in front of the walkway, up the porch steps, and slam into the house. The walls pulse around me, a deep rumble of ancient timbers flexing inside the walls, and I find myself in my room and at my window from one step to the next. The change in location jars me, but I push it to the back of my mind for later.
Standing at my open window, Tobias and Emil spin toward me in surprise, but I only have eyes for my crazy ass storm demon.
I dive out the window, skate across the slippery shingles, and tackle him. No taking to the skies today, Sparkie-Pants.
Kellen yelps in surprise and loses his grip on a black, furry tail. Belatedly, I see Tac on the other side of the roof, determinedly clawing his way toward the edge.
Kellen and I go down in a tangle of limbs that crash into the monster cat just as he launches himself into the air. His wings flap desperately, but our combined weight is too much for him, and we plummet toward the grassy backyard.
Grass is not soft when landing from three stories up, with a storm demon and giant monster cat landing on top. The air rushes from my lungs, my ribs compressing, and my vision turns white.
Kellen groans, the sound coming from somewhere around my hips, and what feels like a knee nudges the side of my head.
Tac chuffs loud enough to be heard over the rain.
For a moment, we lay in a painful pile while we regain our bearings.
The white clears from my vision, but all I see is darkness. Then, feathers bombard my face as Tac moves in a frantic flap of wings.
Instinctively, my hand snaps out, and I catch the tufted end of his tail before he can race away. He bounds a few steps, dragging me out from under Kellen, and strong hands latch onto my ankles. He drags Kellen, too, until the storm demon regains his feet and digs his heels into the grass. Mud slips under his bare feet, and he leans his weight back. My body lifts from the ground, and I stretch between Kellen and Tac like a tether.
Fur slips between my fingers and, frantic, I reach out with my other hand, grasping the meat and cartilage of Tac’s tail. “You take one more step, and I’ll yank your tail off, young man!”
Tac freezes, one paw in the air, and his ears twitch like he’s weighing the cost.
“You won’t look handsome with a bare ass!” I yell, and his ears lay flat to the top of his wedge-shaped head.
He stamps his paws, splashing up muddy water, then drops to his belly and rolls around. I keep my hold tight, and Kellen shifts his grip to my waist to ground me until Tac gives up on his tantrum, and slinks toward the side of the house.
I keep my hold on his tail, watchful for tricks, and pray the rain hides him from our human neighbors.
We round to the front yard, the street thankfully quiet of curiosity seekers. The HelloHell Delivery van sits empty at the curb, but no sign of my old beat-up car.
I peer back at Kellen. “We need a back door.”
He gives me a grim nod, his eyes rolling storm clouds of displeasure. “Thanks for the assist. He was getting away.”
I cringe. Helping him was a complete accident. “When does mating season end?”
“Not soon enough.” His gaze skims over me. “Why are you wearing Emil’s suit?”
Sighing, I follow Tac up onto the porch. “It’s been a rough day.”
Emil’s protest precedes us as Kellen and I follow Tac into the house. “Why are you covered in mud? No, don’t get on the furniture!”
Tac’s tail snaps out of my hand, and I round the corner of the entryway in time to watch Emil drag the reluctant beast up the stairs to our shared bathroom. I don’t know how he plans to get Tac through the narrow doorway, let alone into the claw-footed bath, and I have no plans to find out. I’m already soaked to the bone, freezing, and covered in mud myself.
I glance around the family room for Julian, but only find Philip perched on the edge of my floral sofa while Tobias hovers by his usual leather chair, his glare focused on the stairs to the left of the fireplace.
“Where’s Julian?” I direct the question at Philip, but Tobias answers on an angry growl.
“He’s in your room, searching for something dry to wear.” His black