frogs_of_war

It just occurred to me that the university would not have a pigeon problem. Maybe not crows either. And moles and mice probably wouldn't be an issue.

“Cináed, I know Javed isn’t you boyfriend.” Rayn’s even tone hammered nails into Kin’s heart. Ved would never be his.

“I can see why you’d want him. So strong and tall. His cat form is enormous.”

Kin bit his lip rather than tell her Ved was a Maine Coon. And perfect in every way.

Rayn giggled. “He’s probably big all over.”

Kin shut his eyes. He didn’t want her talking about his Ved. If she put as much attention in the project as in Kin, they’d be done by now.

“He’s a wizard, sure, but then so am I. What does he have that I don’t?” She ran her hands down her curvy flesh.

Kin sighed. “I’m gay.”

She sidled closer. “But isn’t everyone a little bit. We can all appreciate the same sex. And the opposite sex.”

Kin rubbed his hands through his curls. “That’s bi or pan or whatever.”

“You could be bi or pan or whatever too.”

“That’s not the way it works.”

“Sure it is. Now me for instance.”

Would she ever stop talking about herself? Kin glued the last picture to the poster-board and started the notations beside it.

“I’m mostly interested in men.” She pulled on one of Kin’s curls. He yanked his head away. She laughed. “But Javed’s girlfriend is so beautiful. Gorgeous. I wanted to fall on my knees at her feet and beg to lick her. Not normally my thing.”

Ved had a girlfriend? “Javed’s gay.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” She patted his cheek.

But Ved had told him that, back when they were boys, back when they were talking about starting families and Kin had understood that they meant just one. Had he been fooling himself this whole time?

“You can see her for yourself. They should be picking up their kittens in,” She checked her phone, “twenty minutes.”

Kin’s heart shattered and the chunks fell piece by piece to the floor.