Page 121 of Cathmoir's Sons

“‘Their burdens heavy, eternity’s cruel chain

They long for rest, yet bound to remain

But lo, the Fates themselves do turn

To weave anew destiny’s term

From immortal coil at last unbound

Their spirits rise, to heavens crowned

No more the weight of endless years

But freedom found amongst the spheres

Three stars they gleam in night’s embrace

The sisters’ final resting place’.”

Caileán and Teddy are humming by the time Luca finishes the poem. I feel a deep tugging, the pull of magic, as it alters the currents of my body, lifting me free of my mortality. I reach across the corner of the kitchen island and clasp Caileán’s hand.Her magic swirls around me, kissing my cheeks, tugging at my hair. She pulls me around the counter and wraps her arm around me. Heat flushes through me with the flow of combined magic: Air and Fire. It warms me, grounds me.

I realize for the first time why Law is so important to our foursome. It’s not because he’s Cait or because he might someday be king. It’s because he’s our touchstone. He’s our connection with the Earth. Against three Air and Water powers, Law’s what keeps us anchored.

Luca flips a few more pages in his book. “I suggest a golden knife to cut the sisters’ tie to the mortal realm. In most legends, Perseus steals their shared eye and threatens to stomp on it, but in Hesiod, there’s a mention of a golden knife.”

“An athame,” Teddy says. “Do you have a gold one?”

“I’ll take care of that,” Law says, his voice slightly muffled by Caileán’s hair. “We have several family athames. A few are gold. I’ll bring them from Cait House for you to choose from.”

Caileán reaches back with her free hand to caress Law’s nape. “Thank you, my love.”

“Not to throw a spanner in the works, but what’s Plan B?” I ask. “What if the Graeae don’t want to be unbound from the mortal world?”

Caileán sighs. “Then we steal their eye and tooth, but I really don’t want to do that.”

“Okay, well, that’s Plan B. Just call me Perseus.”

Luca closes his book with a snap and winks at me. “You’ll always be my hero.”

Chapter 34

Morally Graeae

CAILEÁN

The black-hulled boat has multiplied into a flotilla when we return to Torre Faro.

“The good news is they’re anchored on the far side of the Tritones’ Trench, nowhere near the anticline,” Law observes as he joins me at the tideline. He slides his arms around me, his leather jacket squeaking against my wetsuit, and rests his chin on the top of my head.

“They’re diving in the wrong place,” I say with a tip of my imaginary fedora. “Is there bad news?”

Law hums. “My Cait warned me this morning that the Wepwawet have been seen in Scilla. They hired one of those boats. Your tech-mage says someone named van Wycke is with them.”

“Benighted Mother. Either the Wepwawet or van Wycke are annoying enough on their own. Them joining forces is not a good thing.”

“What can I do to keep them away from you?” Law asks.

I turn in his arms and slide mine around his neck. “I love you.”

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