Keeper. Ramsey thought loudly, watching Merry. The declaration was edged with surprise.
“Yes, hello. Pleased to meet you.”
The birds both flapped and preened on the windowsill, clearly trying to get her attention.
New friend. Old friend.Archimedes repeated, which absolutely made sense now. The birds both moved to the edges of the sill, and Jacks poked his head through.
You have found many friends, mistress. Some more strange than others.
No need to be rude, hound.Jacks’s voice came into my mind, and I heard Merry squeak as she looked nervously at Ramsey.
Not rude, demi-beast. True.
Even through the walls of the office, Jacks’s stomp was clear.Cheeky. Greetings to you, hound.
He pulled his head back out of the window, letting loose the whinny that sounded like laughter as he moved away from the building.
After a brief, tense moment, Merry walked to the large man with long hair and threaded her arm through his. “Phin, Ramsey, this is Coltor.”
He lifted his hand in a gentle wave. “Hello.”
I nodded in greeting, running my hand over Ramsey’s fur. “Stone kin?” I guessed, putting together what Ramsey had said with Tap’s description from that afternoon at the church.
“Yes. Nephilim?”
I couldn’t stop the stunned laugh that burst from my throat. “Yes.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“And you.” I was relieved that my ability to speak was returning even if it was only a couple of words at a time.
“Today has been entirely unexpected.” Hailon breathed out heavily. “I’m not sure why I thought we’d have an uneventful afternoon, that’s simply not how things tend to go in this family. I’m Hailon. Pleased to meet you.”
Ramsey tilted her head again.A null? Very rare indeed. I am relieved to find that you are so well protected, mistress.
Relief washed over me. I trusted her assessment, especially as it echoed not only my own feelings but also what Jacks had told me. “I’m so happy to see you.” I closed my eyes and pressed my cheek to the top of her head.
Ramsey seemed exhausted now that she was relaxed, licking at her paws before settling her chin between them across my lap. I wondered when the last time she’d really rested was.
“Well.” Seir clapped his hands gently and turned toward the door, which was still propped open a bit by the cat doorstop. “Who’s hungry?”
Chapter 16
Tap
We all shifted from the office to Merry’s cabin, where the smell of something delicious cooking was heavy on the air.
“We’ll be right back,” Hailon said. “I’ve got some other dishes at ours, left them cooking while we took our walk.”
She and Seir ducked out the door, my heart squeezing happily when my brother propped it open with one of Merry’s many wooden carvings without any prompting.
“I’ll get the other table set up,” Coltor said, pausing to press a kiss to Merry’s cheek before moving her little round table and chairs toward the back of the sofa.
“Good idea,” Merry agreed, opening the oven and letting another burst of mouthwatering scent out. Even Ramsey licked her chops.
“I’m happy to help carry,” I offered.
“No need.” He gestured to the cabinets that faced the main room. “We’ve got this down to a science lately with all the visitors.” He reached under and pulled up until a tabletop I’dassumed was just the cabinet backing was horizontal to the floor. He then pulled out legs that were hinged and hidden underneath, creating an instant table extension that more than doubled the seats Merry’s little table would have provided.
