Page 62 of The King’s Queen

The clocktower smelled clean, and faintly of flowers from Ker’s flower shop, and it was deafeningly quiet compared to the organized bustle the elves made.

I wish there was a way I could tell Noctus and the others that I’m not giving up. But I can’t talk to them—or I guess I could if I went back to the cul-de-sac with the Paragon, but I can’t say anything in front of him, either. Maybe Charon, Aristide, and Ker will drop by the Book Nookery again?

My steps were quiet and my hackles were raised as I trotted through the abandoned building, making my way to the side doors. I was almost to the door when I realized I could seemy brotherstanding outside!

He was planted on the sidewalk with two werewolves—one in their wolf form, one in their human form—and a wizard, all three wearing the task force uniform.

Nope, nope, nope! This is bad! No matter how I exit, they’re going to see me.

Normally I would have just skipped out behind Pat’s back. But these were task force members. I had a hunch they weren’t just standing around out there for funsies. My magic might make me unnoticeable, but if they were intent on questioning people, I doubted it would hold out.

If I could get in my cat form it would be less dangerous, but I can’t open the door andthenshift and come out. That would be attention-drawing in a totally different way. But what…wait.

I was standing in the clocktower. There absolutely was a way out of this in my cat form—jumping from the roof.

I’d practiced falling from it more times than I cared to remember, and I knew the various jumping spots like I knew the toe beans on my paws that people always insisted on pushing.

I’d just aim for an area out of sight, stroll out as a cat, and then I’d be free to sprint back to the car.

I ran to the stairwell and started the climb.

I just hope it wasn’tmePat followed here. Why else would he be in the area?

I had a lot of time to worry about this as the climb took forever, but at least I wasn’t panting by the time I reached the floor I wanted.

I didn’t go all the way to the top, I ducked out at an observation deck that wrapped around the clocktower faces. I had to peer over the side—holding on to the scaffolding with white knuckles—to pinpoint my brother’s location—before I chose the area I would leap into.

This is my first jump from this kind of height in months. I can do this.

As I shifted into my cat shape, I was surprised to find that it wasn’t anxiety that was making my heartbeat pick up, but excitement.

That is…very unexpected. For me.

I leaped from the railing as a cat, stretching my paws out to help slow down my terminal velocity.

My heart leaped into my throat, but I landed on all four paws with little more than a jolt.

I made it! Okay, I can do this!

My tail erect, I trotted around the corner, joining my brother and his coworkers.

None of them besides the transformed werewolf noticed me, and he just wagged his tail at me before looking back up at Pat who was giving his people instructions.

I ambled across the street and continued up the sidewalk, heading back toward the car.

I was pretty euphoric—I couldn’t believe I’d gotten away with it!

The elves were safe, Pat wouldn’t know about my little side trip, I’d even managed to tell Noctus about the fae guy.

Thinking of the fae’s absolute casualness about the whole situation made my skin crawl—there was definitely something to him.

I should tell Pat, too, in case he is involved with the incident. But how can I tell him? I only saw the fae on that side street, which isn’t something I could see from the car.

Some of my good humor wore off at the thought as I dodged around a group of human police officers, who didn’t even glance at me.

I couldn’t tell Pat I’d just sashayed off into the middle of the crime scene—that wasn’t my style, and he’d raised me better than that. I would have happily stayed in the car if I hadn’t seen Rodaric—it was better to stay out of the way of the professionals in situations like this.

Whatever I come up with would be a half lie, and I don’t like the thought of that either. Especially since there could be repercussions across supernatural society for this.