Siren's Song: The Gray Court, Book 5 (6 page)

Oberon ground his teeth. “Could you be any clearer? I can’t protect her if I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Shane merely smiled. “You have to figure it out for yourself. Just because I see something doesn’t automatically mean I understand it.” Shane moved to the sculpture of Oberon and Cassie. “But I guarantee you that it will definitely be worth it.” Shane glanced toward a third sculpture covered in cloth. “That’s not all I needed to show you. There’s another problem you’re going to have to worry about, and I can’t tell you whether or not you’ll succeed in keeping this from coming to pass.”

Before Oberon could question what the man was talking about, Shane whipped the cover off of—

He froze at the sight of another sculpture, his hair practically rising on end.

This sculpture, though made of glass, looked almost as if it had been carved from solid ice. Frozen in time was the mermaid of the first sculpture, pale and lovely, her scales frosted. But what sent rage coursing through his veins were the two mermen flanking her. They held her, her arms straight behind her, forcing her body to bow forward. Her hair hid her face, her pose one of utter defeat. Even her tail drooped, her fin limp. Shane had captured the strain of her muscles in her arms and shoulders, how the two mermen held her with slightly bored expressions, as if they’d done this many times before.

“Who?”

Shane shivered. “You aren’t the only one being hunted.”

“So if I fail, if I fall into the hands of my enemies, this is Cassie’s fate?”

“No. This is Cassie’s fate if you don’t accept your truebond.” Shane frowned. “Actually, it could be her fate even if you do. Your actions will determine whether this remains her fate.”

He leaned against Shane’s work table, unable to tear his gaze away from the image of Cassie being subjugated. “I need to regain my memories faster than I thought.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not.” Shane took a deep breath and dropped his human Seeming.

The vibrant red-gold hair of Shane’s human Seeming was dull as dishwater compared to the almost metallic shine of his true appearance, rich as Black Hills gold mixed with copper. His hair grew to just below his shoulders, emphasizing his strong jaw. Those blazing sapphire eyes glittered like dark jewels, the whorls of his leprechaun heritage emphasizing them like pale tribal markings. Light danced around him, gold and green, in a hypnotic pattern, sometimes random, sometimes making figures or places Oberon could almost make sense of. His skin sparkled like it was coated in golden glitter, reflecting the light of his magic back into the room, creating a halo like effect around his body. Even his fingernails glittered with green and gold, as if he’d been carved from the very earth itself and adorned with its finest gems.

Oberon gasped, the knowledge of what Shane truly was slamming into him. The man was a hybrid, one of the rarest of the fae, blending his leprechaun and Sidhe heritage equally into a power that only another hybrid could understand. That he exposed himself to Oberon, who couldn’t even remember if they’d met before, showed a huge amount of trust. True hybrids were prized by the Black Court, like unruly pets, but powerful ones like Shane would be hunted for his powers. If Oberon fell into their hands, the knowledge of what Shane was would become theirs. By exposing himself this way he was silently asking for Oberon to believe in him.

“I’m not certain Cassie’s fate
can
be averted. It might have to come to pass in order to fulfill either one of the other fates, or it could mean that her loss is what drives you to darkness. Then again, avoiding that fate could be what causes her to be lost.” Shane shrugged. “I just don’t know. If you wish, I could call the Seer, ask her to check my visions for me, but her answers might be even more vague than mine and there’s no guarantee that she won’t tell someone where you are. The Seer remains neutral in all things.”

“You mean she’d tell the Dark Queen where I am?”

Shane nodded. “If asked, yes. She refuses help to no one, no matter how good or how evil. It’s just her way.”

Oberon studied the three sculptures, one so dark, one so sad, the last full of despair. “Then I’ll take my chances and do my best to avoid the dark fate, and let the chips fall where they may.”

Shane smiled. “Then you’re ready for the next step of your journey.”

Oberon nodded as he listened to the hybrid lay out the path he needed to take to regain everything he’d lost.

Chapter Five

Cassie tapped her fingers restlessly on the kitchen table, her gaze drawn over and over again to the back door. Oberon and Shane had been gone for well over an hour. The sandwiches were long since gone, the tea consumed, and still they didn’t return.

“Easy.” Ruby, Leo’s mate and one of the few people Cassie considered a close friend, put her head on Cassie’s shoulder. “I know this is difficult, but Shane won’t steer him wrong.”

