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“You are?” his brother asks, and I see hope in his eyes.
“Yes, if you let me work,” I grumble, making Cato chuckle. His brother smiles at the sound and meets Cato’s eyes.
“She sounds like you when we were younglings,” he remarks before lowering his head. “I am sorry for threatening the human. I was just worried for you and our people, but I never should have let my own prejudices and anger take control. If the human Talia can look past them and help us, so can I.”
“See? Teamwork!” I clap.
His brother sighs and gets to his knees. “To make amends, I offer rights of respect.”
“Brother.” Cato sighs, but he looks determined, his teeth gritted.
“It’s the least I can do. I ask that you take this, not just as my brother, but as our leader.” He tips his head back, leaving his chest and neck vulnerable.
“Rights of respect?” I whisper.
“It is a way to show your respect for another and to atone for a wrong by making yourself weak,” Cato murmurs, watching his brother. “It is our way.”
Okay…
I watch as Cato straightens his shoulders, seeming to grow even bigger, his tail lashing anxiously behind him as he approaches his brother.
“Are you sure?” Cato queries.
“I give my life to you. It is in your hands. I ask for forgiveness,” his brother says, the words practiced. “I offer you my loyalty and my life, brother,” he adds, and Cato jerks then hardens before my eyes. He glances back at me, his face unreadable, and I don’t know what he sees in my gaze, but he looks back at his brother…and strikes.
He slams his fangs into his brother’s neck, who grunts but doesn’t falter.
I watch in horror before I realise what this means. Cato could choose to kill him, could maim or hurt him badly, and he has to trust in his friend, his brother. I have no doubts Cato won’t do that, but the viciousness of his attack shocks me. Sometimes, I forget just what Cato is capable of.
Right now, he is reminding me, and he knows it.
He releases his brother’s throat, not killing him. It’s a warning, I realise. A punishment.
When he glances at me with blood on his mouth and fangs, I swallow, but I refuse to look away or be afraid. This is still the man who dances with me, who holds me tight, and who promises to keep me safe. He is the monster who kisses me like he can’t breathe without me. This is still Cato. I hold out my hand to him, and the relief that crosses his face makes my heart shudder. He hurries to my side, wiping his mouth before holding me tight, like he was worried I would turn him away.
I reassure him by leaning into his side, my eyes going to his brother, who seems to deflate on his knees. Blood trickles from the wounds on his throat, but his eyes are clear, happy.
Weird, weird monsters and their traditions.
There is still a gap between them that Cato doesn’t seem happy to cross, but it’s clear he misses his brother.
I’ll bridge it for him. I step away from Cato’s embrace and move towards the only family the man I care for has left.
“Right, well, we are going to need some help here, so want to join us?” I hold out my hand, and his brother looks at me.
“You would forgive me that easily?”
“We have to start somewhere,” I tell him, and I offer a small smile.
He shoots an uncertain, crooked one back before taking my hand. Obviously, I can’t actually help him up, but it’s symbolic, and when he wanders away to get started, Cato moves behind me.
“Tally, my perfect little Tally.” The growl and possessiveness in his words sends a shiver through me, so I clear my throat.
“We are going to need more monsters for this.”
THIRTY-TWO
TALIA
