Page 24 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

Sparkle's face turns pink, and he scratches at his elbow.

“I'm guessing you had fleas?” I can’t help the question.

“Shut up,” Sparkle mumbles. “I was like ten, and I was a cat for like three hours in the sunlight with another cat, and it gave me fleas. Yes. I'm not a fan. So it's probably a good thing that we keep the flea powder.”

“Mama's gonna be mad if we’re late,” Ferris says.

“No, she won't be,” Sparkle says. “She's never mad about anything.” He gives me a sheepish look. “I would appreciate transport home, if you don't mind. That way, we don't have to walk so much.”

“And he ran,” Ferris says. “All the way to my school. That was a long run from the Hawthorn Coven House.”

Sparkle goes pink again. “It was nothing.”

I clap my hands. “Well, how about we get this show on the road? Do you need a ride, Beau?”

“No, Poe is gonna meet me here. Then we’re gonna get all dolled up before meeting my grandparents.”

“Enjoy your time with your grandparents.” I turn to Sparkle. “I just need to know the location of where I'm going.”

Sparkle gives me the address, and I wink at Ferris. This is going to blow his mind. In a blink we’re right on the Boots’s porch. Ferris and Sparkle sway.

“That was awesome,” Ferris says. “I didn’t know demons can teleport without touching.”

“Some of us can.”

Ferris bounces on his toes and spins around. “That was so cool. And⁠—”

“Frederick.”

The name makes Sparkle go pale, and he pushes me from the porch.

“Get out of here,” he hisses.

“Who is that?”

“Papa!” Ferris says, answering the question.

“Go!” Sparkle says. And I do, because the anger in his eyes tells me he’s serious.

12

SPARKLE

I turn and face Father and his glare.

“Who was that, Frederick?”

I whip my tail. “My name is Sparkle, and I'd appreciate it if you remember that.” Ferris sucks in a breath. His hands go to his mouth, and his eyes go so wide. Dad's face goes bright red.

Mama peeks her head from around the door. “There you are, boys. Why don't you come in? It's unfortunate the surprise is spoiled, though. Well, one of them. The twins are on their way. That's another surprise, don't you think?”

I nod and walk around Father to get inside, but he grabs me by the shoulder. “We need to talk.”

I shrug him off. "Right now? We need to talk right now," I say, copping a tiny bit of an attitude. Which probably isn't my best look, but here we are.

“Yes, right now.” He drags me back out onto the porch and slams the door shut behind him. “Just the two of us. Sit.” He points to the porch swing.

I cross my arms and lean against the house. “I'd rather stand.”