The Hob

by Dana Marie Bell

  The red-headed man smiled slowly at Michaela. “There you are.”

  Robin bowed. “Shane Joloun Dunne, meet Michaela, my truebond.”

  “Michaela. A pleasure to finally meet you.” Shane shook her hand. “I was wondering how they’d get you to not be dead.”

  She blinked. “Um. Yeah. I’m glad they figured it out.”

  “Me too.”

  The woman at his side rolled her eyes. “Akane Russo Dunne.” She held out her hand and Michaela shook it. “I’m Jethro’s bondmate.”

  Jethro?

  Shane immediately rocked back on his heels, the intelligence on his face fading into an expression that could only be described as Gomer Pyle. “Well, Miz Akane, y’all sure are lookin’ pretty today. Shame you’re gonna ruin those shoes helpin’ me milk cows and all. What kind did you say they were? Ferragari?”

  Akane rolled her eyes. “Ignore him. He just likes to see steam come out of my ears.” Her expression wasn’t warm, the way everyone else’s was. It was more wary, contained. “You’re Lady Goodfellow, hmm? I was expecting someone taller.”

  Michaela ignored the way Robin growled at her side.

  Akane did no such thing. She immediately bowed her head, baring her neck. “I meant no disrespect, sir. I was merely playing.”

  Robin reached out and caressed the nape of Akane’s neck, his claws extended. Akane winced. “So long as there is no malice behind the playing.”

  “Yes, sir.” Akane stood, but not before Michaela saw a drop of blood on the back of her neck.

  Michaela stared at the woman who was barely taller than she was. “You’re a Blade, aren’t you?”

  Akane nodded. “Yes.” She rubbed her tummy. “Except when I’m an incubator.”

  Shane took Akane into his arms and snuggled her. “But you’re such a pretty incubator. Much cuter than the one in the hen house.”

  Akane elbowed him in the stomach, but she was the one with the pained expression afterward. Shane just laughed.

  This family was weird.

  Robin “I’d also like to introduce you to Snod, Michaela’s oath-bound bodyguard.”

  Snod nodded his head and waved hello genially, but he watched the Dunnes like a hawk. He was very overprotective and far sweeter than Michaela had expected. He was a gentle giant, and Michaela would face-plant anyone who gave him grief.

  Akane was the first to pick her jaw up off the floor. Now that Michaela knew that redcaps were typically Black Court, she understood the reaction a bit better. Still, Snod should be judged on his own merits, not those of his people. “Hello, Snod. Jaden’s gonna love you.”

  Snod just smiled, and continued to watch them, his expression pleasant but his posture alert. He’d taken Robin’s word for it that the Dunnes were “good” people, not “bad” ones, but he was still on his guard.

  “Well, come inside, then. Don’t stand out in the cold.” Aileen started waving them through the front door.

  Robin was the first one through as the rest of the Dunnes surrounded Ruby and Michaela. It was almost as if all of the fae were protecting the two of them, the fragile human women. Even Akane was glancing around like ninjas were about to attack at any second.

  Michaela rolled her eyes. Thanks to King Oberon, she could now kick ass with the best of them. Hell, maybe Robin would let her become a Blade.

  Strong arms wrapped around her waist. “Not in a million years, my dear.”

  Michaela sighed. “I swear, sometimes I think you can read my mind.”

  Robin smiled mysteriously and kissed the side of her neck.

  “Do I want to know?” Akane handed Michaela a cup of tea.

  “I was thinking of asking Robin to train me as a Blade.” Michaela took a sip. Mm. English Breakfast tea.

  “It might not be a bad idea.” Akane eyed Robin warily. “She’d be better equipped to protect herself, and even if she never got sent out on missions, she could keep herself alive until another Blade or you could reach her.”

  Robin tilted his head. “An excellent point. I will consider training, but Michaela, you will never be a Blade.” He clamped his hand over her mouth. “No.”

  She licked his palm, hoping he’d be squicked out and let her go, but he merely chuckled. “Phmph.”

