Dare to Believe

Chapter Four

Ruby was once again staring out a window, but this time it was the window of the Lincoln Navigator Leo had picked up at the airport. “Have your parents heard anything from the kidnappers yet?”

Leo glanced at her, then turned his attention back to the road. “No, not yet. Other than the initial phone call letting them know he’d been taken, they haven’t heard a thing.”

“Do they know why he was taken?”

“It could be a number of reasons. First, they might know he’s my brother, and I’d pay anything to get him back.” His hands tightened on the wheel. “It could also have to do with Mom’s family. There are those who still haven’t accepted their marriage.”

She stared at him, stunned. “You’re kidding me. After all these years?”

His smile was sour. “Let’s just say they have long memories.”

She whistled, not surprised when he turned his attention back to his driving. He was silent the entire way to the farm, his hands occasionally clenching the steering wheel. From the expression on his face she’d bet anything he was picturing his brother’s kidnappers.

She stayed silent for the rest of the ride, eventually nodding off with her head against the window.

It was dark when Leo finally pulled into his father’s farm. All of the lights were on in the old Victorian house, but that didn’t surprise him. When he’d told his family he was bringing someone with him, he’d known they would be more than curious. He’d never brought a woman home with him before.

And even if he had, he’d never bring an ordinary woman home with him under the current circumstances.

He pulled the truck to a stop in front of his parents’ home, not surprised that there were no cars other than ones belonging to the immediate family there. He turned off the ignition and turned in his seat to face Ruby.

She was just beginning to wake up, staring around at, to her, unfamiliar surroundings. He watched her react to the farmhouse, her eyes going wide at the sight of the large Victorian home. “We’re here.” His voice was husky with fatigue.

She turned to him, looking oh so weary. “It’s all right, Leo. They’ll find him.”

Her comfort warmed the cold place that had settled in around the pit of his stomach. When she placed one small hand against his cheek, he knew that if he hadn’t already started to fall in love with her he’d have Dare to Believe

lost his heart then and there. He turned his face into her palm and kissed it, accepting the comfort she was offering. “Thank you.”

She didn’t question what he was thanking her for. She just waited in the car while he came around to help her out with a sleepy smile that went straight to his heart.

“Leo.”

He turned to find his father standing on the porch, staring down at him with his hands on his hips, the porch light gleaming off his midnight dark hair. Blue eyes the color of a summer sky frowned down at him.

“Get her inside. It’s cold out here.”

That Irish brogue, sure and steady, washed through him, calming him just as it had when he’d been a child.

His father turned to Ruby, smiling a warm yet sad welcome. “Welcome to my home.”

His home? I thought Leo’s parents still owned the farm? Ruby watched the man, who looked to be no more than a few years older than Leo, walk down the porch steps. His long, determined stride reminded her vividly of the way Leo moved. The man walked up to them, and Leo put his arm around her shoulder and hugged her close to the warmth of his big body.

She was pulled up short when the man clasped his hand around Leo’s arm. “Welcome home, son.”

His voice held the lilt of Ireland in it, full of warmth that had been missing briefly when he’d first appeared on the porch.

Leo turned to the other man, and suddenly the two were embracing. “Wish the homecoming was under better circumstances, Dad.”

Wait. Dad?

That dark haired, walking sex advertisement was Leo’s dad?

“Dad, I’d like you to meet Ruby Halloway. Ruby, this is Sean Dunne.”

The man lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Welcome, Miss Halloway. I wish we’d met under better circumstances.”

“Thank you, Mr. Dunne. I’m so sorry about your son.”

Leo’s father nodded, his expression shadowed. “Thank you.” He turned to Leo, the shadows disappearing. “Take your woman inside and introduce her properly to your mother. She’s waiting on you.”

The man took the keys from Leo and walked to the trunk of the SUV. He turned and winked at her, popped the trunk open and began to remove their bags.

“C’mon, Ruby. Let’s go introduce you to my mother.”

Ruby couldn’t drag her eyes away from the Irish hunk even though Leo was pulling her up the porch steps. “Wow.”

She didn’t even realize she’d whispered that thought out loud until Leo stopped and frowned down at her. Smiling up at him weakly, she stepped forward, ready for him to open the front door.

The door opened before she could touch it. In front of her stood the most amazingly attractive woman she’d ever seen. She wasn’t much taller or older than Ruby. The woman’s hair fell to her waist, a straight, shining curtain of glowing red-gold. Slightly tilted green eyes the color of emeralds peeked out from under the longest, most lush lashes Ruby had ever seen. Her chin was delicately pointed, her nose fine and aristocratic, her lips full and pink. She stared up at Leo, those lips trembling.

