Page 93 of Cats Never Fly

Asif summoned by my thoughts,Gage,Van, and the others appeared from all directions.Someentered through the doorway that the mage and the demon were supposed to be defending.Otherscame from behind me, probablythrough the door that the troll had been tasked with locking.Iknew she hadn’t been gone long enough to do that.

Ineeded to tell them to leave the demon alone!

“Youlied.”Themage’s accusation was low and full of menace as he glared at the demon.Thenhe did something with his hand, squeezing it into a fist.Solon’swhole body trembled, and his limbs flailed.

“They… must… have… used… portal…” he lied.

Teddy’snostrils flared.Thering on his finger glowed an eerie lime green color. “Goodfucking idea.Opena portal, now.”

ButSolongritted his teeth and fought the order.Hisbody convulsed and jerked under whatever power the mage wielded.

“Now, demon!”

Noportal appeared.

“Thedemon isn’t bad!”Ishouted and prayed my deduction was right.

Gagescanned the room, taking in the whole situation.

“Themage is controlling the demon,”Ishouted again—you know, just in case the others, who were far smarter than me, hadn’t figured it out yet.

Theneveryone seemed to move at once.Thehuman was running in one direction.Thetroll was waddling after him.Themage was still squeezing the life out of the demon.Andall my… friends?Yes.Iguess they were my friends after going through all this with me.Myfriends were all chasing down the bad guys or rushing to fight the mage.

Butme?

Ionly had eyes for my dragon.Hiseyelids flutteredlike he was fighting to wake up.Isuspected he still had drugs in his system and he’d spent his energy spewing his fiery electrical cocktail at the bear.Evenseated as he was, he tilted to the side like a drunk at closing time.

“Ogden?”

Hedidn’t respond.

“Ogden!”

Stillnothing.

Whathad they done to him?

Ieyed the bars of the cage.Theyweren’t too close together…Ibrought my head up to the cage.Thebars brushed my whiskers, but not uncomfortably so.Ipushed forward, squeezing through the bars.ThenIwas in.Ibrushed up against my dragon, nudging my head against his hand.Whenhe still didn’t move,Inipped at his finger.

Ogdenstartled awake.

“Simon,” he whispered.Hisvoice sounded hoarse and scratchy.Thescent of his fear grew stronger. “Run, kitty cat.Yougotta get out of here.”

“I’mnot leaving you,”Isaid. “We’regoing to get you out of here.Nowcross your legs soIcan sit in your lap.Noone needs to see your…”Theword wouldn’t leave my mouth.Itwas bad enough thatI’dsworn in my head earlier.Icouldn’t say the first word that came to mind.AndnowIcouldn’t think of what else to call… um, it.

Ogden’slaugh sounded a bit like a sob as he picked me up with trembling arms and hugged me.

“Ilove you, my kitty cat,” he said.Hepushed his tear-dampened face into my fur. “Ididn’t thinkI’dget to tell you that.”

“Ilove you too,Ogden.”Mywords sounded odd andrumbly, becauseIcouldn’t stop purring.Isearched for the link that joined us.Itwasn’t as obvious to me as it might have been toTeague, butIfound it.AndwhenIdid,Ipoured all the love and energyIcould into it. “Iwas so scared we wouldn’t find you in time and thatI’dlost you.”

“Iwish you weren’t in your cat form right now,”Ogdenwhispered against my fur. “Youdon’t know how badlyIwant to hug you and kiss you.ButIdon’t think we’d both fit in here if you shifted now.”

Chapter Thirty

OGDEN

Iheld tight toSimon’sfurry body, wishingIcould get out of this damn cage.Havingmy mate close did miracles for me.Icould actually feel my magic growing stronger and my energy levels rising as our magics entwined.Itwas crazy.I’dnever heard of anything like that happening, although who wouldIhave asked?