One Salt Sea: An October Daye Novel

TYBALT HAUGHTILY SURVEYED the living room, arms crossed in an attitude of nonchalant disregard. It was a bit too regal; Tybalt doesn’t normally feel the need to act like that. He allowed his attention to fall on Connor, who was standing beside me and glaring.

“Ah,” said Tybalt. “I see that you have company.”

He managed to infuse the statement with an almost believable note of surprise. Only almost; the timing of his visit was too convenient to be coincidental, and if he didn’t have spies at the Queen’s Court, I’m a Leprechaun. “You know Connor and May,” I said. “I believe you worked together on a prison break not long ago.”

“Oh, Tybs knows Connor,” May said. “They totally hung out while you were sick. They’re like, best buds.” Tybalt and Connor shot her matching glares. I had to stifle a smile.

“We’re acquainted,” said Tybalt. “I suppose there’s no accounting for the company you choose to keep.”

I stiffened.

“Is there a problem?” asked Connor coldly. Being needled by Tybalt isn’t fun, unless you have a serious urge to know what it’s like to be a mouse.

“I’m simply wondering why you’re still on dry land, O’Dell,” Tybalt replied. “Shouldn’t you be putting on your water wings and preparing to slaughter us all? I believe that’s your predetermined role in this conflict.”

“All right, that’s enough.” I scowled, taking a step forward and putting myself between them. “We don’t have time for this. Now both of you are going to behave and play nicely, or I will put you out on the sidewalk.” Raj shot me a grateful look. Dominance fights are serious business among the Cait Sidhe, and if I let Tybalt start something in my apartment, I was going to be responsible for stopping it. Raj and I both knew that wouldn’t end well.

Connor hesitated before saying, “Actually, Toby, he’s right.”

“What?” May and I said in unison, turning to stare at him.

“That’s still creepy,” muttered Raj.

“I need to go to Saltmist and check in, or the Duchess may decide that I’m siding with the land and banish me from the Undersea. I don’t think we want that. I know I don’t want that.” Connor chuckled mirthlessly. “It would make family reunions awkward.”

I’d been expecting this. I’d been waiting for this. It still stung. I bit my lip before saying, “If you’re sure—”

“He’s sure,” said Tybalt. I shot a glare his way. He shrugged.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” said Connor, and kissed me.

There was a desperation in his embrace that was almost chilling. Whatever else was going on, Connor was a lot more scared than he was letting on.

I touched his cheek when he pulled away. “Be safe.”

“You, too,” he said. He glanced around the room. “It was good to see you, May. Tybalt, Raj . . . good night.”

“Bye,” mumbled Raj, looking mortified.

“Open roads, Connor,” said May.

I walked him the two steps to the door, opening it again. “Open roads, Connor. Try not to get yourself killed out there. If you do, I’ll kick your ass.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” He kissed my nose and was gone, pulling the door shut with a final-sounding click.

I locked the deadbolt and turned to look at Tybalt, raising an eyebrow. And I waited. His satisfied expression faded by inches, replaced by apparently genuine awkwardness.

“I didn’t say he had to go,” he said.

“But you jumped on the idea with both feet. What are you doing here, Tybalt? Is this your way of returning all those messages I left you? Because, seriously, I would have been happy with a phone call.”

“I was busy.”