The squirrel tilted his little head.
“Why do you need me to come home, anyway?”
“Have you not been paying attention?” he snapped. “There’s a war between the supernaturals and humans.”
“I know that. That’s exactly what Fate Hollow Academy is for.”
“Yes, that’s true,” he grumbled.
“So, why do I need to come home? I’m where I need to be to be of use for war.”
“I’ll explain everything to you when you get here, but I need you to come home. Now.”
I wasn’t sure if it was the tone in his voice or something else that triggered it, but my eyes burned until I was forced to shut them. My body buzzed with magic as another vision forced its way into my head.
My father stood in the middle of a magical circle, shaking hands with an older man with magical essence radiating from him of a dragon.
“My son has visions,” Father told the man.
The man’s lips curved into a cruel smile. “That could be very useful for the fate of Kalista.”
A booming cackle was shared between them.
The buzzing of my magic dissipated, and my eyes shot open. My head throbbed from the violent intentions the vision showed.
The squirrel climbed up onto the top of my head and patted my temples with his small hands.
“Can you hear me, Kian? You need to come home, right this second.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” I hung up and stuffed the tablet back into the bag.
I’ve never had a vision lead me astray before, but I was almost certain that my father was speaking to a dragon who resided in Blezen. I wasn’t sure why I thought that, but if it was true, it meant we had already lost one of the supporters for the Supernatural Council. And, of course, it would be the necromancers.
My lips pulled back in a sneer. I wouldn’t have expected anything less. Shame and disgust flared through me.
The squirrel hopped from on top of my head into my lap before wiggling around until he was comfortable. I met his gaze and a zap of a bond formed.
‘Nightshade,’whispered through it.
I stared at the little animal in my lap. The magical bond pulsating between us meant one thing. He was my familiar. Astonishment coursed through me. Having a black squirrel as my familiar had never crossed my mind as a possibility.
Granted, I never gave it much thought of what animal could become my familiar, since necromancers didn’t usually form bonds with them. There had been a case or two in our history, so I wouldn’t say it never happened, but the likelihood was zero to none.
“Nightshade,” I murmured.
The squirrel made a cute chirping noise and grabbed hold of my finger to place under his chin.
I scratched, and his chirps became more insistent. He was adorable. I’d give him that. Plus, Nightshade was an adorable name.
‘You are lucky, necromancer,’he squeaked through the bond.
My brows rose as his squeaky voice echoed through the magical wavelength connecting us. “How so?”
‘You have made a familiar pact with me. I am Nightshade. And I am one of the best familiars in this forest. I possess healing powers on top of being a conduit for magical energy,’he explained.
I nodded. I’d heard stories that familiars could speak through the bond, but experiencing it was the coolest thing ever. As someone who held a deep love for animals and their vibrancy of life, I never thought I’d have a familiar. I was sure the animal community knew exactly what necromancers did to their brothers and sisters.
I shivered, and Nightshade tapped at my finger to keep me scratching.
