Page 132 of Ulune's Daughter

When I return,licking the excellent local swordfish from my whiskers, I perch on the restaurant’s rooftop. The sun has set and the sea is as dark as Homer described. The salt breeze ruffles my fur and brings the words of my twin and my mate up to me through the window beneath me. Their talk is animated, probably as much from the wine I can smell as their subject matter, as they go over and over what they saw today and how it connects to that evil cup that poisoned my mate.

The richness of cream and chocolate cuts through the fruitiness of the wine. I hear the old man speak to them—in English; I’m glad I spoke Cait to him—telling them the tiramisu is complementary. Luca, who is probably trying to get our mate drunk so she’ll share his bed, orders sweet wine to go with the dessert. I’m not a big drinker, nor a chocolate-eater, although cream is always welcome, but that combination appeals to me.

It evidently appeals to our mate as well. Her moans of delight as she consumes the dessert and the wine make me hard despite my fur.

Luca pours her a second glass of the potent wine as he asks, “Why would you seek out Didrane?”

My ears prick. That’s a name I know: the White Crow of Faery. Although not a frequent visitor, she’s been to Cait House. There’s still a line of bloody footprints in the room where she stayed that have resisted every attempt to clean them. Larissa eventually covered them with a rug.

Kellan’s claws clack on the ceramic of her dessert plate. “I don’t know that I’ll have to. But she may know things I can’t learn elsewhere.”

“About the cup?”

Kellan’s silent for a long moment. “About the inscription on the raven’s stone. I think she’s the white raven that gave it to me.”

I squint at the dark line where sea meets sky. I’m glad I never called her a clucking chicken in her hearing. If she took offense and sought reparations from the Cait, we wouldn’t have much choice but to pay them.

And clearly I missed an important part of my mate’s day if it included Faery’s White Crow. Did she and Luca encounter Didrane as they were walking the Fae Ways? I followed them by less than an hour and saw no sign of her, although I’m now drawn to a field of piskie sheep with the half-finished towers of a castle on the horizon every time I venture into Faery. Very convenient for snacking; I approve.

“Did she hint at what it means?” Luca asks.

“No,” Kellan responds. She’s quiet for a moment. “Your brother gave me a crystal to guide me to the library at Cait House. I wonder if it could be something similar. Whether the stone and runes were intended to guide me into Faery.”

“I’ll come with you,” Luca says. “If you want to try.”

Kellan laughs softly. “You’ll need a permission slip.”

“What?”

“Faery clearly doesn’t affect you the way it would a human or even a halfling like me, but I’m not taking you on a jaunt into an unknown and potentially dangerous part of Faery without your parents’ permission.”

“I’m a legal adult,” Luca huffs. “I don’t need their permission.”

“In human terms,” Kellan says. “I’m confident your dad doesn’t think you’re emancipated, Luca.”

“Did he say that?” Luca asks sharply.

“No. He hasn’t said anything about you, actually, other than how proud he is of your work on the exhibit when I was singing your praises.”

The flattery smooths the edges out of my twin’s tone. “You were singing my praises?”

“Of course, I was. Luca, have I been anything other than complimentary about your work? Your contribution has been invaluable. Your skills as a linguist exceed mine. These runes weren’t your specialty when we started the translation work but you’ve gotten so good with them that you’re field-translating inscriptions. I’m not just impressed. I’m blown away.”

My twin’s purr rumbles the building’s foundations. “Thank you.”

“I know we started off on the wrong foot,” Kellan says, her voice halting. “And I can’t imagine what you think of me dating your brother. But if I’ve left you in any doubt as to the value of your work?—”

“No, no,” Luca interrupts. “You haven’t. I didn’t mean that. I just didn’t think you’d talk me up to my parents. I appreciate it. Dad’s magic ... it’s hard for me to be around. I feel like I can’t breathe. Particularly when we’re alone together. So, I’ve tried to avoid him since my magic manifested. I think he thinks ... I don’t know what he thinks. I want him to be proud of me. Just, from a distance.”

Silverware and ceramic rattle. I peer over the edge of the roof to see what’s happened. Kellan’s reached across the table to grip Luca’s hand in both of hers.

“I didn’t know any of that, Luca. I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be physically estranged from your parent because your magic is antithetical. The idea of not being able to hug my dad ... it makes me feel sick for you.”

“It hasn’t been the easiest. As for what I think of you dating my brother.” Luca leans in across the remains of their meal. He doesn’t look up out of the window, even though I’m sure he knows I’m here from my scent. His eyes are lit with mischief as he says, “I think you’ll be good for him. Law’s grim, cheerless, and duty-bound on a good day. Dad’s been trying to turn him into a good little soldier all his life. If you get him to lighten up, see that there’s more to life than battling the Mirk, and break a damn rule from time to time, you’ll be doing us all a huge favor.”

I chuff, too quietly for anyone but my twin to hear. He grins without taking his eyes off Kellan.

“I don’t find him grim or cheerless,” Kellan responds, shaking her head. “He has a dry sense of humor that I like. I understand what you’re saying about him being dutiful. He takes everything he sees as his duty very seriously. I admire that about him. I would like to see him enjoy himself more. He can be ... playful when we’re together. I’ll try to encourage that.”

---