Page 34 of Cats Never Fly

“Dot…Imean,ConstableHubert.”

Heclenched his teeth as he turned toward his computer and started typing.Aftera few moments, he sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, releasing a thin curl of smoke. “Idon’t see it here.SoIwould like you to go over everything again, if you could.”

Iglanced around the open room with all its desks again. “Can’twe askDot?Shetook notes.”

Moresmoke curled out fromDillon’snostrils as he shook his head.

“Dotis in custody for aiding and abetting the wolves in their robbery of the inn.Shealso shot…”Hisvoice broke.Heswallowed hard. “Shealso shot someone.”

“What?”Mymouth dropped open. “ItwasDotwho shotAsh?”

Apained look shot acrossDillon’sface, but he nodded.Histhroat convulsed like he was swallowing hard.Theaction made his mate mark—a tattoo-like mark that looked like fire—undulate. “Wehaven’t released all the details to the public, since the internal investigation is still happening, but yes…Still,I’msurprised you haven’t heard about all that.Everyonein this town seems to know everything, whether or not the information has been released.”

IbetMamaknew all about this.Hadshe said something whenIwasn’t paying attention?Thewhistle had consumed so much of my attentionI’dapparently missed a lot of conversations over the last few months.Islumped in my chair.Thisday kept bouncing from one surprise to the next.

“Thefaster you talk, the sooner we’ll finish,”Dillonreminded me.

Because, yes, as shocked asIwas aboutDot,Irealized she wasn’t the shifterIthought she was.Andif she shotAsh, she didn’t deserve my pity or concern.Still,Icouldn’t believe she’d done something like that.I’dknown her all my life.HowhadIbeen so wrong about her?WhatifIjust sucked at reading everyone?WhatifOgdenwasn’t a good person either?Perhapsit was for the best that weweren’t negotiating.Iwouldn’t want to end up tied to someone awful for the rest of my life.

Andyet, even on the heels of that ominous thought,IknewI’dbind myself toOgdenin a heartbeat.Forthe first time in my life, my cat was determined to be brave, all because of that beautiful dragonMotherMagichad brought into my life.

Chapter Eleven

OGDEN

Fromthe timeSimonleft my sight until he returned,Iwore an indifferent mask.I’dhad practice.Iwas a performer, after all.Musteringup a little fake courage wasn’t so hard, particularly if it meant getting out of this room faster… and, of course, helping those poor people trapped in cages.

Honestly, it would have been fine except everyone kept looking between me and that stupid whistle with pity in their eyes.

Teaguecleared his throat, drawing my attention.IfIremembered correctly, he was the death mage.Witha boyish face that made him seem trustworthy and sweet, he didn’t look like the ancient and powerful death magesI’dknown in the past.Butold men would have been young once upon a time.

“Iknow this is a difficult situation, butIcan help,” the death mage said. “Youdon’t have to go back there.Youhave options.Icould help guide the connection between you andSimon, keep it fair.AlthoughIhaven’t seen the type of bond created by a summoning before,I’mfamiliar with bonds between chosen mates and fated mates.Ialso have personal experience with bonds created by demons.”Hegestured towardGage, who nodded in agreement.

“Youthink those bonds are like this?”

“Yesand no,”Teaguesaid.Henarrowed his eyes as he studied me.Blackbled over his irises and the whites of his eyes until nothing else remained andIknew he was accessing his magic. “Thisisn’t equal like a mate bond, nor is it mutually beneficial like a bond with a demon.FromwhatIcan see, the summoner’s magic dominates, making the other supe’s magic subservient.Itis like a parasite in some respects.Althoughenergy can travel both ways along the bond, we know summoners historically pulled magic from the supes they summoned to make themselves more powerful.Archivalrecords suggest a summoner may also command the other to do their bidding, butIsuspect that isn’t always the case.Ican see the threads linking the two of you together already.Theones created by the summoning are obvious.”

Ididn’t doubt he could do what he said and more.Deathmages were blessed with a strange magic, seeing things others couldn’t.Butwas that whatIwanted?

Iconsidered his offer.

Mydragon’s discontent rumbled through me at the thought of anyone interfering with this tenuous, unfinished link withSimon.Ididn’t intend to complete the connection created by the summoning, butIdidn’t want anyone messing with it either.I’dlearned a long time ago to trustmy dragon’s instincts, since they were rooted in magic, andItrusted theEternalMagicto steer me whereIneeded to be.

“AsI’vesaid,I’mdoing whatIwant.Noone is pressuring me,”Isaid. “Butthank you.”

Iwasn’t lying, butIalso wasn’t an idiot.Goingback to the cage worried me, more thanIwanted to admit, butIneeded to do this.Iwas the only one who could help those people.

Teagueglanced atGage, who shook his head.Thedeath mage twisted his lips like he was trying to keep himself from arguing with me.Ashe sat back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest, the black drained from his eyes.

“Okay.Let’sgo over everything again,”Vansaid.

EachmomentSimonwas out of my sight, though, was like an eternity.Myunease unsettled me.Itwas disconcerting.Iwas always the person in control.Ientertained and amused and put people at ease.Theseinsecurities were unfamiliar and unwelcome.Iwas a dragon, for pity’s sake.Mykind were essentially supernatural royalty.Iwas never unsure.Neverlacked confidence.Neveroverwhelmed with self-doubt.

Never.

Withthat word embedded in my thoughts,Ishoved the strange feelings away.

Istraightened my shoulders and prepared to answer all the same questions all over again.