Page 13 of Trapped By Clocks and Hearts

She threw her hands up awkwardly while at the same time trying to keep me upright. “I—I found some belladonna in the woods. I just wanted to put you to sleep so I can get the hell out of here. How was I supposed to know the herb would react badly with whatever you are?”

I clutched at my stomach. “Belladonna? Do you mean deadly nightshade?”

Her face fell. “Oh my god, are you dying?”

Before I could turn another exasperated glare onto her, the front door creaking open grabbed my attention.

Chez sauntered through with a confident pronouncement in the lilt of his tone. “The wildlings in the desert finally quieted down. I thought perhaps you were done seducing the girl—” The cat stopped short upon spotting us. “Oh, oops.”

Allie hadn’t noticed the door. More confused than startled, her eyebrows rose, her gaze darting around the loft in a puzzle even as she half-dragged me across the floor. “Who’s seducing what now? Who said that?”

Chez pounced across the floor to settle upon the side table beside my bed. His big, yellow eyes stared up at the two of us as we got closer. “Hey, what the hell is going on here? Is Rabb hurt?”

Allie’s eyes popped wider than the cat’s. “Did that—? That cat just talked— Hey, did you just—?” Pausing, she shook her head briskly. “You know what, never mind. You, talking cat, can you help me with him?”

Licking one paw, Chez mewled. “Not really, since I seem to be a little bit cat-sized.”

Lazy bastard. Rolling my eyes, I grunted as I was unceremoniously plopped onto my bed.

Allie grabbed a blanket and threw it over me. The surprise on her face morphed into derision. “Goodness, I have been petting you all week and you never mentioned that you could talk?”

“Who did you think I was talking to up here this whole time?” I prompted her in mocking.

“How the hell should I know?” Allie threw up her hands. “Nothing makes sense in this world. Well, I mean, I thought the weird forest of talking flowers and trees and caterpillars was just that.” She cast a glance around the room. “What else talks in here? The furniture? The couch? The clock?”

“Just the cat,” Chez replied coolly as he shifted to lounge on his back.

Allie blew out a breath as if to gain her bearings. “Then I suppose we haven’t been formally introduced either.” She read the name on his collar tag. “Chey?”

“No, no. Not Shay.” Chez shook his head. “Chez, like Chezzzz, emphasize the Z. With a Zzz.”

“Do you live here too?” Allie asked Chez.

“Absolutely not!” I managed to wheeze out first.

Allie was watching the stripes on Chez’s fur coat change, the way his eyes occasionally spiraled purple. “He has such a weird grin.”

Chez’s grin widened. “That’s because I’m a Cheshire cat.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means…I’m a Cheshire cat. That’s what it means.”

Allie sighed. “Whatever. This world is odd. I can’t even—” Hands on her hips, she shook her head at Chez. “So, are all animals in this world as eloquent as yourself?”

“Not as eloquent as myself, I should say.” Chez’s reply was a tad haughty. “But I do suppose it’s more common than one might think. Even Rabb’s animal form could speak.”

Blinking in an indignant startle, I had to pointedly cut in, “Hey, that’s none of her business—”

Allie’s eyes were eagerly wide. “Rabb’s got an animal form? What is it?”

Chez replied before I could stop him. “A little white rabbit.”

“Ooh!” Allie cooed—she actually cooed.

I let out another exasperated groan of protest. “That was a long—I mean, I didn’t—” I stopped short and slumped back in bed.

Allie was trying hard to bite back her laughter.