office when his brother’s soft consent reached his ears. Really, Leo wasn’t made for this sort of fight. He was a wheeler, dealer and dreamer, running Fantasy Inc., a high-end party planning business used by corporations and politicians nationwide. Shane wasn’t much better off, his artistic endeavors leaving little time to learn to fight. But he and Leo had the Blackthorns, Robin Goodfellow and Akane on their side.
They’d be just fine.
Shane opened Leo’s front door to find Constance, Cecelia and Henri Malmayne on the other side. Cecelia was once again hanging all over Henri, while Constance had a coldly blank look on her face. “Hey, Leo!” He bellowed at the top of his lungs, making sure he sounded as rube as he could. “You’ve got Malmaynes at your door!”
“Let them in, Shane.”
“Butlering for your brother now, Shane?” Cecelia sneered and sauntered past him. “Careful with my coat. It’s Dior.”
Shane took their coats, nodding back at Henri, who gave him a semi-civil nod and ignoring Constance the way she ignored him. “Leo’s in the office, third door on the right.”
The Malmaynes went past like a cold breeze. Shane scrunched their coats up into a ball and dropped them on the closet floor before joining his brother in the office.
The women had taken seats around Leo’s desk, Henri standing behind Cecelia with one hand on her shoulder. Ruby was at Leo’s right hand, the wedding ring she wore flashing as they clasped hands. Shane went to stand on his brother’s left and let his visions flow over him.
He couldn’t see what was about to happen; it was too close. This was where Akane’s talent was most useful, and he wished his dragoness were here by his side. He did his best, but the visions he was getting were about things that were coming.
And both Malmayne sisters were at the heart of it.
He listened with half an ear as Leo explained, yet again, that he and Ruby did not wish for a third in their marriage. The visions surrounding Cecelia Malmayne were…disturbing. Some were of what looked like torture. Others showed her having a relatively happy life with the man at her side. But in both cases a black pall hung over everything she did.
Constance, on the other hand, looked like she was sleeping with the devil. Who the hell was that in the vision? The man had horns and fangs, but Shane couldn’t quite get a glimpse of his face. There was something familiar about him, about the way he moved, but no matter how hard Shane concentrated he couldn’t get anything on him. If the man had been in the room Shane might have gotten a better read on him.
Should he warn her of the devil, or leave her to her fate?
“I’m telling you, Leo and I are fine the way things are. We don’t want you here! The contract has been fulfilled. We know why you want a Child of Dunne and we’re sick of dealing with this shit!” Ruby’s rarely roused temper flared as she squared off with the Malmaynes, effectively dragging Shane back into the present. The vision of the devil man faded, and Shane decided to remain silent. Whatever Constance Malmayne was courting he had no doubt she deserved it. The aura surrounding her actions in his visions was black as pitch.
Constance stood. “There are ways to bear a child that don’t involve sex, Ruby. If we could get Leo to donate his seed–”
“Fuck. You.” Ruby pointed toward the door. “Out.”
Leo stood. “We’ve given you the meeting you requested. You’ve heard my wife’s response. The final answer is no. Have a nice life.”
The Malmaynes stood. “You’re going to regret this,” Cecelia hissed on her way out. She ignored the way Henri tried to soothe her, clinging to her anger like a fiery cloak.
Constance shook her head. “We’re sorry, Leo.”
Shane’s brows drew together. Oh, this sounded ominous. “Sorry for what?”
She just shook her head and left the office, closing the door quietly behind her.
“Shane.”
“On it.” Shane followed the Malmaynes out the door, just in time to hear Cecelia’s outraged squawk. He grinned back at his brother. “I see they found their coats.”
He watched them drive off and returned to his brother. “So. Thoughts?”
“They’re fucking nuts.”
“And dangerous.” Ruby went to the chaise and lay down on it. “I swear, if it weren’t for Duncan I’d vote the whole clan off the island.”
Leo snorted and joined his wife on the chaise. Shane was amused to note it was built for one person, but Leo got around that by placing his small bondmate on top of him. “It never ends, Shane. Shit.”
Shane shuddered. “It’s almost over, Leo.”
Leo frowned. “How do you know?”
