Page 32 of Cats Never Fly

Thevery idea of it made my chest feel like it was imploding.

Chapter Ten

SIMON

Aknock on the meeting room door interrupted my panic attack before it could truly take hold.Dillon, another hellhound, opened the door and peered inside.LikeGageand his team, he was new to town, but he had been working to become a police officer since the robbery at the inn a few months back.Hewore a uniform, so maybe he had finished his training now.

“I’mdone now,” the new guy said. “Youwanted me to do something?”

“Simon,”Vansaid as he pointed his pen at me, “go withDillon.He’lltake your statement about the whistle.Ihave a few more detailsIneed to review withOgdenhere.”

Ogden’shand shot out and wrapped around my wrist beforeIcould stand. “Heneeds to stay.”

Thesudden scent of his fear stopped me from leavingas much as his surprisingly tight grip.There’dbeen signs he wasn’t as relaxed about everything as he appeared, but this was the first time fear shattered his calm façade.

Fearwas somethingIunderstood all too well.

“Simonwon’t leave the station.”Vanswung his gaze over to me. “Willyou?”

Ilooked atOgden.Iswore the irises in his vibrant blue eyes sparked and shimmered like they each held little electrical storms.Hisfear was palpable.Asmuch asIhad been panicking a few minutes ago, my fears and worries faded with the realization of what he was facing.Iwanted to help him.Iwanted to be the one who wiped away the furrows in his forehead.Iwanted to be the one who would save him.

Imay have only known him for a few hours, butI’ddo anything to protect him.Me.Alittle scaredy cat.Andhim, a fierce dragon.Toeven pretendIcould protect him better than he could protect himself was ridiculous.ButIcouldn’t help the wayIfelt.Itwas startling.

Butthere was also a rightness to it.

Myfree hand slipped over his asImet his gaze steadily. “Iwill not leave you andIwon’t let you go back there any sooner than necessary.”Ididn’t want him to go back there at all.

Henodded.Justonce.Hiseyes blinked rapidly for a moment, andIrealized he was fighting back tears.Mychest tightened.Nothingshould make this man feel so vulnerable.Iwouldn’t allow it.Iwrapped my arm around him and pulled him close.Onlythen didIfeel the almost imperceptible tremble coursing through him.Heshovedhis face into my neck and took a deep breath.Isqueezed him tighter.

“It’sokay,”Imurmured. “I’vegot you.We’regoing to make sure you’re safe, you have a plan, and we’re going to get all those other supes too.”

Assoon asIspoke,Iknew those words would haunt me whenItried to sleep later.Becausewho wasIto make such promises?Iwas simplySimon.Iwasn’t a tiger or a cheetah or a cougar.Evenwith a little extra weight around my middle,Iwas still small enough to hide behind the geraniums inMama’sgarden.

Still, when he nodded,Ifelt like a lion.

Whenhe finally pulled back from my embrace, he straightened his shoulders.He’dpushed his fear down again, butIsensed it was still close.Itwas strange howIcould see under his mask now.

“Themagic could send me back any time now,” he said. “Beforethat happens,Iwanted to make sure you know how thankfulIam that you summoned me.Iknow it was an accident, butIcan’t help but feel theEternalMagichad a hand in bringing us together today.”

“ShouldIwait to talk toDillon?”I’dnever be able to live with myself ifOgdendisappeared whileIwas away from him.Icouldn’t do anything, but the leastIcould do was be there with him.

“It’llbe fine for a few minutes.”Ogdenglanced atVan. “ButIthink my time will be up soon.”

Ihated the way he’d phrased that.

“Understood,”Vansaid. “Youcan still negotiate, you know.ShouldIcall theSC?”

Iwanted to say yes.Onehundred percent.Ogdenneeded to negotiate.Heneeded to stay.Here.Withme.Instead,Isaid, “Ogdenmade his choice.”

“I’llbe okay.Thisis whatIwant.Don’tworry about me,OfficerHellhound.”WhenOgdensaid his nickname forVan, the somber mood in the room eased.Jeremysnorted and scribbled in his notebook.

“I’vetold you that’s not my name,”Vansaid with a smile that showed he wasn’t all that bothered.

“Oh?”Ogdengrinned a little wickedly at the hellhound.

Ifelt the start of a growl vibrating along the back of my throat.Ididn’t likeOgdenlooking atVanlike that…Likehe was flirting with him.Wheneveryone turned to look at me, embarrassment heated my cheeks, andIcleared my throat.

Jeremylaughed and glanced at his mate.Iguess the big werewolf andIhad something in common.Bothof us got growly when our mates?—