“It’s fine.” Ivy waves her hand. “Completely normal.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
“Nothing here is normal,” Violet says from beside me.
I tense as Mr. Pickles closes the distance, waiting for a fight to break out.
Instead, Luna looks up from where she’s curled on the floor.
Mr. Pickles curls up beside her like that was always his plan.
“He works fast.”
Violet’s fingers drift over Luna’s fur. “Or she does,” she says. Her voice softens. “Maybe she always knew what she was doing.”
Our gazes lock and hold.
Thank God she made the first move, even if it was stalking me without my knowledge.
We’d never be where we are if she hadn’t.
An hour later,Ivy stands, stretching. “We should probably head out.”
Mr. Pickles does not move.
“Guess I’ll have to pick him up,” Ivy says, moving toward him.
Chaos erupts instantly.
Hissing.
Claws.
Pure outrage.
“Okay, wow,” I say, backing up slightly.
“He’s very attached,” Sebastian mutters.
“No kidding.”
I watch as Ivy tries to scoop him up.
Fails.
Tries again.
Fails again.
“Why don’t you let them have a sleepover?” I say.
Everyone pauses.
Ivy looks at me. “You’re sure?”
I shrug. “Yeah. It seems... safer.”
She nods and backs away.
