Page 114 of Cathmoir's Sons

“You haven’t been in your cat form!”

I chuckle and let them bicker. It really is their love language. Kellan and I connect on a different level. Now that our hearts and minds are aligned, we blow together like a trade wind, quickening everything in our path. We make each other better: smarter, stronger, steadier. I’ll admit to laughing when my peers talk about being their “best selves.” I’m Cait; cats are always their best selves. But loving Kellan and being loved by her in return does make me that tiny bit better.

I find three different spells that will prevent depressurization. One’s an Air incantation that Kellan will be able to do in her sleep; I write that one out for her. Another’s an enchantment of a shell or beach pebble that can be worn or carried. Kellan’s friend Teddy could probably do the enchantment inhersleep; I bookmark it to send to her.

The last one’s a potion. It doesn’t look too difficult, although there’s a tricky little distillation that will be tough to do without a full lab, but I could slip back to Bevvy for that part. All the ingredients are available this close to the ocean. I write it out and set it aside to show to Kellan.

While I’ve been researching, Kellan and Law have been bickering, but they’ve also found a suspect for their “pearly shark.” I don’t think it occurred to any of us that there might be merpeople in the Straits. With climate change and the intrusion of humans into all waterways, merpeople are extinct except in waters which link to Faery or another plane. But Kellan and Law have found accounts oftritonesin the Straits from the second human World War.

“Hostile assholes,” Law says, spreading open a book upside down on his knee so Kellan can read it. “They definitely contributed to the numbers of ships sunk in the Straits.”

Kellan rubs her lower lip. “They were probably defending what they considered to be their territory. I’m sure you can relate.”

“Cats rule the world. There’s nowhere that’s not our territory.”

I snort. “Two tones higher if you’re going to quote Dad. Your voice is deeper than his.”

He lifts his upper lip to show me his incisors.

“Luca, if you’re finished, can you switch over to this research?” Kellan asks. “I want to know more about oceanic merpeople. What language do they speak? How will they defend their territory if we’re encroaching? What weapons do they have? Would they be appeased by a gift or a sacrifice?”

I nod and hand her the incantation I’ve written out for her. She reads through it and smiles at me. “This is great for everyone but Arch.”

“I found two alternatives for him. One’s an enchantment that Teddy won’t have any trouble with. The other’s a potion that I could probably brew if I head back to Bevvy. Would he drink it?”

Kellan shakes her head. “But it might be worth having as a backup. That way if we have a second dive team, they don’t need an Air Mage with them. Can you email the enchantment to Teddy?”

“Better, I can put it in our chat with Uncle Jou. Might be interesting to have a demonic version as well.”

Kellan laughs. “I dare you to call him Uncle Jou when you post it.”

I will, just to poke the devil. Well, demon.

Puttingthe depressurization enchantment in our group chat doesn’t just poke the demon, it summons him.

He’s maybe an hour behind Teddy and her husband Gabe, who arrive with a handful of shells that gleam blue and gold in my Faesight. Kellan adds one to her bracelet for good measure. While they’re drinking lemon tea and swapping stories about early pregnancy symptoms, Uncle Jou and the mohawked demoness—today an electric green—arrive in a puff of flame and the stink of brimstone. A flick of Kellan’s fingers swirls the smell out the windows as everyone trades hugs.

Uncle Jou has enchanted small clusters of sea glass, white and green and blue, which dangle from silver chains. He hands one to Kellan after he finishes hugging her and patting her belly.

She narrows her eyes at him. “Are these souls?”

He puts a black-clawed hand over his heart. “Would I?”

“Yes,” say Kellan, Teddy, and Gabe at the same time.

Jou chuckles. “They’re not souls. But it is a soul chain. For every hour you wear it, I get an hour of soul-time.”

“You’re talking to three someones who are probably reincarnates, Jou,” Kellan points out. “How much soul-time do you think we have available?”

He shrugs. “I’ll take what I can get. Don’t suppose the kitty-cats are going to get wet?”

Law sneers at him. “Big cats are excellent swimmers.”

The demon flicks his fingers at Law. Flaming water spatters my twin’s face. He rips out a full growl before he manifests his whiskers and shakes his head. The fiery droplets burn holes in the demon’s black tee-shirt before he pats them out.

Kellan’s hand on Law’s arm forestalls further engagement. “Jou, cut it out. Law’s coordinating security on shore. Luca’s doing research that’s going to save our skins. We may have a merpeople problem.”

Teddy’s eyebrows shoot up into her bangs. “What kind of merpeople problem?”

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