Page 37 of Horn of Winter

She shook her head. “Oneirology is the scientific study of dreams. A dreaming specialist is a witch of sorts, generally employed to seek out and erase the spirits and demons that sometimes target dreamers. They’re more commonly known as dream hunters.”

“Not a term I’m familiar with.”

“Few would be outside hospitals and sleep clinics. Anyway, the Myrkálfar created the bracelets so that the highborn—bethey man or woman—could remain in contact with a loved one while traveling distant lands.”

“Sexualcontact.”

She nodded. “Remember, the Myrkálfar tend to gift their hearts for life and do not stray, so these bracelets enabled couples to, well, couple, no matter how far or how long away their partner was.”

“Cynwrig and I aren’t married. We willneverbe married.”

“Nowhere in any of the rumors was there any mention of a requirement to be married. As far as I’m aware, the only requirement is emotional compatibility.” She motioned to the bracelet again. “For whatever reason, Cynwrig obviously believes you two are that, even if that compatibility can never go anywhere. He’s obviously intent on making damn sure he doesn’t lose thatoryou until he’s good and ready.”

I took another drink and stared at the bracelet for a few moments. “So how does it work? Do I just wear it, and whenever I’m asleep and horny, he can sweep in and ease things? Becausethatmight get embarrassing.”

Especially if I happened to be sleeping with Eljin.

She laughed again. “I would imagine there’d be some sort of gateway or means of signaling readiness, especially considering these things were often used when the two people involved were in other time zones. More than that, I can’t say. Maybe you should just wear the thing and find out. Have you even touched it?”

I nodded. “There’s definitely magic within it, and it did react to my touch. Which is why I’m wary.”

Her phone pinged. She glanced down briefly, a smile tugging at her lips. “Lugh is five minutes away.”

“You want me to set the table?”

She nodded and grabbed the oven mitts to get the casserole out. “I’m guessing Eljin is part of the reason you’re wary?”

I tucked the bracelet back into my purse, then collected the plates and cutlery. “Some. I like him, but there’s a part of me that remains unconvinced.”

“The same part lusting after Cynwrig, perhaps?”

“No.” I laughed at her disbelieving look. “Well, only partially.”

“It’s natural to be wary, given how new the relationship still is and how horrid your history with men has been.”

“I keep telling myself that exact thing, but I have yet to convince myself.” I walked back over to the bench to get the heat-resistant placemat for the casserole. “You know, it’s situations like this I wish I could talk to Mom about. She was a really good judge of character.”

Which is probably why, as a teenager, I’d never introduced her to either Mkalkee or Halak. Somewhere deep down I’d known they were very bad news and had feared her reaction, with good reason. She didnottakeanyonemessing with her family lightly. It was a trait that had carried onto Lugh, though he tended to be a bit more evenly tempered when it came to retaliation. Hell, he’d warned both Mkalkee and Halak to walk away when I was a late teen, and they actually had—though not without fucking around with my memories first, of course.

The pixie curse might prevent us from killing unless in self-defense, but it didnotprevent us harming others in order to protect ourselves or those we loved.

“Surely if Lugh had any doubts about Eljin, he would have said something. He does work with him on a daily basis.” She paused and cocked her head. “Speaking of Lugh, a car has just pulled up.”

“Meaning this conversation is temporarily shelved.”

She frowned at me. “If you have doubts about Eljin, Lugh is the best person to ask.”

“Yes, but I don’t want to risk their relationship if my doubts are based on nothing more than emotional fear. Besides, we’ve more important things to discuss once dinner has been had.”

Lugh came through the front door with a loud, “I’m home,” and Darby once again bounced out to greet him. I grabbed the crusty bread, a knife, and a board, then picked up the butter dish and took everything over to the table.

By which time, Lugh and Darby had finished their “hellos” and walked back in.

“Smells delicious.” Lugh stripped off his coat and slung it over the back of the chair. “How are you, Beth?”

“Hungry, so sit your butt down so we can get started.”

He laughed and obeyed, and the next hour was filled with general catch-up chatter and much laughter.

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