He
grimaced. “I know.” He shivered and threw off the vision. “Listen, I have to get back. Akane’s going to be there soon and she can’t know I left the farm without back-up.”
“Got it. Thanks, Shane.”
“Anytime, bro.”
Shane waved good-bye and managed to get back to the farm before Akane arrived. He was in his workshop when she came in, the cold air flowing in behind her in an arctic blast. “Hey, Akane.”
“Can you read my mind?”
His hands paused on the metal he’d been slowly bending. “Pardon?”
“Can. You. Read. My. Mind?”
Shane stared at Akane and tried to ignore the slow way she’d drawled that, like he was unable to comprehend single-syllable words. His lips quirked as he realized why she was probably worried about something so trivial. “You want to know if I can read your mind.”
Akane glared at him. “Don’t make fun of me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He tilted his head. “I’m not sure that’s something I’m capable of.” The relief on her face was grating. “But I’m willing to try if you are.”
“Oh no. That’s okay. I like my thoughts to stay in my own head.”
He damn near chuckled at her badly hidden panic. “Still, it might come in handy if you’re on an assignment and want to tell me you’ll be late for dinner.”
“Oh yeah. About that.” Akane began backing toward the door of his studio. Her black trench coat was still on.
“Do I want to know where you’re going?” Shane grabbed hold of the tie of her coat and pulled her in close, dropping a kiss on her nose.
“Probably not.”
“Will Etienne be with you?” He resisted the urge to wrinkle his nose. The Sidhe Blade had been, at best, cool toward him. He didn’t understand why, but if Etienne had plans concerning Shane’s mate he’d better think twice. Unlike his sister, Shane wasn’t into sharing.
“Nope. Robin reassigned him. I’m working with Jaden again.”
Shane picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. He ignored her struggles and carted her back to the bedroom attached to his studio. “You know, if you’re not careful I might drop you on your head. These floors are concrete.”
“So?”
“So I hate repairing concrete.” He tossed her on the bed. “Where are you going and how long do you think you’ll be?”
“Why were you okay with this before I mentioned Jaden?”
“Because I’ve heard horror stories from Moira about how he operates. Spill.”
She rolled her eyes. “We’re breaking into the Malmayne estate and stealing Tristan’s underwear.”
“Oh, a fairy panty raid.” He dropped on top of her, caging her in his arms. “I want you to promise you’ll be careful.”
She held up her hand. “I promise.”
“Is Henri home?” He had no idea where the new head of the Malmayne clan had gone after the meeting with Leo.
Her star expanded as she looked for the man who’d plotted against Duncan. “Oh gods, yes. He’s in bed with Cecelia, doing truly nasty things.” She shuddered. “Sometimes I hate my talent.”
“Do I want descriptions? Pictures? How-to manuals?” He laughed when she growled. “Where’s Tristan?”
The star twitched. “He’s currently in Henri’s office, going through his files.” She frowned. “He seems very excited by something.”
“Then you’ll just have to find out what that something is and take it from him.”
She blinked, the star shrinking down to its normal size. “In order to do that, you have to get off.” She punched him in the stomach when he laughed again. “Not that way, you goob.”
“Was that love tap supposed to hurt?” He rolled off her, still chuckling.
She growled and swiped at him, but he noticed her claws didn’t really come close to him. “I hate you.”
“I’d believe that if you hadn’t been screaming my name last night.” He helped her to her feet. “Come back here when you’re done with work.”
“Aileen will have hot chocolate waiting for me. What are you offering?”
He bent down and kissed her, telling her without words exactly what he was offering.
“Mmm.” She licked her lips. “You’d better be awake when I get back.”
He pulled her hips close to his body, letting his erection brush her stomach. Gods, she was so tiny compared to him. It amazed him how much strength was packed into that little package. “Maybe I’ll have a thermos of hot chocolate waiting too.”
She cupped his cheek. “I need you to do something for me while I work.”
“Hmm?” He bent his head and kissed her palm, gratified to see the flush on her cheeks.
“Call my mother.”
He immediately looked up.
“What?”
“Just checking. Yup, sky’s still there.”
“Look, Farm Boy, for once in your life, do what I asked without making smart-ass comments, okay? This is serious.”
He bent once more and kissed her, but this time he kept it short and infinitely sweet. “As you wish.”
