Page 5 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

“Perfect,” Ashly says as she pulls me next to her and snaps a picture. She pats my arm when I start to sputter. “Don’t worry, kitty cat. That’s just for me. I won’t post it on socials.” She blows me a kiss, and I relax.

“People don’t normally want my picture.” I pat my cheeks and hope the redness goes away quickly.

Kensie snorts and shimmies her chest. “Oh, I’m sure Lucien wants to take all kinds of pictures. He’s been eye-fucking you all night long.”

Nope, the redness is never going to go away.

“He was rude.”

Everyone’s eyes snap to me.

Tiffany examines me more closely. “What do you mean by rude?” She goes back to the mirror and dabs a bit more mascara on her lashes.

“He never even had a conversation with me before claiming I’m his. Rude!”

Kensie presses the back of her hand to her forehead and fakes a swoon. “How romantic. That’s almost how me and Norman met. Sexiest damn dragon in all the land, I tell ya. And that dick of his?” She fans herself.

“It’s rude. Why say I’m his when he doesn’t even know me? I could have fleas!” I throw my hands up.

The girls giggle around me.

“What? Fleas are a real problem for some of us shifters.”

Ashly snorts and scratches at her arm, which starts a chain reaction for us all.

“Anyway,” I say. “I want romance. Not insta-lust.” I roll my eyes and move to wash my hands to give me something to do. “I don’t want someone who wants my body. I want someone who wants my heart.”

Tiffany lays a hand on my shoulder. “Lucien is a bit awkward, but he’s a good guy. So are Lars and DJ Vampers.”

I cock a brow. “DJ Vampers? I’m guessing he’s a DJ who’s a vampire?” What a ridiculous name.

Ashly taps her nose. “He is. Real name is Ryan, but at The Rot, it’s DJ Vampers. If you can hop a ride on that D, it’s a real fun time.” She boops my nose, and I playfully swat her away. I like these chicks.

Tiffany gives me the address to the waffle place, and I plug it into my phone.

“Oh.” Ashly grabs said phone. “Do you have the LoveSpell 3? I can’t get mine to work unless my partner is around.” She pouts and hands my phone back.

“Mine’s a WitchBrew Two,” I mumble. I seriously need an upgrade, but I’ve been saving my money for something else.

“The WitchBrews were a limited run. How did you get one?” Kensie asks.

“I live in Hex. None of the Night Guard phones are limited in the sanctuary towns.”

They all nod.

“Makes sense,” Tiffany says. “Think we drove our men wild long enough?” She nods to the door.

I chuckle and follow them back out of the bathroom. Of course, the demon, Lucien, clocks me as soon as we exit. I lift my nose in the air and pretend he doesn’t exist. My tail betrays my interest, though, and sways seductively behind me. Traitor.

Lucien smiles like he already knows he’ll win. Screw him. If he wants this cat, he better learn how to romance one.

4

LUCIEN

“I still can’t stop laughing at the face you made when the cat left with the girls,” Lars says. He wipes down the counter as we clean The Rot from last night’s Halloween bash.

“He was right,” I say.