Page 11 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

I really could use some rest, but I’d rather show up every morning to be with my friends. Sometimes I wonder why they chose to stay in Hex at all. All of them can roam the world without being seen as a freak. Lark and Wren simply have to glamour away their wings. Gabe and Beau have fully human sides. And then there’s me. A cat shifter that can’t fully shift to human like the rest of my family.

Mama says there’s nothing wrong with me. Papa barely acknowledges me when he’s home every couple of years. Maybe it’s because of work. Maybe it’s because his oldest son never learned to look fully human. I don’t ask anymore. My cat comes easily. Maybe too easy. Some days I want to just be a cat and run away. Run from my family, from Hex. I love my family, but I’m overwhelmed. So damn overwhelmed. I didn’t have to get a job, but I needed it for my own mental health.

Sure, working in a club might not be ideal if you ask my papa. But he wasn’t here, and the kittens were overwhelming, and Drake offered me a chance to breathe. I wanted to explore the human world with no way to do it. Until Drake.

6

LUCIEN

Lars and Ryan are gone, doing their own thing for the rest of the week. I can’t stop thinking about Sparkle. The wave of loneliness comes off him even with his friends. It breaks my heart. I have to wonder why he doesn’t shift out of the ears and tail. Does he like the look? I do. I think it’s rather adorable. It’s probably a little messed up to want to pet someone you’re trying to woo, but I’d love to have him curled in my lap. I’d stroke his pretty fur and tell him he’s a good boy. I’d brush his fur until it’s silky smooth.

I shake my head. Why does Sparkle have me in such a chokehold?

Lars: Hey boss man, we got an interesting email through the website I think you’ll wanna see.

Lucien: forward it to me.

I open the email once it hits my notifications.

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

My name’s Beau. Sparkle is one of my best friends. Without him, I’d have a crippling fear of the outside world, but he helped me. I want to help him. We all love him, but he deserves someone who cherishes him. I attached a picture of what he calls his guide to romance. I hope this helps!

Do I open the attachment? Yes. The picture is of a very glittery bright pink paper with a list of eleven things Sparkle wants in romance. This little bat shifter just gave me the key to wooing this pretty kitty.

Tomorrow morning, Operation Woo Sparkle begins.

7

CAT’S GUIDE TO ROMANCE

Tummy rubs and head pats. Let me rub myself all over you. Groom me. Play with my hair.

Sing to me. Write me a song?

Hold my hand.

Kiss me slow. Make my toes curl and steal my breath. I want the world to stop for just a moment. Give me fireworks and cannon fire.

Alone time is essential, but don’t ignore me.

We’ll go on cute little dates. We can pick flowers. Stargaze. Dance.

I can’t fully shift into a human form, so you’ll have to accept that. Even if I haven’t.

You have to accept my family. We’re close and I won’t abandon them.

Make me laugh.

Tell me how much you love me. What do you love about me?

Let me rain affection on you at all times.

8

SPARKLE

As usual, the guys and I meet up at Wick’s. Ferris whined the entire walk to his school and I’m so ready for some adult time. Not that I don’t love my little brother, I do. I really really do. He’s a sweet kid and I adore him, but I wish I didn’t have to walk him to and from school. If someone doesn’t, he gets distracted and doesn’t show up to class on time. Then mama gets a phone call and Ferris gets in trouble and we don’t want that.