If rebirth was possible, I wanted to be reborn as a house cat.

That became my dearest wish as I lay stretched out on the grassy ground several hours later. The sun shone through the tree branches and warmed my silver fur. I stretched my legs, all four of them, and yawned, revealing my sharp white fangs.

A sound from the main part of the house made me look up. Puren had finished cleaning up my disastrous curiosity and gone off to do his usual chores. It wasn’t him whom I heard but the stiff and haughty figure of Lady Shian. She hurried through the main corridor and to the front where sat the pedestal and its empty cushion.

I slunk low to the ground and covered the few yards to the doorway where I peeked around the corner. Shian stared at the empty place with tight lips and worried eyes. She would have been a pitiable sight if she hadn’t tried to kill me.

Puren came out of the opposite side garden and bowed low to her. “Good afternoon, Lady Shian. Is there something I might do for you?”

She nodded at the empty seat. “I heard from Lord Pampir that Lord Eastwei had some trouble in the land realms.”

That loud-mouthed idiot I growled.

“He did, Your Ladyship, but he returned without a wound,” Puren promised her.

The worried expression in her eyes cooled a little. “Do you know where he is now?”

“I believe he is discussing some matter with His Majesty,” Puren answered before something at the end of the hall caught his attention.

Shian turned around and I turned my head. Dadan strolled up the center hall with Prince Yushir at his side. The prince had a smile on his face but there was a tension between them that told me the meeting with His Majesty had not gone well.

Shian hurried up to Dadan and bowed so low she was almost forced to her knees. “Dadan! I am glad to see you safe and sound!”

“Should I not be?” Dadan countered as he cocked his head to one side.

“Lord Pampir told me you had encountered problems in the land realm on account of his being dragged down by some cat or another,” Shian told him as she looked him over. “You were not hurt, were you?”

“I am fine,” he assured her as he skirted the woman and strolled up to take a seat on the prime cushion. “Was there anything else you needed?”

Shian followed him and stopped on the edge of the platform while Yushir tagged along. “I am sure you are exhausted from our adventures and so I would like to invite you to a meal. That is if you are not occupied.”

“I am preoccupied,” he answered.

Shian’s face fell and she turned her head to one side. Her eyes fell on me and a familiar icy look slipped into them. There was even a tinge of blue magic that shone in those deep, dark depths. She narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin slightly before she returned her attention to her beloved god. “I am sorry to hear that. I was to serve a very special drink. It is the last of the strange sweet treat left by the wayward goddess.”

My ears perked up as did Eastwei’s eyebrows. Yushir stepped up close to her. “How did you find such a treasure?”

Shian sweetly smiled at them. “I merely asked her servant if there was any more and, overcome with hatred for her former mistress, she gave it to me.”

Something was wrong. Very wrong. Arian would never have said that about me.

Eastwei shook his head. “I am afraid I am still preoccupied.”

Shian’s smile dropped off her face but her upbringing meant she rallied her spirits enough for a false smile. She clasped her hands in front of her and bowed her head. “Very well, then I will take my leave. Good day, Lord Eastwei. Prince Yushir, thank you for escorting me.”

The prince smiled and bowed his head to her. “It was my pleasure, Lady Shian.”

She turned around which coincidentally faced my direction and gave me such an icy look that a cold chill ran down my spine. I slunk back and waited for her footsteps to disappear down the hall before risking another look inside.

The mood was dour as Dadan turned to the prince. “Have you other business here or does a chance at chess keep you?”

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Yushir sighed. “As you recall from the meeting, my uncle has entrusted with me the task of speaking with the land clans to unite them in a common front. The messages will be sent out tomorrow and I hope to meet with the leaders as a whole before six months is up. I was curious if you wished to join me on my venture.”

“I would be unnecessary in your talks,” Dadan mused as he leaned his arm on the armrest.

Yushir paced the floor in front of the platform and toyed with his ring. “It is true that I will indeed be the official representative but your mere presence would show the seriousness of my missions. There is no one they respect more than the former emperor of the entire world.”

“There are few among them who remember me as we witnessed among the turtle clan,” Dadan pointed out as he closed his eyes. “I would be seen merely as a servant.”

The corners of Yushir’s lips twitched upward. “I would approve of you taking that position, as well.” Dadan opened one eye and there was a noticeable annoyance in its depths. The prince opened his hands toward the lord and stepped back. “My comment was merely in jest. I will leave you to your rest.”

Yushir inclined his head and moved to leave. He paused when he noticed my peeking around the corner. “Would you mind keeping me company, Lady Cat? Lord Pampir tells me you were more useful than he guessed.”

His offer made Dadan open his other eye and sit up. There was an unmistakable sharpness in his words. “She will remain here.”

The prince turned his head and lifted an eyebrow at the lord. “Truly you care for that creature far more than you will admit even to yourself.” Dadan’s reply was to continue to give his foreboding look at Yushir. The man stepped back and smiled. “Then I shall leave you to her and your rest. Good day.” He cast one last curious look at me before he disappeared down the hall.

Puren stepped up to Dadan as the god closed his eyes again. “Did you need anything, Your Lordship?”

“Nothing,” came the almost murmured reply.

“Then I will take my leave.” Puren bowed his head and left.

I stretched my neck to get a better look at the resting lord.

“You need not hide there.”

Dadan’s voice made me jump a little and a muffled yowl escaped me. I landed neatly on my paws and the front ones reminded me how sore they were, claws, bandages, and all. With my dignity in shambles, I slunk across the floor and over to the lord.

Dadan peeked open one eye and its brilliance fell on me. He used one hand to gesture to the spot in front of him. I tiptoed onto the platform and crept up to the place set for me. His hand slid over my back and my butt invariably reacted appropriately, rising in time with his hand strokes.

A heavy sigh escaped the great lord’s lips. I paused in my enjoyment and looked up to find both his eyes open and a heavy, tired look in them as he stared at the floor. His unfocused attention told me he was deep in thought. “I once believed that to be forgotten would be a blessing. Now I find that in my acquaintance’s hour of need, my lower status is a hindrance.”

There was a deep weight in his words, the weight of countless years weighing down on him. I stepped up to him and set a paw on his bent knee. “Meow.”

His soft eyes settled on me and he stroked the top of my head. “Is my destiny to fade into obscurity as others have done before me or will my end come in the battle that started long ago?”

I cocked my head to one side but he merely closed his eyes. His hand slipped into his lap and his breathing became deep and even. I scooted closer and studied the worn lines on his handsome face. He looked tired. Far tired than even after his fight with the hellhound.

I curled up against him hoping my warm body would provide comfort, though my thoughts lay with my friend Arian. Shian had told a lie and that made me wonder about the truth. I would need to find out as soon as possible.

For now, however, exhaustion overcame me and I slept beside the tired godly lord.