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BONUS EPILOGUE

SIR ELLINGTON

Waltz of the Flowers - London Symphony Orchestra

My rescued person is late. Again. Ever since I rescued Dakota, I’ve tried to train him to be better. Normally, I don’t get my tail in a twist over his absence, but today, today, it’s a problem.

The loud one—Ronan—has dressed me up.

Again . And this time, it’s absolutely unbearable. I look like an idiot.

When Ronan put this outfit on me, I tried to bite him.

And missed . All the treats he sneaks me are making me fat.

I glare at Ronan through the tank. Come at me again, motherfucker. I won’t be that slow.

Ronan just grins, grabbing the treat bag and offering me another.

I sniff and look away. He laughs, then drops the treat in my bowl.

Then, I hear the house rumble, then the door opens. Dakota comes through, juggling bags.

‘Fucker! Hey! Come help me,’ I yell through the glass.

Dakota ignores me.

“How was the store?” Ronan is smirking. He throws a look my way, which I narrow my eyes to.

“Fine.” My man calls from the kitchen. I hear him putting the food away.

‘Hey! Look what he did to me!’

“Come here.”

“Fucking bossy,” Dakota mumbles, coming into the room. “What?”

‘Look at me!’

Ronan just grins.

My man just looks around. “What, fucker?”

Ronan motions at me.

Finally, Dakota comes over. His eyes widen. “What the…” He looks over at Ronan. “Why is Sir Ellington in a ‘I heart my mommy’ hoodie’ ?”

And a top hat. Does he not see the top hat??

“Welcome home, mommy .” Ronan makes little kissy faces with his mouth.

“You–” Dakota lunges at him.

‘Hey!’ I shout, but they ignore me. The two grapple on the couch, wrestling over each other, trading hit after hit. Because of course they do, the ogres.

Then, the third ogre comes out of the bedroom. “What is going–”

He’s hit with a flying fist, and then they all join in.

‘Come help me!’

But, of course, no one does. Instead, they wrestle down the hallway, continuing to fight. And as much as I’m pissed, I’ve never seen my rescued person this happy. Not even when he was playing his music.

‘Now you know what it feels like.’

I glance over. Buffalo is sitting next to the tank. As usual, he has tufts of hair sticking up from all angles.

Buff sighs dramatically. ‘They have all the fun and never let us join.’

‘Gross.’ I sniff and turn to the pile of treats in my tank. I dig into the food Ronan left me. If I’m going to continue to deal with this, I’m going to need sustenance. And by this , I mean Buffalo. Ronan thinks he’s stopped talking, but if anything, he’s been talking more . And now I have to suffer.

Which is bullshit, and I tell him that at least once a day. But deep down, I’ve always been a sucker for rescues. First Dakota, now Ronan and Logan. And Buff. Gotta do my good deeds because god knows the other three aren’t doing them.

Plus, I’m a bit of a masochist, and Buff is so annoying it hurts. In a good way, I guess.

‘They’re probably kissing right now. Hot.’

I twitch my tail. ‘ Would you shut up?’

Buffalo looks down his fluffy nose, in only the way Buff can, and snorts, ‘Make me.’