Page 26 of Cats Never Fly

“Youthink so?”Myeyes widened.Icouldn’t imagine theEternalMagictaking an interest in me.

ButIwas wondering if perhaps she had even bigger plans for the two of us.Thisconnection between us might be just a product of the summoning magic, but what if it was more?

Beforewe could say any more,Vanreturned with a large box filled with a variety of strange looking gadgets.Theozone-licorice scent emanating from the contents suggested that at least some were magical. “Theothers will be here soon.Inthe meantime…”Hepulled a small device from the box and presented it toOgden.Itwas the size of a fly and looked like a bit of circuitry. “Thisis a tracker.Keepit on you just in case things change before we have a new plan.It’lllet us track you down to wherever they’re keeping you.”

“WhereamIgoing to stick that?Basedon what happened last time—you know, the whole naked part—there aren’t a lot of places to hide something like that.Evenif it is small.”Ogdenpoked at the tracking device. “CanIswallow it?”

Vanlifted an eyebrow and looked at the device. “I’venever been asked that before, soIdon’t know.Putit in this pouch for now.”Heplucked up the device and tucked it into a small pouch with a long string loop before offering it toOgdenagain.

Ogdenput it around his neck and tucked it under his borrowed shirt.

“Okay, now try this,”Vansaid.Heheld out a belt made of thick leather with pouches hanging off it.

Ogdensquished up his nose. “What’sthat?”

“Putit on and we’ll fill it with supplies.”

“Fine,” he muttered.Assoon as he fastened it around his hips,Ogdenlet out a long and soul deep sigh. “Doesit have to be so… utilitarian?”

VanignoredOgden’scomplaint and presented him with a wide assortment of both magical and mundane weapons, including wire cutters, screwdrivers, a magical pocketknife capable of slicing through spells, and a spraythat when deployed could temporarily suppress magic in anyone it hit.Beingso close to all those dangerous implements made my skin crawl, butIcouldn’t make myself leave.

Ididn’t understand it.Atall.Ishould have shifted and ducked out of the room as soon asOgdenput the tracker on.Hedidn’t need me anymore.

“That’sallIhave here thatIcan give you,”Vansaid.

Ogdenadjusted the belt.Thecontents of his pouches rattled against one another. “Thisis a start.”

“Justdon’t take off the tracking device.We’llneed it to find you.”ThenVaneyedOgden’sforearm, which he’d been scratching while we talked. “What’sthe matter with your arm?”

“Justa bite,Iguess.”

“Whendid you get it?”

“WhenIwoke up this morning.”

Ileaned over to see the spot he’d been itching.Red, irritated skin surrounded a little mound onOgden’sforearm.

Vantilted his head. “Weshould get it looked at.Mostinsect bites don’t bother supes for so long.”

OgdenandIboth looked at the bump a little closer.

“Yeah.I’dwondered about that.IfI’mstill here in the morning,I’llgo then.Isthere a supernatural doctor in town?”

Ihated the reminder that he expected to be returned to that cage soon.

“Yep.I’llphone and make sure they see you.Ifyou aren’t here, we’ll sort it out after we find you and have dealt with those bastards.”Vanleft to make the call.

“Doyou really think it is a bite?”Iasked asIbrushed my thumb over the bump.

Ogdenshuddered. “Ihope that’s all it is.”

Mamaalways said cats were excellent judges of character andItrusted my instincts.Ogdendidn’t deserve any of this, of thatIwas sure.Theidea of someone experimenting on him was driving me nearly feral.

Vanreturned with a group of people.WillowLakewas small enough thatIknew almost everyone, butIhadn’t been prepared for the demon and his team to walk in.Idon’t know whoIexpected…MaybeHayden?

Gage’sface didn’t reveal any emotion, butIstill got the sense he was surprised to see me here.Itwasn’t that long ago thatI’dbeen sitting with him at the pub… you know, right beforeIbolted and made everyone wonder what was wrong with me.SinceGageand his team had moved to town, some locals tried ingratiating themselves with the demon, includingMama.Notme, though.I’ddone my best to stay under their radar.

Itlooked likeIwas fully on his radar now, with a big neon arrow pointing right at me.