The trio walked slowly out of the room, headed for the stairs. Duncan and Moira had decided to distract their mate, and Shane just hoped they didn’t get too loud. There were just some things a man shouldn’t hear his baby sister doing.

“So much for Duncan talking to Tristan.” Akane flopped back down next to Shane and stared at the Sidhe currently serving as Robin’s perch. “Are you beginning to understand what’s really going on?”

“Why are they protecting a vampire?” Tristan shook his head and earned himself another scratch from Robin’s claws. “He’s a vile child of the Dark Queen. I will never understand how they can just accept him that way.”

Akane gasped when Shane began to laugh. “You will. Oh, you will understand, and when you do you’ll regret those words.”

Akane opened her inner sight and gasped. Shane’s power rippled around him, his visions in overdrive. “Something tells me Tristan is going to become a Shane Joloun original.”

“Soon. Not yet. Other things must happen first before his future comes to pass.”

“Let him see.” Robin crooned the words as he tapped Tristan’s forehead. “Let him see what he risks by his refusal to help us.”

Shane stood. “I’m not sure. I’ve never dropped my Seeming around anyone but my family before.”

Robin nodded without ever taking his eyes off of Tristan. “Trust me, Shane.”

Shane sighed and dropped his Seeming. Ruby gasped as Shane’s true appearance dazzled everyone in the room. He was a golden god, and Akane ached to lick him one inch at a time. His power swirled around him, pieces of art being created in light, and Akane longed to touch, to hold. To hoard. He pushed his longer hair behind his ears, and for the first time she noticed the delicate points. Looking even closer she realized he had the classic oval pupils of the Sidhe.

“Wow,” Ruby breathed.

Tristan blinked. “Gods above. He’s a true hybrid.” His breath hitched. “I’d heard tales, but I assumed they were wrong, that Shane was merely a closer blend than most between his parents. But no. He’s truly a hybrid.”

Robin nodded. “Rarest of the rare, and mated to another true hybrid as well.”

Tristan’s eyes closed. “Akane.”

“You didn’t believe the daughter of the Seer was also a hybrid?” Robin’s laugh was low. “More fool you.”

Tristan’s eyes opened. He stared at Akane, who’d also dropped her Seeming. While she didn’t have Shane’s golden splendor, her own looks were intimidating in their own way. She hissed at Tristan but left her wings furled. The kitchen was too small to stretch them out. That night in the park he hadn’t gotten a good look at her. Now he could see her in all her glory, and he winced at the sight.

“Double wow.” A feather-light touch along her wings startled her. “That is so cool.” She turned to find Ruby practically bouncing around her like an over-eager Tigger while Leo looked on indulgently. Ruby played with her claws briefly and eyed her horns before she looked over at Shane. “You have got to use her as a model.”

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’d bat 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 we done?”

“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 all the 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.”