“Do you know what Shane wanted to tell him?” That was what bothered her the most. Shane knew most of her secrets. Would he reveal to Oberon who she was?

“Nope. Akane might, but she’s not telling. Not even when I told her I could help her open the puzzle box.”

Akane growled, her fingers caressing a golden square she never let far from her sight. “I’m still going to kill him for this one of these days.”

Cassie grinned. Akane was still trying to open her mating present, a puzzle box Shane had crafted for her. The half-dragon, half-Seer still hadn’t figured out how to open it, and it was driving her insane. More than once Cassie had watched as Akane got so frustrated she flung the puzzle box at Shane’s head, only to turn around and pick it right back up.

Shane only laughed. He seemed to enjoy Akane’s frustration. Their relationship was an interesting one, Akane a perfect match for the easygoing Shane. Their harmonies resonated with each other as only those truebonded did.

It was the same with all of the Dunnes. Each had been lucky to find their truebond, Moira even entering into a tri-bond with Duncan Malmayne and Jaden Blackthorn, the three of them in perfect accord. Their bond was so strong their
melodies
blended, something she’d never before seen, even in a truebond.

Akane flung the golden cube at the floor with a snarl, startling her.

Ruby laughed. “You should just ask Shane what the trick is to solving it.”

Akane growled. “No. I won’t give Jethro the satisfaction.” But she was already out of her chair, picking up the puzzle box and placing it gently on the kitchen table. “One of these days I’ll figure it out.”

Ruby tilted her head as she studied the puzzle box. “Have you tried a Fibonacci sequence?”

Cassie and Akane stared at her. “A what now?”

Ruby picked up her mug and grinned smugly. “Zero, one, one, two, three, five, eight, thirteen, twenty-one…”

Akane’s eyes went wide. She picked up the puzzle box and began flicking the symbols on the sides, symbols Cassie recognized as Sidhe script.

“How did you know that?” Cassie had never even heard of a Fibo-whatever.

“I’m an accountant. Numbers are my thing.” Ruby watched Akane’s fingers flying over the puzzle box. “A Fibonacci sequence is basically addition. You start at zero, add one. Zero plus one is one. One plus one is two, and one plus two is three. You follow the sequence, adding the new number to the previous number, over and over again.”

“I didn’t know you can read Sidhe script.”

Ruby tilted her head, her expression becoming puzzled. “That’s Sidhe script? It just looks like numbers to me.”

“Huh.” Cassie didn’t bother to tell her that she shouldn’t have been able to read it. Ruby was just as unique as every other member of the Dunne clan. Who was to say what the human was capable of, now that she’d secured her Sidhe lord?

“Yes!” Akane pumped her arms in the air as the puzzle box opened.

Cassie leaned over to see what Shane had hidden inside the box. “Is that…?”

“Holy shit.” Ruby reached out, but before she could touch Akane slapped her hand away. “Ow.”

“Mine.” Akane lifted the ring out of the box. It was a perfect fire opal, almost the exact color of Akane’s golden eye, set in shining yellow gold. There was something about that ring that matched the fire in Akane, a slight hum that resonated with her harmonies perfectly.

“You finally opened it!” Shane entered the house, Oberon and Jaden right behind him. “Good. Now I can give you the second one.”

Akane’s expression went blank. “Second one?”

“Yup.” Shane reached into his pocket and produced another puzzle box, this one in the shape of a pyramid. “There’s a prize inside this one too.”

Akane picked up the pyramid with a resigned sigh. “I hate you so much.”

“Aw, shucks, Miz Akane. You sure know how to embarrass a man with your lovin’ ways.”

Jaden slipped past Oberon and Shane, shaking his head. “One of these days she’s going to rip off bits and pieces.”

“Of the puzzle box?”

“No, of you.” Jaden winked at Cassie as he plopped down in the chair across from her. “But don’t worry, she won’t take anything she’ll miss. She has uses for you, after all.”

Akane held the pyramid toward Ruby. “Well?”

Ruby picked up the pyramid and gestured for Akane to follow her out of the room. “Let’s see how quick we can break this bad boy open.”

“That’s cheating.” Shane scowled, but Cassie could see he wasn’t upset at all. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he’d planned it this way.

