Page 1 of The Omega's Bloodline: Part One

“Hey there, cuties.” I reached out to give some attention to my rescue cats, Taco and Burrito. They were both gorgeous black floofs with bright golden eyes—basically identical, save for Burrito’s slightly fluffier tail. Burrito was chilling in one of the many cat beds, his injured leg in a neon wrap sticking out over the edge.

Poor babies had been in rough shape when I’d found them tucked in the bushes in front of my house, but after seven weeks of love and care they were almost as good as new.

I kneeled down and kissed the top of Burrito’s head. “Are you having a good time finally free of the kennel? How’s your leggy?”

He meowed at me and headbutted my mouth for another kiss.

Taco had been out of his recovery kennel for a few days already, having healed up faster than his companion. He purred and arched under my touch, forcing his way onto what little of my lap came into existence when I kneeled down. I nudged him off and laughed at his plaintive meow. “I’m sorry. I’ve got to check on the babies so I can’t be a bed for you.”

They both followed me into the spare bedroom I’d turned into a kitten nursery. Burrito hobbled along insistently, refusing to be left behind now that he was feeling better. I pulled my hair into a bun to keep it out of the way, tucking back the uncooperative brown strands that snuck free. I did the weight check and feeding for the three foster kittens I’d brought home two weeks ago. Burrito and Taco brushed against my ankles.

“If I trip on you it’s your own fault.” I sidestepped them, trying to avoid face planting as I returned each kitten to the incubator, smiling at the sign I’d hung over it.Future Familiars. I’d painted it myself with one of my fellow witchy friends when I’d started taking in fosters.

When I finished with the babies, I turned to my boys. “Are you guys going to take your pills peacefully today, or are we going to war?”

I’d take them peacefully if they didn’t taste like a skunk’s ass.

The voice filled my head as clearly as if someone had spoken next to me. I whipped around, looking for the speaker, but there was no one I could see except for my cats, staring at me.

Had someone gotten inside?

“Wait here.”

I slipped out of the kitten nursery and picked up the baseball bat I kept stowed near the door. I paused, listening for any sign of an intruder. Taco wound around my ankle.

What are we looking for?

“Who’s there? Come out.” My body vibrated with tension, stomach clenching and heart racing.

Both cats stood at attention.

Someone’s here? I didn’t hear anyone.

I looked down at them. Oookay. Maybe I was losing it…

Their golden eyes watched me, heads tilted as if it would help them comprehend my panicked demand. They looked at one another for a brief moment and then back to me. Taco sat up like a meerkat and put a paw on my calf.

Logan, if you can hear this, say something.

“What the fuck!” I bolted away, scooting up against my living room couch and away from thetalkingcats.

Okay, she can definitely hear us.

I didn’t know humans could hear us…

I clutched the bat in my hands before deciding that was probably a bit ridiculous. What kind of risk were these cats even if they could apparently talk? I set the bat aside and Taco took a tentative step toward me.

He set one small paw on my leg, and, when I didn’t panic-flail, climbed up into my lap.Don’t be afraid, okay?

“Yeah, I’ll get right on not being freaked out by my fuckingtelepathic talking cats!”

I squeezed my eyes shut and focused on breathing.

This was fine.

Just some…magic cats.

Totally normal.

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