Page 36 of The Fang Arrangement (Celestial Witches #2)

E mber is passed out, my stomach churns when I think about why she’s so tired.

Disgusting.

What’s even more disgusting is what I’m about to do to ensure her happiness. But, in the long run, even I can agree the more time I get with my witch, the better.

The magic I’m thinking of is as old as time and complicated. I scurry out of the vampire’s room, knowing Ember is safe with the wards she’s placed. I might not have been pro-vampire from the start, but I can’t deny the change he’s had on her.

She trusts her magic more with the vampire. Not to mention I don’t think I’ve ever seen her as happy as I did when she strolled into the room this evening with a wide grin on her face.

Ember’s always been happy around others, but I see who she really is, when no one is around. She needed this, and if she needs help, it’s my job as her familiar to do whatever I can with my power.

So as much as it fucking pains me, I teleport off of the vampire’s property to the home of the familiar I think may help me.

The large purple mansion is overkill, though I can’t deny Violet and her wolf have substantially made it less tacky. I round the house where the gazebo is.

Sure enough, Walter is sunbathing, Marie next to him, though she doesn’t allow him to touch her paw.

“Ugh, what do you want?” Walter asks, though he doesn’t even move, his furry round belly facing the sky.

“Lovely to see you, as always, Marie. Surprised you’re still sticking around this sourpuss,” I say.

Marie bunches her shoulders, rolling onto her stomach, where she licks her paw. “I have nothing better to do.”

“Right, that tracks.”

“I supposed you’re here to discuss this vampire and slayer debacle these witches have found themselves in?” Walter asks. “I swear if it’s not one thing, it’s another with these three idiots.”

Marie slightly hisses at him and I can’t help but to give her a smile. The cranky bastard rolls over onto his stomach with an eye roll and appraises me.

“I’ve told Violet everything I know about slayers and vampires. Which isn’t much. They’re the types of beasts you stay away from,” Walter says.

“Actually, not here for that.”

“Then what? To ransack our kitchen?” Walter says, looking me up and down.

It takes everything in me to not bite him.

“Maybe Scarlett will have the information I need,” I say, and that has Marie perking up.

“No. We can help you, that busybody acts like she knows everything when this is her first cycle. It’s annoying,” she says.

I hold back a grin as I climb the gazebo steps.

“Familiar magic. Do you think it would work on other supernatural beings?” I ask.

“You can’t be thinking about what I think you’re thinking about doing,” Walter says.

“I think it’s romantic. Wanting someone so much that you’d search the world for just the right magic to spend eternity together,” Marie says.

“Right. Romantic,” Walter says, glancing over at Marie. “I suppose the same magic could work, connecting two souls together in the same way, tethering them to one life force and preventing aging like it works on us with our witches.”

“And where might a raccoon get his greedy paws on this type of magic?”

“You’re not going to like it,” Walter says, and I swear the cantankerous little shit is grinning.

“Just tell him, Walter. I’m bored of this,” Marie purrs.

“For the type of magic you seek, you’ll have to go to Sarephine Fontenot,” he says, a light chuckle in his voice.

I grit my teeth, and Walter plops back on his back.

“Let’s hope she doesn’t try to add you to her little collection,” Walter snickers.

“Right. Thanks for all your wisdom,” I say with a roll of my eyes and teleport back to the vampire’s mansion.

There’s no way in hell I’m going to that witch’s swamp by myself. I got the information. I’ll give it to Ember and she can do with it what she wants.

I crawl up the bed, back into my witch’s arms, and try not to have bad dreams about the swamp witch and all the rumors surrounding her.