Luathara - Book Three of the Otherworld Trilogy Read Online Free PDF

if he lived in the forest, why he was so tall . . .  The only one remaining silent was Aiden, but that was normal.  Instead, my autistic brother just watched the whole thing unfold from a distance, his eyes wary but curious.
    Mom was the one to pull me away from the scene.  “You boys be nice to our guest.  Logan and Bradley, why don’t you show him to the spare room and help carry his things in.”
    My brothers groaned but obeyed, chattering like chipmunks as they grabbed Cade by the arms, leading him away like a prisoner.  He didn’t seem to be bothered by it at all.  As soon as they disappeared around the corner, Mom grabbed my upper arm and wheeled me into the kitchen.  “Oh Meg!  What a nice young man, and so handsome!”
    I went crimson and nervously pushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear.  “Careful Mom,” I murmured, trying to lighten the mood, “Dad will get jealous.”
    She snorted and waved my remark off as she promptly got me working on the strawberries again.  Dad stood off in the living room, eyeing me carefully and making me feel even more awkward than I already did.  When I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist, I knew Aiden hadn’t joined Cade and his flock of admirers.  I glanced down at my brother only to find his eyes swimming and his lip quivering.  I stopped what I was doing and took a steadying breath.  I placed a hand on his head and whispered, “Not yet Aiden.  I’m not leaving yet.”
    Cade emerged from the hall ten minutes later with a water gun in his hand.  I arched a brow and paused in my current task of setting the table.  He had a huge grin on his face and his eyes glinted.
    “Bradley and Logan have challenged me to a battle,” he proclaimed.
    I heaved a great sigh and placed my hands on my hips.  “You know you don’t have to cater to their childish demands, right?” I told him.
    The look he gave me was one of pure disbelief.
    “What?  Forfeit and lose my honor?” he asked, placing a hand over his heart.
    I couldn’t help it, I laughed, and then my two younger brothers emerged from the hallway with their own weapons.
    “Don’t get too dirty!  Brunch is in half an hour!” Mom called after them as they disappeared outside, the squealing twins right on their heels.  Even Aiden left my side to go watch.
    Twenty minutes later, Cade stepped in through the door, followed by my brothers.  They looked like a litter of puppies trailing after the alpha dog, eagerly leaping up and vying for his attention.
    “You have to teach us how to sneak around without making any noise!” Logan demanded.
    “And how did you duck away from me like that?!”
    Bradley’s face was glowing with admiration.
    I turned away and bit my bottom lip again as I carried a pitcher of orange juice to the table.  This introduction could not have gone any better.
    “Boys," Mom said as she carried over a plate full of pancakes, "leave our guest alone and come to the table.  Breakfast is ready.”
    We all took our customary seats, with Cade and Dad sitting at opposite ends of the table and the rest of us filling in on either side.  I chose to sit closest to Cade and tried to hide a small blush when my mom gave a knowing look.
    The food was passed around and I noticed that Cade politely took a little of everything.  For a few minutes, we merely ate in silence, and I couldn’t help but feel the knots growing in the pit of my stomach.  This was where serious conversations took place, at the dinner table, and I was nervously waiting for one of my parents to break the ice.
    “Tell me, Caedehn is it?” Dad asked.
    My fork almost skittered off the plate as I missed the strawberry I was aiming for.  Oh no.  Here it comes . . .
    Cade carefully finished chewing his food before looking my dad in the eye and answering, “Yes, but please, call me Cade.”
    “Alright, Cade, do you mind telling me what your intentions are towards my daughter?”
    Oh good lord . . . The happy sound of