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Chapter 13

Mum cooked a big roast with all the trimmings and made a birthday cake. Kass had wanted to go out and even said he’d pay, but she’d insisted.

For the most part, it was like any other family dinner. There was the usual chatter about work and school and what he was up to, but there was something else too. They handed over presents—a gift voucher to his favorite clothing store—as though nothing was wrong. It was only as he was enjoying the cake and coffee that he realized no one, not even Meaghan, had asked about his love life. There was usually some teasing if he was bemoaning being single, or questions about the current boyfriend if he was dating.

A look passed between his parents. Kass glanced at his mother, but it was his father who spoke. “We’ve been looking into the snow leopards.”

Kass put down his coffee. Now he understood why they’d wanted to have his birthday dinner at home. “Oh? And what have you discovered?”

Like he hadn’t done his own research. He doubted they’d uncovered anything more than him. But even they’d only found a fraction; none of it was good.

“They are from Russia and mixed up in a lot of crime. They brought it with them.”

Kass nodded. “I know. Bailey’s trying to get out.”

“He stole your wallet,” Meaghan added unhelpfully.

Kass cut her a glare. The wallet was ancient history, but would he have been so quick to forgive if there was no magic between them? He couldn’t answer that. Nor could he answer if the attraction would burn so bright. Bailey wasn’t anything like the guys he normally dated.

“It’sorganizedcrime, Kassidy. You don’t want to become mixed up in that,” his father said.

“What are you trying to tell me? What do you want me to do?” But he already knew what they’d ask.

His father stared at him. “It might be best for you to sever the bond.”

“Before he drags you down, or gets you killed. That’s what they do. They kill witches and take their power,” Mum said.

“There’s nothing wrong with having no magic. Meaghan and I manage.” Dad smiled, but it was strained at the edges.

“He might have been trying to trap you, the bond nothing but an accident that messed up his plans.” Mum had the decency to look genuinely concerned.

Kass clamped his teeth together, but the anger simmered beneath his skin. Did they think he hadn’t considered all of this? Deliberated on the implication of keeping the bond and breaking it? “What about the bad luck from going against the Fates’ wishes?”

What if he never found anyone because he’d tossed awaythe one? Not that they’d agreed to be anything more than witch and familiar. That was a whole other conversation that couldn’t happen until Bailey got out. It was a good thing they didn’t know Bailey had been stabbed. They’d only be more insistent.

“That’s just fairy tales.”

“So am I to most people.” He stabbed at his cake, but no longer had the stomach for it. “I went for a shoot yesterday. I didn’t use any magic. Do you know how well I can do my job without it? I can’t.” He shoved his chair back. “You talk of living without magic as if it’s nothing. And maybe if you haven’t tasted it, it doesn’t matter, but would you give up an eye? A hand? How about your hearing?”

“Kass…” His mother reached for him and he jerked away.

“I know about the crime. But I also know him. We’ve had this bond for close to a year. A year of feeling his hopes and fears, of sharing the magic between us. I trust him.”

“His family—”

“He only has a grandmother; the rest are humans who’ve learned enough about shifters and witches to be dangerous.” He’d killed two in car accidents. The lack of guilt concerned him, but what were two more dead on his tally board? He took out criminals and warlords, soldiers and men who’d kill him without a second thought. The men in the cars were no different. “They aren’t going to come after me.”

“What did you do?”

“Gave them a warning.” Is that why Bailey had been stabbed? No…the timeline was wrong. He’d been stabbed soon after his sentence reduction. His family had wanted him to rot, no doubt hoping he’d return with his tail between his legs.

“Oh God.” His father leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “You can’t mess with people like that.”

“They didn’t leave me any choice.” And neither did his family. “You didn’t ask if I want to keep the bond. If I want to be more than being only witch and familiar.”

“You can’t possibly…” His mother put her hand over her heart. “Think about who you’d be tying yourself to. You have a career in the army—”

“Which you didn’t want me to have in the first place. And which I won’t have without magic. I know what’s at stake. I get it. I do. But it’s his life too.”