The Hob (The Gray Court 4) by Dana Marie Bell Page A

favorite Blades. Hell, he’d been the one to find the information that helped take down the leader Malmayne clan. Big Red was Robin’s go-to man when it came to anything computer related.
    “Did you hear? They pulled someone out of the Delaware this morning.”
    Robin half-listened to the humans muttering around him. He was too busy trying to find any of the Black Court fae wandering the halls. The bitch queen wouldn’t send just anyone to these negotiations. No, if Robin were to guess, their purpose was far more sinister than simply watching humans pretend to be fairies.
    “They say it looked like it was attacked by a shark.”
    The human next to him snorted a laugh. “Where did you hear that? There aren’t any sharks in the Delaware.”
    “Police scanner. My husband’s an officer.”
    Robin’s brows rose. Sharks indeed. The humans wouldn’t recognize the bite of an each uisge , but Robin would.
    Hell. He’d thought they were far enough from the river to be safe from the each uisge’s appetites. The each uisge , or water horse, was infamous for taking its prey to the water to devour it. It was not a taste Robin understood, nor did he ever wish to acquire it.
    There was a reason some naturally gravitated toward the Black, and each uisges were a prime example.
    However, there should have been very little left of the victim. Perhaps he’d been interrupted in his feeding, enough so that he’d left partially devoured remains to be found by the humans. It was rare mistake indeed, but not unheard of in younger fae with McNeil’s…proclivities.
    “I’m telling you, Robin Goodfellow is here somewhere!”
    Robin did his best not to seem as if he was paying any attention to the hissed conversation going on off to his right somewhere. Neither of the voices was familiar, and he dared not look, but he caught the scent of fae and each uisge . It had to be Lord Wyght, the only male Black Court Sidhe, and McNeil. Robin bent down and examined the dangling earrings of a particularly gifted craftswoman.
    Michaela would look lovely in the gold and silver jewelry that was on display. He had a sudden, vivid image of her draped in nothing but silver, gold and her own dark hair.
    He shivered. It was the first time he’d ever felt arousal while wearing the body of a woman, and he wasn’t sure he cared for the sensation. It was familiar, yet alien, this throbbing need that had taken him over.
    “What do we do? If Oberon sent the Hob, then they’re more than likely on to us.”
    Oh? Robin smiled at the vendor and pointed to a particularly stunning necklace made of dripping stars. He’d see Michaela wearing it before the night was through. “How much?”
    The vendor named a price, but Robin wasn’t paying any particular attention. He dug into his purse for the required amount, his attention on the two men arguing not ten feet away.
    “We stick to the plan. Those were Her orders, and I for one am going to obey.”
    “But what if—”
    “No. Let the Raven Lord deal with the Hob, Wyght. We do our part, nothing less. Understood?”
    The Sidhe lord grunted his displeasure. “Why I have to take orders from you I will never understand.”
    Robin paid for the necklace in cash, waiting patiently for the receipt. He was in no hurry to move. This was getting better and better.
    “What about the redcap? Do you think he’ll speak?” Wyght was nervous. Perhaps Robin would visit the redcap in the hospital. If he had information on Titannia’s plans, Robin would get them from him.
    “One survived? Shit. Does the Fear Dearc know?”
    “I have no idea. Lord Raven doesn’t exactly come to my tea parties.”
    Robin picked up his bag and moved closer to the speakers. If they were aware of the surviving redcap, they might be aware of Michaela as well, and that would not do. McNeil would destroy her and leave nothing but bones behind.
    “We need to tell him. Deal with it, McNeil.”
    “What was that, Wyght? Which one of us is in charge