Page 24 of How to Entice a Fiend

“How do you expect he’s going to handle being dragged around the city?”

Orin peeks around his book. “He adjusted here quite well. He seems like a pretty easy-going cat; he’ll probably be happy going anywhere as long as his people are with him.”

My eyes snap over to the man who very much should have kept his mouth shut. He looks up from the book he’s reading and smiles at me, which does nothing but irritate me more.

“If you want to stick your nose into something, thenyou’rewatching the cat,” I say.

“There’s no reason for you not to stay here tonight. Isn’t it nice knowing that someone is watching Rylee when you leave her alone?” Orin asks.

“I don’t trust you,” I declare.

“Says the man who demanded I become council head.”

I ignore him, but I really did plan to go out tonight and Ryleewouldbe safest here. “Just for tonight.”

“Understood,” Orin says.

“I can keep the kitty?” Rylee asks.

“For one more day, then he’s Orin’s. You can visit him if you listen to me and don’t run off with strangers.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose. I heard Señor Fluffybottom’s cries of despair.”

I stare at her as I contemplate whether or not I’ve just heard what I thought I did. “Is this why you asked me what the closest word to ‘mister’ was in Spanish?”

“Sure was! You really should teach me more Spanish! That sounds fun compared to the boring math homework you made me do.”

“You really should rehome the creature just so he has a better chance at having a good life with a decent name.”

Rylee gasps. “Heloveshis name. It’s Fluffybottom for short. Butyoumust call him Señor Fluffybottom the Great and Fluffiest Fluff.”

“I will call it ‘cat,’” I inform her.

She picks him up and carries him over to me with a mischievous look on her face. She has unlimited confidence thatshe could get away with anything when I’m positive she couldn’t even lie to me about eating a piece of candy.

“Don’t you do it.”

Her grin is expanding to dangerous levels at this point. I know that I will not enjoy any moment of this as she scoots closer and closer.

“I do not want to hold that cat.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says as she drops the catrightinto my arms. I grimace as I question what I’ve done to deserve this. Isn’t it enough that I care for the child? I go above and beyond for her, and this is how she thanks me?

The cat begins kneading on my legs, wickedly sharp nails digging into my flesh as his purrs fill the room.

“Helovesyou,” Rylee says. “Pet him.”

“I don’t want to pet him.”

She picks up my hand and sets it on his head and he quickly headbutts me, wanting more pets and a less limp hand. She starts forcing my hand to run over his long hair. For how disgusting he looked, he’s quite soft after they bathed him.

“Rylee.”

“En?”

“No.”

“You can’t tell me you don’t like it! Love it!”

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