‘You don’t owe the vampires anything.’
‘Also true.’
He grinned. ‘But it’s the right thing to do.’
I nodded. ‘Those fanged idiots need saving from themselves.’ I thought of Penelope and how her limp body had looked when her neck was in the monster’s jaws.
I pushed the image away and addressed She Without An Ear. ‘I know you want to join us but you should stay here.’ Her eyes narrowed and she flicked her tail. ‘We might not get out alive.’
She sniffed derisively and I dipped my head in acknowledgement. She was an adult; she could make her own choices. Then She Who Commands Werewolves let out a chirrup. Thane flinched, but She Without An Ear growled menacingly and the young ginger cat backed off. Good. That was a smart move – though She Who Commands Werewolves wasn’t finished. She narrowed her eyes at Thane and miaowed sharply.
‘What?’ Thane asked warily. ‘What does she want?’
I smiled faintly. ‘She’s giving you a command.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘Of course she is.’
‘You have to come back unharmed.’
His expression softened and he reached down to stroke her head. ‘You’re the best,’ he whispered.
Flooded with warmth, I watched the pair of them then I checked my watch. ‘Six hours,’ I said. ‘That’s when we go.’
Thane straightened. ‘Via the clocktower?’
I shook my head. ‘They told me they were sealing that door. Even if that entrance is still open it will be watched. I have another way into the Understream. It might be tricky to slip in unseen but it’s definitely doable.’
‘Then let’s start preparing,’ he said.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
It was around five in the morning when I padded round to Dave’s front door past the tree he’d finally planted in the hole he’d dug with Thane. It wasn’t lost on me that the tree’s branches extended across the garden wall into my garden, nor that they were perfectly positioned for a cat to balance on. Dave was fonder of my furry family than he let on.
The tree confirmed that I was doing the right thing by leaving him a carefully written note. It mostly contained instructions about what to do for the cats if I didn’t return. I planned to leave the sealed envelope on his doorstep as I’d done on many occasions in the past, but this was the first time I reckoned he might actually get the chance to read it. Usually I returned and retrieved the envelopes long before Dave could see them.
As I approached, he opened the door and scowled out at me. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’
Ah. I’d never had to explain myself face-to-face before. Unable to find the right words, I handed him the envelope and stepped back. ‘Don’t open it unless I don’t come back,’ I said quietly.
Dave’s glare was ferocious. ‘Where are you going?’
‘I can’t tell you.’
‘What are you doing?’
‘I can’t tell you that either.’
‘What about that daft ginger boyfriend of yours?’
At that moment Thane stepped into my garden dressed entirely in black like me. There was no concealing the various weapons and bottled enchantments that were strapped to his body.
Dave sucked in a breath. ‘Is it dangerous?’
I opened my mouth but he held up a hand. ‘Don’t answer that.’ He sighed heavily and tugged at his long, unkempt hair. ‘Wait here.’ He sniffed then disappeared into his house.
I sent Thane a helpless look and he grimaced in response. ‘It’s okay,’ he mouthed, while I shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.
