Chapter 40

It was already so late, and Hayden was so tired. Hard to imagine she had spent the day with the most important prince in the world, then wrapped it up by surviving a meeting with the current leader of all mythical society. Cody wasn't here to teach her anything—there were no lessons, no practice.

But she had somewhere warm and safe to spend the night, and that was enough. Hayden wasn't ready to give up and submit to unconsciousness right away, no matter how warm the heated pokémon bed felt.

"Are you sure it's safe to be here?" she asked, floating out from where Sierra and Liz were already curled up together. Staying awake when her daemon dozed was an effort of will, but she managed it. Hayden had already fought through her fair share. "I thought you were on the run."

Cody opened one eye, lifting her head off the pillow. "You're worried about Lord Moonstone finding me?"

Hayden landed next to her head, close enough to feel her hot breath against her fur. "Aren't you? This is mew territory. And the Eldest is—he's so strong."

Cody patted her with one gentle hand. "I could never hide from him if he knew I was here. It doesn't matter how strong he is—his vision can pierce all illusion and see the heart of man and beast. But I can check what he did the day after he does it, and pick a time when I know he wasn't here. Like right now. He's with the Lake Guardians, talking about you and his son. I don't care how powerful he is, he can't multitask around them."

Hayden nudged her fingers with her head, until she had to lift her hand. "What's a lake guardian?"

Cody winced, antennae tucking into her hair. "Nothing. You should get some sleep, Hadie. The future will get there when it gets there."

She should've just shut up and accepted the invitation. But there was one other thing on her mind, a question she didn't want to ask—but had to anyway.

"I'm… my family—they betrothed me to Julian Moonstone. Does that mean—"

Cody scooped her up, lifting her up to eye level. "It means you have to have his kids. Lucky you're not in danger of having any with me anymore, huh?"

She settled her down into the pokémon bed. "Focus on growing up, kittens. I won't always be there to keep you safe. But you can keep yourselves safe—you're stronger than anyone I know."

Hayden woke up. There was nothing gradual about it this time—she remembered everything. Meeting the Eldest, a strange potion, then the jungle. But she didn't find fur, or sharp teeth. Her face was skin again, her hands were hands again.

"Cody?" She opened one eye, expecting to see the shelter there.

There was no shelter, no jungle, no makeshift bedding and living plants. She was inside, surrounded by blankets and toys. She was back in comfort and safety. Entirely naked perhaps, but she had enough blankets not to notice or care.

It didn't offer half the reassurance she hoped. "I'm me again." She touched her chest for confirmation, but found no fur there either. "Did I just dream that?"

Liz floated up to eye-level with her. "I might think so… but why dream about these?" Something pinched her, painful enough that her ears twitched. "Hey! That hurts you too—" One hand snapped up to her messy pink hair. Poking out from either side of her head was something that shouldn't be there—something soft and pink and triangular.

There was warmth between her fingers, pliable tissue she could squish or move if she wanted. Something squeaked on the soft floor of her bedroom, and both ears twitched in that direction. She heard it clearly even before the figure rounded the corner—two feet, then something sliding on the ground. Eleanor.

Her sister appeared in the darkness, wearing a nightgown, and looking delirious. "Hayden? Since when are you back? And… naked?"

"I'm as surprised as you are," she said, pulling the sheets up a little higher on her chest by reflex. "I don't know… how I got here."

Eleanor sat down next to her, resting one hand on her bare shoulder. She spoke slowly, gentle in the darkness. "Does it have… something to do with 'Cody'?"

Hayden's ears pressed flat to her head, entirely of their own accord. Her face flushed, but the darkness might help cover that. "No! Lord Moonstone… I think he changed me into a pokémon. I lost my gown when it got… way too big for me."

"He what?" Eleanor nudged her shoulder, a little harder than before. "Hayden, I don't think even the Eldest can do that. You're not a pokémon, you're a person."

"I remember it too," Liz said, insistent. "Look at her ears. They're like mine—probably because she got to learn what it was like to be a real cat, instead of playing pretend." She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "She acts like I shouldn't be scared, but make her real-sized for two seconds and she's begging for me to protect her."

Hayden shoved the kitten away with one hand. Not hard—just enough to express her annoyance. "I'd like to see you do better as a person. That's why we have two parts. You're the pokémon and I'm the human." 

Eleanor let go, then stood. "Just so long as no one hurt you. You should tell me if anything happened."

"Nothing happened," she said, stretching both arms. She wiggled her fingers, and the familiar separation between each one. "Well, lots happened… it was the craziest day of my whole life. But nothing like that happened."

Even if she wanted something to happen with Cody, she had been a useless kitten at the time.

"You do have ears…" Eleanor said, touching her head. She was gentle, but having another's hands on them still made them twitch. She backed away, getting free of her grip. "You didn't in the evening. But by morning… was it a guru?"

The lights came on, startling both of them. Hayden turned, just in time to see Ilene land on the open balcony. "Lady Hayden, I have news that should be of interest to you."

"One sec!" She looked up, pleading. "Anything to wear?"

