Page 66 of Cathmoir's Sons

I lay my tablet on the stack of towels next to the bath and sip from my glass of pink wine.

“Luca asked me the same question,” I tell Law. “He wanted to know if I’d form a team to go after Ulune’s Daughter.”

Law hunkers down on the edge of the bath, folding his paws under his chest and purring.

“Carrie wanted me to,” I say, remembering her letter to Jane. I’m the “mist maiden.” No doubt about that. “Should I go?”

He purrs.

“Please change into your skin. I know what I said about you staying in your fur, but I want to talk to you.”

He shifts so fast it’s a blur. No wonder I never caught him when he was pretending to be my pet. He slides naked into the bath, his back against the tap, drawing my feet into his lap.

He doesn’t ask permission to get in my bath or steal a sip of my wine. He sucks his cheeks in as he hands the glass back to me.

“I was expecting it to be sweet,” he says.

“I felt like something sharper tonight after the swordfish. It was rich, wasn’t it?”

Rich and delicious. The company was surprisingly good, too. Law and Luca were perfect gentlemen. There were a few heated looks, mostly from Law as he watched me eat. But nothing more. At the end of the meal, he excused himself to talk with the family that runs the restaurant. When he came back, the elderly owner was with him, looking starstruck. The human brought plates of sweet orange wedges and tiny cups of chocolate gelati. He shook Law’s hand enthusiastically when we left.

“Whywouldn’tyou go after Ulune’s Daughter?” he asks.

“Because I already have a lot going on,” I say.

He steals another sip of my wine before tilting his head back, considering.

“You don’t need more fame.”

“I don’t do this for fame,” I say.

“I know. You do it for knowledge. To bring back what’s been lost. Surely this qualifies.”

I tip the wine glass at him in acknowledgement of his point. He steals the glass again.

“You know whatever you choose, Luca and I will be behind you. Our people, too.”

“You’ve just bought me a base of operations. That’s a lot of support already and I appreciate it. But hunts like this can take months. They get intense. Sometimes I don’t even have time to come home to change clothes. That was fine while I was onIsla Cedros, and no one cared how long my dig was taking. It’s less okay now when I have teaching responsibilities, pressure to publish, and a tenure application due by the end of the semester.”

Law heaves himself out of the water, wraps a towel around his hips, and disappears out of the bathroom door.

“Law?” I call after him.

“Be right back.”

He returns while I’m still frowning after him, carrying two bottles of pink wine. He tops up the wine glass, sets the bottles next to the tub, and climbs back into the water with a sigh.

“I want to have this conversation,” he says. “It’s something I’ve wondered about. But we’re going to need more wine, because I’m confident you’re going to get angry at some point.”

“Angrier,” I say, lifting my eyebrows at him.

He steals the wine glass, throws the contents back in one gulp, refills the glass, and slides it back into my hand. I take a sip and enjoy the crisp berry taste.

“Gooseberry,” Law says.

“I was thinking sour apricots.”

Law nods. “Why are you pursuing tenure?” he asks.

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