Page 115 of Cathmoir's Sons

Kellan explains about the pearly shark. Gabe begins rubbing his hands together. “I’m in on the next dive, right? Observing open-ocean merfolk in their natural environment! I don’t think a paper’s been written on them this century.”

Kellan shows him the account she and Law found. Gabe devours it, his blue eyes flicking across the page greedily.

“There’s nothing about their magic, their customs. It just blames them for drownings and shipwrecks.”

“Maybe that’s all they do,” Law says.

Gabe shakes his head but doesn’t retort. I’d understand it if he did. We both study subjects that are looked down on by other academics. I study the dead; Gabe studies magickal animals. The lack of respect from our peers can get frustrating. But he seems to shrug it off, which gives me even more respect for the mage.

“I’m researching their culture,” I tell him. “Language. Customs. Anything I can find to help us treat with them peacefully.”

“I’ll help you,” Gabe offers.

We split into two groups: those staying to research with me and those going to organize lunch. Kellan surprises me by going off with the group making lunch.

Gabe chuckles when he sees my expression. “Get used to her new priorities. First and foremost, pregnant women think about food.”

I shake my head ruefully. “I thought she’d be diverted by the quest for knowledge.”

“She will be once she’s fed. Until then—” Gabe shrugs. “Teddy’s usually the first one with her head in a book. You’ll notice she’s headed into town to find olives and cheese. She gets serious cravings, even in her first trimester.”

“I read that cravings can indicate missing nutrients,” I say.

Law’s bought every book on pregnancy in the world. Have I read one or two? I might have.

“They can but probably not so much with our girls. Their magic compensates. But if it really worries you, you’ll know it’s just a craving when she sends you to freaking Canada at two in the morning because only tiger tail ice cream will do.”

The thought of Law—and it will be Law since this one’s his kid—trekking half-way around the world to find the specific thing Kellan’s craving has me laughing.

Rhodes joins us from where he’s been holed up all morning with Lords working through evidence from his cousin’s autopsy. The pink-haired Darkswerd is with them. As soon as she joins Teddy and Kellan in the kitchen, the tone of the gathering changes. With the three women together, it’s a party. Music lilts from the kitchen. Sweet voices harmonize, soaring into the chorus of Spellbeat’s latest hit: “I’m casting off these broken spells; rising from the Mother’s wells; every step, a hex undone; my journey’s only just begun!” The patter of their feet against the worn stone floor tells me they’re dancing.

I look over at Gabe. “Shall we?” I tip my head toward the kitchen.

Gabe chuckles. “Yeah. I don’t like missing out when Teddy’s happy, either.”

We crowd into the kitchen with the girls, the demons, my brother, Rho, and Lords. When Rhodes slides his hand under my shirttail and squeezes my ass while I sway with Kellan to the chorus, happiness blows out of me in a great gust of Air that leaves everyone gasping.

Kellan breathes out a delighted laugh, spinning in my arms and smearing mayo across my chin before she kisses it off.

Chapter 32

The Tritones

CAILEÁN

Although my Element is Air, I feel a deep kinship with the creatures of this strange corner of the mortal world. The “monsters” who make their home here rage against the encroachments of man. They defend what they’ve claimed as theirs and are reviled for it. Slaughtered for it. Just as I was. Just as my consorts were.

I settle the bag containing the gifts I’ve assembled for the tritones more firmly on my shoulder and grip Rhodes’ hand. I know I shouldn’t become overly dependent on him during this expedition. I’m dragging him away from Bevington during what might be his final month of school, which is unfair and unkind. I wouldn’t blame him if he resents me for it later. I also don’t want to divert him from the hunt for his cousin’s killer. But having a Water mage is so convenient for this hunt and Arch would never agree to have a Water mage on our team.

That’s right. The reason we only have Fire, Air, and Earth magi on our team is because a Water-power would threaten our team leader.

I glance at Arch, who is talking with Gabe.

“Ready?” I ask Arch.

He nods. He refused the depressurization incantation that Luca found for me and Teddy’s enchanted shell. I’ve never understood his antipathy toward Teddy, but he’s always avoided her. Bizarrely, he accepted not one but two bundles of sea glass from Jou, even after I made Jou explain the soul-hour price in detail.

Maybe it’s not bizarre. Jou’s an incubus, a Fire demon. Arch only trusts his own Element. It only seems bizarre to me because I know who I’d trust out of a selection of me, Teddy, and a demon lord—and it wouldn’t be the demon lord.

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