Late Eclipses (October Daye, #4)

by Seanan McGuire

My name’s Toby Daye. I’m half-fae, half-human, and depressingly excited by the idea of being able to pay for name-brand cereal.

The man can be insufferable when he wants to. Just like every other cat I’ve ever met.

I went to the kitchen and filled a bowl with Lucky Charms and coffee. Cliff used to make gagging noises and pretend to choke when I did that, but it’s how I’ve always liked my cereal.

I paused. Tybalt was a cat before he was anything else. If something didn’t affect him personally, he was unlikely to give a damn.

Childhood is a game of concessions, and everyone pretends to understand the rules, even though the only constant is that no one wants to be alone.

“She said she’d been in relationships with way bigger problems than one of us being a transitory manifestation of impending doom.

In the end, there’s never a sanctuary. You run until there’s nowhere left to run to, and then you fight, and then you die, and then it’s over.

“She said beware the Lady of the Lake, because she’s never forgiven you your story, but to be more afraid by far of Morgane,”

The image of what they’d do to Mom’s furniture was enough to bring a brief but sincere smile to my face.

Herding the fae really is a lot like herding cats, only pointier and less rewarding.

“I wouldn’t take aid from you if you offered it. Never from you, daughter of Amandine, last and latest child of the great betrayal. You’ll see the end of us all, and you won’t be content until you know the gates are locked and sealed; your own death will refuse you. You’ll destroy your beginnings and forsake your heart’s desire, and there will be nothing for you but what’s already been turned aside

“My father named your race before he left; he called you the Dóchas Sidhe. You’re blood-workers.

We were almost halfway to the door before I realized that my feet weren’t getting wet. I blinked, looking down. “Warding spell,” said Sylvester. “Tybalt uses it to stay dry. He taught it to me.”