by Tara Lain
He laid his head back on the arm of the sofa, and Al stretched out on top of him. The weight pressed on Luke’s heart. Whiskers brushed his neck, and a low purr rumbled through him.
He stroked the fur like silk. With his eyes closed, it could almost be Alain lying against him, his soft hair spread on Luke’s chest. He sighed. If this was all he had, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. He could close the clinic, get another job, live simply. And get to see Aloysius from time to time. Kind of like an old cat lady.
KILLIAN STARED over Blaine’s shoulder at the computer screen. The photo had gone viral, and why not? Both men were extraordinarily beautiful, and in any context, sex attracted eyeballs.
Blaine shook his head. “Me and my bright ideas. ‘Let’s take Aloysius to a vet.’ Hell, this is the thing Luke was hiding all along.”
“Yes. And I’m sure finding out that one’s lover is a cat isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence.”
Blaine stood up from the desk chair. “I have some snacks for our growing boys. Jimmy and Sammy never stop eating.” He looked around. “Where’s Al?”
“I’m not sure, but I suspect he found out about this story somehow and went to check on Luke.”
“Mysterious Cat Network?”
“Yes. He really cares about Luke. If my idea works, maybe we can find a way to give Al back his life.”
Blaine shrugged. “But which life, sweetheart? I don’t think Al wants to stop being your familiar any more than he wants to bail on Luke.”
“Sadly, the two choices seem to be mutually exclusive.”
The bell from downstairs rang. Killian walked toward the buzzer.
Blaine looked up. “Probably Jimmy and Lavender.”
Killian shook his head and went to push the intercom. “No. It’s Luke.”
Blaine laughed. “Witch.”
“Hi, Luke.”
“Uh, hi, Killian.”
He pushed the buzzer to unlock the entry, then opened the door and waited at the top of the stairs.
Luke walked up with Aloysius wrapped like a fur scarf around his neck. Just like Al usually rode with Killian. Luke paused two steps down. “I seem to have something of yours.”
Killian shook his head. “Al isn’t mine. He’s older and wiser than I am, and he belongs to himself. Don’t ever forget that.”
Luke nodded once.
Killian stepped aside. “Please come in. We’re expecting many of the same people you met last time.”
“By people, you mean witches.”
“Witches, an elf, and a human, to be exact.”
Luke raised his hand. “Two humans.”
“But I wasn’t presuming to expect you.” Killian smiled to soften the hint of criticism.
Luke walked into the apartment, idly scratching Al under his chin.
Killian closed the door. “What can I get you to drink?”
“What are you having?”
“Tea. Blaine likes coffee. We also have beer, soft drinks, wine, champagne, of course.”
“Tea will be fine.”
“Take a seat.” Killian walked into the kitchen where Blaine was arranging slices of cheese on a plate. “Another tea order.”
“For Lavender?”
“Luke.” Blaine’s eyes widened, and Killian grinned. “You humans do have trouble getting away from our witchy attractions.”
Blaine leaned over and kissed Killian thoroughly. “We have good taste.”
“Do you have some salmon for Al?”
“Of course.”
The buzzer rang again, and Killian hurried to let in Lavender, Jimmy, Sammy, and Ryder, all of whom had come together. Jimmy grinned when he saw Luke. “Hey, good to see you, man.”
“Thanks.”
Jimmy, Lavender, and Ryder found spots to sit. Sammy started petting Al on Luke’s neck. “Hard to resist, isn’t he?”
“Yeah.”
The beautiful, dark-haired woman extended her hand to Luke. “Hi, I’m Lavender Janx.”
“Luke Elliott.”
She scooted closer and stroked Aloysius. “I wish I’d met Alain. I was at my family home in Russia for a few weeks.”
A flash of pain crossed Luke’s face. “He’s pretty great.”
Killian opened the kitchen door, grabbed the tea and coffee tray, and carried it to the coffee table, while Blaine brought in the snack plates. Predictably, Jimmy and Sammy attacked the food.
Blaine sat on the same chair with Killian. He grasped Luke’s arm. “Hey, buddy. I’m really sorry about the news story. I’m guessing you weren’t exactly looking for that kind of high-profile publicity.”
