Page 16 of Me and My Christmas Familiar

“Ahh. Pissing potions! I forgot to turn off the lantern.” He stared at the flame on the table, several steps away from the bed.

Lachlan knew it’d be better to just do it and get it over and done with. But it already felt so snug in the bed with Kit, especially when Lachlan pressed his feet against the bed warmer.

“It’s so annoying that my powers are so much weaker up here even though I live here. If I was in the bakery, the lanternwould extinguish with a thought.” Lachlan stared at the lantern, willing it to puff out. But nothing happened. “My powers really are limited to the bakery.” He sighed. “I’ll do it in a minute.”

He patted Kit, sliding his hand over his soft fur. Kit purred.

“You’re so beautiful, Kit.” His hair had grown in where there had been spots missing. Lachlan could no longer feel the sharp angles of Kit’s spine and ribs. Nothing could be done for his half-missing ear and tail, but neither seemed to bother or hurt Kit.

Lachlan ran his hand down Kit’s tail, which ended abruptly.

“I’m so glad I found you when I did.” Lachlan didn’t like to think of Kit living on the streets, cold, hungry, and injured. He thought of the morning they’d met. He wondered how many years Kit had been on his own.

“And you saved me too, you know. Now I have a friend, a constant companion, a familiar. My world is so much better with you in it.” He kissed Kit’s head.

Kit rubbed his chin against Lachlan’s throat.

Lachlan chuckled. “And did you know familiars live long lives? They will usually live as long as their witches.”

Kit peered up at him.

“We’re going to be together a long, long time.” Lachlan scratched behind Kit’s ears, his own body continuing to relax into the bed.

“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Kit.” He smiled at Kit, stroking his fur. “I love you.”

Kit stood on Lachlan’s chest. He leaned his face close to Lachlan’s. Green eyes stared into Lachlan’s.

“Meow.” Kit leaned closer. “Meow.”

Lachlan laughed. “Does that mean you love me too?”

“Meow.”

Lachlan kissed Kit on the head. “Thank you.”

“Meow!” Kit grew louder. “Meow!” He paced. He lowered his head.

Lachlan frowned at Kit’s odd behaviour. He seemed unsettled.

Kit’s eyes narrowed. His whiskers twitched. He meowed again. And again, the sounds became more distressed. His tail whipped back and forth jerkily.

Lachlan sat up. “Are you all right? Kit! What’s wrong?”

Kit’s claws dug into Lachlan’s chest. Lachlan gritted his teeth.

Kit flinched back, as if in pain.

“Kit!” Lachlan sat up, cradling Kit in his lap. “Kit! What’s going on?”

Kit’s eyes remained closed. He trembled violently.

But he continued to meow. The sounds elongated and morphed into a choking noise.

“Kit!” Lachlan’s heart raced. He ran his hands over his familiar, worry and panic spiking inside him. “What’s wrong?”

Kit opened his green eyes. But they were different. Lachlan froze.

Circular black pupils had replaced vertical slits. The green didn’t reach the edges of his eyes; instead, white had appeared around the edges.