Eleanor tossed her something from the open wardrobe, another nightgown. Hayden had to stand to get it on—but it wasn't being seen around Ilene that bothered her anymore. But if she had their whole conversation naked, she might just die of shame.

She ran one hand through her hair, but even that wasn't as simple as she remembered. Having a pair of ears right on her head would interfere with her usual style. Not the tight braid the mew seemed to prefer, though. Maybe that was why they used it.

Ilene approached slowly. Her steps seemed deliberately plodding, as if to give her the greatest possible time to collect herself.

Hayden hardly noticed that she had started drifting, not until Ilene reached her, and she was several feet shorter. The jirachi reached up calmly, grasping onto her gown, and pulled her down. "I believe you're floating away, Lady Hayden."

"I'm…" She landed abruptly, blushing deeper. "Sorry. I… didn't realize."

Ilene chuckled. "It would be more surprising to see one of your kind on the ground than in the air, lady. No need to apologize."

She produced something with her other hand, a tightly bound scroll of paper with a wax seal. "I am going to send this directly to your noble mother. I thought I should tell you what it contains before I do."

"So, we can run away?" Eleanor guessed. "You know I'll have to go with her, don't you? My mother would never forgive me if I let her get away. But I know what she'll do when Hayden fails the—"

"This is a signed betrothal contract," Ilene said calmly. "Her contract, as issued when we discovered the lady's existence. Lord Moonstone added his attestation a few hours ago."

She was flying again, floating up forcefully enough to tug on Ilene. The steward floated up after her, rather than tear her gown. 

"They didn't kill her," Eleanor said, bewildered. "They're actually accepting this?"

The contract was signed. Her family was safe, she was safe. And she would get to see Julian again. "I did good?" she said. "Even after showing their son all kinds of other pokémon?" She gestured, and Liz picked up Eleanor, floating her over to join them near the ceiling. "Did you know, they actually cut the pictures out of his books? There isn't even a photograph of things that aren't mew."

Eleanor winced, squirming with both legs. "Hayden? Why am I in the air?"

"I do not know their reasoning for accepting you," Ilene said, ignoring the struggling ditto. "But the decision was made when you drank the Ambrosia. You are now a Freeholder of Mew House, with all the rights and privileges thereto. Your formal adoption will commence when the marriage vows are sworn."

"I… don't know what that means," Hayden said. "But does that mean you won't call me 'lady' anymore? You promised!"

The contract vanished from in front of them. "I suppose I did, Hayden. While other servants are in our presence, I will be required to behave formally. But your handmaid is a special case. We can dispense with that aspect of our relationship henceforth."

"Good." Hayden wrapped her arms around her in a brief, tight hug. "Thanks for taking care of me, Ilene."

Eleanor gasped, radiating a sudden wave of fear.

Whatever she was afraid of, it didn't happen. Instead, Ilene patted her head, whispering into her mind. "Eleanor is terrified of me. She knows the power I have wielded against the enemies of my house. I do not often make friends."

Hayden held on for a few seconds more. "But you're allowed, right? You could have one!"

"I could." She brushed the messy hair from Hayden's face. "Do not think you are free from danger. Mew House may embrace you, but we are not safe. A wildling child has just taken the most desirable bachelor in the whole world for herself. Others will remove you, if they can."

She let go, then spoke aloud. If Eleanor overheard and understood some of it—good. She probably guessed it herself, anyways. "That sounds like I need friends even more than you do."

"No," came the thought, so subtle she almost couldn't pick it apart from her own mind.

Of course Ilene wasn't the only one with her. She floated over to Eleanor, then pulled her close for a longer, tighter embrace. "You too, Eleanor. You're a wonderful big sister. I've always had the best sisters."

The ditto groaned in protest. Maybe the hug was tighter than Hayden intended, because the girl squished visibly under her grip. "A noble lady isn't supposed to act like this. Imagine what Boylston would say."

"Throw her into the ocean," Hayden said. "I don't care what she thinks. I can be a good person and follow all the mew rules without turning into a stage performer."

She landed, with effort. Liz did a better job, lowering Eleanor and Loch carefully to the ground.

"What's in that contract about me, anyway? I assume it says what I can and can't do."

"You are to have no children until you produce an heir for Mew House," Ilene said. "With Julian. The rest is commercial language, solidifying a relationship between the Shaymin of Sinnoh and the Johto Mews. It would not interest you. Though if you are discovered with child before your vows, it is annulled."

My kidnappers gave me away, and now they'll be rewarded for it. Some part of her was still bitter about that. She had only cooperated to keep her family safe.

Sending her to Mew House might be the only good thing Lady Gracidea ever did.

"You will be staying until the first day of spring," Ilene said. "That's…"

"Months," Hayden said. That was a long time to go without seeing her home again. 

"Why so long?" Eleanor asked, straightening. Whatever warmth Hayden had elicited from her vanished in a heartbeat. "That's way longer than you need."

"Perhaps," Ilene said. "But it is long enough for the news to travel across the world. The house wishes to send a message. This kitten is under our protection. Many will demand an audience with her. Those meetings will take place within our walls."

"Will I get to spend time with Julian?"