Page 10 of Me and My Christmas Familiar

“Is he your familiar now?” Jack came over and smiled at Kit.

Lachlan froze. He looked to Jack and then down to Kit.

“Isn’t it too soon?” It had only been a week since he took Kit in.

Kit stared up at him, completely relaxed in his arms.

Jack glanced up at Carrie, his iguana familiar, who sat on a shelf above them all. She peered down at them with her beady eyes, always keeping watch.

“What do you think, Grady?” Jack asked. “Is it too soon?”

“I think when it is time, you just know,” Grady said.

Jack nodded.

“Do you know, Lachlan?” Grady asked. “Do you feel like Kit is meant to be your familiar?”

Lachlan held his breath as he scratched the top of Kit’s head. Kit held his gaze.

And as he stared at Kit, certainty settled in his gut. It had been less than a month, but he felt like he’d found his true companion. Kit was meant to be Lachlan’s familiar. He yearned for it with all his heart.

“He is. But how does he become my familiar?”

“You just ask him,” Jack said, smiling. “That simple.”

“That simple,” Lachlan repeated. He let out a breath. “Kit,” he said, trying to ignore the knowledge that his siblings watched them. “I know we’ve not known each other a long time, but I feel like you belong with me. I feel like you are meant to be my familiar.” He swallowed. “Would you like to be my familiar?”

Kit tilted his head to the side like he was considering. Then he reached out his paw and bopped Lachlan on the nose.

Lachlan laughed.

“I think that’s a yes!” Cas flew over and beamed at the two. “Congratulations.”

Lacy applauded.

“Now what?” Lachlan asked.

“Your bond will grow with time,” Jack said. “You’ll feel each other’s presence, and each of you will feel what the other is feeling to some extent. Not all the time, but sometimes. Andthe strength of that will be different for each witch and familiar pairing.”

“And your magic will strengthen.” Grady gave him a small smile. “As your bond grows, your powers will grow.”

“Oh, so now Lachlan will be even stronger than the rest of us.” Lacy threw up her arms and laughed.

Lachlan smiled and looked down again at Kit.

My Kit. My familiar.

CHAPTER 7

Kit’s nose twitched. Even over the scent of baking bread, Kit smelled roasted slabs of meat cooking over an open fire. His mouth watered. He wanted to seek out the source of the food.

Using all his self-control, Kit remained where he was. He had work to do. He had to assist his witch. Kit gazed up at Lachlan.

Lachlan placed a lump of dough on a large, flat piece of metal with a long handle. He opened the oven door, and a wave of heat rushed out. Lachlan shoved the flat metal in, gave a jerky motion with his arm, and pulled the metal out. The dough was now nestled inside the oven. He repeated the action three times and then closed the overdoor.

Sweat glistened on his brow. He wiped a slender arm across it. His brown hair had been tucked behind his ears. Breathing heavily, he placed a hand on his hips and stared down at Kit. “This is hard work.” He smiled, and Kit felt the wave of affection from his witch.

Lachlan then turned to make more loaves. Kit skipped forward, rubbing himself against Lachlan’s legs as he circled him. Lachlan stumbled.