Artistic Vision (13 page)

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.”

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.”

“Vague as always.” He could almost picture her smile. “And the Malmaynes?” The vision he’d had in Leo’s office came back to him in all its gory detail. If things went the way he’d seen, Shane would be in a world of hurt.
 

“Ruby is safe. It is
your
back you must watch.”

A jolt of fear shot down his spine, chilling him. He’d been right. He’d become a target again. Shit. “What would they want with me?”

“They know. Tell my daughter I said be careful.”

She hung up before he could ask what she meant. The possible threat to Akane scared him more than any real threat to himself. He grabbed his coat and his car keys and headed out of the studio, his only thought to be with his fiancée.
 

Akane watched through her inner sight as Jaden misted through the keyhole of the Malmayne’s front door. No one could perform a B&E like a vampire. Akane’s role was that of look-out, something she was infinitely suited for. She sat on the hood of her car, her senses wide open, following Jaden mentally through a house he was all too familiar with. She’d almost forgotten he’d broken into the Malmayne mansion twice before, once to collect information on Charles Malmayne, Duncan’s uncle, and once to exact justice on Charles for working with the Black. They’d gotten to the estate in fifteen minutes, Jaden driving like a bat out of hell in order to do it. Akane still wasn’t sure their wheels had been on the ground at any given time, but Jaden said he’d done this before and she believed him.

Jaden whisked through the house, sometimes mist, sometimes a silent predator. Already Akane was seeing signs the Malmaynes were on the downward spiral to the Black. The estate seemed surrounded by a dark miasma. Sometimes she wished she had Shane’s talent for seeing the future. She wasn’t sure anymore how many of the Malmaynes could be saved.

Jaden found Tristan still going through Henri’s things. He quickly subdued the White Court Sidhe, not giving him time to protest or even realize a vampire had snuck up on him. Akane couldn’t blame him. White Court Sidhe were notorious for attacking vampires on sight, not caring if they were Gray Court or Black. Tristan might know who Jaden was on an intellectual level, but she wasn’t willing to bet Jaden’s life on whether or not Tristan would react instinctively and try to kill Jaden.

Jaden trussed up Tristan like a roped calf, arms and legs together. He then turned his attention to whatever had caught Tristan’s and grinned. “I’m calling Red.” He spoke out loud, knowing Akane would be able to hear him even if he couldn’t hear her. They’d never formed even a light blood bond; the vampire had shied away from the thought from the very beginning of their partnership five years ago. She’d never known if his bond with Duncan had anything to do with that, or the fact that she was a dragon and he didn’t know if she’d give him indigestion.

Knowing Jaden, the answer could be both.

“Okay. Red’s going through the files.” Robin’s pet Gremlin was a wizard at anything electronic, but he specialized in hacking and data retrieval. He’d managed to pull data off of drives that had been completely reformatted, something the humans still hadn’t figured out how to do. “He says this time Henri must have known we’d get a Gremlin in on the action because the computer is slightly better protected than last time.” He sat in Henri’s chair and put his feet up on the unconscious Sidhe. “In other words, the computer’s legs are halfway closed instead of wide open.”

Akane snorted, amused. The running commentary was entertaining, but she’d rather be back in Shane’s nice warm studio.