Page 73 of Cats Never Fly

“Areyou sure you want to know?”VanaskedBrodieandDakota.

“Ineed to know,”Brodiesaid, lifting his chin in a defiant gesture that made him look even more like a teenager.Dakotasimply nodded.

“IwishHaydenwas here,”Ashsaid.He’dspoken quietly from back at the table, but with no other sounds in the bar, his words carried. “He’sgood to have for discussions like this.”

“That’sbecause he’s the alpha,”Pawssaid loudly.Therewas no question in the cat’s statement.Healso didn’t try to keep his voice down.Hewasn’t the kind of creature to worry much about what others might hear.Ifhe said something, he’d stand by it.

Asthey spoke,Nelsonjoined us too.Ihadn’t seen him arrive, but he was here now, and he appeared keen to hear whatIhad to say.Iwondered if his curiosity had something to do with his strange reaction to learning about the unicorn who’d been in that place with me.

Vanlooked at me. “Areyou comfortable talking about it?Youdon’t have to.”

“Whatdo you want to know?”Iasked.

Brodie’sshoulders relaxed.Dakotareleased a deep breath.Simontightened his arms around me and nuzzled the back of my neck.Hestarted purring.Thesoft sound was soothing, and the little vibrations reverberated along my back.

“Okay, so this is what happened to me…”

ThenIdescribed what it’d been like.Iwasn’t sure if they would sleep better knowing all this or ifIwas giving them new nightmares, but we were all survivors of the same thing.Theydeserved to be informed.Theyalso deserved to know thatIwould do everything in my power to free the rest of those supes.

Chapter Twenty-Four

OGDEN

Aweek later, there were still no new leads.TheAspenBayPoliceDepartmenthadn’t found anyone suspiciously skulking aroundTheDrunkenDrake.Wesleywas stillMIA.Andbeing away from my hoard for so long under these circumstances was driving me bonkers.

Theonly good thing about the last seven days was spending time withSimon.Inamongst watching a bunch of nature documentaries thatSimonloved, there’d been a lot of online shopping, a lot of sexy fashion shows, and, of course, a lot of sex.Everytime we came together, magic flowed around us like a warm updraft, lifting us higher and higher until all we could do was soar.I’dnever experienced anything like it.Itwas addicting.

Maybeaddicting wasn’t the right word.Itfelt right.So, whenTeaguestopped by one day withVanandGageand explained how he believed he could sever the bondbetween us, we’d asked for time to think about it.Afterthey left, neither of us brought it up again.

Honestly, my current plan to return toAspenBaywas leaving me feeling a little upside down.Butit had to be done.ThesoonerIleft to wrap things up there, the soonerIcould return.

“I’llbe back as soon asIcan,”Isaid toSimon.

“Itisn’t safe.”Simonlooked like he was trying not to hack up a hairball.Hishand clasped something in his pocket, probably the whistle.He’dtold me recently how he couldn’t be without it after he found it, and now he didn’t want to put it down anywhere it might get lost or stolen because it was connected to me.Whenwe finally lived together, maybe he’d agree to put it in with my hoard—our hoard now.

“Noone’s seenWesleyin ages.AndIwon’t take any longer thanIhave to.Justa quick trip.”IhopedIwasn’t being stupid.Ihated it whenIwas stupid.Atmy age, stupidity wasn’t becoming. “Ihave no desire to linger inAspenBayany longer than necessary.”

That’djust be tempting fate.

ButIhad too many loose ends to tie up, and not everything could be organized over the phone.Ineeded to meet with the hoard movers, the furniture movers, the real estate agent, my employees, my tenants…

“ThenI’mgoing with you.”Simonfolded his thick forearms over his chest in such a confident manner that it made my blood stir.Okay, well, it made my blood all rush south to my cock at any rate; it really wasn’t stirring in any other direction.

“Iwill be perfectly safe,”Isaid. “Youdon’t need tocome with me.Noone will trick me so easily again.Iam a full-grown dragon, not a hatchling.I’vebeen around for many centuries.Iknow how to take care of myself.”

“I’mgoing with you,” he said with more force.Heended his statement with a frown.

Mylittle kitty had a stubborn streak.Andhow couldIrefuse when he seemed as reluctant to be away from me asIwas to be away from him?

“Ifyou come with me, you’ll miss breakfast with your parents.Yourmother won’t be happy.”

“I’llgo pack,”Simonsaid.

Andthat was that.

Afew hours later, we were standing in my apartment inAspenBay.Itlooked and smelled the same as when we’d left it a week ago.

“Whatdo we need to do?”Simonasked as he patrolled the perimeter of the main room, looking out each window as he passed it, as if expectingWesleyand his accomplices to storm the building at any minute.