No one will believe it’s real, but it’s good PR for my shop.
The pictureplinksas it posts, and I tuck my phone away in my pocket. I walk to Oscar’s cage and open the gate.
“Go find the mice, boy,” I say.
He darts from his confines and goes straight for Bastian. His tail lifts and flicks side to side as he trots right through the circle of glowing symbols and sits down in front of the dragon.
“Merrow,” Oscar introduces himself like a proper gentleman.
I don’t take my eyes off the pair as Bastian glares down at him.
“Go away from me,” he says.
“Meh meh mereh,” Oscar replies.
“Pink flesh, command your beast,” Bastian says.
I snicker. “Sorry, that’s not how cats work.”
He grumbles and pulls one of the older books closer, as if Oscar might chew on it. My boy, to his credit, hasn’t touched a single book. He’s accepting the rules he doesn’t even know exist.
“I’m going to go get the litter box and a few other things,” I say. “You could put your pants on and help.”
Bastian closes his eyes and resumes his meditative state. “I will not.”
I cluck my tongue and cross my arms. “Fine. See if I do you any favors, then.”
“I need nothing from you.”
“What about my books, huh?” I demand.
“They’re mine.”
I growl and Oscar makes a similar noise. One of Bastian’s eyes snaps open. I think he might be able tokind ofsee, because he looks right at Oscar and bares his teeth.
“Away, I said!”
“Myaaah,” Oscar taunts.
“If you do anything to my cat, I will burn down this whole damn building with you inside it,” I say.
“I will not harm the feline!” Bastian declares impatiently. “Go and collect your frail, human implements.”
“Go and collect your frail, human implements,” I mutter in a silly, high-pitched voice as I walk toward the stairs.
I get to the bottom and fear strikes my chest for Oscar. How could I just leave him up there alone with that sharp-fanged monster?
I touch the mark on my sternum. The air ripples with black ink, and then Bastian appears before me, cross-legged in his black boxers.
He sighs deeply. “I won’t. Harm. The feline.”
“Even if he touches the books?”
He grinds his teeth. “I would certainlywantto, but no, I wouldn’t beableto…without consequence.”
“That makes me feel warm and fuzzy,” I say.
I grab the bag of shirts and sweatpants from the floor and hold them out to him.
