But he still wasn’t discussing his sex life with the man. “Leave it be, Da.”

“No. Not until you tell me why.”

“Because you’re my father.”

Sean snorted in disgust. “Please. Like I don’t know what that thing between your legs is begging you to do.”

“Da!” Leave it to an earth sprite to get…earthy. Shane pointed the tool he was using at his father and scowled. “Don’t make me call Ma.”

Sean grinned, completely unrepentant. “You need her. She needs you. Get her ass tipsy and topple her, boy.”

Shane was horrified. This was getting worse and worse. “Is that the advice you gave Leo?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

His father shot him a knowing look. “Because he’s not you.” Sean dropped the tack back on the scarred work table and took Shane’s face between his hands. “Leo is like your mother. Gentle, with a core of strength none can deny. Moira is more like me, willing to fight with all her strength for what’s right but able to turn around and admit when she’s wrong. And you?”

Shane took a deep breath at the look on his father’s face. “What about me?”

“You’re the best of us both.” His father leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “But don’t tell your sister I said that. I don’t think I could handle the puppy eyes.”

Shane closed his eyes and swallowed. “Thanks, Da.”

Sean released him and Shane opened his eyes. “She needs you, Shane. She needs us.”

“I know.” Shane leaned against the table. “Her life before us was cold.” He allowed the vision that had driven him to create Akane dance behind his eyes. “No room to fly, no place to be free.”

Sean scowled, the part that made him such an incredible father ready to defend his son’s mate against all comers. “Her mother didn’t abuse her, did she?”

Shane shook his head. “No, not really. She tried her best, but can anyone truly understand the needs of a young dragon but another dragon?” He’d slipped back into his mother’s native language, speaking to his father in the Sidhe tongue as they often did when trading secrets. “Her father died to keep the Seer safe, sacrificing himself so she could escape with an infant Akane.” Shane swallowed. He could only imagine the Seer’s devastation as she’d fled, knowing her mate’s fate, and her own. “She knew, Da. She knew when she met him what would happen and loved him anyway.”

“There’s strength in that.”

“Aye. And she’s done her best for Akane since, but even the Seer can’t see into her heart.”

“Can you?”

He sighed. “I’m trying.”

“Perhaps you see her better than most.”

Shane was pleased that he didn’t jump. He was equally pleased that his father did. It served him right after the discomfort of their previous discussion.

Only Robin Goodfellow could sneak up on a leprechaun on his own land. The bond between a leprechaun and the land he laid claim to was incredibly strong. Sean could sense every single person on it, hear whispers a mile away, open holes in the ground barely a pin wide that went all the way to the core of the earth. It took a minor deity to sneak up on him on a bad day.

Robin did it without even trying.

“Good day, Robin.”

The redheaded menace stepped into the tack room wearing the gaudiest western shirt Shane had ever seen. If he stepped into any straight bar in Nebraska every redneck for miles would try and kick his ass for that shirt alone. Add in the super tight jeans, the shiny alligator boots and the black cowboy hat with the purple-checked bandana for a band, and you had one fey-looking fae. “And good day to you, Shane Dunne.” Robin leaned against the door jamb, his arms crossed, one toe digging into the scratched wooden floor. “Akane giving you fits?”

Shane eyed the Hob’s outfit. “Is this your way of telling me I should giddy-up?”

Robin grinned and pulled something out of thin air. The silver and gold object glittered in the light, the intricate lines and swirls etched in it as familiar as Shane’s own skin. “I think you understand her quite well.”

“I didn’t get a chance to give that to her last night.”

“Does she know what the prize inside is?”

“No, and I’m not planning on telling her either.” He grinned. “That’s half the fun, isn’t it?”

Robin laughed easily and tossed the puzzle box to him. Shane caught it easily. “She’s meeting Tristan Malmayne for dinner tonight.” He held up his hand at Shane’s rumble of discontent. “Let it go. Trust her, if not me. No harm shall come to your mate this eve.”

Shane ran his hands through his hair. It would be hard to stay away from her knowing she was with another man. A man who’d touched her skin, embraced her warm body. “I’ll do my best.”

“Good. Because this is part of who she is, and if you try to take that from her, your little bird will fly away.”

Leaving Shane to rot in the grief of mate sickness. “I understand.” He darted a glance at his silent father before turning his attention back to Robin. “Did you see it?”

That eerie flash of green erupted from Robin’s eyes. “Yes.”

“Did you understand it?”

Robin grinned, and Shane shivered. “Yes.”

The purring anticipation in Robin’s voice warned him to keep any misgivings to himself.

“You’ve had a vision?”

Shane turned to his father, nothing but acceptance on the other man’s face. “Aye.”

Sean nodded once and turned to the Hob. “You’ve helped our family after the debt was paid. If you need us, call.”

The Hob’s eyes went wide and dark, the awful, yawning emptiness Shane had seen in him lightening just a hair. “Thank you, Sean Dunne of Clan Blackthorn.”

Somehow, that thanks sounded more like a vow.

Shane had never been prouder of his father.

Robin’s attention turned once more to Shane, that wicked grin once more on his lips, the moment lost forever. “Well? What are you going to do about Akane? Hmm?”

Shane snatched Robin’s hat and plunked it on his own head. “Giddy-up.” He tossed the puzzle box back to Robin, winking at his father while Robin’s laughter filled the barn.

Chapter Four

Akane sat in the restaurant and waited for her date to show up. She’d texted Shane a message letting him know she’d be late getting home that evening and reminding him to stay close to the farm where Sean could protect him. His Yes, dear had not amused her.

Not much, anyway.

She wiped the silly smile off her face and glanced once more at the restaurant door, nodding when her date walked in. She’d used the excuse of wanting her own car and first-date jitters to get out of having him pick her up. If Tristan figured out she was staying with the Dunnes rather than Jaden no lie would save her. She’d be forced to take drastic measures.

“You look amazing.” Tristan brushed a kiss across the top of her head before sitting across from the table.

She couldn’t help the little zing of pleasure at the compliment even as her skin crawled at the caress. “Thank you.” She held up her glass. “I took the liberty of ordering our wine. I hope you don’t mind.”

There was the slightest tightening around his eyes. “Not at all.”

Liar. This was a man who enjoyed ordering for a female. If she’d known she would have held off on the wine. She decided to stroke his manly ego a touch. “I can’t believe you found a place like this out in the boonies.” She looked around, allowing her approval to shine through. She had to drag Shane here at some point whether he liked it or not.

Tristan leaned back in his chair with a smug expression. “It is a good find, isn’t it? A friend of mine suggested it might be a nice place to take a beautiful lady.”

Akane toyed with her fork and shot him a flirtatious look. “How many ladies have you brought then?”

“Several. But none as beautiful as you.” Tristan lifted his glass and toasted her silently.