He released her and took a step back, staring at her with wistful greed. The wistfulness was gone almost as quickly as it appeared, but the fact it had been there, that he wanted her that badly, sent her heart racing. “Welcome home, Akane.”
She hid her shiver as best she could, but damn it. His voice did things to her, especially when he used that deep, warm tone he only directed at her. “This isn’t home.” She sniffed and almost stomped past him, remembering at the last minute the dirt driveway beneath her three inch heels.
“More home than you’ve ever had before.”
She paused; something about his tone set her back up. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His rich laugh followed her into the brightly lit house. The cream-colored walls and dark, sturdy wooden furniture wasn’t her taste, but Aileen and Sean Dunne fit right in here. They’d blended early American with a number of pieces they’d moved from Ireland for a look uniquely their own. Framed prints of Ireland mingled with family portraits. The dark green fabrics of the furniture grounded the softer, cheerful yellows Aileen had strewn about the room in the form of pillows and flowers. The only odd note was an amethyst vase Leo Dunne had given his mother, sitting in pride of place on the mantelpiece. Akane took a deep breath and felt something tight within her ease at the now familiar scents of raw earth, polished wood and family.
She blinked.
Family? Since fucking when?
She growled low in her throat and headed for the kitchen, knowing Aileen Joloun Dunne wouldn’t be happy if Akane didn’t stop in to say hello before heading to her room. She shrugged off the thought of her room, plastering a smile on her face for Aileen’s sake.
“Gods, child, you look exhausted. Here, have a seat and I’ll make you a nice cup of tea.” Aileen’s soft Irish accent had a bit of Brit in it, marking her as from one of Ireland’s conquering families. The fact that Aileen Dunne considered herself Irish through and through would have had no effect on those intent on destroying anything British back when the IRA flourished. It was probably why Sean Dunne had moved his family to America in the first place.
“You’re a saint, Aileen.” She glared as Shane made his way into the room, gifting his mother with a kiss on the cheek. “Unlike some people I know.”
Aileen’s tinkling laugh filled the room. “Ah, now. Have you two been fighting again?” Her hair fell to her waist, a straight, shining curtain of glowing red-gold just a touch darker than her son’s. Slightly tilted green eyes the color of emeralds peeked out from under the longest, most lush lashes Akane had ever seen. Her chin was delicately pointed, her nose fine and aristocratic, her lips full and pink. She could see the resemblance between Moira, Aileen’s daughter and Jaden’s female bondmate, and her mother, but she could find little of the woman in either of Aileen’s tall sons.
“A wonderful sound to come home to.” Sean Dunne stepped in from the cold, his wool-lined jacket a shade of green exactly matching his wife’s eyes. He stepped in for his own kiss from Aileen, but where Shane’s had been filial Sean’s was that of a man marking his territory.
Now here was where she saw Shane. Oh, Shane mostly had his mother’s coloring, but when it came to size and shape, he was his father’s son. Tall and strong, Sean Dunne was head and shoulders above his dainty wife, with gleaming dark hair and eyes the color of a summer sky. Shane had his father’s eyes, but deeper, more intense, as if something in Sean had been refined within his oldest son.
She turned to find Shane studying her, watching her reaction to his father’s kiss. She raised her brows and leaned back in her chair, daring him to comment.
When he did nothing more than give her that knowing, irritating grin she turned back to his parents. “How are Ruby and Leo?”
Aileen’s shoulders tensed for a brief moment. “They’re fine. Settled in nicely. Leo’s business is on hold until this Child of Dunne shite is taken care of.”
Akane almost gasped. Aileen hadn’t cursed the entire month she’d known the woman, at least not in polite company. It wasn’t the way the Sidhe lady had been raised.
She caught sight of Sean’s worried look. Aileen had to be more upset than Akane had thought. “I will fix this. I give you my word.” She meant it too. Shane aside, the Dunne family had been good to her.
Aileen smiled at her. “I know you’re doing your best, Akane, and we’re grateful for it.” A mug of tea was placed in front of her, sweetened just the way she liked it. “And I think you’ll be wanting a bath after this?”
Akane nodded. She was so tired she couldn’t see straight, but damn if she’d let Jethro see that. “Yeah. A bath sounds nice.”
That annoying grin was off Shane’s face. “Bedtime right after.” The command in his voice matched the challenge in his expression. He practically dared her to disobey him.
If Akane wasn’t so tired she’d take him up on that dare.
“Shane.” The warning in his father’s voice would have amused her if she wasn’t so drained.
“Da, I know what I’m doing.”
The two men exchanged an enigmatic look, but to her surprise, Sean backed down first. “All right, then.” He brushed a brief, surprising kiss across the top of Akane’s head. “I’ll go change, then. We’ll keep the house quiet tonight, Akane. Get some rest.” And he sauntered out of the room, Aileen’s eyes glued to her mate’s back.
The speculation in them was soon turned on Shane, who held up his hands, his expression all innocence. “What?”
Aileen’s gaze narrowed. “Hmph.”
When Shane merely chuckled, she shook her head and turned back to the stove.
The dinner simmering on top would normally have tempted Akane to steal at least a bite, but she was at the point of tired where she was feeling nauseated. She stood and went to the sink, rinsed out her cup and placed it carefully in the dishwasher. “I’m going to call it a night.”
Aileen’s hand reached out and cupped her chin. The Sidhe was taller than she was, but not by much. Then again, most adults were taller than Akane. “Sleep, child. We’ll let Sal keep watch again.”
She smiled. Sal, the salamander she’d defeated when it had been ordered to attack the Dunne farm, had bonded to her. It was as loyal as any guard dog, as playful as a puppy and adored the Dunnes. It had been the right decision to leave him here to protect them in her absence. “Good night, Aileen.” She glared at Shane, who was stuffing a chocolate chip cookie in his big mouth. “Jethro.”
He waved merrily at her. “Night, Miz Akane.” He grinned, goo from the cookie stuck to his teeth.
“Ugh.” She shuddered and walked out of the kitchen, the sound of Shane’s laugh a balm to her soul, unwanted though it was.
“Are you ever going to stop teasing that girl?”
Shane picked up the tea his mother set in front of him. He swished some around in his mouth before answering his mother. “Stop? Why? She enjoys herself way too much for me to stop.”
His mother bopped him on the back of the head with the flat of her hand. “Shane Joloun, do not make me break out the wooden spoon.”
He laughed up at his mother, adoring the way her face lit up. “Trust me. I’ve got inside information.”
“Oh?” Aileen pulled up a chair and propped her chin in her hand.
“Subtle, Ma.” He took another sip of his tea, smiling when the water in the upstairs bath started. Akane would soon be naked and wet. Too bad he couldn’t do anything about that yet.
“I try.”
“Let’s put it this way.” He leaned in and whispered in his mother’s ear. “I have her mom on speed dial.”
Aileen’s head dropped onto the table. “She’s going to kill you when she finds out.”
He leaned back and propped his feet on the chair across from him. “Then I can’t let her find out, can I?” He grinned at his mother. “Besides, you’ll protect me.”