“Well, wasn’t that exciting?”
“Um, what was he?” Beth asked. “Was he a demon?”
Renee broke into laughter, and even Angus lost his angry look and smiled broadly.
“A demon? Gracious, no.”
Naomi shivered. “My cat didn’t like him. She was terrified, but angry at the same time.”
Angus inclined his head. “Indeed, and so she should be.”
Renee agreed. “Yes, she would. It’s a visceral reaction to a subconsciously recognized danger. Trust those feelings.” She tilted her head in the direction the man had disappeared. “Keep in mind, young shifters, there are some things in this world you are better off not knowing about. That man was one of them, despite being a Guardian.”
Angus frowned, his gaze resting on the inn where the Guardian had disappeared. “I knew our unwelcome visitor weeks ago was a manticore. I had no idea, however, that he was a Guardian. Odd, that. I’ve never heard of a manticore being a Guardian.”
Naomi gulped, leaning into Liam. He looked down at her and smiled, pulling her closer against him. Beside her, Beth paled. “Manticore? Like… the manticore of Greek myth?”
“Persian, actually,” Lady Flora corrected with a gentle smile. “But yes, the manticore of mythology has a lion’s body, a human head, and the tail of a scorpion. All mythologic creatures are quite dangerous, but the manticore is even more so than others, and far more inclined to … well. Let’s just say, they are not usually found on the side of good. It is surprising to learn that one is a Guardian.”
Renee echoed Flora’s smile. “All’s well that ends well, though.”
Angus held out his hands, gesturing to Lacey. The kitten’s fur had subsided, but little kitten growls still issued from her throat, punctuated by tiny hisses.
“May I?” he asked Naomi.
“Of course.”
She handed over the kitten, and Angus took her beneath the front legs, holding her dangling before him, so they were staring into each other’s eyes.
“You did well, little one,” he told the kitten. “You sensed danger to your friends, and came to protect them. That is good. But the danger has passed now. Be easy.”
Seraphic blue eyes gazed into Angus’s brown ones, and Lacey blinked slowly, her tail swaying back and forth like a clock’s pendulum, the tip of her tail curled up forming a hook. Man and kitten regarded each other a long moment, then Renee stepped forward, taking Lacey from Angus. She cuddled Lacey in one arm, petting her head.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, young Lacey,” she said. Lacey’s ears pricked forward, and a tiny rumbling purr issued from her throat. “You are welcome here any time.”
A faint frown furrowed Renee’s brows, and a look of intense concentration crossed her face.
Naomi, cuddled securely against Liam’s side, his arm about her, looked questioningly at him. Liam shook his head, as bewildered as she was.
Renee broke into a wide smile, her eyes sparkling brightly. She petted the kitten again. “You have been patient, young one, but your wait is almost over. The one you seek will be arriving, not immediately, but before the beginning of summer.”
Lacey gave a trilling meow, followed by more purrs. Renee moved her hold on the kitten, cradling her in both hands. “Off with you back home, then.”
The kitten disappeared in a poof of sizzling magic.
Beth shook her head. “I wouldn’t have believed it, if I hadn’t seen it. When she first appeared, I almost fell over!”
“I’ll tell you all about her when we’re back inside,” Naomi promised.
“We’d heard of her, but this is her first visit to our inn,” Renee said. “It most certainly won’t be the last. Ah, Martin.” She greeted the young man as he stepped out of the inn, looking curiously at the group gathered on the lawn. “Would you bring Lady Flora’s bags up to her room?”
“Of course, Renee.”
“Thank you, Martin.”
Renee slid her arm through Angus’s, linking elbows, and together the couple, Lady Flora beside them, went on to the inn.
Beth let out a huffy breath. “Okay, now I’m going to die of curiosity,” she announced. Her gazed moved to Liam. “So, in the interests of furthering our lack of education about shifters, and Others, and mythological beings…arethere such thing as demons?”
