There’s a deep, loudmerowfrom the hall to the front door. Oscar saunters in, all black with glowing red eyes and a bright, flicking tail.
“Hi buddy!”
I reach for him, but Bastian won’t set me down. When I glare at him to demand it, the possessive fix of his jaw and his glassy eyes make me reconsider.
A proper reminder.
Oscar hops on the kitchen counter and bats the fridge door open. He drags out an old slice of pizza, then trots away triumphantly.
“You didn’t close the door,” I shout after him.
Bastian flicks his fingers and a whip of black magic wraps around the handle. He tosses it closed and disappears the magic back into his hand.
“The hoard is standing. The feline is safe and fed. Will you accompany me on our date?”
My brow furrows. “But what about Renee and Andrew, and our whole setup at the fair. What day is it?”
Bastian sighs and uses his tail to pull the bag out of my grasp. He flips it and I gasp at the crude handling of his most precious book. Suddenly, his tail splits apart, becoming seven different ends. Each one grabs an item that comes tumbling out of the open purse. His book, my phone, my wallet, lipstick, and more. He catches each thing and sets them gently on the counter, save the phone.
He walks to the bedroom and sits on the edge of the bed as he plugs my phone in. The screen comes on after a moment, and it dings. Again, and again. Message after message and so many missed calls.
Renee, my parents, and…Dan Michaels from Waldorf?
It’s been three days since the IBMA took us, and everyone is rightfully concerned since the attached news report from Renee includes a dark, blurry picture of Bastian in his fifteen-foot-tall dragon form taking off into the sky with me pinned to his chest. The comments range from “OMGWTF IS THAT” to “Lucky girl, wish I’d get abducted by space dragons!”
I text Renee first, then my parents, to let them both know I’m safe at home. Then, I open the message from my former boss.
Dan:If Caitlin’s abductor is reading this, please know that Waldorf Press will pay for her safe return.
“Ho. Lee. Shit…”
“Oh? Something good?” Bastian asks.
“I guess word got back to my old job about my disappearance. My boss said he’d pay my ransom.”
“Hmm, how much should we ask for?”
My mouth hangs open as I look up at him.
He chuckles. “I’m not serious, of course.”
I scoff. “Since when doyoujoke around?”
He goes quiet for a moment, then a soft smile lights up his face. “Since I realized how perfect my life is, I suppose.”
My heart thumps so hard I know if my ribs weren’t there to keep it in, it would be in his lap right now.
My phone dings again, and while I sort of want to reconnect with everyone to ensure them I’m safe, I’ve messaged the two most important people…and I’ve got somewhere to be. I set the device back on the nightstand to charge and wrap my arm around Bastian’s neck.
“I’m ready for that secret.”
Bastian tucks me closer as he stands, then walks into the living room. He pulls back the rug I used to hide his Bookhenge and begins activating the runes.
“I knew it was a summoning circle,” I say.
“Much better than that.” He smiles. “It’s a spatial displacement ring.”
“What does that—”
