“Yes, it’s me,” Sio says. “Your loyal companion.”
I can’t speak. I can only utter incoherent sounds and stare.
Cyrus does not have that problem. Ever. He hurries forward and takes a knee in front of Sio. “This is amazing! Nice to meet you, Sio.”
The maplecat gives him a withering look. “We’ve met.”
“Well, I know, but?—”
Heart skipping, I finally get my mouth working and I scoop the cat into my arms to hug him.
“Oh Sio! Do you like your new food?” I ask.
I’ve been feeding him a blend of spare fish parts supplied by Grumlin, the wizard who runs the Goat and Dragon tavern.
“I do.” He purrs into my neck and nuzzles my ear. “You are a very good human.”
“Have you always been able to talk? Why is this happening now?”
“I think that box of yours sparked the ability that is now latent in maplecat blood,” Sio says.
Cyrus and I both eye Tully the Witch’s trunk.
“Wow,” we say in unison.
Cyrus smoothes the leafy fur of Sio’s back. “Should we take a few minutes and give all of your associates out there a turn in the trunk?”
“Definitely not. It would be overwhelming to them. They’re too young. Now, I’m tired of this style of communication. Please let me go back to being a silent friend for a while.”
“Oh, all right,” I say.
I set him on the stool by the wooden countertop. He sits and flicks his tail, sending puffs of flour into the air.
Cyrus shakes his head, then faces me. “Magical talking cat aside, today has been strange, and that’s why I’m late. I’m so sorry. What can I do?”
“Let’s start on the second batch of icing, and you can tell me what strange things have been going on.”
I glance at Sio, wondering if he will speak again or if that’s all I’ll get out of him forever. Once Cyrus and I have the orange rind grated and the sugar and water gathered, we mix two bowls until the blend is smooth and smells divine.
“So tell me. What happened?” I ask.
Cyrus licks icing from his whisk, and the way his lips are parted holds my gaze for too long.
This job isn’t going to be easy, not with the best looking male in town in the kitchen with me.
Chapter 5
Kaya
Icough, hoping to shake off this attraction I’m feeling toward my friend, and turn to check the oven.The scones are ready. We set them on my cooling rack and they fill the kitchen with their glorious scent.
“There’s a tourist here who claims that dragons are his hobby interest,” Cyrus says.
“I hope he didn’t put it like that.”
“He did.”
“I’m sorry. I’m guessing he is one of my kind.”
