Page 141 of Cathmoir's Sons

“The Cait and Crow Queens stand against the Thunderer’s allies: Melephesius, Alugiel, Sariel,” I say. “And the Oak King owes my Queen a life.”

“Ah,” Mordeh draws out the word between her fangs as she ticks her fingernails against the arms of her chair. Shadows flicker through the shards of mirror that fill her small hall with each of her movements.

“Anything that thwarts Sariel pleases me,” she says after a moment’s consideration. “He’s a murderer and an oath-breaker.”

Her tone makes it clear that breaking his oath is worse than breaking her heart.

“Nor did I ever agree with their scheme to increase mortal misery,” she continues. “What care demons for the suffering of souls before they come to us? Let them live their short lives in Nirvana. The offer of eternal life should be what lures them into the Soulfields.”

Jou grunts. “Humans are busy destroyin’ their world all on their own. They don’t need any help.”

“Agreed,” Mordeh says. “Very well, I find nothing offensive in your aims, Cait. And you, Baron Ash, will you call on me someday to rise against your sire?”

Jou shakes his head. “I know what the rumors say, but I’ll never challenge the Old Man. He’s welcome to rule Dis until the Sun burns out and the stars fall. I got no designs on his throne.”

Mordeh’s smile stretches slyly. “And your get? The grandchildren of Asmodeus and Neferure? Might they someday aspire to take their grandfather’s place?”

“Never say never,” Jou responds. Then he tips his head from side to side, cracking his neck. “I know you’ve lost some of your get. I know you still got spawn in the Webs. I dunno how you feel about them but let me tell you how I feel about my kids. I’d do anything for them. I’d dismantle all nine levels of Hell with my claws for ‘em. You don’t want an alliance with Ash Hill ‘cause a’ what my kids might do someday? I can respect that. Fuck, I don’t know what they’re gonna do from day to day and they just learned how to walk. But don’t make any mistake about what I’d do for them.”

Mordeh watches Jou for a long moment.

“I feel similarly about my children,” she says. “And most of them are in the Webs because I have not always bargained well with my mother. If you would assist me in recovering my get from the Webs and fostering them at the Hill where they are far from her reach, you wouldn’t just have me as an ally. You would have my eternal gratitude and friendship.”

“Deal,” Jou says. “I’m makin’ plans to send my get topside to foster. Maybe yours should join ‘em.”

I wince at the idea of Cait House or Ceòfuar or Ty Olewydd turning into a demonic nursery but stay silent. What I’m witnessing is the formation of an alliance that could shape the future of the Unseen World. The children of two different demon lords given to the Cait to shelter and shape? That’s power. My father will be overjoyed.

“My living get are just growing their horns,” Mordeh says. “They’re not strong enough to spin gloves yet.”

“Don’t matter in Faery,” Jou explains.

Mordeh’s green glass eyes shift to me. “Ah, the reason you ally with the Cait becomes clear.”

Jou rolls his huge shoulders. “Nah. It’s the girls. My favorite cousin’s married to his girl’s best friend. My seggurach loves their little girl gang like they’re her blood sisters. It’s not an alliance so much as an inevitability. ‘Sides, I’d add ‘em all to my harem if I could. They belong safe with me. But there’s no way any of the women in my life would agree to that. This is the next best thing.”

I swallow a chuckle at the demon’s obvious frustration with my mate and her friends. I understand his desire to wrap them all in his wings and hide them away in his fortress of Air. But we love strong, independent women. They don’t need us to sequester them for their own safety; they need our support as they claim their crowns.

“Very well,” Mordeh says. “You have my word that if you call, either of you, I will answer.”

Jou and I give our vows in return.

“One more thing, cat prince,” Mordeh says, her smile tipping back to coyness. “Do your guards ever share?”

I glance over my shoulder at Dex and Mags. I didn’t think she’d spared them so much as a glance, but both of them return her smile with unmistakable heat. Excellent. I can make it up to them from dragging them away from the Tech Mage.

“They do,” I affirm. “I’ll let them speak for themselves. I’ll just ask that you return them to Cait House when you’re done ... and keep in mind that they’re my favorite cousins.”

Mordeh licks her fangs with her serpent tongue. “I’ll keep it in mind, although I do like to nibble.”

I glance back at my cousins to see if this proclamation has alarmed them. They both look titillated. I shrug. They’re Cait. They can take care of themselves.

“Think that’s our cue to show ourselves out,” Jou mutters to me. I nod.

“Thank you, Princess,” Jou says to Mordeh. “I’ll be in touch about extractin’ your get from the Webs.”

She inclines her head regally. “It’s a pleasure doing business with you, Baron.”

The demon’s clawed hand clasps my shoulder. “Stick with me,” he murmurs. “I’m gonna do something flashy. Doesn’t hurt to remind her that although we came to her, Ash Hill is not to be fucked with.”

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