my sewing machine down and gestured to it. “Marvel at its beauty.”
“It’s a desk.”
“No, Dad. It’s a stand for a vintage 1901 Singer. My new pet lion is carrying the Singer, and he has joint custody rights to it.” I moved the stand so Sebastian could join me. “Dad, this is Sebastian. He is a lion. He is my new pet lion. He made his suit, Dad. He made it. Then we went to a yarn store, and we found this Singer.” I bounced on my toes and waited for Sebastian to ease the sewing machine into place. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
My father didn’t even give the sewing machine a cursory glance, instead eyeing Sebastian from head to toe. “I’m going to require proof you can sew, son.”
“I haven’t used the Singer yet, but if you have a modern machine and the fabric, I’m sure I can put together something for you to demonstrate I do have the ability to sew as claimed.”
“He helped me pick yarn, Dad.”
“That doesn’t mean he can sew, my little kitten.”
“He helped me pick yarn, Dad,” I repeated through clenched teeth.
Sebastian chuckled, reached over, and flicked my hair out of my face. “If it makes him happy, I’ll sew something. How about a pillow? Those are quick and easy, and you can claim it as your territory and beat someone with it. I’ll make it extra durable for said purpose, and I’ll make sure you have a good place to grip it. It won’t take long, and he can see I’m a man of my word.”
“Put a few books inside so it has some heft,” I muttered.
“How about a pouch for a book so when you’re taking your new pillow somewhere with you, you can put the book inside. And use it as an unconventional weapon. And when you’re not using it for carrying a book, it’s good for ice or heat packs.”
“Sold,” I announced. “Go sew me a pillow with a fancy pouch. Dad, show him the sewing machine, and as punishment for making him sew a pillow at midnight, you must provide me with some ice cream. And since Sebastian will be busy sewing, none of you cats will touch a hair on his head.”
Sebastian chuckled. “Had I known there was going to be a sewing test, I would have gotten supplies while we were at the store. You don’t have to defend me from your family, Harri.”
“Come on, Sebastian. You’re basically the only lycanthrope male on the planet I have any interest in defending. My brothers? I just make some popcorn when they get into fights. Give me my moment in the sun. Or beneath the moon, as apparently, the sun has gone to bed.”
The lion chuckled. “Okay. If doing that makes you happy, you can defend my fragile male ego while I introduce myself to the sewing machine and make you a pillow.”
In normal households, I bet the lion would have been mocked to a near-death state. My family eyed the interloping male with interest. I joined eyeing the interloping male with an equal blend of scholarly interest and a healthy dose of lust. Most male lycanthropes would fight to the death before even thinking about being defended by a female. Of any species. At least all the male lycanthropes I knew, in and out of my family.
At the rate the lion kept talking, I’d end up dragging him into the spa through any means necessary, where I’d use him to educate myself on how best to have my way with a man.
Then, because life couldn’t go my way for once, my uncle joined my father, caught sight of Sebastian, and stammered something before recovering enough to ask, “Sebastian? You’re her manly lycanthrope?”
If I went to the kitchen to fetch popcorn, I’d miss the fireworks, so I stayed put and prepared myself to defend the precious sewing machine from two male lycanthropes duking it out.
“You know each other?” my father asked.
“Mr. Sumners works with Interpol, although he also works with the CDC. He’s a liaison, but the part about him working with Interpol is important.”
Of all the things my uncle could say, he fixated on Sebastian’s liaison status with Interpol? Was he unaware of Sebastian’s other work with the CDC, FBI, and basically every law enforcement agency worth notice? Then again, Interpol made a good cover for the lion.
The only drugs my family appreciated were catnip, pixie dust, and alcohol, and we used them in legal fashions. Usually.
I wouldn’t tell the lion