Page 154 of Ulune's Daughter

“Um, I won’t be fit for public consumption if you keep doing that,” Kellan protests.

“We’re going somewhere private,” I reassure her, but I also stop pawing her, since we’re meeting someone who will probably appreciate her nipples, but I will not appreciate his appreciation. I take her hand and wrap it around my arm. “I’ll guide you. Let me be your eyes.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

I lead her out of my rooms, through Cait House, and into the forest. There’s an easy path, paved with mulch to be soft under paw. She won’t trip or lose her footing.

“The Cait don’t have museums,” I tell her. “If we did, I would gift them all to you. But we do have a tradition I think you’ll like. When we vanquish an enemy, we take a small trophy and dedicate half to the Mother. The other half we keep safe to commemorate our victory. We store these tokens in our trophy houses. Each major den has one.”

“A trophy house?” Kellan asks. I can tell from her tone she’s both amused and intrigued. “How long do you keep the trophies?”

“Forever. That’s what we’ll be doing tonight. Giving half of my most recent trophy to the Mother and sealing the other half with magic so it joins my family’s collection.”

“Your most recent trophy? Were you in a fight?”

“I was, indeed. I vanquished a mighty knight of Faery.”

“You did? Who?”

“Eoghan, son of Evegan, Darkswerd of Thistlemist, wielder of the crystal flame, anointed of the Thistle Regent,” I say, mimicking the Darkswerd’s haughty tone.

Kellan begins laughing softly. “I know him. He’s very proud of his hair.”

I need to tread softly. Do I tell her now that I followed her to Thistlemist all those weeks ago? There are other plausible reasons I could have for running afoul of Thistlemist’s Darkswerd, and this might be a good time to tell her more of the conflict between high and low fae that she doesn’t yet remember.

But I want her to know I was watching over her. To know my devotion, rather than my deception.

“He was,” I agree. “Until I trimmed it for him.”

Her laughter gains volume. “I’d have given a lot to see that. He’s really snooty when I visit Teddy and Rach. Wait, you said you vanquished him. He came and begged Darwin to grow his hair back while I was visiting Thistlemist not too long ago. That wasn’t you, was it?”

I curl my hand over hers where it rests on my biceps and ask the Mother to guide me as I take the next step and the next.

“It was. I followed you from Liverpool. I’ve been following you for a long time, Kellan. Since you returned to Bevington. I wanted to make sure you were safe.”

She takes a hopping step and I fear she’s missed her footing. She gathers her cloak with her free arm. Then she kicks me solidly in the rear, crossing her leg behind her.

“Ow!”

“Jackass. Why didn’t you let me know who you were? Why’d you wait until the equinox to introduce yourself? That wasweekslater.”

I wrap my arm around her so she can’t get another kick in.

“I feared your rejection, Kellan. You don’t feel the things we ... the Cait feel. Your blood didn’t know me. What if you didn’t like me?”

She lets her cloak swish back down around her ankles and squeezes against my side. “But I do like you. I liked you from the moment I met you. And maybe I don’t feel everything you do. Maybe I didn’t immediately know you were my fated mate. But I’m drawn to you, Lawson. You shouldn’t doubt your own appeal. You’re amazing. Why would I reject you?”

An unfamiliar sensation claws down my spine. Is it ... shame?

“I’m the Son of the Cait. Women came to me, even though I was always honest that I had a fated mate.” Thank the Mother for the hood over her head. I don’t think I could admit this if she was looking at me with those bright, curious eyes. “I didn’t want to come to your bed a fumbling virgin and I learned ... enough from them. But I never pursued a woman before you. I never dated. What if I lacked the skills to win you?”

Kellan walks quietly at my side for a moment. Then she asks, “Is this your first date?”

My face flames. Thank the Mother she can’t see me. “Yes.”

“Well, unlike most guys on their first date, you’re guaranteed to get lucky tonight, so you’re doing great so far.” She tips her head onto my shoulder. “Seriously, Law. I’m sorry you suffered that much worry and doubt. I wouldn’t have pegged you as someone who felt a moment’s insecurity, but I guess we all have them, don’t we?”

“I feel the same way about you. How could you ever lack confidence, as wondrous as you are?”

---