Ignoring his cry of protest, I ran up the steps and fell to my knees. The soft tabby fur of my cat was matted with blood, her head twisted to the side. Tears dribbled down my cheeks as I picked her up and cradled her to my chest.
My familiar, my lifeline. It was no wonder I had lost my magic, I didn’t have my connection to my second main magic source. She had been my familiar for eight years. I hadn’t allowed her to get too close, but my chest squeezed in pain as I sobbed into her fur. A familiar was like a child, always there, always loving.
Dave’s arm came around me, tugging me into a stand. My cries were loud enough to draw my neighbours’ attention if I wasn't careful.
Allowing him to take my keys from my pocket, I gathered Smudge to me and followed him inside the house. Once in the hallway, he turned to check that no one watched us from the street.
Leaving him to it, I went to the kitchen. Tears blurred my vision as I tried not to look at the wound that had ended Smudge's life.
“Let me,” Dave said as he rushed in.
Snatching up an old book magazine, he pulled it apart and covered the table with the paper. Lowering the cat onto it, I spun away and went to the sink to wash up.
“Lucien knew where you lived,” Dave muttered.
“He did. He probably told Xvair. I... I just...”
Drying my hands on a towel, I slumped against the work surface and slid to the floor, my back against the cabinet. My whole body shook as I struggled to breathe. Resting my head in my hands, I tried to stem the tears that ran down my cheeks.
An arm came around me, Dave's scent filtering up my nose as he joined me on the kitchen floor. His shoulder was comfortable as I leant on him. I tried not to get my tears on his pristine jacket, but he pressed my cheek against him, gently kissing my forehead.
“I don't know how this feels,” he whispered. “But, I'm here for you.”
Clenching his arms, I held on to him before I completely broke apart. Not only was I officially dead, my familiar was too. How would I cope without my furry friend?
“Thank you.”
My simple words were met with a grunt as I looked up at him. He reached for my face, stroking the tears away from my cheek. A sad smile crossed his lips before he blinked. I watched him, feeling my pain ease with every moment that he held me. It was nice to have someone there, giving me space to grieve without expectations.
Before I knew what I was doing, I reached up and pulled his head towards mine. He came willingly, his eyes widening as I planted my lips on his. My body heated as his arms came around me, squeezing me to him. I gripped him tightly, my lips moving against his as his tongue tangled with mine.
With my eyes closed, I lost myself in the man who had made me feel safer than any other person. I had no close connections, preferring to let myself be my biggest protector. But having him by my side as I faced the hardest time in my life, made me want to drink him in and never let go.
“Gemma,” he breathed when I pulled away. “Are you sure you won’t regret this when you’re not feeling so-?”
Shaking my head, I clasped his skull between my hands. “No way,” I breathed. “You’ve always been there for me, from the day you became my desk friend. I... I might have had the hots for you since then too.”
Baring my soul wasn’t easy for me. Not that I was very good at being romantic, but opening up was hard. Dave might not feel the same way, although he hadn’t stopped the kiss that I had instigated. Surely, that was a good sign?
“Well...” Tucking my hair behind my ear, he tapped my nose gently. “You might have thought that I was joking about marrying you, but I was telling the truth. A seer once told me that I would marry a unique powerful witch who had to die to realise who she was.”
“What?” I barked, pushing his arm. “Don’t be crazy.”
Shaking his head, he took my shoulders and shifted to face me. “I’m not playing around, I promise it’s the truth.”
Sighing, I looked up at the table. When my gaze landed on Smudge’s tail, I clenched my hands into fists. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I murmured. “We’ve only had one kiss.”
Untangling himself from me, Dave got to his feet. “Yes, we’ll discuss that later. We need to find out who did this to Smudge.”
Getting up, I flinched at the blood that lined my shirt. Ripping it off, I threw it straight into the bin and slammed down the lid. It was a stupid shirt, just like all the others. Maybe it was time to chuck the whole lot out.
“There’s something here,” Dave murmured as he stroked Smudge’s head.
Going over, I watched as he pulled out a piece of paper that was tucked in my familiar’s collar. Unfolding it, he held it up for us both to read.
No matter how hard you try to run, I will always find a way to get to you. You must repay your father's debt.
Dropping the note, Dave clenched his hands and thrust away from the table, a snarl lifting his lips.
My shoulders slumped as I stroked Smudge's tail. It was the only part of her that wasn't covered in blood. How could someone be so cruel?
“I sure hope the ancestors help to reconnect you to their magic without Smudge. Your connection to your familiar helped you to control the power you had, using her as a conduit, but you must be able to do this...” Rubbing his hands over his face, Dave winced. “...You have to beat this bastard and
