Secret Lure of a Cat Demon
Meet the Other Queen

My mother was in her room but when I saw Kat. I wanted to do something nice for her. I wanted to show her I wasn’t a cold hearted brute that I knew she thought I was. When she told me she wanted to see her family I couldn’t say no to her. She looked worried that I would say no, and normally I would have said no but today I wanted to be to say yes for a change. I put a few limitations and things she had to do but at least I did it. Maybe now she will accept me.

Katsi knocked on my door about an hour later with not very much on her. She didn’t have a bag and all she wore was a pair of skinny jeans with a tank top. I had to force my face to stay neutral. She looked stunning even in clothes that seemed bare. I looked at her face. She seemed to smile even though her face wasn’t smiling. Something bugged me that didn’t make sense, that I didn’t understand. She looked stunning but I knew something was missing. It wasn’t something that was her fault but mine. There was something in me missing.

“Well, I’m ready,” she chirped. She seemed almost ecstatic to be leaving, and I didn’t blame her.

“Good, well, your healed enough to change and your protected. You have more than one scent on you. No one will bother you. And you know where your family is, so it shouldn’t take you long.” I said. I leant again the door frame. Maybe I was too relaxed standing like this.

“What are you doing this weekend?” she asked me. This shocked me. She never asked what I had been doing or what I had planned, and maybe this was because it revolved around her.

“Well, we have to pull another shifter in. The boys and I are leaving tonight. We should be back in time for when you get back but if not, keep reading.” I told her. She nodded but shifted on her feet nervously.

“Well, uh... I better go.” She muttered. I nodded and stood up properly. She made a move to hug me, which was rare in my case but instead she stepped away, looked at me, smiled and started walking back down the corridor. I sighed and started walking after her. She heard me and looked at me. She cocked her head smiling. She was surprised.

“I might as well see off my next potential deputy head of guard off. I don’t want her feeling sad.” I said with out thinking. She stopped and looked at me stunned. I was trying to process it myself. There had never been a deputy head of guard before. I hadn’t even talked to my mother about it and it had left my lips. I didn’t even know why I had said that. Did I want to work so close to her? Did I even want that?

“Deputy Head?” She questioned. I nodded slowly. “Wow, that’s immense...uh, wow, I don’t know what to say.” she said.

“Don’t say anything yet, that idea just came to me, so don’t get your hopes up” she frowned at me.

“I wasn’t. What I’m thinking is why me? I mean why not Gur or Lilith or someone who has been here longer, knows the rules, the regulations, what is meant to be done, isn’t too emotionally wrapped up” she asked me. I looked at her and she really wanted to know.

“Well, its because you don’t know everything that I want you there. A fresh person to help guide other would be great, speak from experience.” I told her. Whether it was the truth I don’t know but it seemed to come form the heart. She finally started walking and I followed her.

“Right, I guess for now, I can except the offer. Be careful tonight. From your attitude, I can tell this is no ordinary shifter.” she stated. I nodded agreeing. We walked in silence after that and I welcomed it. Talking with her was nerve racking to say the least! I couldn’t understand why though. I just wanted to be able to have a normal conversation with her.

We soon reached the door and it was time to say goodbye. Thankfully not forever but long enough to miss the excitement she brought with her. The door was opened and I walked out in to the morning air. Katsi paused and took a deep breath. She smiled and looked at me.

“See you Monday” she gave a short wave and immediately went straight into a run changing just as she hit the woods.

My shoulders instantly shagged and I heard laughing. I looked towards it and they stopped. I bet they could see what was going on as well. It wasn’t hard. I walked back in and I walked around. I tried wasting time. I went to the gym, I got some last minute training in. I did circuits of the fort and by lunch time, I was exhausted. I forgot lunch and headed to my room. I was half asleep when I got there. I opened my door and walked to my bed. I crashed on it and hugged the pillow. I knew it wasn’t a manly thing to do but it was more for comfort. I slightly registered that is smelt of Katsi but it didn’t bother me. I relaxed and dozed off.

Hours later I heard banging on the door. I bolted awake. I noticed it was getting dark and the room smelt of food. It must be dinner time I thought to my self. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I opened them and I paused. I was sat on Katsi’s bed looking at her room. I got up raising my eye brows at how stupid I was and I opened the door. Gur stood there looking at me like I was doing something wrong.

“Katsi’s room, really?” He questioned. I shrugged.

“I was tired, my senses were down.” I told him defensively.

“Yeah, you actually missed Katsi, and you felt safe that she was in her room, and now she isn’t, you are scared” he taunted me. “Does the big bad man love the little kitty?” he asked in a childish voice.