  “What?” Robin lifted his hand.

  “Fine.” Michaela slumped back against him, aware she was pouting.

  Akane cleared her throat. “Jaden and I can train her when you can’t, Robin. We’ll make sure she’s more than capable of defending herself.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I can take care of myself, you know.” She wasn’t made of glass. Not anymore, anyway.

  “Uh-huh.” Akane grinned. “Pardon me, but you’re…you’re…” The star in the center of her eye flared. “Holy shit.” Her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out at Michaela’s feet.

  Shane ran over, his face pale, and cradled Akane against him. “What happened?”

  “Um. Sorry?” Michaela shrugged. “Her eye did something freaky, then she timbered.”

  Shane grimaced. “She took a look at you, huh? No wonder she passed out.” He sighed deeply. “I wish Cassie were here.”

  “Cassie?”

  Robin stroked her arm, probably hoping to soothe her. She didn’t know what she’d done wrong, but she was getting the impression that she was responsible for Akane’s condition. “Princess Cassandra Nerice of the Atlantean Court.”

  Shane just smiled while his family freaked out around him.

  Michaela pulled free of Robin’s arms and knelt by Shane. “Let me take a look at her. I’m a registered nurse.”

  Shane, that odd smile still on his face, laid his truebond flat on the ground. “You go right ahead.”

  Michaela reached for Akane’s wrist and felt for a pulse. It was there, steady and strong. She lifted back her lids to check her pupils and immediately let go.

  One eye was completely gold. The other was almost black, the star swallowing the pupil until it was no longer visible.

  Right. Okay then. She could do this.

  She felt compelled to place her hand across Akane’s forehead. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. There was a strange energy flowing through her, alien yet familiar at the same time.

  She’d felt this once before. Oberon had used it to bring her back, to heal her body and restore her soul.

  Michaela let the power trickle through her, afraid to let too much out. If just looking at her had knocked Akane out, Michaela was afraid of what would happen should she allow the torrent she could sense straining at her self-control free. She concentrated on healing whatever wound she’d caused Akane.

  She’s having twins.

  She could feel them, living flames burning brightly inside their mother, frightened by her silence. Michaela reacted instinctively, reassuring the babies that their mother would be fine, that she would allow no further harm to come to her. Their restlessness settled, became sleepy unconcern, and she turned her attention back to Akane.

  She carefully smoothed out the ragged edges she could see, laying a healing balm over them, bringing them back together into a single whole. Even the worn edges of an old wound were smoothed over, eased, the bright red flair of pain dying down into a serene green that had Michaela pulling slowly back, her job done.

  She opened her eyes to find Akane staring up at her in shock. “It’s okay. The babies are fine.”

  Akane licked her lips and sat up slowly. “So I heard.”

  Shane helped his wife stand up. “You all right, mo chroí?”

  She nodded carefully. “I think so.”

  Shane helped her to the sofa. “You fell pretty hard. I think you dented Ma’s floor with your head.”

  Akane’s lips quirked up in a reluctant smile. “I’ll pay for repairs.”

  “I’m glad she’s okay. What happened, anyway?” Michaela looked around at the rest of the Dunne family, but they were all staring at her with a mixture of awe and shock. “Robin?”


  Robin buffed his nails on his caramel silk shirt. The color really highlighted his fiery hair, and she loved it on him. “You’re Tuatha Dè, my dear. Of course Akane had trouble looking at you with her inner sight. You glow far too brightly, beautiful.”

  “Oh.” Michaela brushed her hair back from her face, aware the strands had grown silver. She’d lost her Seeming again, damn it. She hadn’t quite gotten the hang of switching between the silver and gold coloring of the Tuatha Dè back to her human appearance. Where her hair and eyes had been brown before, they were now silver and gold, respectively. Her skin paled to a snowy white, giving her what Robin called an ethereal beauty and Michaela called her moon tan. She looked like she was in serious need of some UV rays.

