Page 81 of Cats Never Fly

ButOgdenstayed in his dragon form.Isaw the pouch with the tracking deviceVanhad given him lying a few feet away with the rest of his clothing.Whyhadn’t we dressed again before we shifted?Thenhe’d have it with him.Justin case.

“Shiftand grab the tracking device,”Iurged him.

Butno one would take him again.Theycouldn’t.We’djust found one another.We’djust mated.Hewas my everything.

Wejust needed to get out of here.Fast.

“Ihave a different idea,”Ogdensaid. “TheAspenBayPDare down on the street.”

“Yes.Let’sget to them.Theneverything will be fine.Comeon.”

IgrabbedOgden’smassive dragon’s paw to pull him toward the stairs.Heclenched it around my hand.Ashe moved, little bits ofsomethingcascaded off his face.Itsmelled like a plant.Howdid that get on him?Whatever.Itdidn’t matter because he scooped me up and held me against his chest.Myfeet kicked at empty space.

“Whatare you doing?”

“It’stime to fly, kitten,”Odgensaid.

Everymuscle in my body froze at his words.Hedidn’tmean…?Hiswings swooshed open.HolyMagic, he meantflyfly, as in he was going to fly us off the roof.Ibraced myself, not sure if keeping my eyes open or closed would be better.Exceptwe didn’t lift off the roof.Wedidn’t do anything.Hisbody strained, but his wings showed only a shiver of movement.

“Fuck.They’vedone something…Ican’t…”

“What’sthe matter?Tellme what’s going on.”Mygaze darted over the roof.Howcould they stop him—a powerful dragon—from moving?

“Hide,”Ogdenurged, letting go of me so quicklyIstumbled. “Hide.Quickly.”

“No.”Ishook my head and tried to take his paw in my hand again.Theback of my neck tingled.Wewere taking too long.Wecould have been downstairs in his apartment by now.Thenthere’d only be one more set of stairs. “Shift.Wecan still get away.”

“I…Ican’t.”Hegnashed his teeth as his muscles convulsed again.Still, nothing happened. “Ican’t shift.Ican’t move.Fuck…Theymust have usedDracaena…”

“Thehouseplant?”Iknew they were toxic to cats—Mamahad warned us all not to chew on those spiky leaves when we were growing up—but this reaction was something else.Itimpacted his magic.WhywasIokay?Ithad to be something specific to dragon magic.

“Youneed to protect yourself so you can find me,”Ogdencontinued. “Thefaster you can get help, the faster you can come get me.”

Hiswords felt like boulders crushing my chest.Ipanted, trying to catch my breath.Hecouldn’t seriously mean he’d let himself be abducted again.

“You…”Icouldn’t get the words out. “You…”

“Whateverhappens, hide,”Ogdencontinued.

“No.Iwon’t let them take you,”Ishouted, finally pushing the words out.

“Simon, something’s happening.Thatmagic has done something to my dragon,” he whispered.Hestruggled, but no matter what he did, he couldn’t move. “Canyou get away?Ifyou can, go.Ifnot, hide and?—”

Whateverelse he might have said was interrupted by a sizzling sound.Itreminded me of whenMamacooked too much bacon in her skillet.Ogden’smassive dragon’s paw pushed me toward the box that’d held the blankets and cushions.

“Please…”

Ogden’swhispered plea undid me.Ileaped into the box, shifting into my cat form asIdid.Whatevermagic had incapacitatedOgdenhad no effect on me.Thelid slammed down, closing me inside.

“Beggingalready?” a stranger asked.Ididn’t recognize the deep, rumbling female voice.Wasthis the trollOgdenhad mentioned?

Inudged the lid up a little with my head, lifting it soIcould peer out.Theonly trollIknew wasOldThom, who liked to drinkWitch’sMilkdown at theWillowLakePub.Hewasn’t the most personable guy, but he was a pretty harmless fixture inWillowLake.FromwhatIremembered, all trolls looked similar and spoke with a deep voice.Thisperson was definitely a troll.

AlthoughIsensed she was around my age, she had deep wrinkles and a wide, bulbous nose.Herforehead had a prominent slope, and her long straggly hair sproutedfrom her scalp about halfway back on the top of her head.Shehad one arm strapped to her chest.Thatmust have been from the injuryOgdenhad given her.Good.Ihoped it hurt.

Behindher, a strange shimmering circle glistened under the moonlight.Anunnatural flame of yellow and orange blazed around the edge of the circle.Wow.Thatwas a portal.I’dheardJake’sdemon boyfriend could make portals, butI’dnever seen one in person.Theday of the bombing he’d made one and shoved half ofWillowLakethrough it, butI’dmissed the whole thing.Howwas a troll able to do that?

“Asif.”Ogdenlaughed. “Idon’t remember inviting you over tonight.Ifyou really wanted to hear the rest of ‘SplishSplash,’ you could have found it onYouTuberather than coming all the way here.Ifyou want a private show,I’llneed to check my calendar to see whenI’mavailable.”