Page 97 of Cats Never Fly

Somesupes begged to be free, but some were quietly resigned to whatever might happen next.Thosequiet ones worried me.Howlong had they been held in captivity thatthey assumed we were their new owners, and believed their situation wouldn’t improve?

I’donly been in a cage for a short time, butIexpected that helpless feeling would linger for a while.Inever wanted to be trapped like that again.Ever.Infact,Iwasn’t all that keen on small rooms, either.Simon’splace was okay for now, butIneeded big.Myhoard room alone needed to be at least four times the size of my current one.Ineeded room to shift.Ineeded room to cuddle with my mate.

I’dheard of some truly spectacular supernatural architects.WhenIgot home—and wasn’t it peculiar to callSimon’sapartment home?—Iwould start reviewing their portfolios.AndI’dneed a real estate agent.Weneeded some land, preferably somewhereSimon’smother and her network of nosy locals couldn’t spy on us.

“Police!” someone shouted from the door.

“We’vealready apprehended the suspects,”Vanshouted back.Heheaved a sigh, then pushed to his feet to brief the other police officers.Aftera few terse commands, someone jogged toward us.

“Whichone of you isTeague?I’mhere to help you.I’mtrained in supernatural medicine.”

“You’llhave to wait for me to open the cages, but you can tend to them once they are out,”Teaguesaid to the officer. “Ican’t manage both things.”

Iwanted to help, but now that we’d neutralized the threats, my energy was fading again.SoIletSimonguide me to a sunny patch of grass.Heleft only long enough to unearth a blanket from somewhere.Thenhe settled beside me and draped it over my bare shoulders.

Moreparamedics arrived soon after.Theycame around handing out bottles of water and magic replenishing foods.SimonandIshared a couple of tins of tuna.Freshfish would have been better, but we could make do.Beingclose toSimonwas also helping to fix my magic.Itmust have had something to do with the whistle, becauseInormally needed a lot more to balance my magic.Iworried he was pushing magic into me at his own expense, soItricked him into eating a larger portion of fish.

Aswe ate,Simondescribed all the things that had happened while we were apart.

Ihad mixed feelings aboutWesley’sdeath and knewI’dhave to sit with it for a while.I’dthought he was my friend, but he’d betrayed me.He’dalmost cost me my freedom.Wasit over money?Orhad something else driven him to that extreme?ShouldIhave seen it coming?CouldIhave prevented this ifI’dgiven him a raise or full management ofTheDrunkenDrake?

Thoughtslike that were futile, but feelings of guilt, warranted or not, lingered.AndwhenSimontold me about jumping off the building?I’dhyperventilated so severely the paramedics rushed over, put a paper bag over my mouth, and told me to breathe slowly.Forthe record, holding a paper bag over a dragon’s mouth when they’re upset is a shitty plan, because then there was a fire to deal with on top of everything else.

Simondidn’t say anything more after that.Hepulled me onto his lap and rocked me back and forth.Slowly, the area filled with all the other naked former prisoners.Moreblankets were procured and distributed.

Whenit appeared the last of the prisoners had beenreleased and no one new had emerged from the building for a few minutes,Istruggled to my feet.Igripped the blanket around my hips and staggered toward the door.

“Ogden?Whereare you going?”

“Ihaven’t seenMorganyet.Iwant to check on him…”

Simonmade a soft noise.Istopped and looked at him.

“What?”

“Morganisn’t here,Ogden.Hewas pushed through a portal.He’sgone.”

“No…Thatcan’t be…”

“I’msorry.Itried to stop them.”Simon’seyes were glossy as he clasped his hands in front of his chest.

“Hewas just here…”Istared at the building.

“Wait…Ithrew the tracking device in after him.”Simonscrambled to his feet and dashed towardOfficerHellhound. “Van!”

Simonexplained what’d happened, andVanmade a call.Beforethe call ended,Iknew it wasn’t good news.

“Theycan’t find the fucking signal,”Vansaid.Hiseyes showed the fire of his hellhound.

“Whatdoes that mean?”

“Eithersomething is blocking the signal or it’s been destroyed.”Thehellhound clenched his teeth.

“Couldit be out of range?”

Heshook his head. “Themagic and the technology combined should make it traceable anywhere.”

Simon’sshoulders drooped. “Ishould have jumped in after him.Ishould have…”