Page 12 of Me and My Christmas Familiar
Kit had had enough.
Hissing, Kit darted between them, showing Tony his teeth and flattening his ears.
“Whoa!” Tony’s eyes widened. He took several steps back on his hoofed feet. “What in the world?—”
Kit prowled after Tony, still hissing. The faun stumbled.
“Kit! What’s gotten into you?” Lachlan grabbed Kit around the waist and lifted him into his arms. Kit rubbed his cheeks, lips, and chin all over Lachlan, marking his witch with his scent.
Mine.
He glared at Tony.
My witch. Not yours! I’m his familiar. You can’t have him. No one can have him!
He hissed again. Tony took another step back, eyes wide.
“It’s all right, Kit. He’s not here to hurt you.” Lachlan stroked him. “This is Tony. He’s family. He’s Ordelia’s husband. He’s just delivering something.”
Lachlan’s words penetrated the fog of Kit’s rage. Ordelia’s husband. Ordelia was Lachlan’s sister. And this was her husband. He was family.
Kit liked Ordelia. She made that special bone broth for him that would help him get healthy. Then she’d coo over Kit and tell him what a good cat he was. Kit relaxed slightly, but he kept his eyes narrowed on Tony.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into him,” Lachlan said. “He’s never done anything like that before. It’s all right, Kit,” Lachlan cooed. “Everything’s fine.”
“Anyway,” Tony said, watching Kit warily. “Ordelia said Lacy had a headache. Ordelia baked her something to help the healing process. I said I could drop it off here at the stall, as it was on my way. You can pass it on to Lacy, can’t you?”
“Of course. Thanks. And knowing Ordelia’s baking, Lacy’s headache will be gone in no time,” Lachlan said. “And ah…sorry about…”
“No problem. Night.” Tony darted off.
Kit was happy to see Tony go. But when he looked into his witch’s face, Lachlan frowned down at him. Unease slithered through his veins.
“Kit, what was that about?” Lachlan carried him back into the stall.
“What did he do?” Grady asked.
“Tony came by to deliver some of Ordelia’s baking for Lacy. Then Kit hissed at Tony and almost attacked him.”
“What?” Grady frowned. “Why?”
“I don’t know.” Lachlan stared down at Kit, perplexed. Kit rubbed his cheek and chin over Lachlan’s chest.
Mine. You are mine.
“He’s never done anything like that before.”
“That’s odd.” Grady looked around. “Anyway, you can go home. I already took the bread from the oven, and the market is starting to quieten down.”
“You sure?” Lachlan rested his hand on Kit’s back. “I don’t mind staying.”
Grady nodded. “We can handle the rest. Thanks for covering for Lacy tonight.”
“No problem. It’s nice to be able to work at the Christmas markets.” Lachlan said his goodbyes to the others and grabbed his robes and hat. He pulled them on, Kit tucked inside, only his head peeping out.
“All right. Let’s get going.”
CHAPTER 8