Suddenly, Ruby wasn’t feeling so good. The woman was looking at Leo with a love so deep Ruby was moved by it. If he had this woman waiting for him to come home, why had he brought Ruby?

“Welcome home, Leo.” The woman stepped into his welcoming arms, tears falling down her exquisite face.

“Hi, Mom.”

Ruby unclenched her hands, just then realizing she’d been clenching them.

Of course. Mom. Dad’s a sex god, and Mom’s a cover model. I wonder what Shane and Moira look like? Ruby had never felt quite so frumpy in her life. She was wrinkled from head to toe, her hair a mess, her eyes heavy with fatigue, her makeup long since worn off. Her self confidence took a severe hit. She took a step back, not wanting to intrude on Leo’s reunion with his mother.

She didn’t get very far. One hard hand fell on her arm, pulling her forward. Leo put his other arm around his mother’s shoulder. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Ruby Halloway. Ruby, this is my mother, Aileen Dunne.”

“I am pleased to meet you, Ruby. Be welcome in my home.” The woman’s soft brogue had a hint of Great Britain in it, changing it slightly from the pure Irish purr of her husband’s voice.

“Thank you, Mrs. Dunne.” Ruby held out her hand in greeting.

Mrs. Dunne promptly took possession of it, pulling Ruby into the house behind her. “Now, call me Aileen, please. And did that son of mine remember to bring everything you need, or did he drag you out of the house so quickly your head spun?”

“Um, number two.”

Aileen turned a dark look over her shoulder, and that was when Ruby finally believed that the stunning woman before her really was Leo’s mother. No one but a mother could look at a man like that, part exasperation, part love.

“It was a bit of an emergency, Mom.” Ruby turned to see Leo pushing his hand through his hair, grimacing slightly. “I made sure her cat was taken care of, didn’t I?”

Aileen sighed, a sound that only a mother could make, and pulled both of them into her house. Ruby bit her lip on a nervous giggle, knowing laughter wouldn’t be welcome at the moment.

Leo watched Ruby get her first glimpse of his family home. The cream-colored walls and dark, sturdy wooden furniture wasn’t his taste, but his parents adored the old-style look they’d managed to achieve.

They’d blended early American with a number of pieces they’d moved from Ireland for a look that was uniquely their own. Framed prints of Ireland mingled with family portraits they’d had taken by mortals.

The dark green fabrics of the furniture mingled with the softer, cheerful yellows his mother had strewn about the room in the form of pillows and flowers. The only odd note was an amethyst vase Leo had bought his mother for her birthday two years ago, sitting in pride of place on the mantelpiece. Leo felt a small pang when he saw it. He had to make the effort to get home more often. He hadn’t realized how much he missed his family until he saw them.

Ruby, he saw, absorbed it all, her eyes going from object to object while his mother led them into the kitchen.

Moira was busy stirring a pot of stew, her red-gold hair falling in a long braid down her back. Her deep blue eyes, startling in her pale face, shot to his, so full of relief and arrogance he was astonished.

His baby sister had grown up quite a bit while he’d been gone.

He smiled at her, filled with love at the sight of the beautiful woman she’d grown to be over the last few years. “Hi, Moira.”

“Leo.” She looked him up and down, her eyes full of mischief. “You’ve certainly filled out. A lot.”

Leo grimaced. He could feel himself beginning to blush. “Moira, this is Ruby Halloway. Ruby—”

Moira stepped forward with an easy smile, her hands held out. “Moira Dunne, his—” she pointed a finger abruptly at Leo, “—little sister.” She shook her head, her lip curled up, amused. “How did Leo wind up with you? You’re not at all the bimbo-y type he usually—”

Before she could finish that sentence Leo had her in a headlock, one hand firmly clasped over her lips, his face beet red with, Ruby thought, embarrassment. “Ignore everything that comes out of her mouth, okay?” He shot his sister a warning glance. The last thing he needed was for Moira to tell Ruby who, and what, they were before he had the chance to.

Ruby raised one eyebrow, aware of the underlying tension in every move the Dunnes were making. If horsing around was how Moira chose to deal with it, Ruby wouldn’t step in the way. She noticed that Aileen, far from being upset, had calmly taken her daughter’s place at the stove, serenely stirring the stew.