“No, I don’t love her, I would know.” I told him. I had had enough and pushed past him. I went straight to dinner. I ripped through a plate full of meat, deer, and cow. It was all bloody and it got me excited about tonight. I knew it would turn in to a chase but whether it would actually be a chase is another matter. About an hour later I left the dinner hall and went to the main entrence. There I paced. I was nervous. Katsi hadn’t left my mind all day, I had even slept in her bed. She would know. Her smell was amazing!

“Nervous?” someone asked. I looked toward them. Gur stood there. He was always there. He always seemed to know when I was in a mood and he always knew where I was.

“Do you ever not pop up? Can’t you leave me be for once?” I asked him. I was ratty but he didn’t take it to heart.

“No, I am your best advice giver.” He told me. I had to agree with that. “Look, you have been unsettled all day. People heard you in your sleep muttering. You never do circuits of the fort, you never do last minute training. Admit you hate not having Katsi around safe in your watch.” he watched me for a little bit before crossing his arms and tapping his foot in frustration. I couldn’t admit it though. She annoyed me to hell and back and I hated her and it was just hormones, the want to have a female presence there.

“No, it is mating season, that is all, she is a female presence in which I welcome at this time.” I told Gur but he just raised his eye brow at me. He had that sceptical look on his face.

“You miss her, I know you do. Look, why don’t you go find her, go spend some time with her, spend sometime with her family. Get to know the Katsi at home.” He said. I almost fell to my knees with laughter but I kept myself composed as he carried on. “I will lead the squad tonight, you only come along because you like the chase and you like to deliver the lines.” That I had to agree with but my part was more important, I also had to do the trial. I had to be there to arrest him. “The trial can wait for once. I will arrest him if you give me to power, I will arrest him and bring him back, lock him up so he can’t get out and then when you get back you can do the trial then. Okay?” I had to think it through myself but Gur had it all sorted. It seemed very well thought and I knew he was right.

“Fine, I will go, but just because I know I will screw the mission up otherwise.” Gur beamed at me when I caved in. He loved being able to over rule me on so many things. He knew me too well and he knew I had a soft side that I wanted to hide. I wanted to keep it hidden. I didn’t want to be king, I didn’t want to take over my parents responsibilities and find a successor, and Gur knew this and so he used every ploy to get me to give in to the feelings when needed.

I waited for the rest of the squad to gather and I explained what was going to happen. I didn’t explain why I was going or what I was doing, just that it was important that I did it. Gur was in charge and they had no other choice in the matter. I then set off my self. I had to follow Katsi’s scent and I had to follow it carefully.

It was dawning and Katsi’s scent was strong but it was also mixed with so many others. I knew I had to be close. There were mountains around and I knew her pride lived in this area. I had crossed the borer the country a while ago. It surprised me how far Katsi lived from her family.

I kept going but I had slowed to just a walk. My wolf nose came in handy and my four legs took off the weight. I came to a clearing and I stopped. I noticed how very quiet it was and that I was someone else’s territory. I sat on my hind legs and waited. I knew someone was there, I didn’t know if it was Katsi’s pack or part of it.

Leaves ruffled to my left and then a head appeared. A panthers head. Then another and another and more until I was surrounded. They were all females, and quite young. I took a deep breath and I found the scent so familiar but not what I had hoped for. I got up and growls rippled around me. I ignored it and faced Lilith. Why she was hunting with the pack I didn’t know but I face her and I started at her. It too a little while but her eyes told me everything. She recognised me. She trotted up to me and rubbed her head against mine. She shimmered back to her human form and so did I. Her face was full of amusement and annoyance at the same time.

“What are you doing here?” she asked me.

“I missed my two favourite panthers” I said putting my hands on my head. The other closed in and Lilith noticed.

“It’s okay ladies, calm down, don’t want all the pack in the guard now do we” she said it with such ease but she didn’t say it as bluntly as I thought she might. They dispersed and Lilith looked at me seriously.

“Now, tell me what you are really doing here?” she asked me.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. I just wanted to spend some time in the area, see Kat, meet the family, stop myself from going insane.” I told her. She almost cracked up with laughter.

“Fine, I will talk to mama” she said softly. I think she understood me for once. “Follow me, and please don’t try anything.” I nodded. She walked off past me and I followed her. We walked through some woods before we came to an alcove or trees and a cave. Great, cave dwellers.

We walked in and I saw about twenty maybe thirty panthers. I was surprised to see so many. Packs never got this big. We walked over to the back corner and a panther shimmered back to er human form. She was much older, maybe early fifties but she held her age well. I would guess she was the female alpha, and Lilith’s mother. It also meant she was Katsi’s mother.

