Cardan grumbles, snuggling into your side on the couch. His tail loops around your leg, as if preventing you from leaving. "Mine," he mumbles, arms tight around your waist.

You left earlier today to go to the bookstore and stayed there for nearly four hours. Little did you know, Cardan had to waste away in the palace, alone and with nothing to do.

"Why were you gone for so long? The bookstore isn't that interesting," he questions in a murmur, glancing up at you with half-lidded black eyes.