Drew had the crazy idea that she could understand every word he was saying to her. But was it really so crazy? Zach could transform into a freaking cat, and when he was in that form they communicated telepathically with one another. Was an intelligent chicken so impossible?
“I guess we’ll need to give you a name if you’re going to stay here with us,” Drew told her. “How about Ebony?”
The hen gave him a haughty glare.
“Hmmm, what about Sabrina?”
Shebokkedgrumpily.
“Raven?”
She nipped at his finger.
“Ow!” Drew sucked his finger into his mouth. “Fine, we won’t use any of those. What the hell do you want to be called then?”
Leila.
The thought came to him with such clarity that Drew gave the hen a shrewd look. Had that idea come from him or from her? “If you can understand me,bokonce for yes and twice for no.”
Leila stayed silent, but she did give him a look reminiscent of the ones that Harriett used when Drew had done something particularly stupid. Before Drew could come up with other ways to test her sentience, he heard the door to the garage open and close and then voices on the stairs. A moment later Zach appeared, carrying a plank of two-by-four timber, and Kensington followed him in, laden down with a plastic feeder, waterer, and a bag of feed.
“Hey,” Drew said, jumping to his feet and coming over to unload his mentor’s arms. “Thanks so much for coming.”
Kensington didn’t reply, too busy staring at Leila.
“What is it?” Drew asked.
“That is not a normal chicken,” Kensington said slowly.
“I fucking knew it!” Zach crowed. “She’s a demon chicken, isn’t she?!”
Kensington shot him a withering glance. “Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous.”
Zach held up his arms, where his numerous wounds were starting to scab over, and waved them around. “Why is the court dismissing the evidence presented in Exhibit A?” he demanded.
“Drew,” Kensington said as they both ignored Zach’s dramatics. “You seem to have gotten yourself a familiar.”
“Excuse me?” Drew asked, shocked.
“I’ve never heard of familiars outside of fairy tales,” Zach said.
“They’re something that only the most powerful of magic users have,” Kensington explained. “They’re not just for witches, but sorcerers,wizards, and warlocks too. We don’t know where they come from, but we do know that the familiar chooses the magic user and not the other way round. To be honest, Drew, your power is so great that I’m not at all surprised to find you’ve acquired a familiar.”
“Leila. Her name is Leila,” Drew told them.
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Leila,” the Grand Master told the hen formally, adding a little bow at the end. Leila ducked her head in a return bow.
Zach groaned. “So, I guess we’re keeping the chicken?”
Drew grinned. “We’re keeping the chicken.”
Glaring at Leila, Zach pointed two fingers at his eyes and then turned them to point at her. “I’m watching you, chicken.”
Leila just did her little chirrup-purr thing and ignored him.
Chapter 1
The recipe
