Page 41

I sigh.

After heading over to the window, I shimmy the pane up, letting in a gust of cool air.

Outside, the giant oak tree I saw earlier looms like a dark shadow. One of the tree’s thicker branches tees off just beneath my window. The location and sturdiness of it is so convenient that some previous witch must’ve spelled the branch to be that way, either for herself or her familiar.

I turn to Nero. “I’m going to leave this window open for you so you can come and go as you please.”

In response to my words, my familiar rises to all fours. After giving a satisfied stretch, he hops onto the bench seat beneath the window.

“Now, remember, no hunting humans or house pets, okay?” I tell him. “They’re not on the menu.”

Nero glowers at me.

“Oh, and no eating other witches’ familiars,” I say. “Oh, and definitely do not attack lycanthropes. It won’t end well for you.”

Nero gives me a disgruntled look, like I’m the world’s cruelest master.

“Just about everything else is free game. I’ll leave my window open so you can get back inside.” I chew on my lower lip. “Youcanclimb, right?”

He gives me another disgruntled look.

“Geez,” I say, holding up my hands. “No offense meant.” Well, maybe alittleoffense meant. He is an ass, after all. “I just wanted to make sure.”

With that, Nero springs out of my room and onto the oak branch. Without a backward glance, he slinks down the tree before silently dropping to the ground and prowling off into the darkness.

I worry my lower lip as I stare after him. That oaf better not get himself hurt. And he better stay warm.

I sit on the edge of my bed. I’m utterly spent from a day of moving, and I need to take a shower and try to unwind, but my body still buzzes with energy. Now that I have a moment alone, I want to explore. There are new smells, new sounds, and a heady thrum of power in the air itself that I want to acquaint myself with.

Decision made, I push off the bed. I’m nearly to my door when I hear rustling from the oak tree outside. A moment later, Nero quietly hops into our room.

“Back already?” I ask. “I thought you’d be out exploring all evening.”

He comes up to me and rubs against my thigh before plopping down on the blanket he stole from me once more.

“I was just about to leave,” I say. “Want to explore some more with me?”

In response, Nero yawns in my face.

“Fine. I’ll be back in a little bit.”

I grab the doorknob and head out of my new room, closing the door behind me. Halfway down the hall, I hear claws scratching against the back of the door.

Fucking cats.

I walk back to my room and open the door. Nero glances up at me, then silently slips out. I look at the inside of the door and—

“Holy Mother of Magic Mushrooms, Nero, why do you have to be such a beast?” Several deep claw marks have gouged the base of the door, and wood shavings litter the ground.

Cats, man.

The lights in the hallway flicker. They look like a relic from a century ago, and judging by the magic sputtering off them, I’m guessing they’re as old as they appear.

I head down the stairs to the first floor. This level is full of common rooms, most of which I have seen only in passing.

I head toward the house’s sprawling library, Nero padding along beside me. When I enter, I don’t see anyone inside, all the plush velvet sofas and chairs empty. On the far side of the library, a massive fireplace holds the dying embers of a banked fire.

And then, of course, are the books. Hundreds and hundreds of them nestled neatly into almost every square inch of this place.