Akane stuck her tongue out at her mate and left the room.

“We need to go.”

Cassie turned her attention back to Oberon. He was pale, almost the same shade as his hair. His gray eyes glittered darkly, almost molten, gunmetal gray instead of their normal silver. His ears were pointed, peeking out of the fall of his hair, hair that now brushed the floor and glittered with metallic highlights. His skin shimmered as if he was coated in opalescent fairy dust. And his voice, when he spoke, echoed through her, causing her to rise to her feet and bow.

Cassie
never
bowed, not to anyone. But to him,
for
him, she would.

Whatever Shane had revealed had upset the High King greatly, enough so that his Seeming had dropped. “As you wish, my lord.”

Oberon blinked, his shoulders relaxing, the gunmetal gray lightening once more to silver. “We need to speak once we’re alone.”

His stance might have relaxed, but his voice was still strained. She shot Shane a quick glance to see if he could give her a clue as to why Oberon was so upset, but Shane merely shrugged. “Yes, sire.”

A quick frown, barely there and gone again, crossed Oberon’s face. “Shane?”

“Yes, sire?” Shane grabbed a mug and poured a cup of tea.

“Where should we head next?”

Shane spooned some honey into his mug. “Head toward water.”

Cassie flinched.

And Oberon, damn him, noticed. “Is there a problem with heading toward the water?”

Cassie sighed. “The people hunting for me are more likely to be near the ocean.”

“It’s a step that has to be taken before anything else can be truly resolved.” Shane sipped his tea, his gaze distant. “You’ll help Oberon on the way, but the ultimate goal will be found in or near an ocean.”

Cassie sighed. This was going to get ugly. “Which one? Pacific or Atlantic?”

“Head west.”

Cassie nodded. “Pacific, then.” She smiled wearily at Oberon. “How do you feel about visiting Oregon?”

“Any particular reason we’re going there instead of, say, California?”

“I know the area a little bit better.” And the Pacifica court had holdings in Los Angeles and San Diego. No way did she want to get near either city.

“Stay the night and head off in the morning.” Shane put his hand on Cassie’s shoulder. “You look exhausted, and I’m certain Oberon would like to rest as well.”

“It…would be welcome.” Oberon’s expression was hard to read. He seemed both uncomfortable with and grateful to the Dunnes for their hospitality. “Thank you.”

“You can borrow a pair of Leo’s jeans and a T-shirt tomorrow when you head out.” Ruby stood, her gaze going to her husband, who nodded. “We can run back to our house and pick something up.”

Oberon grimaced. “I’d rather stay in my suit, but thank you.”

“Are you sure? It’s filthy.”

“I would feel uncomfortable in anything else.”

Ruby shrugged. “Okay then. But if you’re going to be travelling you might want to stop off somewhere and pick up some clean clothes and a toothbrush.”

“Sounds like a plan. We’ll take care of it first thing in the morning.” Cassie hugged Ruby. “Thanks.”

Duncan pulled his wallet out and handed her some cash. “Here. And no arguments. You helped one of us, now it’s our turn to help you.”

Jaden smiled. “Besides, you’re going to save our king. It’s the least we can do.”

She wasn’t about to turn down the extra help. She had barely enough cash to fill the car with gas, since she hadn’t worked recently. “Thanks.” She gave each of them a hug, including Moira.

“Get some rest, both of you.” Aileen began hustling everyone out of her kitchen. “I’ll show you to your rooms and call you when dinner is ready.”

Cassie followed Aileen up the stairs, ignoring her desire to get back out on the road. She didn’t think anything bad would happen while they were there, but the last thing she wanted to do was bring trouble to the Dunnes.

“Cassie?”

She glanced back down at Shane, who’d followed them out of the kitchen. “Yeah?”

Shane smiled. “It will be all right.”

“Will it?” She still wasn’t sure about heading to the ocean, but Shane’s visions were rarely wrong.

“It will. Just…” Shane looked past her to where Oberon had disappeared with Aileen. “Trust in your bond.”

“I will. The question is, will he?” She followed Oberon up, well aware that everything she’d ever wanted rested on the High King’s broad shoulders.

“This will be your room.” Aileen pointed toward a door opposite the one Oberon had gone into. “I hope you like it.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Dunne.”

“Aileen, please.”

