Page 8 of Cathmoir's Sons

A chorus ofnosanswer Gabe. Darwin turns and takes Gal from Gabe, freeing Gabe to pick up Nor, who has scooted over to his family on his diapered butt and is starting to whimper. Gabe flubbles Nor’s pouty lip with his finger until the toddler giggles.

“There are four of us,” Charlie says. “We can handle three babies.” He pats Teddy’s stomach. “Five when Teddy gives me mine.”

She punches his shoulder, not gently. “If I catch twins again, I’ll never forgive you.”

“Mom’s a twin,” Charlie observes. “They run in my family.”

“I’ll kill you dead, Charlie Miller,” Teddy threatens. Charlie chuckles.

“You realize that when they outnumber you, you have no hope,” I point out.

Darwin laughs. “They already outnumber us. Gal can take out three of us with one temper tantrum.” He bounces his daughter in his arms. “Can’t you, tiny terror?”

Gal turns uncharacteristically shy, chewing on her teething knot and hiding her face in her father’s neck.

Her parents collectively “aww” and pat Gal’s back.

“Teddy, the Liusaidh’s asked for you and Kells,” Gabe says, as he flutters his long lashes against Nor’s cheek. The little boy squirms and squeals and grabs at his father’s face.

Teddy throws me an, “I told you so” look. I throw up my hands and resign myself to wearing whatever the scary, ancient fae lady thinks suits me.

There’s no one I’m trying to impress tonight anyway.

Ifeelhim just before a deep voice says in my ear, “Dance with me.”

A strong arm wraps around my waist and pulls me against a firm chest. I twirl my finger between us, intending to push him back with a finger of Air, but the man snatches away my magic with two fingers and holds me close.

I look up at him in shock. I’ve never seen a mage do that before. I’ve never read a spell or incantation that allows you to pluck away magic like that.

Luca’s amber-lit eyes look back at me from within an ornate black mask that hides his face from upper lip to hairline. Above the mask, his hair’s a pale blond wave. Below the mask, he’s wearing a tuxedo with a red and green striped waistcoat.

I consider knocking him on his ass. He might be able to pluck away my magic, but I bet he’s not expecting an uppercut.

He narrows his eyes at me. “Don’t do anything that will ruin your friend’s party.”

Teddy would be extremely amused if I knocked Luca across the dance floor. Callan wouldn’t be, though, and he’s been very kind tonight, sitting and talking with Jane since we arrived.

“I should shove your ass through a gate back to Bevington,” I tell him. “You have no business being here.”

“I was invited, actually,” he says, his tone indolent, his body moving lithe and sure against mine as he steps once, twice, and we’re flowing into the stream of dancers.

“Let me guess. Those are the Holly King’s colors,” I observe. It doesn’t make sense that Luca’s wearing them, though. From everything I’ve learned about the Cait, they walk their own path. They’d never be part of another fae’s retinue.

“Good guess,” Luca confirms. “The Holly King invited us. Law’s over there. No one else knows we’re here.”

He nods over my shoulder to where his twin sits at the Holly King’s table, talking with a knight in golden armor.

“I assume Callan knows you’re here.”

“You’re right. Callan also knows we’re here. No one else. You can dance with me. You can talk to me. No one will know.” His arm tightens like I’ve tried to escape. “Don’t push me away.”

I soften, sliding my hands up to his shoulders, and let him lead me. The music from the group Gabe likes so much is slow and pretty. It makes me nostalgic for snuggler chairs, pink wine, and the weight of Whitey on my legs.

I try to push that thought away, but it won’t go.

“How is Rhodes?” I ask after we’ve danced in silence for a minute. “Larissa brought me a note from your mother saying he’s recovering well but is still on bed rest.”

“Ah. That explains where Larissa’s been. I should have guessed Mom would keep in touch with you.” Luca nods.

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