Page 71 of Cats Never Fly

Jeremy’sshoulders slumped atPaws’ proclamation.Helooked around at the others, as if silently asking what they should do.That’swhen he spottedSimonand me.

“Youcame!”Jeremyshouted. “Awesome.We’redeciding what game to play.”

Simoncringed when everyone turned to look at us.

“Hello,”Isaid, stepping forward, drawing everyone’s eyes to me instead. “I’mOgden.”

“Thedragon shifter,”Jeremyadded with a wide smile, like any of the supes in the room wouldn’t have already known that. “Youalready know my sexy wolf manAdrianand his team ofSuperSupes.”Hewaved towardGage,Teague,Isaac, andDavinain one encompassing motion. “AndVan, of course.Youknow him too.Ihaven’t heard fromWeston,Nelson, orHaydenyet, butI’mhoping they’ll join us too.”

“IthinkWestonsaid something about watching over the teenagers who were partying at the shore tonight.Hehates it when they have bonfires byhislake,”Ashsaid.Heused air quotes around the wordhis.

“Oh, right,”Jeremysaid.

Jakeaverted his eyes. “AndNelson’s… uh…busy.”

“Areyou makingNelsonwork tonight,Mr.Dimples?”Jeremydemanded.

“No, it’s nothing like that…”Jakeshifted from side to side. “Hesaw apaintingIdid, andIwish he hadn’t.Itis all he thinks about now.”

“Abouthim and the unicorn?”Vanasked.

Jakelooked up, startled. “Howdid you…?”

“Ididn’t, not really.Youjust confirmed my suspicions.”

“IthoughtNelsonwas interested inCarter,”Isaacwhispered toTeague.

Teagueshrugged. “Iguess not anymore.”

Isaacstroked his chin and eyed the big bear shifter by the pool table. “Imight go play pool for a bit.”

“No, don’t leave…”Jeremysaid, butIsaacwas already halfway across the room.Jeremyturned back to me. “Anyway,Idon’t think you’ve metAshyet.He’smyBFFforever andDillon’smate.”I’dalready picked up on that based on the matching fire-like marks on their necks. “Andthis isJake, our local oracle, akaGage’smate, aka the owner of the pub.It’sbecause ofJakethat we’re here tonight.”

“It’snice to meet you all,”Isaid with a nod.

“Wehaven’t met yet,” the calico cat said. “I’mPawingtontheThird.”

Istudied the creature. “Areyou sure we haven’t met?”

Pawsblinked.Everyonearound us gaped.Ileaned close to whisper in one of the cat’s calico ears.WhenIwas done,Pawsshot a panicked look around the group.

“Don’tworry.Iwon’t tell anyone your secret.”Iwinked at the powerful being.

Thecat’s tail jolted back and forth, then he raised oneof his paws and started cleaning his face.Ilaughed and ruffled the fur on the top of his head.

Jeremy’seyes bulged.Helooked around at everyone at the table. “Isn’tanyone going to ask?”

Jakeshook his head atJeremy.Themovement made his collar shift a little, showing a bit of a mark that looked like the one on the demon.Thosemust be their mate marks.

Noone asked me about the cat.Iwas surprised at their restraint, but it didn’t matter because the cat’s secret was safe with me.

“Don’tblame this event on me,”Jakesaid, taking the attention offPawsand looking atJeremy. “Thiswas all your idea.”

“Yousaid you’d never played a board game.Youcan’t say that and think we won’t do anything about it.”

Amassive wolf and a raven with matching mating marks in their hair were cuddling one another at the far end of the table.Thatmeant theEternalMagichad blessed four of the couples in this room alone.Thatwas… well… unheard of.Andbased on the way they were together, they all seemed newly mated.WillowLakewas truly magical.TheEternalMagicseemed to draw mates here, andIwas now even more convinced thatSimonwas my fated mate too.Theraven wore a fabulous outfit that twinkled with his every movement.Icaught the raven eying my clothes with a similarly covetous appreciation.Howlovely to find a kindred spirit.

“That’sMercerandOak,”Simonsaid, nodding to the couple.Thenhe looked around the room. “Overthere at the pool table, that’sCarterrubbing chalk on his pool cue.He’splaying againstLevi, who is a minotaur.Parker… that’s the redheaded guy sitting at the table watching them… he’s human.Doesn’tknow about supes,Idon’t think, so we probably shouldn’t talk too loudly.”