“All right. Aileen.” Cassie entered a comfortable looking bedroom with a double bed covered in an ivory and beige comforter and maple furniture.

“Have a pleasant rest.” Aileen shut the door on her way out, leaving Cassie alone.

Cassie used the rare privacy to pull out her compact. “Dayton Nerice.”

Dayton’s image appeared. He was pale, frowning with worry. “Cassie. The High King is missing.”

“I know.”

“Robin Goodfellow has taken over the Gray Palace.” Dayton bit his lip, obviously terrified of the Hob’s sinister reputation.

“Robin is Oberon’s heir.”

He blinked. “He is?” He paled. “You call him Robin?”

“Uh-huh. I stayed at his house for a couple of months, hiding from the family.”

Dayton’s mind seemed blown. He gaped like a fish.

Cassie chuckled. Her baby brother was adorable. “Close your mouth, a shrimp might swim in.”

Dayton’s mouth snapped shut. “Have you met him?”

“Robin?”

“O-oberon.” Dayton’s awe was causing him to stutter.

“Yup.” She glanced toward the door. “In fact, I can tell you he’s in good hands.”

If his eyes got any bigger they’d roll out of his head. “Whoa.”

“Yup. And I might also have a solution to my problem.”

“What?” Dayton practically bounced in his seat.

“I found my truebond.” Cassie couldn’t help but grin. “He’s…reluctant, though.”

Dayton was immediately offended. His nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed. “Any idiot who can’t love you isn’t worth it.”

She settled on the edge of the bed. “It’s not that. He’s been burned before in love, and I think that makes him wary.”

“Oh?” Dayton’s eyes went big again. “
Oh
. Um. Congrats?”

Cassie giggled. “Thanks?”

They shared a quick, nervous laugh. “What will you do next?”

“Help him get home again.”

“Do you need me to come to you?” Dayton’s concern was touching, but he was barely out of what humans would consider his teenage years, which for a mer was about forty. “I can help protect you both.”

Dayton was both shorter and more slender than she was, taking after their petite mother. “I’ve got it, Dayton. You keep being my spy. I can handle this problem, but I can’t handle that one. Not yet, anyway.”

“Okay.” He grimaced. “When we heard Oberon was missing the parents pretended to be sad, but I think they were actually happy about it.”

“Do you think they had anything to do with it?” Cassie bit her lip. Her parents were fiercely loyal to the White Court and Gloriana. She couldn’t picture them doing something like poisoning Oberon, but she had to follow every possibility.

“No, I don’t. That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t take the opportunity to advance their own interests while he’s gone, though. And there are rumors of Black Court mer swimming in our seas, searching for something.” Dayton shivered. “The parents have sent out armed men to warn them off, but if the invaders turn out to be Pacifica they’ll probably be invited to tea and crumpets.”

Now that sounded like her parents. “Anything else?”

He frowned thoughtfully. “I think I heard something about the Black Queen making some kind of announcement, but so far nothing’s actually occurred.”

Interesting. “All right. Keep me posted, and I’ll contact you again as soon as I can. I’m taking you-know-who to the sea to try and heal him.”

“He’s hurt?” Dayton scowled, the protective, loving man he was becoming evident. “Are you sure you don’t need me?”

“I’m sure.” Cassie smiled. Out of all her siblings, Dayton was the only one worth snail spit. “I love you, bro.”

“Love you too, sis. Keep your fin out of trouble, okay?”

“I will. Bye.” Cassie snapped the compact shut on the only piece of her old life she wanted to hold on to.

Oberon stepped under the hot spray, the warmth seeping into bones that felt like they were made of ice. He shivered, soaking under the water, wondering if he’d ever feel warm again.

You feel warm when Cassie touches you.

He did his best to silence that voice, but it refused to remain quiet. Something about the siren called to him on a level he hadn’t felt since…

Since hazel eyes stared at him, filled with joy, and love.

He scrubbed his hair, eager to get all the dirt and snow out. He had more important things to worry about than why a pair of turquoise eyes had begun to haunt him. He didn’t need to dwell on whether or not her skin would be equally warm to the touch in human form as it was when she was in her merform, or whether her scales would be hard or supple if he caressed them. He tried not to think about how fluidly she would move through the water, how her natural grace would turn sensual should he take her in his arms.