Page 76 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

“Doesn’t matter.”

I laugh and settle against him. Lucien’s arms close around me, one hand finding its way back into my hair while my tail curls comfortably around his leg.

Tomorrow, Lucien gets his turn. And I have absolutely no fucking clue what I’m going to do with him.

26

SPARKLE

I stare at the blank note on my phone. Things Lucien Likes This should not be hard. He likes me. Obviously. He likes The Rot. He likes teleporting. He likes annoying Lars and Ryan. He likes calling me kitty cat. He likes pastries. He likes showing off. He likes kissing me. He likes magic. He likes following the Guide.

I flop backward onto my couch and nearly disappear into the mountain of decorative pillows. One lands over my face, and I leave it there for a moment while I think.

Lucien has spent weeks learning me. He knows I like purple ribbons in my tail. He knows I don’t have a huge sweet tooth. He knows I like being groomed and that I need time alone even when I want someone close. He took my ridiculous teenage Guide and treated it like sacred instructions.

Now it’s my turn, and I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. I shove the pillow away and grab my phone again. Things Lucien Likes. The Rot. Being annoying. Teleporting. Threatening Papa. Fancy alcohol. I stare at the list.

“Oh, this is terrible.”

My apartment offers no advice. I could ask Lucien what he wants to do, but that defeats the whole point. I want to surprise him. I want to prove I’ve been paying attention too.

The problem is, I’m starting to think Lucien doesn’t know what he does for fun either.

Every time I ask about his life, somehow the answer circles back to work. Tracking. The Rot. Suppliers. Employees. Something that broke. Something he fixed. Somewhere he had to go because another demon needed him. It sounds uncomfortably familiar. I sit up. Well. That’s annoying. I’ve spent most of my life defining myself by what I do for everyone else, and apparently I picked a demon who does the exact same shit. Different font. Same problem.

I open my messages and scroll until I find Ryan.

Sparkle: I need information.

He answers almost immediately.

Ryan: This sounds ominous.

Sparkle: What does Lucien do for fun?

The typing bubble appears. Disappears. Appears again.

Ryan: The Rot?

I groan.

Sparkle: NOT WORK.

Ryan: Oh.

A full minute passes.

Ryan: Annoy Lars?

Sparkle: That is also not a hobby.

Ryan: Lucien would disagree.

I roll my eyes and switch to Lars.

Sparkle: What does Lucien actually like doing when he’s not working?

His response takes longer.