Page 42 of Me and My Christmas Familiar
Lachlan handed Kit his present. “Open this and you’ll see.”
Kit ripped the paper away. He gasped. “Lachlan! You got me a painting of us too!” He looked up at Lachlan, his mouth dropping open in surprise.
“I did.” Lachlan laughed. “I also thought a painting of us together would be nice.”
“But in this painting, we’re both humans.” Kit pointed. “And I’m wearing robes and a hat like you.” He laughed.
Then Kit held up both paintings, almost identical. Except in the one Kit had commissioned, Kit was a cat in Lachlan’s arms, and in the one Lachlan had commissioned, Kit stood as a handsome human beside Lachlan.
“When I asked the man for a painting of us, he laughed and laughed. And then he said, ‘Did you want a Christmas tree and your family stall in the background too?’” Lachlan shook his head, laughing. “I couldn’t understand why he seemed to find it all so amusing.”
Then when the painter had come by the stall to sketch them for the painting, he kept staring at them and chuckling. Now Lachlan knew why.
Kit smiled down at the painting. “They look amazing.”
“They do. And it shows us together, with you in both your forms.” Lachlan kissed Kit on the cheek. “Me and my Christmas familiar.” Lachlan had been intentional when asking for Kit to be human in the painting he commissioned. He wanted to show Kit that he accepted him in his human form.
Kit’s eyes twinkled as he glanced back and forth between the paintings.
“Should we put them on the chest of drawers?” Lachlan pointed.
Nodding, Kit sprung up from the bed and ran to put them on top. Lachlan followed, watching Kit put the paintings side by side. Kit clapped.
Lachlan wrapped an arm around his waist. “You and I are so perfect together we even give each other the same gifts.” Lachlan kissed Kit on the cheek.
Kit leaned into him, tail curling around Lachlan’s waist.
They stayed like that for several moments, just admiring the paintings together. Gazing down at their portraits, with Kit beside him, Lachlan’s heart swelled with so much love for Kit that he thought he’d explode.
And suddenly, just like that, all the trepidation and fear he’d held on to melted away.
Lachlan turned to face him. Kit met his gaze.
“I love you, Kit,” Lachlan said. “I love you with all my heart.”
Kit’s green eyes widened. “Really? I thought maybe…” He swallowed. “You haven’t said it again. Not since before I first shifted.”
“I know.” Lachlan cupped Kit’s cheek. “And I’m sorry it took me so long. But I love you. I love you as my cat. I love you as my familiar. And I love you as my human. I love you in all your forms. I love all of you.”
“I love you too, Lachlan.” Kit let out a shaky breath. “I love you so much.”
Then Lachlan kissed his familiar, thinking himself the happiest witch in the world.
CHAPTER 23
“Come on, Kit.” Lachlan carried a basket of freshly baked bread rolls into the front part of the bakery.
Kit followed him, dodging the legs of Lachlan’s siblings and their partners as they also carried food for their Christmas feast to the table.
“Kit!” Briar cried as he almost tripped over Kit.
But Wulfric grabbed Briar around the waist and steadied his mate with an amused chuckle. Briar was lucky to have a mate with such quick instincts.
Kit continued after Lachlan. The bakery had been open that morning. Which meant Kit and Lachlan had been up very early as usual. People wanted fresh bread, rolls, cakes, cookies, pies, and pastries for their Christmas Day feast.
But then the Magic Bakery had closed their doors to their customers, and they prepared their own meal. Since then, everyone had been busy helping. Well, everyone except Kit. But considering how many people were working, it seemed like the best way he could help was to stay in cat form. He was smaller as a cat, after all.
Meanwhile, the front area where the customers usually ate had been transformed into an eating space. Tablecloths coveredthe small tables that had been moved together to make a large dining table. Candles and clusters of baubles decorated the tablecloths.