She left brother and sister wrestling amiably and stepped over to Aileen. “Is there anything I can do to help?” She still felt awkward, but the Dunnes were pretty relaxed considering the circumstances. They were treating her like they’d known her for ages. Almost like one of the family.

Aileen smiled at her. This close, the faint lines of strain around her eyes were more noticeable. She wondered if there was anything she could do to take some of the burden off the older woman. Sean had come into the kitchen and whispered something in Leo’s ear and Leo had nodded in response, his expression pleased. Sean had then moved to his wife, placing a small kiss on the side of her neck before pulling plates from the cupboards.

“That’s sweet of you, Ruby, but no.” Aileen raised her voice only slightly and the wrestling near the kitchen table came to an abrupt end. “Moira and I have things under control.”

“I’ll show Ruby to our room, then, Mom. I think we could both use a shower before we eat.” Leo stepped forward, his hair deliciously rumpled, his shirt half out of his pants. Ruby had to tamp down the totally inappropriate spate of lust that gripped her. For God’s sake, girl, get a grip! His mom is standing right there!

Did he just say our bedroom? She looked over at Aileen, wondering how the woman felt about that.

“Dinner in one hour, Leo.” His mom didn’t even lift her gaze from the stew pot she was stirring.

He took Ruby’s hand and began leading her from the room. “We’ll be ready.”

“Leo?”

“Hmm?”

“Where’s your parents’ bedroom?”

“Two doors down from ours.”

“Oh, hell no.”

She pulled against his hand and he stopped with a frown. “What’s the problem, kitten?”

“Leo, we can’t sleep together with your parents right down the hall!” Her horrified whisper was more of a hiss. He opened the door to their bedroom.

Their bedroom. The shaft of joy and satisfaction that shot through him at that thought would have had him grinning except for one thing. Leo had fully expected an argument from his little kitten when she realized his parents had put them in the same bedroom. He wasn’t disappointed, unfortunately. He’d just known she was going to be difficult about this. He led her to the upstairs bedroom his father had put their suitcases in. “It’s all right, Ruby. If my parents had a problem with it, Dad would have put our suitcases in separate rooms.”

Ruby dug her heels in. He had to drag her the rest of the way into their room. He’d have picked her up and thrown her over his shoulder if she’d offered any serious resistance. He’d had a hard enough day without adding a fight with her into the mix.

He began unpacking his suitcase, ignoring the fact that she hadn’t moved from where he’d left her.

“Unpack, sweetheart, we’ve got enough time for a quick shower before dinner if you hurry.”

She stirred, a frown on her face. She opened her mouth to say something, but bit her lip and looked away instead.

He stopped, a shirt dangling from his fingers. She looked…odd. Like she’d swallowed something sour. “What is it, kitten?”

She shrugged, a small smile chasing away her frown. “Nothing.” She began to unpack.

Leo had been around enough women to know that nothing usually meant something. And nothing said in that particular way usually meant everything.

He put the shirt down on the bed and went to her, wrapping his arms around her. He inhaled her sweet scent and his cock hardened immediately. “When a woman says nothing the way you just said nothing, I start worrying. Out with it, kitten.”

She shrugged again, obviously embarrassed. “It’s nothing, really.”

“Now you’re beginning to terrify me.” He bent down and nuzzled her neck through her hair, wallowing in the silky feel of her skin. He felt her shudder when he stroked her earlobe with his tongue and teeth. Suddenly, it had been way too long since he’d been inside her. “C’mon, kitten. Tell me.”

“It’s stupid.”

He licked his way from her earlobe to the top of her shoulder. “Mm-hmm.” He’d totally lost track of the conversation, his only goal now to get her out of her clothes and on her knees. Or on the bed. Or anywhere, so long as it involved a lot of naked.

“It’s just…you’ll think I’m just being whiney.”

Danger! Red alert! Red alert!

She jerked in his arms. “Did you just hear a siren?”

He pulled up abruptly, pulling his powers back around him like a cloak. “Um, no, what did it sound like?”

She frowned up at him, confused. “Like the red alert signal from Star Trek.”

“Oh. Uh, maybe Moira’s watching TV.”

She relaxed, and he held back a sigh of relief. “Oh. That makes sense. I suppose.”

“Now. What’s the problem?” No way were the words “stupid” or “whiney” going to pass his lips. He had some sense of self preservation, after all. He tried to get her to relax by stroking her back soothingly.

“This is so juvenile.”

Hell. “Spit it out, kitten, you’ve chewed it enough. What is it?”

