Page 26 of Familiar of the Witch

I felt more solid today, and I realised that now there was only one of me running around the world. The jaunt through time had been necessary, but the prickling of my skin that told of two of me existing hadn’t been comfortable. I was relieved the sensation had vanished. ThenI wondered where Frogmatch was; I hoped he was safely ensconced with Oscar.

‘Morning, Bambi.’ Bastion pressed a kiss to my neck in that spot that he’d found I liked, making me arch my back in a pool of desire. ‘You’re insatiable,’ he murmured as his hands stroked the length of my body.

‘Are you complaining?’

‘Not for a single second,’ he promised solemnly. ‘But you’re sore.’

‘A little,’ I admitted.

His hands paused. ‘Let’s get you some healing salve.’

‘Only if you promise to be the one that applies it,’ I suggested archly.

He grinned. ‘You read my mind.’

We showered together, hot water sluicing us. The first time we’d showered and tried to get clean, we’d ended up getting very, very dirty instead. This time we actually managed to use the shower for its true purpose.

When we stepped out, I dried, runed myself and got dressed. I sat in front of the mirror and contemplated my affirmations. For once, I didn’t have to say them. I had a familiar and it wouldn’t be true to affirm that I didn’t need anyone, not any more. I needed Bastion, and I needed Oscarand Benji and Jinx and Lucy. Heck, maybe even Frogmatch would make the list.

I looked at my reflection and crafted a new affirmation. ‘I am a strong, successful witch. With my friends and family beside me, I am unstoppable. Iwillchange this world for the better.’ I smiled. Go big or go home. I was aiming for the moon; here’s hoping I’d land in the stars.

I sashayed out of my bedroom into the living room and took a breathless moment to admire the man manoeuvring around my kitchen like a pro. Like he’d manoeuvred around me.

‘What’s the plan for the day?’ Bastion asked, his tone businesslike as he passed me a glass of fresh orange juice and a bowl of overnight oats.

The oats gave me pause. When exactly had Oscar sneaked them into my fridge? My cheeks warmed and Bastion grinned as he felt my embarrassment. ‘Oscar knows about the birds and the bees.’

‘Yes, but he doesn’t need to know thatIknow about them,’ I muttered.

‘You’re forty-two. He knows.’

I humphed and dived into my raspberry-flavoured oats. I was far hungrier than usual. I must have used a lotmore energy than usual and my body wanted to refuel. I drained my orange juice and thought about my plans for the day.

Much as I wanted to lounge around naked in my flat with Bastion – and I really did want to do that – I had too much to do to spend time indulging myself. ‘I need to finish the final-defence potion. The base will only be fresh enough for another day or two, max. That’s top of the list. If you want, you can summon Shirdal to come and get his replacement vial.’ I owed him that and much more for saving Bastion.

‘And after that?’

‘After that is finding the necromancer that killed Melva.’

‘Do you have a plan for accomplishing that?’ Bastion asked curiously.

I grimaced. ‘Yeah. We’re going to speak to Voltaire. Krieg said he’d reach out to him for us, but so far we haven’t heard anything. Can you set up a meet?’

He nodded. ‘Leave it with me. I’ll line something up while you finish the potion.’

‘Thank you. I knew I could rely on you.’

He picked up our dirty bowls and pressed a light kiss to my forehead. ‘Always,’ he murmured as he walked away.

I watched him clean our dirty dishes, his calloused hands carefully wiping away the remnants of the oats with asudsy cloth. ‘Lucky dishes,’ I muttered. A surge of amusement and shaking shoulders told me that Bastion had heard my comment. Stupid supernatural hearing.

I bit my lip as desire swelled. ‘I think I have a cleaning kink,’ I admitted. ‘Is that a thing?’

‘Kinks come in all shapes and sizes. You decide what’s yours.’ He shot me a look with his bedroom eyes. ‘I’m perfectly happy to clean dishes if it gets you fired up.’

‘Like a bonfire,’ I admitted.

‘I’m going to clean the whole flat while you make potions,’ he promised.

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