  “How? I thought all the Tuatha Dè were gone.” Aileen slowly sat on a Queen Anne chair.

  Michaela shrugged. “I died. I got better.” She held out her cup with a hopeful expression. “More, please?”

  Robin chuckled quietly as the Dunnes erupted with questions and comments. “That’s my girl.”

  “This is all well and good, but Robin? You need to get back to the Gray Palace.”

  Michaela smiled at Ruby, who’d handed her another cup of tea.

  “Oh?” Robin’s voice was deceptively mild. They’d just left the damn palace, both of them needing to get away. Oberon had approved, so long as they returned within two days, Robin to resume his duties and Michaela to begin learning hers.

  It wasn’t much of a honeymoon, but it was the best they’d get, at least for a while. Oberon had been far too pale for Michaela’s liking, and Robin’s quick agreement had her worried.

  He was just as concerned about Oberon’s appearance as she was. He was just better at hiding it.

  Shane nodded and stood up, bowing to Robin. “My Prince, you are needed.”

  Robin stilled. “Oh?” He took a deep breath, then let it out in a string of what she was pretty sure were curses from the look on Aileen Dunne’s face. If so, they were the prettiest sounding curses Michaela had ever heard. “Her plan, I take it?”

  Shane sighed. “All I know is he’s not dead. But that’s it. The vision was so murky I barely understood it until you arrived here.”

  “Show me.”

  The command in Robin’s voice was usually reserved for his Blades. Michaela had heard it often enough in the two weeks since she’d been brought to Robin’s Rocky Mountain paradise.

  Leo picked up something covered in a blue cloth. Whatever it was, it was heavy. He was straining as he settled it on Mrs. Dunne’s coffee table. “I’ve seen it, Robin, but…” He shrugged. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Lift the veil and let the piece speak for itself.”

  Robin was far tenser than he was letting on. His posture was relaxed, his hands easy, but the strain showed around his eyes as green fire danced across the blue. Michaela took hold of his hand and he let out some of the breath he’d been holding.

  He loved Oberon. If something had happened to the High King, he’d be inconsolable.

  The cloth was lifted to reveal a figure that was clearly Oberon. The long fall of silver hair was distinctive. He stood in front of a mirror, reaching out to touch its surface.

  The mirror reflected nothing back.

  How Shane had managed that trick, Michaela didn’t know. “What does it mean?”

  Shane shot Robin a grim look. “I have no idea.”

  Epilogue

  Robin burst through the throne room doors, Michaela marching right by his side. The courtiers gasped, some in outrage, some in surprise, but all stilled as he came to a halt in front of the Gray Throne, his blue eyes glowing with green fire.

  Oberon was missing. He hadn’t been seen since he’d granted Robin and Michaela permission to visit the Dunnes. He’d disappeared into his chambers to sleep, and then simply disappeared. And when Robin found out who had taken his king, heads would roll.

  “Harold.”

  More gasps, this time accompanied by cries of outrage, poured through the room like a tsunami as he took hold of Michaela’s hand and settled her gently on the Queen’s throne, a seat that had not been used in all the time the Gray Court had existed. Robin himself settled down on the High King’s throne and threw his legs over the arm, swinging his left foot nonchalantly.

  Robin’s hair was bound in a tail at the nape of his neck by a titanium clasp with the symbol of the Court etched into it, the dark gray metal a foil for the symbol. A triple spiral triskelion, the bottom two spirals were white and black enamel, to represent the White and Black Courts. But the upper spiral, the one above them both, was done in pure, shining silver, the arms of the spiral reaching down to touch both the white and the black, blending into them.

  The staff banged twice more. Harold cleared his throat in the sudden silence. “In light of the fact that the High King, His Serene Highness King Oberon, is missing, Lord Robin Goodfellow, Knight of Oberon, Prince of the Gray, appointed heir of the High King, now sits in his place. If, for any reason, the High King does not return to his throne within a year and a day, Prince Robin will be crowned High King.”

