Page 94 of Ulune's Daughter

“Then he wasn’t worthy of you. I am.”

She makes a small sound in her throat. “Arrogant.”

“Cait,” I respond, not disagreeing with her.

“I’ve done a little reading about the Cait since the equinox,” she says. “There’s not a ton of scholarly literature on your people.”

“As I told you, by design.”

“Mmm. You said all Cait are related but from what I’ve read, there are thousands of Cait.”

I dip my head. “The sons and daughters of B’sst are fruitful. It’s also the case that Cait blood tends to breed true. You said you’d met Struan. He’s the son of a Cait and a high fae, but he’s Cait. The offspring of Cait and human magi are always Cait.”

“Then you’re related to Struan?”

“Fourth or fifth cousins, I believe.”

“I invited him and his wife, Orlaith. They couldn’t make it to this but they’re coming to the general opening.”

“If I receive the honor of an invitation to the general opening, I’ll look forward to seeing them.”

“Ouch.” Her soft pink mouth twists. “That was a dig, wasn’t it? Because I didn’t invite you to this?”

“A very small one. You have every right to take things at your own pace, Kellan. I’m just impatient. I missed you. Tonight was an excuse to see you. I’m not demanding anything. If you kiss me on the cheek at the end of evening and send me on my way, I won’t be disappointed. I just want to spend time with you.”

She bites her lips. When she releases them, they’re flushed, wet, and infinitely kissable. Good thing my trousers aren’t as tight as my brother’s.

“I missed you too. The night at the fires ... it was really special to me.”

She says each word with the smallest hesitation, waiting for negation. Bracing herself for rejection.

“Of all the nights I hope to spend with you, our night at the fires was the most special. It was the first night yousawme. I will never forget it.”

“The first night I saw you,” she repeats slowly. “You’veseenme before, though, haven’t you? You came to the fires looking for me.” She pauses, waiting for my response. I don’t deny it. She’s obviously figured it out, even if she doesn’t feel the same things I feel. When I wink at her, she shakes her head. “Stalker.”

“Cait,” I rejoin.

“How long have you known about me?” she asks.

“Five years.”

Chapter30

Apologies in Crystal

KELLAN

“Fiveyears?” I flinch away from my mystery man. He doesn’t release my hand. He draws me gently but inexorably back against his side. “Five years and you never approached me before? I mean, did you?”

“No. I saw you briefly five years ago. I knew who you were immediately. You met my eyes. There was no recognition. You didn’t feel it. You weren’t ready. And I had my duty to the Cait. So, I waited.”

Benighted Mother. He’s known I was someone special to him for five years. All that time, all those years, while I was alone...

He catches my chin with his fingertips. “Kellan?”

I tip my head at the Holly King, who is shaking hands with Dean Quinn in front of us. “Ready for your introduction?”

His green eyes narrow. “We’ll come back to this.”

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