Akane walked out of the alley, praying nothing had stuck to the soles of her shoes. She’d hate to burn a favorite pair of Ferragamos. “What?”

He held out a plastic jar. “Just a little something for when we find Constance and Hobart.”

She took the bottle and read the label. “Barbeque sauce?”

He shrugged. “You would have preferred Heinz 57?”

Akane held up the barbeque sauce and shook it. “Taxi!”

“You’re no fun anymore.”

The cold was seeping into his bones. The children were gone. The dragon was gone. Only the voice remained, whispering.

“Shh. I have you now.”

Seagulls. Why did he hear seagulls? Waves crashed on the shore, gently washing against the bare feet of the man with the silver hair and sad eyes. Something precious had been lost in the waves and might never be found again.

Crows cawed in the distance, answering the call of their lord, but whose side he was on no one knew. Darkness followed him, and the road forked before him, one full of fog, one dark as a moonless night.

A dark-haired man sat at a bar drinking whiskey, remembering a time when he rode a destrier at the side of the lord with the silver hand. He lifted his glass in remembrance of the fallen lord.

“Shh. Duncan, I think I know what’s going on.”

Oh goody. At least someone had a clue.

“Can you heal him?”

Duncan sounded pretty tired. He should go take a nap.

White sheets on a white bed. Monitors blipped and a woman wept. Black nails caressed a pale nape as hope died.

“He’s losing his touch with reality. The parasite was burned away, but not before planting a dormant seed. When Shane and Akane mated the seed woke and did this, but I don’t think it was supposed to be triggered just yet. I’m going to root it out. Moira, I’ll need the salamander in here to kill it, okay?”

He couldn’t hear what else was said. A crow feasted on one bright blue eye as the farm burned around him.

“Now I need you to do one more thing for me, okay, Moira?”

Shane watched the axe fall, taking the hand of the king.

“Cover your ears.”

All the visions stilled as the most beautiful voice in the world drove them back into darkness.

Akane jumped out of the cab, a shiver of dread running through her. “We don’t have much time.” Jaden nodded, that brash tongue silent for once. They stood before the safe house, knowing it was more than likely a trap. “I’ll take the heat for killing Hobart. You take down Constance.”

“She’s the Black’s Malmayne lord.”

Akane stared at her partner. “How do you know that? I thought Henri pledged them over.”

Jaden shook his head. “He lied. I could smell it on him.”

One eyebrow rose. “Really?”

Jaden snorted in disgust. “It was stinky. Kinda like camel piss.”

Akane blinked. She was not going to ask. She was not. “Are we sanctioned for this hit?”

“You have doubts?”

Jaden and Akane both flinched. “Robin.”

“Did you think you could hide the signs from me of one of my own?” Black claws caressed her cheek and Akane bowed her head.

“Forgive me, lord. I only thought of my injured mate.”

Those sharp-as-fuck claws tapped, drawing blood. “I know.” Jaden grunted. The Hob had exacted blood price from him as well. “The kill is mine.”

“Yes, sir.” Akane remained bowed, waiting for Robin’s permission to move.

“Take the female. Make an example of her, but leave enough recognizable that Glorianna will be satisfied with the death.”

“Yes, my lord.”

She didn’t hear Jaden respond. For a split second she was afraid for her partner, that Robin’s price had been higher for him than it had been for her.

“Rise.”

Akane lifted her head, almost dizzy with relief when Jaden appeared unharmed.

“Whatever you do, stay away from the back parlor. Do you understand me?” Robin’s hand pushed back her hair from her forehead like a proud papa. “I will be most displeased if you disobey.” The tone of voice was quiet and pleasant, but the intent was not. Whatever Robin had in mind for his errant child was not to be witnessed by outsiders.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Yes, sir.” Jaden nodded once, his gaze already glued to the upper story of the safe house. Green flashed through his ebony eyes. “She’s up there. Hobart is in the basement, my lord.”

“I know.” The Hob once more sounded amused. “Go. Exact Oberon’s Justice for what was done to Shane Joloun Dunne. May the gods have mercy on her soul, for we shall not.”

The Hob smiled at them, sauntered up to the door as neat as you please, turned the handle and went inside the house, for all the world as if he lived there.

“That man has diamond balls.”

“You mean brass,” Akane corrected. She took a deep breath and looked around, hoping the street was empty despite the early hour. But the fact that they were in a fairly nice neighborhood put paid to that hope. People were beginning to come home from work in the early evening light. She eyed the front door and considered whether or not she had the same balls her boss did.

“Nope. Diamonds are a lot harder. Besides, they’re a girl’s best friend.”

Akane stared at her partner. “That’s just wrong.”

Jaden winked and began climbing up the side of the building.

“Show-off.” Akane braved the front entrance but extended her claws just in case. If Constance made a break for it the punishment would be over far too quickly, but Akane couldn’t risk the Sidhe female escaping. She set her foot on the first stair when a feminine cry of distress echoed down to them. Jaden had apparently made his appearance and Constance was none too happy about it.

“Hey! Leave some for me!” Akane cried out, racing up the stairs.

Tonight Constance Malmayne would die.

Akane burst into a very feminine room. Pale pastels adorned the walls, matching floral prints on the bedspread and sheets. The furniture was a pale golden brown. A nicely padded armchair rested before a fireplace faced with white marble.

“What took you so long?” Jaden had his arm wrapped around Constance’s neck, his hold just tight enough that the Sidhe female couldn’t break free. He shook the woman’s head. “Stop that. Only three people in my head at a time, thank you.”

Akane grinned. “Let me have her.”

“Are you going to do that head ripping thing? That is so hot.”

Akane tilted her head and pretended to think about it. “Nah. I was thinking of playing butterfingers.”

“Butterfingers?” Jaden frowned. “Isn’t that the game you used to call bombs away?”

“Yep.” Akane examined the toe of her shoe, frowning. Something dark and icky stained the point. She rubbed her shoe on the pale rose carpet to try and clean it.

“You can’t kill me.” Constance trembled in Jaden’s hold, whether from fear or from the effort to break into the vampire’s mind Akane didn’t know.

“Haven’t we heard this song before?” Jaden tossed her like a doll, sure Akane would catch her.

Akane grabbed hold of the flailing Sidhe. “It’s an oldie but a goodie.”

“You think I’m no threat to you? You think if you kill me the Malmaynes will leave the Dunnes alone? Is that it?” Constance laughed, the sound bitter. “She has plans for them, plans we were only a small part of. This is bigger than the stinking half-breed Dunnes.”

Akane caressed Constance’s cheek much as Robin had done hers. “Really?” She exchanged a look with Jaden, getting his approval to continue questioning Constance. “Tell me more.”

Black lace over blood-red eyes. Claws ripped away the veil and revealed nothing but darkest night. Bright light dimmed in the face of tragedy. Chaos became blind in the name of love. White cloth coated in innocent blood. Rage and grief took vengeance side by side as love drained away.

The visions were coming too fast now to make much sense. Shane held on to the sweetly singing voice, his only lifeline in the maelstrom around him. Without that voice he’d already be mad, the visions driving him over the edge.