Page 41 of Familiar of the Witch

I thought about it then nodded. Our relationship might seem odd to some because essentially I was Bastion’s boss. Each day I decided where we went and what we did, and he came along to protect me. That power disparity might have been difficult for some, but he had enough wealth never to work again. He didn’t need me for the money any more than I needed his money.

And he was powerful in a way that I wasn’t. He could coax and he could kill. He was respected and feared by almost everyone. I might be the boss but that was only because he was allowing me to be. And I might order him around for eighteen hours a day but he was happy to be the boss in the bedroom – we were both happy with that arrangement. Though that wasn’t something I wanted to confess to my pseudo-father.

I cleared my throat. ‘He makes me very happy. It just … works.’

Oscar searched my face before smiling. ‘I’m glad, Am. And your mother would be, too. I think it might have taken her a while to get her head around it, but ultimately she would have been happy foryou.’

‘I know she would.’ I hated that we were talking in the past tense. I managed a tight smile. ‘Thanks for the chat.’

He reddened slightly. ‘We don’t need to talk about protection, right?’

My cheeked flared red. ‘He’s my protector,’ I responded, wilfully misunderstanding his comment.

‘That’s not what I was talking about.’

‘I know and I’m deliberately misinterpreting so we don’t have to discuss condoms. I’m forty-two, Oscar.’

‘Right.’ He cleared his throat. ‘I just needed to be sure that you’re being sensible. You’ve always said you don’t want kids.’

‘I don’t,’ I said firmly. ‘Bastion and I have discussed it and he’s okay with that. He has Charlize, after all.’

‘And are you ready to become a step-parent?’

I grinned a little and nudged him with my shoulder. ‘If I’ve learned anything from Disney, it’s that all stepmothers are evil. So no, not yet.’ I sobered. ‘We’ve really only just started this thing. I don’t want to put the horse before the cart.’

‘The cart before the horse. The horse always pulls the cart.’

‘All right, Mr Equestrian. Not all of us know all things equine.’

He was laughing atme. ‘Most people know how horses and carts work.’

‘I’ve never been on a horse and cart ride, so sue me.’

There was a knock at the door and Oscar went to get it. Jeb came in wearing his backpack. ‘Who am I runing?’ he asked good-naturedly.

‘Me.’

His eyebrows rose. ‘Who dared to clearyou?’

‘My mum,’ I admitted. ‘When I was a kid.’

‘This’ll hurt like a bitch, Coven Mother,’ he warned. ‘The clearing has been in place for a long time.’

‘I’m aware,’ I responded drily. As a healer and rune mistress, I knew far more about both subjects than Jeb, who was a mid-level runist at best.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to teach you how to stir a cauldron,’ Jeb muttered with an apologetic glance.

He set down his backpack and pulled out his paintbrush and the black sludgy revelation potion, then pulled on purple gloves. Most potions don’t require the gloves and we use them for show, but not the revelation potion. You donotwant to get that stuff on your skin unless you have the protection of the runes.

Jeb often brought his familiar with him when he did rune work but I couldn’t see theblack rabbit. ‘Where’s Jessica?’ I asked curiously.

‘She’s a having a run in the Coven’s garden.’

‘Who is Jessica?’ Bastion asked as he joined us.

‘Jeb’s familiar, a black lop-eared rabbit.’

Bastion looked amused. ‘You have your own Jessica Rabbit?’

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