Page 69 of Whiskers on Kittens

“Aunt Kelsie? Is this your house?” Mollie asked, pointing at the guest house.

I smiled at the kitten, scooped her up, and settled her on my hip. “That’s the guest house, baby.” I pointed at my actual house. “That’s where I live. Once upon a time, the guest house had burned down, and I bought it and renovated it so it looked almost exactly like it did before the fire. I just use it to park my cars now.”

I would have to figure out how to park my cars in the future, as I doubted I would have sufficient spots. Then again, with the Devil helping my cause, I could rig a basement below the guest house with a garage.

I added it to my mental list of things to do next year.

“It’s pretty!” Mollie declared.

Laughing, I asked Easton to grab my purse, as the kittens swarmed me, resulting in my inability to use my hands for anything other than containing them. He opened the front door, where an entire herd of people loitered in my home.

Among them were the parents of the kittens. Before I had a chance to say a word, the boys spotted their father, shrieked, and led the charge. Mollie wiggled until I released her, and she beelined straight for her mother. After the initial shrieking and screaming subsided, the kittens lost their minds, bouncing around in their effort to greet both of their parents at the same time.

I heaved a relieved sigh.

My mother pointed and laughed at me. “Now you know how I felt raising you.”

I resisted the urge to display my middle finger at her. “I was a perfect kitten from birth. I knew how to use my indoor voice!”

“You did not use your indoor voice until you were eight, girl.” My father came over and kissed my cheeks. “Groceries were delivered an hour ago. Should we be having a discussion about being in cahoots with devils and demons again?”

“I cahoot with vampires and angels, too, Dad. If you try to discuss all the cahooting I’ve done, I’ll just end up with coal for all eternity. I don’t want coal.” At the current hour, if I got to work immediately, dinner would be ready on time. “Easton, hold down the fort. I have to cook.”

“I feel the people inhabiting your home are holding down the fort just fine. I’ll help in the kitchen.”

“Greet your parents first, say nice things to your brothers, and then come to the kitchen. I have to see what they bought.”

While he heaved a sigh, Easton did as told, heading to a couple. To my surprise, Easton had taken after his mother, and while she carried signs of aging, she remained beautiful. His father made an excellent silver fox, promising good things to come for his son.

I’d introduce myself after I had the chaos in the kitchen sorted, and I scampered off to do my work.

A presence in the kitchen made me pause, a force invisible to my sight. A moment later, Lucifer appeared with a faint hint of brimstone.

“It is as you wanted, Father,” the Devil stated in a quiet tone.

“So it is,” He replied. “And this is your latest kitten? She abandoned her wolf, leaving him with the sharks.”

“He’s man and wolf enough to handle a few sharks, and she’s not the type to overly protect her male. You are satisfied with your miracle?”

“I am satisfied. I wanted to thank you in person, Kelsie. You have done great good with minimal evil. I would apologize for the inconveniences you face because of your willingness to take on my work, but in the end, all will be as it should be. You should, if you would accept a little advice, indicate to your wolf that you would welcome his advances. He is uncertain on how he should proceed.”

Right. I hunted a shy wolf. “Lucifer, convince him.” I pointed in the direction of the entry where everyone had converged for our return. “And make sure the sharks don’t eat my wolf. I happen to like him and want to keep him around. He needs to understand he still has the freedom of choice but that he can be a little more aggressive. Also, where is my Acura? And can you create an underground parking garage below the guest house?”

“I foresaw that need already, and it’s mostly installed, we just have to build the ramp to access it,” the Devil admitted. “As for the Acura, that was not my doing.”

“It was mine. It offended me. I had a few of my other sons handle the work. They need more exposure to humanity, so I made them go to a car dealership or three on your behalf. They learn about cars, and this fascinates them. They will bring something suitable for you in the next few days. Your Acura, while lovely, was becoming quite long in the tooth.”

“Are you calling my family car old?”

“I am calling it ancient. The kittens are younger than it is, and that will not do. I will tattle on you, as your wolf believes it to be a newer vehicle when it is not.”

Hmph. “It was plenty new.”

“It was not new enough. My sons are also taking care of procuring a suitable vehicle for your wolf.”

I realized I’d left my Lexus with the Devil, which meant it was likely doomed. “What did you do with my Lexus, Lucifer?”

“My son-in-law has stated your Lexus will not bring shame to your garage, so she’s having her maintenance done. She will be returned to you with a fresh coat of paint and rust treatments. The color will be the same, as you like the color.”