She took a deep breath and visibly braced herself. “It’s just…well, I mean, your parents are down the hall. Aren’t they going to, you know, hear us?” That last was a furious whisper, her face beet red. She glared up at him.

He stared at her. How exactly do I want to answer that?

She rolled her eyes before he could come up with a response. “Never mind. God, I feel like such an idiot for even asking.”

“Oh, no, let’s get that one settled right now.” He forcibly walked her over to the bed and sat down, pulling her down onto his knee. He wrapped his arms securely around her waist. “Care to repeat that question?”

She punched him, hard enough to earn a grunt. “Leo! What if they hear us? ”

“First of all, I’m not twelve years old.”

She mumbled something under her breath, but he decided to let it pass.

“Second of all, you’re not twelve years old.”

She glared up at him through her bangs, looking mutinous.

“Kitten, if it bothered them, Dad would have put us in separate rooms. Do I hear an echo in here?

Ow.” Leo rubbed the sore spot that was rapidly developing on his chest. I have got to find a better use for her hands. “What is the problem here? You came with me, you’re here for me, and they put us in the same room because they know you’re mine. Do you want to sleep in my sister’s room? Because if you do, I’ll just sneak in there, and you’ll be naked with an audience.”

She sighed. “Leo—”

“I need you with me, Ruby.” He stared into her eyes, trying desperately to convey with a look what he couldn’t yet put into words. It was too soon, too much else was going on, and there were things he still hadn’t told her. Things he knew he should tell her, but he wanted to talk to his parents first. “Please.”

Again, it was the please that won the day for him. That, and the fact that he’d actually argued about keeping her with him. “Okay.” She cuddled up against him and he held her, stroking her hair. The part of her that was starting to seriously fall for him was glad she hadn’t insisted on moving out of the room despite the oddness of having his parents right down the hall from them. “But I’m still not sure about the whole nookie thing.”

“Nookie?” His shoulders quivered under her hands. He sounded like he was trying not to laugh.

Her head tilted to the side and she bit her lip. An idea had occurred to her, brought on by the thought of both getting clean and getting some Leo. She just hoped she was up for it. It had been a really long day and she was starting to wind down, but she was tired of fighting something they both wanted. “Didn’t you want to take a shower?” She peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. “We could always take one together. With all that running water, they might not hear anything.”

She scraped her nails along the nape of his neck, enjoying the shiver that moved through him. He leaned down, his expression smoldering. She barely suppressed her own shiver when he began nibbling at her ear, taking the lobe between his teeth and doing things that made her wish dinner wasn’t in less than an hour.

“Um. Sounds…delicious.” His voice was a low growl. His nibbling had migrated to her neck and was lazily heading south. By the time he reached the sensitive juncture of her neck and shoulder she was ready to melt into a puddle of goo. When he reached up and began tweaking her nipple through her shirt she did melt into a puddle of goo.

With a low groan he pulled himself away from her long enough to yank her shirt over her head. He bent over her, pulling her in close for a kiss.

“Leo Dunne! If I don’t hear water running in five minutes you’ll know what’s what!”

Ruby looked up at Leo. His eyes were wide and bright with suppressed laughter. “Now you know why I ran away from home.” He leaned in and planted a swift kiss on her smiling lips. “Yes, Ma,” he yelled, loud enough to make Ruby wince.

“Should I make sure you wash behind your ears?” Ruby giggled. She hadn’t felt like this since she was a teenager.

“And other places?” His puppy-dog hopeful expression had her hiding her face in his shirt, overcome with the giggles.

He picked her up easily and carried her into the shower. “Let’s conserve water, shall we?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

Leo slipped quietly out of the room. She’d been too tired to make love before nodding off. His kitten was totally exhausted. She’d slipped on a tiny, silky little cream colored thing that she swore was a nightgown and he swore was a wet dream come true. She’d crawled into bed and passed out soon after dinner, curled up around him like the kitten he’d named her. The shower gymnastics he would have loved to indulge in had been interrupted by his pest of a sister, banging on the door and yelling for all she was worth that dinner was ready and he’d better get his Fae butt down the stairs before his mother came up for him. Perhaps it was just as well. He doubted she would have lasted long enough to eat if they’d made love.

He’d just have to make sure he took better care of her from now on. He didn’t like it when his little kitten was all tuckered out for the wrong reasons.

He hadn’t understood why Ruby had glared at his sister when they’d finally headed down, until he’d heard her mutter under her breath that his butt was fine, thank you very much. He’d nearly burst out laughing.

