Page 115 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
“You were saying?” Brownie crossed her arms.
“Will you go to the Summer Masquerade with me?” Rufus asked, his voice strangely quiet.
“AndIalready answered.” Brownie raised an eyebrow, wondering if Rufus was more drunk than he seemed. “Of course I’ll go with you to the Summer Masquerade.”
Rufus sighed. “Thank the gods. Youdidn’tactually say yes! Youimplied!And … I was worried you might have changed your mind.”
“Well, I haven’t. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Then what about after?”
“What about after?”
“Never mind, that’s all of our questions, I think.”
“It is not, you still have … one?” Brownie sighed. “Alright, I admit I’ve lost count.”
Rufus opened her bedroom door and asked, “Are you ready?”
There was a moment where she hesitated, but then her face broke out into a huge smile. “I was born ready.”
She marched into the room, Rufus following behind her. There was a shock of awareness that ran through her as he closed the door and she heard the faint click of the lock, but it was from excitement.
Rufus nodded at her once before he fell forward, landing as a giant golden beast that resembled a golden wolf-dog. He was huge, coming up to Brownie’s elbow. He walked up to her and rubbed his head against her hand as she crouched down to give his ears a scratch. That sent his tail thumping violently.
“Rufus,” she spoke, her voice only slightly sweeter than normal. Brownie was resisting the urge to go full adorable on the commander general, and she was proud of her restraint. “You’re the best.”
He happily splayed out on the floor as she rubbed his tummy and chest and back and head. She played with his left ear that was slightly floppier than the right, and she squished his beanie paws and toes at length. By the end of it, her willpower had started to wane, and she was giggling and lavishing the golden beast with unrestrained love and affection.
Eventually, Rufus fell asleep on the carpet in front of the hearth. His breath was deep and steady. Brownie thought about climbing into bed, but rejected the idea. Instead, she pulled down the blanket and got comfortable leaning against the giant wolf. As a half giantess herself, she wasn’t used toleaningon people.But Rufus didn’t seem to mind it while he was awake, so she didn’t let it worry her now. If she recalled correctly, he was nearing level sixty, and could probably lift her one-handed.
As she was drifting off to sleep, she thought about their conversation over the evening. He was so fluffy, so considerate, but so hesitant.
“I hope your other secret isn’t going to ruin this, Rufus,” Brownie whispered into the quiet night. “Because I think I’m falling in love with you.”
CHAPTER 69
I’m a Very Nice Grimalcat
Rufus
The door opened in the middle of the night.
I raised one eyelid to peer out into the darkness as a small figure walked closer. It stopped just within reach.
Glowing green eyes met mine, and I lifted my head slowly, careful not to wake the half giantess leaning against my stomach. There was a moment of stillness, and then the grimalcat sniffed. “The room stinks of dog.”
He turned and walked back to the door. In the doorway, he paused to look over his shoulder as if expecting me to follow.
I really, really didn’t want to go … but I wasn’t a fool.
It was short work changing back into my usual beastman self, and I caught Bronwynn in a princess carry midtransition. She grumbled and cuddled into my embrace as I walked over and placed her gently on the bed, but she didn’t fully awaken. I tucked her in with the blanket she’d been holding and had to stop myself from kissing her on the forehead at the last minute. My fingers lightly brushed a stray curl from her cheek instead.
Bronwynn was displeased with the cold bed substitute, curling in on herself. I sighed and dragged myself away to follow the grimalcat. Once we were in the hallway, I gently closed the door and asked Slake, “Can you relock the door from out here?”
“Of course,” Slake scoffed. “It is done.”
“Thank you.”
