Mom made a move before I was able, rushing to Dad's side while I stayed put and stared at the guy who now climbed to his feet, still in awe of his own body.

And with good reason. If he really was Sassafras, or the mortal human version of the demon cat I'd known my whole life, he'd spent the last 150 years or so in the body of a silver Persian. Being back in a two-legged body would be quite a shock.

For all of us.

The skin around his eyes tightened as he slowly ...