“No. I lost my best client this morning when she saw the story.”
“Why should anyone care how you earned money to get your education?”
“Not exactly the all-American success story. Horatio Alger, boy prostitute.” His smile didn’t get to his eyes. “Ow.” Luke tried to look up at Aloysius, who was now biting his ear.
Killian laughed. “I don’t think Al wants you putting yourself down.”
Ryder leaned forward. “And you just gained two new clients to replace the one you lost, because Sammy and I have two dogs you need to care for.”
Lavender beamed. “And we have a cat. I almost brought him. I can’t stand to be away from Joseph.”
“Thanks. I’m not sure what I’ll do about the clinic.”
Blaine frowned. “Why?”
He kept stroking Aloysius. It must soothe him. Killian got that. “To be honest, the guy who got arrested in that raid on his drug ring may walk. If he does, I’m his first target. I might have to find a more low-key way to live.”
“Merwaowr.”
Luke petted Al’s head. “The police were counting on Alain to testify against Nicky. Without Alain, the guy could get off.”
“Urrrrrr.” Al’s growl rumbled dangerously through the room.
Gods, just one more reason to turn Aloysius back to Alain. Killian sipped his tea. “Jimmy and Lavender, tell us what you’ve learned from the European covens.”
Lavender glanced at Jimmy; then she spoke. “We did as you said, Killian. We dropped the fact that our coven has a secret weapon that we’re trying hard not to unleash on the witch world.” She looked at Sammy. “I think they believed us enough that most will not intervene. They’ll wait to see who wins.”
Jimmy grabbed another piece of cheese. “But what about the rebellious witches? They’re going to attack no matter what. Hells, they could be outside right now.”
Killian nodded. “And that’s why we need to unleash our secret weapon.”
Jimmy choked. “What? You don’t mean Sammy?”
“I do mean Sammy—in very limited doses.”
Killian could tell Sammy was fighting a smile. He never got to play with the big witches because his power was too ominous. Now Killian was saying he was the key to success. He had to be pleased.
Ryder petted Sammy’s hair. “He’s a secret weapon, all right.”
Sammy ducked his head and blushed. “So what do you want me to do?”
“Did you get a good enough look at the witches when they broke in to be able to paint them?”
Sammy nodded. “I think so.”
Killian sat back. “So what if we were just to transport them back to Europe? That could be a bit confusing, don’t you think?”
Blaine hooted. “Fantastic idea, Kill. They’ll wake up not knowing how they got wherever they are. They’re going to think you’re pretty powerful.”
Jimmy frowned. “But aren’t they going to think Al is somehow responsible? Won’t that make him even more desirable to these assholes?”
Killian sighed very softly. “Well, it did occur to me that after we use Al’s magnifying power to amplify Sammy’s painting, we could ask Sammy to transform Al back to Alain.”
Luke gasped.
Killian held up a hand. “I don’t know if it will work. Sammy’s power is made far greater by Aloysius. About halfway through this experiment Al will no
longer be fully present. I have no idea how that might affect the change.”
Sammy’s eyes got wide. “Can’t you just zap him and change him back, Killian? I don’t want to mess this up.”
“I’m worried about that. Al’s taken two big hits of power, one of which really injured him. I don’t want to run the risk of a third. It could be fatal.”
The whole room got quiet.
“Merwaowr.”
Killian nodded. “It’s up to you, Al. I know you feel responsible for protecting me and Blaine and Sammy. If you choose to be Alain, you can’t do that anymore. I have to ask you not to try. You may injure yourself, and that would be too much for all of us to bear. But I have never seen a man happier than you appear to be with Luke. This is your one chance in hundreds of years to have a fulfilling human life.”
Blaine reached out and took Killian’s hand. “I’d miss you like crazy, buddy. But I couldn’t deny you the chance to have what we have.”
Lavender took Jimmy’s hand and kissed it. “Us too.”
Ryder nodded. “And us, Al. You brought us together.”
“Merwaowrr.”
Luke frowned. “No pressure. Much.” He shrugged. “Remember I told you that I couldn’t imagine not having you around, but that I’d never love anyone?”
