Page 61 of Cats Never Fly

“Youcan’t stay here.Itis too dangerous.”Simonsqueezed my hand like he was scaredI’ddisappear.Hisface had turned ashen.

“It’sokay, kitty cat,”Isaid softly. “I’llgo back toWillowLakewith you.ButIneed to pack some clothes first.”

“Oh, thankMagic.”Simonreleased a gusty exhale.

Ihated how much this situation was frightening him.Allbecause ofWesley.ForWesley’ssake,Ihoped his helpers had gotten him out of the country, because ifIever saw him again,I’dshow him exactly how fierce dragons could be.

Chapter Twenty-One

SIMON

We’donly been on the road toWillowLakefor a few minutes when blue scales rippled up and downOgden’sarms again.Aslost as he was in his own thoughts, he seemed unaware he was clenching my hand.Couldsomeone squeeze a hand tight enough to pop another person’s fingers off?Ihoped not.Ialso hoped his talons wouldn’t erupt from his hands.Thelast thingIwanted was to have his claws slice into me.Aninjury like that wouldn’t claim one of my nine, butIbet it would hurt, andIdidn’t like pain.

Foras small and delicate as he appeared to me,Iwas beginning to see how dragons had gotten their fierce reputation all those centuries ago when they’d battled ignoble knights.

“DamnWesley.”Ogdenspat out his manager’s name like a curse word.Smokeand sparks erupted from his mouth and nostrils a second later.

“DoIsmell something burning?Therebetter not be singe marks in my upholstery,”Vanwarned from the front seat.

ThatjoltedOgdenfrom his literal and figurative fuming.Hepatted the back of the seat to extinguish the spot where one of his sparks had landed and the fabric had ignited.Itwas little more than a glowing, smoldering circle, but… yeah… having the seats on fire would be problematic.

“Sorry,OfficerHellhound,”Ogdenapologized. “Sendme the repair bill.”

Ifthat’d been me,I’dhave been tempted to pretend the scorch mark had always been there.Vannever sat in the backseat, so how would he know?Myfather had raised us to never admit we were at fault for anything—well, except where my mama was concerned.Shegot the truth.Butanyone else?Noway.Catsdidn’t apologize.Theywere never wrong.

Ofcourse, that’d been a lessonIhad a hard time learning.Mybrothers were pros at it, but not me.Icouldn’t even blame that personality defect on my desire to keep my nine.Itwas just whoIwas.

Butmy dragon wasn’t like my brothers or my father.Hehad integrity.Honor.Ikind of liked that about him.

“Ican’t believe that little weasel could escape so easily,”Ogdensaid.

“Hopefullythey’ll find something when they finish going through his house.”Dillontwisted around to look atOgden. “Andsomething still might turn up from that tracking device.”

“Letme know what you discover,”Ogdensaid.Hedidn’t ask.Hejust expected to be kept in the loop.Hisconfident attitude was sexy.

“Ofcourse,”Vanpromised.

Afterthat, everyone settled into their own thoughts.WhenDillonfaced forward again, it felt likeIwas alone withOgden, even if we weren’t alone at all.Iwished we were sitting beside one another, but the middle spot on the bench seat didn’t have any leg room.Idoubted evenOgdenwith his shorter legs would be comfortable there.SoIcontented myself with petting the back of his hand.Slowly, his grip relaxed.

Heshot me a rueful smile. “Sorry, kitty cat.I’llbe in a better mood now.”

“Itis okay to be upset,”Isaid.Wemay have only started this… uh… bonded situation or whatever we were calling it, butIdidn’t want us to wear masks around one another.Ifwe started that way, it’d be hard to take them off later.

Thistime, his smile was easier. “Thankyou.Ijust…I’mnot one for brooding.Neverhave been.Idon’t know what’s come over me.”

“Alot has happened,”Isaid. “Isthat why you were singing when you were in that…?”Shoot.Ishouldn’t have brought up his abduction.WhatifIupset him again?

“Inthe cage?”Hewasn’t shooting out sparks or smoke again, so maybe it was okay to talk about it.

Inodded.

Heshrugged. “It’shard to be sad when a good song is playing.”

I’dnever paid much attention to music.Irarely had the radio on and couldn’t remember the last timeIlistened toanything on my phone app.Butmusic was obviously important toOgden.Andif he wanted songs,Icould get them for him.

“Van, can you put the radio on?Somethinghappy?”

Van’sjaw tightened, but he didn’t protest whenDillonplayed with the radio until he found a station.Assoon as “Sh-BoomSh-Boom” started,Ogdensang along.Bythe third or fourth song, he was bopping and rocking in his seat.Hisentire mood had transformed.Lightfizzy bubbles of happiness tickled my insides asIwatched him losing himself in the music.Thiswasn’t magic likeIwas used to, but it was still magic.Hewas magic.