Read Online The Orange Cat & other Cainsville tales by Kelley Armstrong - Free Book Online Page A

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.
    “I would like to do this for you, Olivia.” His voice had softened, tone almost apologetic. “If you had a fae encounter, I would feel better knowing it is indeed some harmless variety, unlikely to come after either of you.”
    Damn. Gabriel was so much easier to deal with when he acted like he didn’t give a shit.
    “Can I e-mail you the details later?” I said. “I still haven’t told Ricky everything, and I really should.”
    “Of course. Speak to him. Get any additional details he might have and then e-mail me tonight.”
    I signed off. When I walked back to the table, there was a fresh glass of beer in my spot, along with a shot of rye whiskey. Ricky picked up the shot glass and waggled it over the beer.
    I smiled. “I don’t think I’ve done that since college.”
    “Well, I’m still in college. The perils of dating a younger man.” He dropped the shot glass into the beer, and foam shot up.
    I took a gulp. “Whoa. You aren’t trying to get me drunk, are you?”
    “I am absolutely trying to get you drunk.”
    “Drunk enough to forget I’m trying