Dinner had been a unique mixture of tension and curiosity. No mention was made of Shane or his kidnapping at the table. Instead everyone had focused on Ruby. They’d done their best to make her feel welcome, but there’d been no denying the gentle inquisition his parents had put her through. But his kitten was tough. She’d answered each question with dignity and a light touch of humor that had won over both of his parents. He hadn’t needed to see his father’s nod of approval or his mother’s smile to know they’d both liked her tremendously.

Moira, however, seemed to be reserving judgment. Oh, she liked Ruby, and made that plain. Yet in that odd sisterly sort of way she’d managed to convey that she wasn’t certain that Ruby was good enough for him. He wondered if he’d be as big a pain in the ass when she brought her mate home to meet them one day, and shuddered. The thought of his baby sister letting a man touch her made him want to punch something.

His family was waiting for him in the kitchen, Mom making a pot of coffee, Dad chatting quietly with Moira. They all looked at him when he entered, and suddenly he knew how Dad, and to some extent Shane, felt during these family meetings. Each of them was staring at him like he could somehow make everything right. He took his seat, accepting the coffee his mother handed him with a small smile.

“Is Ruby settled in then?”

The lyrical notes of his mother’s tongue flowed over him, soothing something in his spirit he hadn’t even realized had been abraded. “Aye, Mum. She’s sleeping peacefully.” The language, so long unused, came to him easily, surprising him.

“You’re sure she’s the one, then?” Moira’s question, though not unexpected, still grated.

“Aye, I’m sure. Everything about her calls to my senses in a way no other woman ever has.”

The confidence in his voice had Moira sitting back, nodding thoughtfully. “Does she know of us?”

“You mean does she know that when we aren’t glamoured we sprout pointy ears and speak in Sidhe?

No, I haven’t told her that yet, considering I just finally got her into my bed last night.”

Moira unconsciously fingered the delicately tapered point of one ear. “When do you plan on telling her? Before or after the ceremony?”

“Moira. Enough.” Sean’s voice was stern. “Ruby’s human. Leo will need to lead her up to it.”

“Rent Lord of the Rings first, it might help.” Moira grinned at him, that cheeky one that never failed to worry him. She leaned forward. “Ask her if she thinks Legolas is hot.”

“I can’t wait to see who you mate, Moira. I hope he’s human.” Leo bopped her on the head with an oven mitt, making her giggle. “Maybe he’ll think Legolas is hot.”

She bared her teeth at him in a smiling snarl. Aileen took the oven mitt from her before Moira could bop him back. “Enough. Leo, let us know if you need help explaining things to her.”

Meaning, explain them soon, before you head back to D.C.

“Yes, Mum.”

Sean stood, and all eyes turned to him. Leo’s dad was one of the most easygoing men he knew, until one of his own was threatened. Leo had sensed the tremendous anger Sean was hiding the moment he’d stepped foot on his father’s land.

It was never, ever wise to piss off an earth sprite.

“I’ve got feelers out to all of my cousins in this country and Ireland, just to be safe,” Sean said. He’d planted his feet wide, his thumbs hooked into the loops on his jeans, his face stern. He looked like a warrior readying his troops for battle. “The earth spirits allied with us will keep me apprised of what’s going on. If he’s anywhere near one of them, they’ll let me know.”

“I’ve contacted some of the Sidhe who still speak with me, and they’ve assured me they’ve heard no mention of Shane.” Aileen’s face was calm and composed. Her hands were white-knuckled around her mug. She took a deep breath, her jaw determined, her eyes hard, and Leo was suddenly, inexplicably afraid.

“There’s someone who owes me a favor—”

“No, Aileen.”

The iron in his father’s voice surprised him. “Who?” His parents shared a long, unreadable look.

“Who owes you a favor, Mum? If they can find Shane, we should call them.”

“That favor may come at a price we’re not prepared to pay, Leo.”

Leo turned to his father, but Sean’s stern gaze never left Aileen.

“He owes me, Sean.”

“And he’ll turn that to his advantage.”

“He can find my baby, Sean Patrick! Let him find my baby!”

Aileen finally broke, tears running silently down her face. Sean’s eyes closed at the sight of his mate’s fear and pain. The helplessness he obviously felt in the face of her grief was something Leo hoped he’d never suffer through with Ruby. Bad enough his brother was missing. If it was his child, the child of his beloved mate? He didn’t know if he’d be in any better shape than his mother was in.

Leo huffed out a breath and exchanged his own glance with Moira. Who the hell was his mother talking about?

“You’ve called him?” Sean’s voice was weary.

