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“I just know,” I impatiently said, my voice almost a snap.
I thought he’d push me, but Aristide nodded and adjusted his hold on the harness. “Ker,” he said. “After Charon—shortest path possible. Noctus, be a pal and warn me if I’m about to walk off a step, would you?”
I relaxed. “Of course. I’ll get the door.”
* * *
The front door of “Paw-Pals Rescue”groaned when I yanked it open.
Control, I reminded myself.This is already a huge risk. I need to reduce any variable that could make it worse. That means I can’t flash my magic around, either.
Charon held the door open for Aristide and Ker, slipping in after them.
A human poked her head into the reception room, blinking in confusion when she saw me, then my friends.
“Hello, welcome to Paw-Pals Rescue. I’d love to help you, Mr…” She trailed off and smiled brightly.
I held out Charon’s cellphone, with Chloe’s picture pulled up. “I’d like to see this cat.”
The woman took the phone, her lips forming an ‘o’. “I’m sorry, but this cat is injured—she isn’t available for adoption just yet. We have a vet coming to see her shortly. Once he gives a diagnosis and health plan, I’d be happy to call you if you’d like to leave your information—”
“She’s my cat,” I interrupted, trying to mentally throw the woman off balance. “Her name is Ama. I’ve been looking for her.”
“Oh.” The woman blinked. “I guess I could bring her out to see if she recognizes you, but she’s quite upset. She’s been growling and hissing at potential adopters whenever she wakes up.” She glanced worriedly at Ker.
“The dog is well socialized with cats.” I burned with the desire to flash my powers at this woman and dazzle her, just so I could get back to Chloe faster, but I couldn’t give in to the juvenile thought.
“The dog’s name isSpot,” Aristide announced with a haughtiness typically reserved for royalty. “And she will be perfectly behaved.” He nudged Ker, who brought him a few steps closer to the woman until he stood directly in front of her. “As for Ama, I’m sure she must be terrified, and is deeply missing her…owner. My friend has been working himself to death with missing her since they have a bond beyond regular pethood. Could you please find it in your heart to take us back to her?”
Aristide’s not-so-subtle attempts to needle me were washed out by the vampire pheromones he was positively oozing as he smiled in the woman’s direction, magnifying his vampiric powers.
Charon, myself, and even Ker looked up at Aristide in surprise. He rarely used his vampire pheromones—a sort of vampiric version of my own dazzle powers that essentially let him twitterpate his way into manipulating humans. That he was using them now…
The woman’s jaw slackened. “Sure,” she said, sounding dazed. “This way.”
My shoulders relaxed as the woman shuffled off to a door. I glanced at Aristide, who was shivering in revulsion. “Thank you.”
Aristide reached out, and I shifted so he could put his hand on my shoulder. “We’ve got you, Noctus,” he said in a quiet, serious voice. “Let’s go get Chloe.”
We followed the woman into a back room, where there was a wall lined with metal cages, each occupied by a feline.
I scanned the wall, searching for Chloe. Initially a couple of the cats pressed their faces against their cage doors in curiosity, until they sensed Ker and immediately backed into a corner.
Only one cage was still, and it was occupied by a black lump.
Chloe.
I had to clench my hands in impatience as the human unlocked the cage door, revealing Chloe, limply splayed across a bed.
“Here she is. Is she really your Ama?”
Chloe raised her head—her eyes weren’t focusing correctly, and if I had to guess, she wasn’t standing because shecouldn’t—and hissed.
The human raised an eyebrow at me, but I ignored her and reached into the cage.
Chloe growled, her fur puffing up, and plastered her black ears against her skull.
I ignored the warning and picked her up, cradling her against my chest.
