“Thank you, Asha,” Cathal says.
“Anytime. And I mean it,anytime. She and I have a bond.”
Aodhan’s eyebrows wiggle again. “What sort of bond?”
“I know you want him to distract Kanti,” she murmurs to Cathal, “but any chance the two of them could distract each other in the Sky Kingdom?”
Cathal smirks. “Lorcan would turn me into a forever-Crow if I sent him back. Especially if I sent him with Kanti.”
I hiss. Even though I understand he meant it as a joke, I don’t like the mention of dying, not even in jest.
He slides his palm to my waist and gathers me against him, then places a soothing kiss against my temple.
“I heard that, Cathal,” Aodhan says, with a tilt of his chin and a scowl that leads me to think his arrogance isn’t entirely impermeable.
“If you stopped flirting with every woman in a one-mile radius—especially the mated ones”—Cathal’s fingers crinkle the silver pleats of my dress—“Lorcan and I would hold you in higher esteem.”
“Not my fault the ladies find me so irresistible.”
“I hear Glace is lovely at this time of year,” Asha says, which makes Cathal’s lips curl.
“I prefer my dick not to turn into an icicle, thank you very much.”
Asha sighs as though greatly aggrieved by his refusal to relocate. “I’ll hold the fort down until Abrax gets back. Now offto bed, imNaage. And I do mean to sleep.” She gives Cathal a pointed look that makes his fingers crimp my waist a little harder.
Since no one intimidates the male, I deduce that his sudden edginess comes from within.
“Reid and I are going to get some food. Should we send anything to your room, Daya?” Agrippina asks.
“No. Thank you.” Right before slipping past Asha, I wind my arm around her shoulders and hug her tight. “You, too, need your sleep. It’s been alongtwenty-four hours.”
She pats my back. “As soon as Abrax returns, Sumaca.”
Right before I pull away, I remind her, “Day or Daya, or even imNaage, just never Sumaca.”
She smiles, then with a wink, she says, “Fine. I’ll only use your title when I’m mad at you.”
I snort as Cathal tugs me away. “You’re often mad at me.”
Her smile grows. “By the way, I know you can bloodcast now, but I added a few wards around your wing that should last until sundown, even though I’ll be back by then. Promise.”
“She should be part of your Akwale,” Cathal murmurs as he cracks open my door and crouches. I’m guessing he sensed Cruaih was waiting right behind it.
“She is. I asked her this morning. Along with Agrippina and Enzo,” I say, closing my door. I reach up and push my finger against one of the two diamond tusks. When the skin tears, I bring my finger to the door and paint the sigil that will prevent anyone from bursting inside. “Tamar elected to retire—she may have stayed but I don’t think she likes me very much.” I try not to let her opinion affect me. “Asha’s suggested two new Shabbin candidates. I asked her to bring them over in the morning.”
As Cathal scratches Cruaih’s neck, his throat works over a deep swallow. “Your Akwale will be formed in no time.”
I suck on my fingertip as I study the crinkled corners of his eyes and the deep hollows beneath his bladed cheekbones. Does he think I’ll send him home once I’ve assembled my government?
I walk over to him and seize his jaw, then angle his face toward mine. “Cathal Báeinach, I know Taytah ruled alone, but I don’t want that. I want a king at my side.Foreverat my side.” My proposal’s met with complete silence. “Please say yes.”
“Old-Daya told me that I couldn’t be king for I’d terrorize the Shabbins.”
A jolt of anger swarms me, and I let go of his face. “Old-Daya isn’t me.”
Cathal’s silent, probably lost in thought about this mate who apparently loved him but not enough to make him king. As I remove my dress and climb into bed, I hear water running in my bathing chamber. Is he thinking ofher? I wait and wait, and still he doesn’t join me in bed. Does he plan on spending his entire night hiding from me?
Exhaustion collapses my lids before the Crow has joined me in bed. But when I wake, he’s there, lying next to me, Cruaih curled up on his pillow. Though he said he wouldn’t be sleeping while I did, he sleeps as soundly as his kitten. I watch as the sun crawls beneath my curtains and scratches over his form. Oddly enough, it’s only once it reaches his face and dances over his jaw that I realize he’s reduced his wild beard to a mere stubble.