“Aye.”

Sean nodded at his wife’s whispered response. “So be it, then.”

“Who are you two talking about?”

The sudden gust of wind heralded the advent of a tornado of power in the middle of the Dunne kitchen. Out of that tornado stepped a tall, slender man with waist length red hair and laughing blue eyes in a face that would have made Michelangelo weep. The tornado was dressed in a dark blue poet’s shirt that matched his eyes and tight leather pants that showcased a slim build. Knee-high leather boots completed the look.

Every hair on Leo’s body stood on end at the sight of that slender young man.

“Robin Goodfellow, for my sins,” the figure said, bowing extravagantly. He looked up from his bow, cocked his head at Sean, and laughed out loud.

“Shit. Shit. Robin-fucking-Goodfellow owes Mom a favor? ” Leo paced back and forth in the front yard, wiping at his face wearily.

“Ah, but I’m not fucking at the moment, dear fellow, although I might wish I was.”

Leo swung around and gulped. Robin Goodfellow was sitting on the hood of his Navigator, legs crossed Indian style, a leer on those boyish features. “You see, when I received that call from your absolutely ravishing mother, I was hip deep in a pool with a pair of Naiad twins. Alas and alack, I doubt the lovely ladies waited for my return.” With an exaggerated sigh, Robin brushed his long red hair back with an effeminate sweep of his hand. Leo noticed that the Hob’s nails were painted black. “Now, if I had a prime piece waiting in my bed for me the way you do, I doubt I’d be out here worrying about someone like me.”

“Stay away from Ruby.” Leo didn’t even recognize the growl that erupted from his throat.

Those brilliant blue eyes flashed completely green before auburn lashes drifted down, hiding them.

The leer turned into a smug smile. “Bonded, boy?”

“Not yet,” Leo forced out between clenched teeth. He’d never been more terrified in his life. He was insane. He’d practically challenged the Hob!

Bright blue eyes lifted up and studied him, all humor, all pretenses gone, and Leo realized he was seeing the true Hob, Oberon’s Blade, for the first time.

“Well, isn’t that a shame, seeing as you’re the reason Shane’s missing.”

“Damn. The marriage contract?”

The Hob nodded. “The marriage contract.”

Leo began swearing, a blend of Fae and English. “I thought that old contract was null and void, due to Mom bonding Dad. Why are they trying to enforce it now?”

“Power, Leo. Why else would a family like the Malmaynes do this?”

Leo stared at Robin, trying desperately to see past the unholy amusement in his deep blue eyes.

“You’re certain the Malmaynes have him?”

“Yes. When you turned down the match with the eldest daughter, they began plotting how to get you to change your mind. From what I was able to gather, their original target was Moira.” Leo’s hands clenched into fists. “When they couldn’t get to her, Shane was their next best target. You were too closely guarded, too into the human world for them to touch directly.” Leo turned away from the red-haired devil sitting on his SUV and stared up at his window. “The plan was to force your hand. Your Ruby will complicate things.”

“These contracts are usually considered null and void in the advent of a truebond.”

Robin’s expression turned icy. “When power is involved, sometimes these things can get…tricky.

And since it was Aileen’s family that wrote up the original contract…” The Hob shrugged. Leo paced, aware of the Hob’s eyes following him.

“Is Kaitlynn involved?”

“The Malmayne girl would rather have you willing than not.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

The devil grinned at him. “No. It’s not.”

Leo listened to the crickets and tried to unclench his hands. “Will they go after Ruby?”

One red brow lifted in thought. “Possibly. Until you complete the bonding the two of you are vulnerable. Sidhe like the Malmaynes won’t care that your bond is a True one, only that she stands in the way of their ambitions.” Robin shrugged. “No offence, but if your mother had followed through on her own contract instead of falling for the leprechaun none of this would have happened.”

“And Shane, Moira and I wouldn’t exist, and Mom would have been miserable.”

“So fighting for love is worth it, then?”

Leo glared at Robin. “If my mother feels for my father half of what I feel for Ruby, then yes. It’s more than worth it.”

That disconcerting flash of green appeared in Robin’s eyes again, and for a moment Leo was frozen in place. For one blinding second he knew exactly how the Hob felt.

Unbearable, unutterable, unending, envious. Alone.

Then those eyes were shuttered once again by a fall of auburn lashes and Leo was freed. “Then fight.”

A gust of wind blew by, blurring the edges of the Hob, blowing him away like a sand sculpture. “When the Malmaynes arrive, fight.”