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But I’m failing. As I’m failing at everything else.
Charlie continued to rant. “Did you just ignore me? Are you really just going to pretend I’m not here? I’m sorry, okay? I don’t think you’re crazy, and I’m sorry.”
“That doesn’t seem very genuine, Charlie,” I whispered.
He growled back, “I’d like to see you do better when you’re faced with this infuriating demon-cat.”
Taking a step toward the fridge, I called softly, “Little Cat, please come down, change back, and talk to us. We didn’t know how we were making you feel. We understand you are concerned, and you have every right to be.” She huffed but stopped licking her paw, turned, and lay down to stare down at me with those familiar violet eyes. “We are all new to being in a relationship, and it is more complicated when there are more than two of us. We are going to make mistakes, but we all want to support each other. We are here for you, Clawdia. Come down.”
“You do the apologies from now on,” Charlie whispered.
“Please?” I didn’t take my eyes from her, hoping she could see the honest intentions in my eyes.
She glared but sat up. I thought it was a positive sign until her pawtap,tap,tappeda small bowl next to her and pushed it straight off the top of the fridge. It shattered with a loud crash across the wooden flooring, pieces of pottery scattered in all shapes and shards. She watched the destruction expressionlessly, huffed again, and turned back around.
“You’re going to break shit now? Is that the kind of woman you are? You’re telling us you aren’t crazy, but you’re smashing bowls?” Charlie yelled, outraged.
“Really, Little Cat, this bowl was innocent in our disagreement.” I bent to begin picking up the pieces.
Charlie made an exasperated growl and then also bent to help me. “Unbelievable,” he muttered. “I feel like I’ve gone back in time.”
“Why do you feel you have traveled back in time?” I asked.
“This is what I put up with every day before you guys arrived. The fucking sass, cheek, and temperamental behavior of a feline.” He glared up at the fridge again. “I swear to God, Clawdia, I know you’ve got a human brain now, so I’m not going to put up with this shit. Change back and explain yourself like a grown-up.”
“I think she is a little past the demands now, Charlie.”
“She’s being so …” He growled again. “How are you so calm right now?”
“If she’s ignoring us, and especially ignoring us in her cat form, it’s because she needs time. I’m just disappointed she sought to destroy this bowl instead of talking to us.” I poured the shards into the bin and saw her sink low, flattening herself along the top of the fridge and curling her tail around herself.
“Ah, the old, ‘I’m not angry, just disappointed’ adage. That might make her wise up.” Charlie chuckled, but I glared at him. He raised his hands. “All right, I’ll shut up.”
Voice’s from outside the medical center alerted us to the presence of others, and I quickly picked up the clothes from the floor and folded the items into small bundles as the door opened.
“Ah,” Joseph said as he stepped into the room and spotted us. He was followed by Sigurd and Elizabeth. “We hoped to find you all here. How is your friend?”
“Awake,” I informed them.
“And yet Clawdia is in her feline form and ignoring us. Is something wrong?” Elizabeth asked.
“Just an argument. You know how temperamental cats are. Loving the belly rubs one minute, and biting your hand off the next,” Charlie told her loudly, and Clawdia quickly turned around to hiss at him. He waved his hand in her direction. “See what I mean?”
“I suggest you stop attempting to irritate her before she really does bite your hand,” I mumbled.
Joseph coughed. “Your friend. Has he mentioned how he got here?”
Baelen opened the bedroom door at that exact moment, dressed in the clothes we managed to gather for him. He joined us in the center of the room, the picture of confidence and self-assuredness.
“Unfortunately, I’m unable to say exactly how I got here, but I can assure you there is no way to replicate the process. I’m special.” He winked, and I frowned. That was very uncharacteristic.
“How fortunate,” Joseph replied slowly with narrowed eyes.
Sigurd raised his brow. “I understand you cannot speak of it, but I am so curious to know how you did it. After all, my purpose is to prevent portals.”
Baelen shrugged like the entire matter was inconsequential. “You must not have had the blood of the titan gods. As I am their son, I portaled.”
Sigurd rubbed his chin. “I did have titan blood.”
