Page 23 of Peacock Me Like a Hurricane (Rise of the Resistance #2)

THE CAT TRIES

T hey called Taurus in before I woke up this morning. He’s still at HQ, I assume, because he left and I haven’t heard a word since. It’s nerve wracking because I know he’s in trouble. After last night, he wouldn’t have stayed away for anything else.

There’s too much to discuss.

I couldn’t just sit around while he was gone, but I didn’t want to leave. I decided that it was finally time to explore. All these doors and hallways have appeared, and I haven't investigated anything but our current room.

Exploration led me to find a gorgeous extension off the back of the room filled with everything a person could want in a bathroom: Jacuzzi, huge shower with rainwater spouts, an enormous vanity, and a built-in sound system with AI controls in one of the wall cabinets. Another short walk leads to the walk-in closet that is the size of a small bedroom. It’s for both of us, I suppose, since his clothes and accessories line one side. My side is awaiting my attention, save for the things he’s been buying me. They scare me, as his taste runs toward royally expensive and I’m certain I’ll destroy it all by accident.

I’m not used to spending enough to buy a car on a coat.

The stairway I saw between the closet and our bed goes downstairs to a kitchen so state-of-the art that Leo is going to have an aneurysm. It has French doors that lead out to the patio, pool, and garden area. I didn’t stay downstairs long, instead coming back up to wander down the hallway he usually enters from. That took me to a wing with a piano room, a half a dozen guest bedrooms, and quite a few empty rooms that I don’t know what he’s going to do with. When I re-enter our bedroom, I note a singular panel just past the bathroom that I haven’t accessed.

Stepping inside, my jaw drops. I’ll be damned. He saw me do this once .

The mystery panel leads to a full-fledged gym outfitted with not only a punching bag, mats, assorted weaponry of every type, and a sound system, but a trampoline, a full set of bars and beams, rings, wedges, a chalk station, and everything that I’d need to work on my gymnastics skills. The setup makes me wonder if he’s prepping me for something. It certainly looks like I could train any skill right from home.

This might be for hunting—we enjoy a good hunt as much as we enjoy indoor sports. Having my skills up to snuff is integral in case we run into something that my basic kitty-ness can’t handle.

It couldn’t hurt to get started while he’s gone, right?

Working off all this nervous energy will keep me from fretting until he gets home. I set the music to blast and start by working on floor exercises. Being able to use my beast powers to do more intricate flips and twists than I’d ever been able to do in the past is outstanding. I’m favoring my left arm a bit because it’s not healing as fast as I’m used to. It might be because of how much he took.

Next I move to the trampoline, bouncing to the beat. I spring into the air, ready to complete a half tuck back flip, when it occurs to me that I feel like I’m forgetting something important. As I hit the straps again, it comes back to me.

“Oh, shit!” My hand flies to my mouth and I don’t tuck at the right moment, causing me to skid across the trampoline on my ass. Good thing no one saw that graceful landing.

Snorting, I slide off the tramp and limp over to turn off the sound system. I’m sure this one is as fancy as the bathroom one, but I haven’t figured out how to work it yet. Wiping off my face and neck with a towel, I look at the friction burns on my legs with a frustrated growl.

First, a shower, because I’m stinky. Then I have to get this present for Shea’s birthday. In the mess of this week, I lost track of that obligation. People will call for my head if I miss one of the birthday bashes entirely.

I can do this. I made it from the chair to the bed.

It was a rough landing, but I got there. I’m magickal. I’m mated to Taurus. I can do this because he can do it. That makes sense, right? I’m going to ignore the fact that Talia didn’t gain this power and that I am neither an artist nor an engineer after Rafe and Victor.

That’s loser talk.

I can’t believe that I’m ‘abusive football coach’ pep-talking myself.

Honestly, I just don’t want to go home and get a car so I can go to the party. Besides, I should be able to do this. From here to another location is tricky, but if I didn’t try risky shit, I wouldn’t be me. I may not have control of the stick yet, but I’m going to learn to drive this car or die trying.

Yeah, I’m full of metaphors today.

I give it another go, thankfully remaining upright and not falling on my ass as I ‘poof’ into the closet. I don’t think it will matter if I’m not fully decked out when I arrive because I don’t plan on staying. I refuse to go home to get something the esteemed birthday boy gave me in the past. None of it is suitable for public consumption and Taurus would have a mild coronary if I wore any of it.

Tossing on leather pants and a satin halter followed by the astoundingly expensive knee-high boots and duster combo that Taurus brought me back from Milan, I take a deep breath. That bloody duster cost enough to feed a small country; I’m almost afraid to wear it. But the lambskin is soft, the bespoke cut exquisite, and the profile I cut wearing them is undeniable.

Popping myself back into the living room, I start to feel more confident about this method of travel. If I’m lucky, I won’t splice myself into two pieces when I attempt this long distance. That happened once last week with a bag of licorice and it’s definitely in the back of my mind as I practice.

Our bedroom only has a few areas that I have personally added: the bed, the liqueurs on the bar, and a replica of my magickal cabinet from home. I stocked it with duplicate supplies just in case. After last night, I’m sure as hell glad that I did. I apparate over to the panel that hides it and press the touch release. Reaching inside, I grab the small, brightly wrapped package I spent an hour creating.

All I have to do is drop into Shea’s party, give him the gift, and pop back—easy, right?

Closing my eyes, I concentrate, hoping that this works. I still haven’t gotten used to it, but I know that it means I’m going to appear in a new location soon.

Here we go…