Page 82 of Monster's Melody

Kissy.

Sexy.

Jazzy.

“I know.I love kissing you, too.”

“So,” Vorzak rumbled.“Now that we’ve gotten their names figured out, I brought you a surprise and The Hissies have one for Yukiko, though the jury’s still out on one whether that’s a good thing or not.”

“Really?”

“I only intended to getyoua surprise,” Vorzak grumbled.“That’s the problem with walking the Path of Souls.You can ask for whatever you like, but it’s the cry of your soul they’ll actually heed.”

“Hold on.Is that where you and Elliot went?You saidcamping, not walking the Path of Souls!”

“We did go camping.It’s a two day journey along the path.We had to pitch a tent and everything.”

“You camped on the Path of Souls?Are you crazy?”

He smiled at her.“I’d walk any path and camp anywhere to bring you your soul’s desire, my love.”

My heart just about melted as I surged off the bed, then whirled to stare at him.“You walked the Path of Souls forme?”

He sat up and swung his legs around so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed, facing me.“Of course, I did.Who else would I walk the Path for?”

The Path of Souls was notoriously difficult to walk.Worse, one’s soul might cry out for many things, sometimes things you didn’t even know you wanted, which made it a terrible risk.You could end up with something you never consciously wished for and that you’d rather give back.It was the ultimate case of be careful what you wish for.

It was the very rare supernatural whose soul request was granted, which was another reason so few of them chose to walk the Path of Souls.To endure something so challenging with very little hope of success was enough to keep most people away.

“Hold on.Did Elliot walk the Path of Souls too?”

“Nope.He told me I was crazy, that he’d only come along to give me a cover story, and that I was on my own when it came to walking the path.He camped out at the entrance.Wouldn’t even take one step onto it.”

I snorted.“Well, at least one of you had some common sense.So… what are we talking about here?Is my surprise the same as Yukiko’s?”

“Not even close.”He chuckled.“I asked for a kitten familiar for my mate.”

I gasped.

“And my wish was granted.Sort of.”

“Sort of?Let me see, let me see!”

With a grin, he hopped off the bed, walked to the door, swung it open and whistled.

A moment later, the most adorable, rainbow-colored cat came racing in.

I fell to my knees and she leapt into my arms.“Oh, my goddess, she’s adorable.”

“Yeah, well, she keeps changing colors.And shapes, so don’t count on her always being a cat.Or rainbow-colored.Or cute.”

I giggled as the kitten batted at my hair.“So, if she’s not a cat, what is she?”

“She’s the unicorn of the supernatural world, my love.”

My head jerked up.“A Fae Familiar?”

“Yep.”