Page 195 of A Winding Wave of Magic
Robbie gave another heavy sigh. “I can understand it, I think. Nothing would take me from Caitlin and the girls, and we’re not even mates. Seems as much a curse as a gift.”
I strained, waiting for Jonathan to argue with the last characterization. But he didn’t.
“I’ll be careful,” was all he said in the end. “I promise. You’ll let me handle the Order then?”
“All right. But you’ll have to tell them yourself. I’m not takingthatfury over your love life.”
The gentle sound of the men’s laughter echoed as they made their way back to the house. I scurried to the kitchen in the guise of getting a glass of water. In truth, just running my hands under the tap soothed me, especially after what I’d just heard. Who was this mysterious “Order” that had the right to judge Jonathan’s love life? Why wouldn’t they approve of me?
And did Jonathan really think of me as a curse?
“Ah, Cassie. Ready to go, love?” Robbie asked when they saw me standing at the sink.
I gulped down my water and nodded. “Sure. Yeah.”
Robbie went for the bag, but before he could take it, a knock, and then the sound of the front door opening interrupted us.We turned to find Caomhán and Aoife stepping over the threshold. Aoife’s silver-threaded brown hair was braided into a thick, damp rope that nearly reached her waist, and her dark eyes darted around the room like she expected a fisherman’s net.
“Hi!” I stood and went to trade kisses with both of them. “I wasn’t expecting to see you this weekend.”
“Cait at the house,” Robbie offered, and Aoife’s shoulders immediately relaxed.
“When Jonny called with the news of your travels, we swam right over,” she said.
I turned. “You called them?”
Jonathan offered a bashful shrug. “Seemed the right thing to do, to inform your family.”
I turned back to Aoife and Caomhán, who were looking around the cottage with curiosity. Aoife remarked something in Irish that made Caomhán nod.
“Sure, and it’s like they never left in the first place.” When he caught me watching them, he nodded. “Uncle and Penny. They both lived here, you know.”
I did know, having caught plenty of glimpses around the place. I tried not to See too much of my grandmother’s old life—I wasn’t entirely sure she’d want me to—but what I did See made me think they were at very least in love, if a tempestuous sort.
As mates could have.
From across the room, I felt Jonathan watching me. I avoided his gaze.
“We brought you something,” Aoife said, stepping forward as she drew a small, damp packet wrapped in plastic from her skirt pocket.
I took it from her and unwrapped it. Inside was a packet of smoked fish and a felt bag, from which I withdrew an exquisite gold vial hanging from a chain.
“The Mac Conmaras can’t be without the sea,” she told me as I fingered the delicate Celtic knot carved into the front of the vial. “So when we must leave, we take a bit of it with us.” She glanced at the ever-present bowl of water I kept on the table and smiled. “I see you’ve been doing that yourself. This might come in handy when you meet the Council. And remind you to come home too.”
“I’ll only be a few days,” I told her.
Aoife nodded, but her eyes were far away. “That’s what my uncle said too. I hope in your case, it’s true.” She pulled me in for a tight hug, and her fear swept through me like one of the waves she and her pack dove through each morning. “Kilronan’s always a home for you, should you need it.”
“Thank you, Aoife.”
She released me and went outside without another word.
Caomhán seemed to be waiting for me. “Be careful. The Brig’s full of slick wizards like your man there, but most of them don’t have his scruples, what little he’s held onto.”
“You don’t have to worry about my scruples when it comes to my mate,” Jonathan said tightly.
“Didn’t I just say as much, you stubborn shitehawk?” Caomhán retorted though he grinned at me. “If you know what’s good for you both, you’ll let go of a few of them and finish the job. She’s better off your mate than going it alone. No sense in leaving anything to doubt.”
Jonathan looked like he wanted to shed a few more scruples in Caomhán’s direction but managed to hold his tongue.
