Page 96 of Cathmoir's Sons

“Taste,” I explain. “The different waters have their own, unique flavors.”

“Mmm, interesting,” Evan says. “I’m not sure my sense of taste is that strong. But I know what certain riversfeellike to me. I might be able to get to them from the All-Water.”

Everyone has their own way of communing with their Element. “If you want me to go with you a few times until you get the feel of it, I’d be happy to.”

Evan nods. “Thank you, I’ll take you up on that.”

A soft chime ripples through the air. A shifting of the current. It wraps around me, caresses my chin, brushes across my lips.Caileán.

Evan shifts, clears his throat. “Well, no question that the lady of the castle is home.”

Three crows wing their way toward us, flapping low over the rolling green landscape. Two black, one white. My heart leaps, answers, when the lead crow caws.

My Blue Mantle flutters around my legs as I stride toward my queen.

In a powerful downbeat of her wings, Caileán steps out of the Air. Her blue-black hair streams down over pale shoulders, flowing into the cloak of feathers that falls to her bare feet. Her face is all sharp angles and burning blue eyes, as fae as I’ve ever seen her. A crow settles on either shoulder, darkness and light.

I bow to her. “My queen.”

Her claws tickle under my chin. “My love.”

I straighten and lean in for a kiss. The touch of her skin on mine sparks fireworks through my blood. A flick of her tongue between my lips spreads the taste of pennies over my palate. She takes my hand, her claws digging lightly into my wrist, and steps toward Evan.

“Welcome to Ceòfuar,” she says.

“Thank you for the hospitality of your lands,” Evan says formally. “I claim guest-right.”

“I grant you guest-right.” Caileán chuckles. “I have no intention of harming you again, paladin. My apologies for striking at you the last time we met.”

Evan nods but his eyes remain wary.

Caileán beckons and leads us toward the distant tower.

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t introduce my sisters.” She gestures to the crows on her shoulders with her free hand. “Didrane the White and Hraena the Black.”

The albino crow croaks while the black one shuffles a little closer to Caileán’s neck.

Evan breaks stride to bow to the Crow Queens.

I squeeze Caileán’s hand. “You found Hraena.”

“She found me. She made quite an impression on my treasure-hunting team when she burst into our meeting, particularly Arch, who turns out to be allergic to birds.” She bumps her shoulder into mine. “We’re leaving for Scilla tomorrow. Please say you’ll come.”

“I’ll come,” I say with a grin. “I wouldn’t miss it. I know you have more than enough help, between your team and Luca, but I’d love to be involved as much as I can be.”

She shifts Didrane onto her forearm so she can tip her head onto my shoulder. “Never too much help. I want to swim the Straits with you.”

“You’re on. I haven’t been open-water swimming in years.”

Caileán laughs. “I haven’t been open-water swimming in centuries. You may have to teach me again. I don’t have many memories of swimming. I’m not sure what this body knows.”

“I can do that.” I pull Caileán slightly off the path to pick a wild rose from a hedgerow and tuck it behind her ear. It gleams, a blushing pearl, against the darkness of her hair. She kisses my cheek, and we continue on with our arms around each other, Evan trailing silently behind us.

In Ceòfuar’s courtyard, Luca and Darwin Dùbhghlas wait for us. Luca greets me with a hard hug and Caileán with Cait cheek-brushes. Darwin bows to Caileán and me before giving Evan a friendly slap on the shoulder.

“Couldn’t stay away from all the excitement, huh?” Darwin says to Evan.

Evan rolls his eyes. “Who’s here?”

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