Page 30 of Death Dance

Well, I was so busted I may as well go dig out the cuffs and hold out my hands to be escorted to my cell. “Maybe.”

“Definitely,” he replied in a tone indicating he’d find some way to make me pay if I didn’t confess my sins immediately.

Color me unsurprised. Ruthless man.

“Fine. I definitely did not feel like I could ask. I mean, I took over the entire brood. And I even knew people had dogs, since I had a present wrapped in a dog biscuit box.”

“You can keep the kitten. Let’s just make this easy, Charlie. Are there any suites on board this ship capable of handling two vampires and five kittens?”

“As a matter of fact, there are,” my father said, and he pointed up. “The upper level smokestack suites are all suitable for two people and numerous cats. The stern stack is the largest of them and covers two floors. It also boasts the best view. The forecastle smokestack also covers two floors but it’s a little smaller. Some spaces are for the captain’s quarters and navigation bridge. That is my personal suite as well. The captain’s quarters are below mine.”

“Show us the stern suite,” I requested. “Perhaps being on the opposite end of the ship from you will keep us from attempting to murder each other—or shocking everyone around us should we decide to show any affection.”

Emerick snickered. “You’re just mad because you’ve decided you actually like your father.”

“I might even confess some love for my father should he help us find unclaimed female kittens to take home with us.”

My father sighed. “Very well. Do you want to see the suite before or after you catch your kittens?”

I didn’t need to think about that in the slightest. “Kittens first, suite second. We can use the suite to contain the kittens until we get cat carriers.”

Adelmo snickered. “We have spare carriers. I will get five, and I will inform the crew we are to catch all the strays. Are we permitted to shapeshift, Charlie?”

“That’s the only way we’re going to be catching a bunch of semi-feral kittens tonight. All I ask is that all venomous and poisonous shifters take care. If my daughter starts crying because of a hurt kitten, we will never hear the end of it.”

That much I could confirm to be the complete and total truth. “We should shift, too, Emerick.”

“If you feel a need to stretch your furry legs, then we can work on your shapeshifting lessons. Perhaps your father will have better luck getting you to shift intentionally.”

“It’s no fault of yours or hers, Emerick,” my father said with a smile. “You have been trying to teach a bird to be a cat, and while you’ve done an admirable job with such things, she will have an easier time learning from me. She is the light to your darkness, and a few simple changes in her teaching should make it easier on her. Fur the color of sun and fire, for example, will be much easier for her to embrace than your sleek black.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea. We’ll call this beauty Sunshine, Emerick. She certainly has a sunny disposition.”

The kitten, who was hard at work chewing on my hand, purred.

“I think she’s hungry and expecting you to feed her,” my husband replied in a doubtful tone.

“If my place in this world is to be a feeder of kittens, then so be it.”