“Lilith, why did you bring him here?” she asked. Her voice have power and authority. I could also tell she was respected.

“He wanted to spend some time in the area, he needs a place to stay, as prince of demons and my boss, I have to respect what he wants.” She told her. She looked at me. Her face was cold and with no emotion in it. It reflected my normal personality. She circled me as I stood there and I suddenly felt like an outsider.

“Fine, you can stay, but you will not speak unless spoken too, you will sleep at the entrance to the cave and you must leave by tomorrow.” I nodded understanding her terms. Tingles went through my leg and I looked down. A panther looked up at me and those eyes. They were green and they shone. I couldn’t help but smile. Katsi. “Katsi” The woman warned. Katsi growled low but sat back. I sighed. This would be a hard weekend I guess.

It was nearing lunch time of Sunday, a family day and I guess the wrestled on family day. The rules were one was to challenge another and who ever won was to carry on fighting until no one was left or someone else won. It kept going until people were exhausted.

Lilith was up first and she looked around at people. I knew in her heart she wanted to choose me but mother had told her not to include me. I had reminded her that she wasn’t really part of the pack anymore. Both of them had given me nasty looks. So I stood back watching. Lilith picked a brawl-ish looking guy. He look thuggish but genuine.

“She will beat him” Someone said. It wasn’t Katsi’s mother but an elderly man instead. I knew instantly it wasn’t Katsi’s father, maybe her uncle. She looked like him.

“Pardon?” I said.

“Lilith, she will beat him.” I nodded understanding.

“Yeah, she is a good fighter” I told him.

“Don’t take what my sister says to you in a bad way. She just hates the guard for taking two of her kids away.” he explained. I was slightly confused but carried on talking.

“I didn’t take, Lilith joined when my uncle was in charge, she wanted to join, Katsi on the other hand is serving her time for her sister, a noble thing to do” I told him.

“Sire, I don’t wish to be rude, but when you have kids you will understand. When Temperance told her mother what had happened she was furious, she was furious at you, the guard, the king and queen, at Katsi and at Tempy and then when Lilith returned she became bitter. She hasn’t forgotten what Lilith did but she also can’t help but hate the guard for refusing to let her leave. I was surprised to find Katsi so close to home when I knew she was serving time.” I started to understand how she might resented me but it wasn’t my fault, I was following rules. “You see it as following rules sir, but I can assure you, my sister doesn’t maybe you can talk to her, tell her why both her kids are back home, then she might accept you. I know why you are here, and Katsi thinks you should be out helping the guard but she is happy you are here.” he then walked off to challenge Lilith. Katsi was sat on the floor smiling and cheering. She looked amazingly beautiful. She looked over and me and tried to smile more but it didn’t really work. I smiled at her. Was she really happy I was about?

I looked to the back of the cave and Katsi’s mother sat there watching her family with intense authority. I was shocked at how stern she was.

I walked over and I sat next to her. I didn’t say anything for little while. I had to gather my thoughts and understand what was needed to be said. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Your kids are here because of me you know” I said. I blurted it more than say it with proper meaning but she looked at me all the same.. I looked at her, in the eyes so she knew I was telling the truth. “Tempy attacked me, and Katsi stopped her. By the rules, guard members can’t see their families. So Tempy got annoyed. Lilith was cleaning my wounds when Katsi asked her to follow Tempy and talk to her, sort her, make her understand, I don’t know how that is going. Katsi also ran away but I saved her life, cleaned her wounds and made sure she got back safely.

“And I also exposed the guy who raped her. I was tempted to kill him but I am not to cold and merciful. I believe death is the easy way out so I left him with what he did. Then yesterday, Katsi went looking for my mother, to ask if she could come home, and normally, even in special cases we don’t allow it but I played it to my advantage, I told her she could come home. I wanted her to see you guys, I also wanted to show her I wasn’t a cold heart fool like I try and make out.” I finally stopped. Katsi’s mother hadn’t said anything and I believe she didn’t need to. Her silence was enough to know she still hated me. I looked towards the crowd and smiled.

“Both your daughters are great fighters. They are a great asset to the guard. Lilith more than she knows. You should be proud that they want to serve. Katsi doesn’t have a choice so be proud she is protecting Temperance. Be proud she took the blame she didn’t do” I got up and I walked to the entrance. I shimmered into my wolf form. I looked at the crowd and Katsi was watching me. She had beaten Lilith again and now it started again. She looked said I thought. I wanted to know what she was thinking. I turned away from the cave and took off at at a fast run. I would return after dark, when they were asleep.

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