Page 94 of Cathmoir's Sons

Princess Teddy changed her name to Eat Me, Jou.

Eat Me, Jou: We thought it was just Klotho. But what if Licyssa was pulling Klotho’s strings? Why would she want the fae courts severed from the mortal world?

Luca and Law pop up in the chat.

Spare Cat: Would Licyssa have any interest in fae souls?

BaronAsh: Licyssa and Ahzatzu feed on fear and madness. Fae fear and madness are just as tasty as human fear and madness.

Heir Cat: Let’s ask Nimanes’ opinion since we’re in the middle of a nice group hang with her.

My face stiffens in surprise, and I look up at Evan. He just shakes his head.

“This is why we shouldn’t be involved with demons,” he says. “Investigate one little drowning and the next thing you know, you’re in the crosshairs of multiple lords of Hell.”

BaronAsh: Let’s keep this to ourselves until we figure out Licyssa’s play.

Eat Me, Jou: Agreed.

Spare Cat: Agreed.

Heir Cat: What do you propose doing with the Skin Shredder until Kellan finishes her meeting?

BaronAsh: Let’s get her drunk.

Evan groans.

Eat Me, Jou: Bee wine on the way.

Evan groans louder. “I hate to say this, but I think we should join them. I can only see incendiary possibilities adding bee wine to this mix.”

“Okay.” I begin packing up the files we have spread on the table between us. “Do you find yourself mediating a lot?”

Evan nods. “I feel like it’s all I’ve done since I got out of Karkarus.” A secretive smile twitches across his lips. “Well, maybe notallI’ve done. But mostly the Capricorn gig seems to be meeting with people ... or things that look like people ... who have a terrifying amount of power over the direction of our world and less than altruistic intentions.”

“So, just like being a crow,” I say.

Evan chuckles. “When Teddy and her husbands were at Bevington, absolutely. I can’t believe that your foursome has given Charon Carver a quarter of the trouble Teddy and her husbands gave me.”

“I’ll tell Law we need to up our game.”

“Dean Quinn wants me tomentorCarver. Did Kellan tell you that? It’s part of the deal they struck.”

I nod. We talked ‘round and ‘round the terms of Dean Quinn’s offer with Luca’s parents and decided Evan’s part needed to come from Quinn herself to avoid having his recent altercation with Kellan taint Evan’s response. Quinn wasted no time approaching Evan, apparently.

“What do you think?” I ask.

Evan huffs as he taps papers together and stows them in his case. “I think I’ll need therapy—more therapy than I already need after Jedburgh Abbey—if I have to spend time with the man who put together the Aedis Astrum’s case against me. But.” He sighs. “I see the necessity of it. We need Bevington’s administration on side.”

“Weneed Bevington’s administration on side,” I say. “This really isn’t your problem, Evan. I appreciate your willingness to help, particularly after Caileán nearly killed you.”

Evan rolls his eyes. “I’d like to say it’s the first time fae royalty nearly killed me but it’s almost the cost of doing business with them. Something to remember before hitching your wagon to that horse.”

I shrug on the Blue Mantle of Learning that arrived at Cait House after I notified the White Cloaks that I’d take up their offer to join them early. It’s velvet-soft and always the perfect temperature. I sling my backpack over my shoulder.

“Too late,” I say to Evan. “I’m committed. So is Kellan. Maybe I didn’t understand how committed Kellan was until shestood up to Bevington’s administration and refused to hide our relationship. But now I do. We’re all in.”

“Good,” Evan responds. “Because this is usually the point that everything goes to shit. You’ll need to be confident of each other when you’re fighting everyone around you.”

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