  Robin glanced around the room. Look at them squirm. How many of them had helped his king’s kidnappers?

  The majordomo stepped forward and tapped his staff against the floor twice, silencing the courtiers. “All hail the Prince Regent, Prince Robin Goodfellow.”

  Robin touched the clasp, one that would respond only to the rightful king or his appointed regent, enjoying the dismay on many a face as it became the crown of the High King.

  Robin smiled, his teeth wicked sharp. “Call Lord Raven MacSweeney to us.”

  The court was stunned as the ex-Black Court operative swept into the room and bowed before the throne. “My liege.”

  Robin nodded at his son as he stood tall and proud. “Your oath, if it pleases you.” There had not been time to bring Raven before Oberon as planned, therefore Raven would give his oath to the Regent. It would be equally binding, and the courtiers would be forced to accept it.

  Raven gracefully knelt before the throne. “I hereby renounce all ties to the Black Lady, Queen Titannia, Queen of the Black Court, Lady of the Unseelie.” The courtiers gasped as that name, anathema in the court for so long, rang out clear and true. “I declare myself Oberon’s man from this day forth, in honor and in faith, having no other oaths to forswear. By the gods, I pledge my loyalty to the Gray Court, High King Oberon and his descendants. I declare myself the sworn servant of the Gray Lord, High King Oberon, King of the Gray Court, Lord over the Fae. I pledge my sword and my honor to uphold the laws of the Court. I and my house will abide by the laws handed down by the High King. I will faithfully perform all services required by Crown and Court. So swear I, Lord Raven MacSweeney.”

  Robin’s eyes twinkled as Michaela nodded beside him, a serene smile on her face. “I, Prince Robin Goodfellow, the acting Gray Lord, Lord of the Fae, hereby hear your oaths and accept them in the name of Crown and Court, and High King Oberon. I declare you our loyal servant, sworn to our bidding. From this day forth my sword shall defend you, my magic protect you, and my wrath be mighty should you fail of your duty. All former oaths to the Black are hereby null and void, by my power as Prince Regent. So swear I, Robin Goodfellow, the Hobgoblin.”

  Raven shivered as the weight of the oath’s magic settled over him. He was now Gray Court, bound to Oberon, and thus to Robin.

  “I hereby recruit you into the Blades, Lord Raven. Do you accept?”

  “I do.” Raven’s blue eyes flashed green for a second. Robin wondered if any save Michaela and himself saw it.

  “Very good. Now.” Robin steepled his fingers together and continued to ignore the rising whispers of the courtiers. Michaela laid her hand on his knee, lending him her strength to do what needed to be done. “I have a job for you…”

  He shivered as he made his way down the highway, the icy cold rain plastering what little clothing he had to his skin.

  Something w
as very wrong. He needed to go somewhere. Be somewhere, but…

  Why couldn’t he remember?

  The sum total of what he knew was this barren highway, this cold rain. Nothing, not even a glimmer of what he’d once been, lived within his mind.

  Why? What had happened that he didn’t even know his own fucking name?

  Headlights cut through the dark, dreary night, slowing to a stop beside him to reveal a dark sedan. The driver’s side door window rolled down, revealing a familiar face.

  He gasped, stumbling back a step.

  “You.”

  About the Author

  Dana Marie Bell wrote her first short story when she was thirteen years old. She attended the High School for Creative and Performing Arts for creative writing, where freedom of expression was the order of the day. When her parents moved out of the city and placed her in a Catholic high school for her senior year, she tried desperately to get away, but the nuns held fast, and she graduated with honors despite herself.

  Dana has lived primarily in the Northeast (Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, to be precise), with a brief stint on the US Virgin Island of St. Croix. She lives with her soul mate and husband Dusty, their two maniacal children, an evil, ice-cream stealing cat and a bull terrier that thinks it’s a Pekinese.

  You can learn more about Dana at www.danamariebell.com or contact her at danamariebell@gmail.com.

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