Page 72 of Only Human in Strangeville

“Very,” Katsuro agreed. “In all my years, I’ve only seen one other.”

I thought back to Twister, and his promise that I would see him again. Perhaps sooner rather than later, Katsuro will have seen three. Though I didn’t know my temporary guide well, I certainly missed him already.

“But they come from somewhere, right?”

Katsuro nodded. “It’s long been thought they mostly live on another plane of magic and occasionally venture to our world. When they come on their own, they almost always bond with a human, and we suspect they like humans just as much as Earth dogs do.”

Nimbus rooed enthusiastically and practically jumped in my lap.

I laughed and wrapped my arms around him. “I like you too, buddy.”

“Okay, so we’ll take that as a confirmation of that theory,” Davin said with a laugh.

“So, if they’ve figured out how to get to their home plane, that’s a problem, right?” I buried my fingers in Nimbus’s ruff.

“If I may,” Clare said. “I see a little in regard to this problem. I think their home plane is still inaccessible to the uninvited. I feel it more likely that they’ve found a way to trick the cloud puppies, or possibly call them, and with a bit more work, could reliably trap them. It is a problem we should address. They are beings to be cherished, not imprisoned. However, the first thing will be to deal with Vito and his gang. We must return to Beechworth.”

“What are we going to do with Drake?”

“Keep him prisoner until all of the beings he’s tied to are dead, then see what he wants to do,” Oliver suggested.

Davin glanced at Katsuro, and they both nodded in agreement.

I glanced at Oliver, and he read the questions in my eyes.

“I will explain later.”

That was good enough for me.

“The hour grows late,” Davin said. “We will travel as a group in the evening, once the vampires can go out. Until then, rest. I have teams out patrolling, and hopefully by the time we are ready to leave, we’ll have adequate transportation. Then you won’t have to ride your nimbus.” He smiled at me.

I actually liked giant Nimbus, but it was probably very tiring for him to have to carry me.

Oliver kissed my hand then stood. “I’ll explain later. Spend time with Katsuro.”

We all still needed to talk, but that could wait.

Davin had already left with a few of his wolves, and Bridger was guiding Clare toward the sleeping rooms. He shot me one last glance I couldn’t quite read before he left.

“He does like you,” Katsuro said, offering me a hand as he rose to his feet.

I accepted and let him pull me close.

“This is very strange for me. You know that, right? Four men?”

“You deserve all the love you can get,” Katsuro said. “Though truthfully, I’m not inclined by nature to share. However, in this case, it makes sense on so many levels that even I think it is a good idea. Bridger may be the hardest to convince.” He hesitated. “I still want you to accept my mark, and Davin’s. It would be wise if Bridger would also accept them, though I’m not sure if he will.”

“Wouldn’t that make him subservient to you?”

“Only from an outsider’s perspective,” Katsuro assured me. “Now, about that raincheck?”

I was instantly and embarrassingly soaked. The needy gasp as my breath caught at the suggestion didn’t help.

“I take it you’re still interested.” His eyes glinted with amusement.

“Yeah.” My voice squeaked. What the hell, Hannah. A little decorum?

Katsuro’s throaty chuckle just made me wetter.

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