Page 75 of Cats Never Fly

Islipped into my hoard room.Thelast timeIwas here,I’djust opened the smaller access door, which was the oneIpreferred, since the length of time my hoard was open and vulnerable was minimal.Thatwouldn’t work this time.Ineeded the wider access.

Frominside the room, using another series of secret levers that had to be triggered in a particular order,Iopened a door that was almost the width and height of my closet wall.Itmade hauling the oversized pieces of my collection into the secured area so much easier.Eachpiece in my collection had a specific place to be housed in my hoard room.

Ihadn’t always been so meticulous—there was something marvelous about seeing heaps of jewels mounded all around you—but too many pieces became damaged that way.Andno one enjoyed stepping on a gemstone in bare feet.Thatwas almost as bad asLEGOpieces, or soI’dbeen told by my cousin.Herfirst hatchling, the only child in my family in a century, was about six years old now andhad started stockpiling the little building blocks.Itwas their little one’s first hoard, and my aunt and uncle were incredibly proud.

Whenthe sculpture was in place,Iheaved out a sigh and shook out my arms again.Onedown.Thankfully, none of the others were so heavy or awkward.

IheardSimonmoving around in the other room, soIstraightened my shoulders.Irefused to show how weakIwas in front ofSimon.He’dblame himself for summoning me, even though he hadn’t known what would happen.Iwould get stronger.Iwas already much stronger thanIwas when he’d first summoned me.Mychest warmed with fire and electricity.Shootingsparks whenIwas angry was good too.Okay, it wasn’t great thatIwas angry enough to lose control like that, but it meant my magic was healing.Anotherday or two andIshould be at full strength again.

Itcouldn’t come soon enough.

Bythe timeIreturned to the parlor,Simonwas placing half a dozen beers in the fridge.Thedrinks people order could reveal a lot.ThebrandSimonhad grabbed was a rather lackluster local beer, one that people who didn’t really like the taste of beer usually drank.

“Isthat your usual?”

Simonblushed prettily as he closed the fridge door. “Sometimes.”

“Doyou like it?”

“Sure.”

Ididn’t want lies between us.Icrossed the room to him.Helooked surprised to see me so close.Hetook a step back, andIfollowed until his back was against the wall. “Tellme the truth.Doyou like it?”

Hischeeks darkened. “Itis better than other things,Iguess.”

“Hmm…”Igently tugged his head down untilIcould whisper in his ear.Hisbreath hitched as my breath cascaded over his skin.Iloved how quickly he reacted to me; it was almost as fast asIreacted to him. “Youknow…Ican make any drink you might like.Iknow at least twenty delicious cocktails made with cream.”

Heswallowed.Wasit becauseIwas pressed up against him, or did he really like the idea of a creamy cocktail?Ha!Andjust thinking about the wordscreamy cocktailhad my mind dropping into a lovely and decadent gutter.

“Uh…Thisis fine.”

“Butis it what you like?”

“Uh…”

“Simon?”

Heswallowed again and looked away.

“Don’tbe embarrassed by what you like, love.Ithought we were past that,”Isaid. “Whetherit is a drink or something else.Ionly want to make you happy.”

Hisgaze darted to mine before he looked away again. “Iwould like to try something like that.Withcream,” he said eventually. “Butmaybe not today?Wehave a lot to do, andIdon’t want to stay here any longer than necessary.”

Alwayssuch a worrier.

“I’mgoing to fill your life with so many wonderful things.You’llsee.”Inipped at his earlobe, and he shivered.

Icouldn’t wait to be settled inWillowLakewith him.Iwanted to spoil my little kitty.Iwanted to give himeverything, to ensure he knew he was safe with me, and to ease his worries and his self-doubt and his fears.Hewas already so much more confident and relaxed than he had been.Icouldn’t wait to see what he would be like in a year or twenty or a hundred.

Chapter Twenty-Five

OGDEN

“Ifeel like a lazy toad watching you work,”Simonmuttered from his perch on the edge of the sofa asIhauled another painting through the apartment.Helooked ready to spring into action ifIlooked likeIwas struggling.

“Sitback and relax,”Isaid. “Thatsofa was specifically chosen for comfort, but you’re sitting on it like it’s filled with rocks.”

“Doyou have anything that isn’t priceless?Icould move those things.”