Page 10 of Cathmoir's Sons

Luca nods. “I’ve read about them. Kathu’s wolves and Brangwy’s boar. What are they like?”

“Creepy, to be honest with you. They told me to bring my consorts the next time we meet, but this is just what I mean about being a danger to you, Luca. If you’re ... if you’re part of this, there’s no way I’d expose you to them. They’re half mad.”

Luca flashes his grin. “You can just expose me to the half-sane parts.”

I shake my head at him, but he pulls a real smile out of me. And maybe a small piece of my shattered heart fits back into place. I’m still furious at him—at them—but Luca’s not wrong that I kept things from him. He’s not wrong that he’s been loyal, more loyal than I ever expected. And every word he said about smelling me held a deeply-felt truth.

“I’m not just here because I’m desperate to see you, Kellan,” Luca says. “Although Iamdesperate to see you. So’s Law. He’s impossible and an asshole and you should make him suffer but please, fuck, take him back.” When I shake my head, he runs his hand down my back. He doesn’t squeeze my ass, but if his palm was a half inch lower, I’d be protesting. “Okay, I’ve made my pitch for him. The rest of tonight’s for me. I’m here with the Holly King because he came to us a few days ago and told us he intended to court you.”

“Courtme?”

What the Hells? Also,why? I think he said five words to me at the V.I.P. opening. And he introduced me to his male lover.

“Uh-huh. Law wants you to tell him to fuck off. But I know you won’t do that. Whether you’ll do it to piss off Law orbecause you’re learning how to play politics, you’ll hear him out, entertain him, and suck him into being your friend. Just like you did with me.”

I lift my eyebrows—carefully plucked and shaped by Teddy’s sister-in-law Kathleen during our pre-party pamper session—at him. “Is that what I did? Or was I just trying to keep things between us professional despite you propositioning me?”

“Both. Other people may not realize how smart you are, Kellan, but I’ve never underestimated you.”

I scowl at him. “Stop trying to flatter me.”

“It’s not flattery if it’s the truth. I don’t need to lie to you. You know how much I think of you. I won’t tell you how to handle the Holly King.” He smirks. “I’ll leave that to Law. I’ll just ask that you share what he says with me. If he hasn’t already figured it out, he’ll quickly realize what you value most is knowledge. I have a hunch he’ll tell you things no one else knows to try to win your favor.”

Something stirs in me like a flutter of wings. “Things no one else knows ... like the Oak King’s weaknesses?”

Luca nods. “He was a knight of Ivywhile before he became Holly King.”

I consider that as we round the dance floor again, passing by the table where Law and the Holly King are sitting. Law’s eyes, brilliant within the shadows of his mask, track me like prey. I glare back at him.

“If he’s planning to, um, court me or whatever, why did he bring the two of you?” I ask, as I try to work through the ramifications of this bizarre turn of events.

“He didn’t want a war with the Cait. He didn’t quite ask for permission, but he did ask for Law’s terms.”

My eyebrows can’t shoot any higher. “Terms? What the fuck?”

Luca chuckles. “They’re not in step with the modern world, the high fae.”

“No shit. Look around you. Whattermsdid your brother set?”

“That if you told him no, he would respect that. And that he couldn’t be with you without one of the three of us with you as well.”

The absurdity of it brushes over me. “Your brother, who has never given a shit about my consent, required it out of the Holly King? And how’s he supposed to ‘court’ me with the three of you hovering over us?”

“In a very old-fashioned way, I’m guessing. Expect lots of chaperoned walks.”

I laugh. “That’s ridiculous. And I don’t have time for it.” It hits me that without Rhodes and Lawson, my social calendar suddenly has more space in it. I wince. “Jane needs me.”

Luca bows his head. “I can’t approach her tonight for the obvious reasons, but please give her my condolences.”

“I will. We’re going to hold Carrie’s memorial on the fifth. I’ll send out the invitations when I get back to Bevington.”

“Will Cait House get an invitation?” he asks.

“No, Jane wants it to be people who knew Carrie, not a political event. But you’ll get one.”

“Thank you. I get why Jane wouldn’t want to make it political, but I think you should invite the Holly King.”

I frown up at him. “Why?”

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