Killian frowned.
Luke pulled Al down onto his lap and held him gently. “I lied. I blamed you for all the shit that happened with Nicky, but it was really because that meant I could stop blaming myself for a little while. I… I love Alain. So much, I’ll just be happy to be with Aloysius forever. I don’t want to take a chance of hurting either one of you.”
“Merwaowwrr.”
Al turned and looked at Killian. Images flashed in Killian’s mind. Luke and Alain kissing. Alain holding Luke against his chest. Love filled Killian’s heart until it spilled into his throat and slipped out in a soft moan. “Aloysius wants to be changed back to Alain. He loves you, Luke. So much. He wants to be with you.”
Luke shook his head. “I don’t want to risk it. What if the painting thing fails?”
Killian placed a hand gently on Luke’s shoulder. “If you want to be with Aloysius in any form, Luke, you have to be brave. Al’s the bravest creature on the planet.”
Luke nodded slowly.
Chapter Fifteen
LUKE HELD Aloysius close. What the hell could that redheaded guy do with some paints and an easel? Everybody seemed in awe of him. All Luke got was that the process might hurt Al.
Killian walked over to where he and Al were sitting. “We’ll want Aloysius to be connected with Sammy for this first part, okay?”
Luke nodded, but breathing was difficult.
Aloysius stood on his lap and stared at Luke. God, those eyes were so like Alain’s. “Merwaowr.” He bumped his head into Luke’s chest.
Luke ran his hand across the muscled body. How strange he hadn’t realized Alain was Aloysius right away. Of course, thinking about cats turning into men wasn’t his usual habit of thought. “I love you too, kitten.”
Al jumped down and crossed the room to where Sammy sat on a folding chair. The easel in front of him held a large blank canvas. With a leap, the cat soared onto Sammy’s shoulder. The young man laughed and reached up to pat Al. “Okay, buddy. Let’s see if we can make this happen.”
Jimmy taped a photograph onto the top of the canvas. “This is a scene in the woods outside Prague. Seems as good a place as any to send them.”
Sammy nodded.
“You remember what they look like?” Killian sounded calm, but his body stood rigid, like he was too tightly wound.
Sammy laughed. “Yeah. I got a good look at them when they were trying to kill us.”
Killian sat on the couch. Blaine came over to the chair beside Luke. He smiled. “I know it seems strange, but they’re pretty good at this shit.”
Sammy’s shoulders rose, and he hissed out his breath.
A low hum. Aloysius was purring.
The room changed. What was it? Like everything slowed down. Luke shivered.
Sammy moved his arm, and it looked as if he were dragging it through oil. He grasped a paintbrush, dipped it in paint he’d already squeezed out on his palette paper, and applied it to the canvas. With quick strokes, a wooded scene began to take shape.
Odd. Luke leaned forward to get a better look at Sammy. What the hell? He leaned over to Blaine. “His eyes are closed.”
Blaine smiled. “It’s like a trance. He doesn’t remember much of it when it’s over.”
“But shit happens?”
“Yeah.”
The whole background was complete. He couldn’t see Jimmy’s photograph very well, but the painting looked real. Sammy took another deep breath. He picked up another brush and wiped it in a light, pinkish-tan color.
In the corner, Jimmy spoke softly into his cell phone. “Yes, that’s the location. Just stay there and tell me what you see.” Who was he talking to?
Al’s purr escalated. Sammy’s whole body must be vibrating from it, but it was like his hands moved but his head and torso didn’t. Spooky.
A woman’s body took shape under his brush, then a face and golden hair. Yeah. Like one of the women who ran past Luke as he lay on the floor right over there by the door.
Sammy didn’t finish the fair-haired one. He started painting the other witch with the dark hair. Al’s purr turned into a growl. He didn’t like her one bit. Sammy got her near to completion.
Jimmy’s voice murmured behind Luke. “Do you have others with you? Good. Tell them to be prepared. You’ll see. Watch.”
Sammy picked up a fine brush and more paint. He sat forward, the first movement his body had made. With a few strokes of the small brush, the dark-haired woman’s features appeared. Even from where he sat, Luke could tell the resemblance was precise.
