Page 58

Azaren's expression sharpened instantly. "What?"

I looked wildly around the clearing. "Reggie."

The word came out as little more than a whisper. My stomach dropped. "Reggie!"

How could I have forgotten about my heroic cat. Without him we might still be stumbling through the woods looking for the creature. If anything happened to him…

I spun toward the trees. "Reggie?"

Nothing answered. Panic clawed its way into my chest. "Reggie!"

My voice echoed through the quiet woods. No sarcastic meow. No indignant complaint. Just birdsong.

"Oh no..." I whispered, my eyes stinging. "He led us here."

He'd stood his ground. Warned us. Saved us. And in all the chaos... I'd forgotten him.

"I'm so sorry," I choked out. "Reggie!"

A branch rustled overhead. "Mrrrow."

I whipped around so fast I nearly fell. Halfway up an old oak, one bright green eye regarded me with unmistakable irritation. "Reggie!"

Relief hit me so hard my knees nearly buckled. My beloved cat stretched leisurely, as though he'd merely climbed the tree for a better view, then made his unhurried way down the trunk. The moment he reached the ground, he sauntered straight toward me, purring loud enough to rattle his own whiskers.

I dropped to my knees and scooped him into my arms. "Oh, you awful, wonderful cat."

He tolerated exactly one squeeze before butting his head against my chin with a loud, demanding purr. A sob escaped me. "I thought I'd lost you."

Behind me, Azaren folded his arms. "I was prepared to climb the tree."

I looked up. "You were?"

"I was also prepared to kill that menace myself for causing you such distress."

I laughed through my tears. "You'd miss him."

"I most certainly would not."

Reggie opened one eye, looked directly at Azaren... and purred even louder. Azaren sighed toward the heavens.

"I dislike that creature."

"You love him."

"I tolerate his continued existence."

"That's practically affection coming from you."

Reggie settled comfortably in my arms as I kissed the top of his fuzzy little head. "You ready to go home?"

Reggie snuggled closer into me, something he rarely did and I enjoyed every second of it.

I slipped my hand into his. "So..." I smiled up at him. "Now can you fly us home?"

He gestured at the cat. "You expect me to fly that as well?"

I glanced down at Reggie who barely blinked lazily at Azaren, entirely unbothered. "He's very lightweight."