She bit her lip. “We need to know two things, and only my mother can help.” He nodded and waited for her to continue. “Who is the woman in Robin’s statue, and who is missing from Oberon’s.”
“I can find out the one, but it’s the other that’s giving me fits.”
She blinked. “Huh?”
He sighed. Sometimes explaining how his visions worked was more difficult than making the piece. Very few people seemed to understand that there were times when he just didn’t understand what he was seeing. “Not all of the pieces are in place, or something else needs to happen before I can finish it, before it makes sense.”
“Ah.” She patted his chest. “In that case, perhaps that’s the one you need to concentrate on.”
He should have known the daughter of the Seer would understand. “I think Oberon’s unfinished statue might have something to do with the whole child of Dunne thing.” Akane was the only one he was willing to tell that to. Not even the Seer. It seemed wrong somehow. Every instinct he had told him that Oberon’s unfinished statue was pivotal somehow. The missing piece had to have something to do with the prophecy. He just didn’t know what. He wasn’t even certain if it was a person, place or thing, and it was driving him insane.
“Should we warn the rest of your family?”
“Only if Jaden promises to keep quiet. This…there’s something about that statue that tells me too many people who know could seriously screw things up.”
“Robin will have to know, but if we keep it to only him, would that be all right?”
Shane nodded reluctantly. “I trust Robin.”
“Thank you.”
Shane was getting tired of the Hob popping in and out as he damn well pleased. “Can’t you knock or something?”
A knocking sound drummed through the building, but Shane couldn’t tell where it was coming from.
“Smart ass.”
Robin’s blue eyes appeared before the Hob did, much like the Cheshire Cat’s grin. He bowed once he was fully in the room. “I try my best.”
Shane couldn’t stop himself. Robin just made him smile. “You heard us?”
“Yes.” He stared through the wall, and damn if he wasn’t looking right where Oberon’s statue was sitting, even though it was on the other side. “I will keep silent on your vision of Oberon’s future until I am forced to speak of it.”
“Thank you.” Relief washed through him. One of the possible blocks to Oberon’s future had been removed. The Hob always kept his word. “Once I see more I promise I’ll tell you, but it’s still very murky.” He shook his head. “I just know a Dunne has a hand in it.”
“Could it be one of your future nieces or nephews will fulfill the prophecy?”
“A child of Dunne will change the world as we know it.” Robin began to fade from view. “I’m beginning to agree more and more with Jaden. Be careful, children. More is
at stake than you could possibly understand.” The Hob disappeared, but Shane was certain he’d soon reappear again.
“What does Jaden think?” Shane cradled Akane close, hoping to delay her departure a little bit. He’d missed her badly during the day.
“That the Child is either you, Leo or Moira.”
Shane nodded. He’d already known that. “I think he’s right.”
* * *
Chapter Six
Shane waited until Jaden and Akane left the farm before pulling out his cell. He had a few things to discuss with Akane’s mother outside of the vision he’d had of Robin. He dialed the Seer’s number and listened to it ring.
“Hello, Shane.”
He smiled. Even before Caller ID she’d always known who was calling. “Hello. I need your help with a vision and with the Malmayne situation.”
“You know what I have to do.”
He grimaced. He hated this part. “Yes. I consent.”
Shane gasped as the Seer invaded his mind, read his visions. Because he was also to some extent a Seer, the only way for her to get an accurate read on the questions he had was to take a look at his visions, to know what drove his hands to create. All the possibilities floated in his mind, but his hands only created the most likely outcome. The closer the event, the more accurate the vision until he was moved to go to his studio and bend metal and glass. The mental rifling she did through his mind hurt like hell as she basically took his gift and used it as her own.
He was pale and sweating when she was done, his head pounding and his heart racing. All he wanted in that moment was to curl up on the bed around his mate, but that comfort was denied him. Shane tried to shake off the effects, but only time would erase them. “What do you think?”
“I think that soon the second piece will be complete.”
Shit. That meant the event the child of Dunne was supposed to influence was closer than his visions had led him to believe. “And Robin’s?”
“The Hob will find his heart before the Gray King does. Something must be lost in order to be found again. The damage that was done to the King’s soul will finally be healed.”
Artistic Vision Page 10