Jimmy laughed. “Yes. I told you it would be spectacular. Continue watching.” He put his thumb over the speaker. “They’re impressed.”
Sammy finished the blonde witch. Every detail perfect.
Jimmy’s voice rose. “Take note. This is just a bit of the power we possess. Think carefully about who you’ll support.”
Sammy slumped in his chair. Killian put a hand on his shoulder beside Aloysius. “Don’t worry about the males, Sammy. The females have the power. The males can do nothing without them.”
Blaine laughed. “Let ’em pay their own airfare.”
Sammy sagged forward, and Aloysius jumped off his shoulder. The cat walked back to Luke, hopped on his lap, and snuggled. Luke exhaled. Funny, he felt so much better with Aloysius nearby.
Killian put his hand on Sammy’s neck, and the boy seemed to reanimate. He glanced around. “Was it okay? Did it work?”
Jimmy clicked off the phone. “Like gangbusters, baby! Brilliant idea, Killian.”
Luke’s stomach gathered into a knot. “What just happened, exactly?”
Jimmy smiled. “The two female witches just showed up in the woods outside Prague.”
Luke stared at Sammy, who had moved over to the couch and was lying with his head in Ryder’s lap. “So you painted them, and they went somewhere else?”
Killian glanced at Jimmy, then looked at Luke. “He changed the future.”
“What do you mean?”
“He altered the future so that the females were in Prague.”
“He…. You mean he can create a different future?” The hairs stood up on his arms.
“Exactly.”
“Shitfire.”
“Yes.” Killian smiled. “We ask Sammy not to use his power at all. This is the one exception.”
Sammy turned his head and looked at Killian. “I guess we won’t have to worry about that so much anymore.”
“True. Once Aloysius is changed, it seems your power will dissipate.”
Luke wrapped a hand around Aloysius. “Wait. Aloysius has something to do with Sammy’s power?”
“Yes. Al is Sammy’s familiar too. Without Al, Sammy isn
’t nearly so dangerous.” Killian leaned down and ruffled the guy’s wavy hair.
“But don’t you need Al?”
Killian sighed and sat beside Blaine. “We all need Al, Luke, and we love him. But he was born a human, and he has a chance for a life as what he was meant to be. We can’t deny him that just to serve ourselves.”
Luke’s voice rose. “But how do you know it will work? If Sammy needs Al’s power, won’t that power be going away when he changes into a human?” He ran a hand through his hair, and the rubber band fell out of it. “Shitfire, this is so hard.”
“We don’t know for sure it will work.”
“Hell, couldn’t he end up somewhere between a cat and a man? Jesus, this could be awful!”
“Merwaorrr.” Al stood and placed his paws on Luke’s chest, then leaned his head in close to Luke’s face. Like a projection on a screen, Luke’s mind filled with an image of him kissing Alain. The sweetness, the love, flowed through every cell. His sigh echoed through him.
Killian looked at Sammy. “You up to it, Samlyn?”
Sammy sat up with his cute, quirky smile curving his lips. “Sure, boss. I just wanted some lap time with my love.” He winked at Ryder. Then he gazed at Aloysius. “But it sure is hard to give you up, buddy. Funny how we don’t understand how much we love something until we lose it.”
Luke could barely talk around the tightness in his throat. “But you’ll have Alain.”
Sammy nodded. “And I’m sure that will be great. But Al is something special.”
“Can’t you change him back when you need to?” Luke’s heart beat way too fast.
Sammy looked toward his feet. “Once Al is gone, a lot of my power goes with him.”
Killian nodded. “And the blast of power that changed him last time could be too much for him again. We have to accept that this change will be Al’s last. He’ll be human.”
Blaine’s voice caught. “And mortal.”
Aloysius jumped down and padded to Sammy, who stroked his head. Then he turned and crossed to Blaine. “Merwaowr.”
Blaine wasn’t even trying to hide his tears. “One last belly rub, guy?”
Al jumped onto Blaine’s lap and turned over, feet in the air. It was ridiculous, but it made Luke cry. Blaine stroked Al’s belly, and the purr vibrated through the air. Damn, they loved that cat so much.
