Page 6 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

Ryan, AKA DJ Vampers, puts his hands on his hips and pouts. “I wish I was there.”

Lars makes kissing noises. “You were too busy doing your job or getting fucked to notice. You kept disappearing last night.”

Ryan rolls his eyes. “Sue me. Coren has an amazing dick.”

Lars grabs his crotch. “Baby, I got a knot.” He blows Ryan a kiss, and the vampire pretends to catch it.

“One day you’re gonna finally fuck,” I say and straighten a few bottles of Fae alcohol on the shelf.

Ryan bats his lashes. “One day.” He sighs. “But not today. Wolfie wants monogamy, and I’m not at that point in my life.” He shrugs before spinning on a bar stool. “What’s the plan for the day?” He claps his hands and rubs them together.

Lars shakes his head and continues to wipe down the counter.

“My plan,” I say, “is to finally visit the bakery in Hex. I’ve been meaning to for years, anyway.”

Ryan and Lars laugh together as if on cue.

“Oh, sure,” Lars says. “It has nothing to do with trying to catch a glimpse of the cat, right?” He tosses his used rag into the sink and turns to face me.

“Of course I want to glimpse the cat. I spent half the night eavesdropping. He lives in Hex, and he goes to the bakery every morning with his friends. He’ll be surrounded. You’ll both come with me to show I’m not a threat. And...”

Lars holds up his hands.

Ryan just shakes his head. “What if we have plans? You didn’t even ask.”

I roll my eyes for the thousandth time this morning. “Do you want to come with me to watch me make a fool of myself in front of an entire bakery just to see a pretty kitty cat again?”

Lars can’t hold in his laugh. “When you put it that way, absolutely.” He looks over at Ryan.

He shrugs, trying to seem nonchalant, but his curiosity gets the best of him. “As long as we get a table someplace I won’t burn in the sun.”

“I won’t let you burn, my friend. We’ll enjoy a nice breakfast, then you can go on your merry way.” We won’t open again until Friday. Halloween was an exception. I couldn’t be closed for one of our biggest nights of the year.

“You buying?” Lars asks.

“My treat,” I say. “But I think the entertainment will be worth the trip.” What if Sparkle doesn’t show, though? I shake the thought from my head. There’s no reason for him to deviate from his usual routine.

“Can we take the truck?” Lars asks as I lift my hand, poised to snap.

Ryan rolls his eyes as he drags a hand down his body. “Vampire. Doesn’t do well in sunlight. Do you want me to die?”

“Ugh, I always get sick when he teleports us.” Lars glares at me and I shrug.

“Fastest way to get anywhere.”

“But I don’t get sick when other demons teleport me.” Lars crosses his arms.

I roll my eyes. “Sorry, I’ll be more gentle. Hold my hand.” It’s gentler to transport when touching, but I prefer the snap method. So much faster and much more impressive if you know anything about the mechanics of teleporting.

Lars huffs, but does what I asked. Ryan drops his hand on my shoulder and before Lars can say another word, the world folds. The smell of coffee and baked goods replaces the scent of cleaning supplies.

Lars immediately bends over and clutches his knees. “Ugh, didn’t help.”

I rub my hand down his back. “Sorry, Wolfie. Maybe you just can’t tolerate the magic of higher demons.”

He holds up a hand. “I’m fine. Just needed my head to stop spinning.”

Ryan races to a dark corner, and I stifle a laugh. “This is Hex, every building accommodates vampires.”