The Orange Cat and Other Cainsville Tales (Cainsville 3.5)

"Is everything all right?"

"Um, yes . . . Why?"

"Nothing happened today?" He blurted. Then he cleared his throat. "I mean . . . the motorcycle. I'm not certain it's safe to be riding a motorcycle through mountains. That's where you are, yes? Mountains?"

"The Cape Breton Highlands. They're an extension of the Appalachians, relatively low."

"Yes, yes, but it seems dangerous on a motorcycle. You haven't had any incidents, have you? Today, perhaps? I thought I heard thunder over the line."

I looked up at the perfectly clear sky. "Well, there was a storm earlier, but we outran it."

"Then you're fine? Safely out of the storm's path?"

I could be touched by his concern. Except he wasn't actually worried about storms and dangerous roads. I remembered the timing of his first call. It would have coincided almost exactly with the water fae dragging me out of that cavern.

He knew something had happened. Gabriel has a sixth sense for danger. It's mostly tuned to threats against him, but there's one exception. Me, presumably because of the Matilda-Gwynn connection.

Now that you mention it, something weird did happen. I found this underwater cavern, and inside, there was a castle. A fae castle. Totally weird, I know, and I'm presuming it was a vision, but it might mean something. Think you can ask Rose if there's any folklore on that? Water fae, caverns, castles . . .

Then I heard his voice again, You dream of some fairy prince and say I'm him? and any urge to tell him evaporated.

"Everything's fine," I said. "We're just sitting on a patio, having a couple of beers and enjoying the sunshine."

"Ricky's drinking? On those roads--"

"We left the bike at the inn and walked."

"Yes, of course. I'm just . . ." A soft sound, like a growl. Worrying really wasn't Gabriel's style. That was Gwynn, fretting something had happened to me, made worse by the fact that Gabriel didn't really understand why. All he knew was that something was bugging him, something about me in danger, and until he solved the mystery, it'd keep chafing.

If I were petty, I'd let it chafe. But whatever happened between us, I still care about him. I don't want him distracted while he's trying to work.

"We had a fae encounter," I said.

"Fae?"

Normally I'd make a quip. Yep, sadly, even Canada has them. But I couldn't work up the energy. I just wanted to calm his anxiety and end this call.

"A water fae of some kind," I said. "Nothing dangerous. Just your typical capricious fae. I should let you get back--"

"Of the fae we've encountered, Olivia, I believe dangerous is more typical than capricious. Did it realize you knew it was fae?"

"No, it really was just a brief--"

"Tell me what you can, and I'll speak to Patrick."

I was about to say I'd rather he didn't contact Patrick without me there. The last thing I wanted was for Gabriel to learn that Patrick is his father so soon after the Gwynn reveal, and when I wasn't there to help Gabriel deal--

Deep breath.

Gabriel didn't need me to help him deal with anything.

"You have quite enough on your plate," I said. "You don't need this."

"If I were unwilling to investigate, Olivia, I would not offer." His voice cooled, and I pictured him, icy blue eyes cooling too, withdrawing behind that impenetrable wall. He'd made an overture, and I'd rejected it, so he would retreat.

Screw that. Let him retreat. I wasn't--

Deep breath.