Page 47 of Ren: Warlord Brides
Chapter 10
Emry
The creature Ren claimed was a cat stared back at her, perched on top of the helm.
“Nice kitty kitty,” Emry said, easing into the pilot’s chair.
A tawny color, the cat had the sort of brown color that blended perfectly into the undergrowth. Elongated ears ended in black tufts. Black fur dusted the edges of the cat’s muzzle, curling into either a caricature of a mustache or a Jokeresque smile, depending on the cat’s mood for mayhem.
The size of the cat had to be mentioned too. Larger than the average housecat, it was, fortunately, smaller than a leopard. Unfortunately, the cat was all muscle.
And claws. Yup, so many pointy claws.
Emry had the feeling that if this cat crawled onto her chest during the night for snuggles, she’d be crushed.
Clearly, this was not a domestic housecat. This was some wildcat that snuck on board a spaceship and tricked an alien.
Clever and dangerous.
“I just need to adjust our course, which you are sitting on, kitty.” Stress kept her from remembering the cat’s name.
The cat raised a paw, popped her claws, and diligently licked the space between the lethal-looking claws, all the while maintaining eye contact.
Ah, Murder Mittens.
“You look food-motivated. Would you move off the controls for kibble?” Emry pitched her voice high and sweet.
The cat was unimpressed. Murder Mittens continued to clean her claws, the threat as subtle as her name.
“Do you eat kibble? You probably eat babies.”
Miss Murder flicked an elegant black-tipped ear.
“Definitely babies.” Emry looked around, hoping to find a container labeledkibbleormonster chow. Now such luck. “Will you please move?”
She stretched out a cautious hand. Murder Mittens’ tail thunked against the console. Lights flashed, and the computer chimed.
“Are you serious? What did you do? Move before you explode the ship or something.”
The cat hissed, baring a mouthful of very sharp and ouchie-looking teeth.
“Fine, not happening. I get it.” Emry sank into her seat, pouting. “Don’t look at me like that. I had to steal the ship.”
Murder Mittens resumed grooming herself, unimpressed.
“My sister is missing—and no one cares! What would you do? I didn’t have a choice.”
The enormous cat’s silence was too much to bear. Emry buckled under the judgmental weight of it.
“I mean, I didn’t ask, but I knew what Ren would say. He’d say it wasn’t his problem, for the record. Like everyone else.” Emry drummed her fingers on the chair’s arm. “He started it.”
Murder Mittens watched Emry with a disappointed gaze.
“He did! False pretenses and all that.Oh, I missed you. I regret sending you away. Please give me another chance,” she said, her voice taking on a gruff and mocking tone. “Lies! He was spying on my boss and rather than get caught, he did this big song and dance about getting back together.”
Not that she had believed him at the time. Not even a little. Nope.
Still, the disappointment of the truth stung.
