Page 5 of Cathmoir's Sons

“Lawson, hear what the Holly King has to say,” Dad warns.

“I think we both heard him loud and clear,” I say. “He wants to claim-jump our fated mate. Pretty sure I speak for both of us when I say, I take offense.”

The Holly King sits back, steepling his fingers and tapping them against his lip. “Why, Lucas? I’ve offered no insult. My suit doesn’t necessarily exclude yours. Five consorts is unusual but not unheard of for a queen of Faery.”

“I go by Luca,” I tell him. “And you’re really telling me you’d let two lowly Cait and a human share your queen? I call bullshit.”

“Luca,” Mom hisses.

“No, Luca’s right,” Law says. “This is bullshit. I don’t believe for a minute you intend to share Kellan with us. This is your way of avoiding a war with theCait Teulu. But I don’t need my warriors at my back for this. I’m happy to keep it between us. You want totreatwith us, fine, here are my terms: you never meet with Kellan alone. I don’t trust you with her. Luca or I will be there any time you have contact with Kellan.”

“Or the human, I assume, Master Hale?” the Holly King probes.

Fuck, he’s fast to sense a weakness.

“Rhodes is on bed rest. Once he’s better, of course, him too,” Law responds.

No one covers like my brother.

“Very well,” the Holly King says. “I agree to your terms.”

Law glances at me. It’s not the first time I’ve wished we could speak into each other’s minds while we’re in our skins; it probably won’t be the last. But it might be the most important.

I nod. I can’t see the catch. I don’t understand the Holly King’s motivation in pursuing Kellan. He could have literally any high fae he wanted. Yes, she’s already powerful and has huge potential, but no more so than one of the great lords or ladies of Ivywhile or Thistlemist. Hells, he could have the Thistlemist prince if he wanted; Callan’s single.

I also don’t understand his motivation in coming here and “treating” with us. Yes, the Cait outnumber the Darkswerds and other high fae knights, but there are plenty of high fae, like the Dùbhghlas family or the Storm Lady of Ashegold, who aren’t warriorsper seyet could kill dozens of Cait without thinking too hard about it.

What’s more, there’s no way Dad would order an attack on the high fae. Not even over something as egregious as stealing our fated mate. All of the wild fae avoid direct confrontations with the high fae; Dad’s been doing it all his life.

Law crosses his arms over his chest. “If Kellan tells youno, you’ll leave her alone. No repercussions.”

“Agreed,” the Holly King says, his tone light and easy.

Why is he being so agreeable? He’s on our turf, encroaching on our mate, but he has the power here. He must know that.

“When do you plan to, uh, court Kellan?” I ask.

“I understand she’s spending Hogmanay at Thistlemist with Clan Dùbhghlas. Princess Theodora’s holding a ball. I intend to attend.”

“Law and I aren’t welcome at Thistlemist,” I point out.

“Will Master Hale be well enough by then?”

Hogmanay’s two days away, on the last day of Yule, New Year’s Eve. Rho might be up and around by then but fuck if I’m letting him go into a nest of the high fae on his own, particularly when he’s barely recovered fromdying.

“No,” I say.

“That complicates abiding by your conditions,” says the Holly King. “However, Callan Dùbhghlas owes me a favor. If I can arrange invitations for the two of you, would you attend Princess Theodora’s ball? You’d need to be masked and under no circumstances could you reveal yourselves as Cait.”

I glance at Law. Even though he still looks like he’s a whisker away from exploding into his Cait form and trying to eat the Holly King’s head the way he did that Mirk Rider, he nods.

“Yes,” I agree.

The Holly King gives me a once-over only slightly less pointed than the one I gave his lover. “I understand you’re quite a scholar, Luca.”

I shrug. It’s true, but it’s also a little grating. People have always pigeonholed us. Law’s the warrior. I’m the academic. Never mind that Law’s such a tool that he has enough credits to graduate from Bevvy mid-year. Or that I killed just as many barghests in the battle at Jedburgh Abbey. They see twins and they have to differentiate us some way. Even Caileán does it, although it grates less when it’s from her.

“If you’re not otherwise occupied, perhaps you’d accompany me back to Ivywhile?” the Holly King asks. “If I recall, your brother requested access to the Silver Oak Library so you could research the Crow Queens. I have an interest in the results of that research. I’d be pleased if you’d be my guest today while I arrange your invitations. You can bring the invitations back with you tonight if I’m successful.”

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