Page 26 of Cathmoir's Sons

“Braelin Greenlaw?” Allie asks. “I haven’t met her, but the Greenlaw family is an old, old family. Certainly, before the birth of the human’s new god. As their House name suggests, they have long been Darkswerds, dispensing the Mother’s justice and protecting the courts.”

“Is Hraena the first Storm Lady from the Greenlaw line?” Caileán asks.

“As far as I know,” Allie says. “Cath?”

Her husband shrugs. “I was focused on winning and keeping my throne here, not what was going on across the ocean in a nest of high fae.”

Allie shakes her head at her husband, but she smiles indulgently. “Of course, dear.”

Cath slants his eyes at the twins. “Don’t let your mate patronize you the way your mother patronizes me.”

Law and Luca snigger.

Chapter 8

Kittering

LAW

If the last few weeks have been hell, then the past day has been heaven.

Every hour I spend with my mate, the better I understand her, the more I feel for her, the harder I fall for her. In all the years I’ve known about our fated mate, all of the dreams I’ve had about her, all the plans I’ve made for our life together, I never imagined I’d love her so much. I knew from Luca’s research she was someone whose spirit I’d admire. I knew I’d be drawn to her physically from watching fated mates like my parents who still have trouble keeping their hands off each other. But how could I have known she’d be so fierce? So determined?

I never imagined I’d kneel at anyone’s feet. I am Cait. But as Caileán climbs into Luca’s bed, already naked and wrapped around Luca’s human, I’m happy to kneel on the edge of the bed. When she stretches her legs out, I capture her ankle and draw her foot into my lap.

She lifts her head from the human’s shoulder and looks at me. “My love?”

I stroke my thumbs up her instep.

She shivers. She blinks at me with heavy eyelids.

“I’ve never known the kind of pleasure you gave me last night. Let me take care of you. I’ve missed doting on you.”

She curls forward and cups my face. “I’ll never saynoto doting. But I owe you many nights of pleasure for the pain my unawakened self has caused you.”

I tip my head so I can kiss her fingertips. “I don’t remember a second of it.”

Luca, who has crept into the bed and curled on Caileán’s other side, scoffs. “We do.”

“Were you sitting in the snow until your toe pads froze?” I grumble.

“Maybe the frostbite damaged your memory,” my twin grumbles back at me. “It certainly seems to have impaired your strategic abilities.”

I bare my fangs at him. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means,” Rhodes says, pressing kisses up Caileán’s neck, “that it’s been days since the Holly King showed up at your door and we still don’t have a plan to get Kellan back.”

“Trophy houses.” Caileán’s voice is breathy. More because of the attention I’m giving her foot than the human’s kisses, I’m sure.

“I should take Kellan back to the Trophy House? I can do that.”

Caileán shakes her head. “Remember that night? It was your first date. That was meaningful to me—to share a first with you. We communicated openly. You revealed an important part of your life and your culture. Those are things I value. You involved me in one of your personal rituals. That made me feel loved. Important.” She curls her arm around Rhodes’ neck. “What I missed most about Rhodes when we separated wasn’t the physical affection. It was not having someone to share the small moments with. You all know my unawakened self well. You’vespent time with me. You know how lonely I’ve been. Show me I’m an essential part of your lives. That’s what will win me back.”

“I can do that?—”

“And be prepared to wait.”

I snap my mouth shut. I’m not prepared to wait.

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