Reed leans back. He tucks the value into his vest pocket, patting it once, possessive in his own pathetic way. "Good start," he drawls, voice dripping false charm. "But real maps, real names, the kind that get a man floated face down, those need more time, so come back tomorrow"

  The security shift behind us subtle but ready. My ears pin flat instantly, a low growl vibrating up from my chest, tail lashing hard enough to thump Master's thigh. Tomorrow ? This worm thinks he can dangle secrets like string and make my Master wait ? The urge to launch across the table and open his throat flashes.

  But then I feel it through the bond, that cool, patient amusement flickering under his calm calculation that says he'll play this game a little longer, let the fixer think he's in control.

  I twist in Master's lap with sudden grace, flipping over onto my back in one single roll, belly exposed, legs across his thighs like the most spoiled housecat demanding tribute. My cloak falls open, tunic riding up just enough to bare a strip of skin, tail curling high and flicking lazy arcs in the air before looping loosely around his wrist.

  "Masterrrr," I whine drawing the word out long and needy, voice pitched high and playful, paws kneading the air toward his hands. "Belly rubs," I demand in a breathy purr, grinning wide enough to flash fangs, completely ignoring Reed and his goons. "Your kitten's been so good, threatened the bad men, stayed in your lap like a proper pet, didn't even bite the greasy one yet. Reward time."

  Master tilts his head just enough to look down at me, upside down from my perspective and then his hand finally descends, palm spreading warm and firm across my exposed belly.

  My purr tuns into a roar, legs kicking helplessly in the air, tail thrashing wild arcs before snapping tight around his forearm to lock his hand in place. I twist under his touch, embercrack high showing once again under his attention, turning me into a trembling, purring mess right there on his lap.

  "Yes yes yes, Master.." The words spill out, high and needy, my grin splitting wide flashing every fang. I rub my belly harder into his hand, guiding him with tiny rolls. The security goons shift awkwardly, Reed's smirk falters into something uncertain, but I don't care.

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  Then his voice drifts down cutting through my euphoria, "You aren't getting a drink tonight. Gods forbid what you'd do if you had a sip of something."

  The denial hits like a splash of cold water, my ears flick back for a heartbeat, tail pausing mid lash and a soft theatrical whine escapes my throat as I pout. "Masterrrr," I complain, drawing it out long and sulky, "not even a little sip ? I'd be so good, promise I'd only climb you twice instead of five times, maybe just bite one stranger instead of all of them..."

  But the pout melts almost instantly into giggles, body arching again under his continued rubs because even the refusal is perfect, he's thinking about me, protecting me from myself, keeping me sharp for tomorrow's blood. I flip myself right side up in a sudden twist, straddling his lap properly now. "Fine," I murmur.

  Master doesn't say a word, just slides one arm under my knees and the other behind my back whilst lifting me cleanly out of his lap like I weigh nothing. My tail loops instantly around his forearm, anchoring me to him, while my arms lock around his neck, face burrowing hard into the crook of his throat with a ragged euphoric purr. I rub my cheek along his jaw in frantic possessive drags marking him as mine.

  He carries me out past Reed, cradling me close to his chest like something precious and dangerous all at once. He doesn't head for the streets. Instead he angles toward the shadowed alley beside the Anchor, finds the stacked crates and climbs.

  We crest the roofline and he settles on the ridge. The view spills out below, the massive arch lit by flickering torches, carts rumbling through even at night, guards in corporate colors checking papers, the whole city's trade pulsing under lamplight and moonlight.

  Master's voice drifts out then, "This city's a rigged game, kitten. Merchant Gate's, every cart rolling through pays the vig, every crate stamped with some guild's brand. Cartels think they can muscle in, redraw the table stakes. But the house always wins... and tonight, we're the house."

  He shifts me slightly in his arms, one hand sliding up to cup the back of my head, fingers threading through my hair as he keeps talking, eyes fixed on the gate below. "They'll bleed silver tomorrow, thinking it buys them time. But time's just the river we drown them in. One gold coin at a time, one secret at a time, until their whole cartel washes out."

  "Master," I breathe against him, voice cracked, "I'll burn it all down for you, drown them all, just to watch you deal the final hand." I nip his earlobe hard enough to sting. "Tomorrow we bleed them dry. Tonight... tonight just hold me here, where the whole world looks small and you're everything."

  I curl tighter in his cradle, face buried in his neck, tail lashing slow possessive arcs against the night sky.