The number thirteen was sacred to witches, and every thirteen years we were granted another source to strengthen our power. At thirteen we got a cauldron, at twenty-six a familiar, at thirty-nine a broom, and so on.
I’d been looking forward to finding my familiar since, well, forever.
The thing was, though—familiars weren’t animals. They were their own race of shapeshifting Magik, and only the magic of a witch bond allowed them to shift into a person. It was a sacred process, a ritual that could only take place in Covenant Woods behind the temple in Cindralis where familiars lived until finding their witch.
So this kitten was just that—a kitten.
Like everything else Victor did, it was a meaningless gesture based on superficial knowledge of what and who I was.
It was better than lingerie, but that was only due to luck.
And unfortunately for him, I didn’t care about hurting his feelings anymore. I welcomed his anger in the hopes he’d finish the job I’d started.
“That’s not a familiar.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand. You mean you don’t like it? I can get you a different one if you’d like.”
I didn’t want him to take out what was sure to be a volcano of rage on the kitten, so I got up and left the room before we both lost it, pausing on the way to lean against the wall in the hallway.I felt dizzy from the lack of food and loss of blood, but as soon as the spell passed, I kept going.
“Sage, come back here,” he ordered.
I ignored him, moving towards the curtains in the living room to open them.
“Sage!”
I winced at the bright light, and then sat down against the window, loving the juxtaposition of cool glass and warm sun against my skin.
He stormed in and then hissed at the brightness, retreating to the safety of the dark hall. “Don’t be such a child. Close the curtains and talk to me.”
“What’s the point if you never listen?” I replied listlessly, leaning my head back and closing my eyes. “You never listen…”
He paced in the sliver of shadow on the other side of the room, where the light from the windows didn’t quite reach. “I’m at the end of my rope, Sage…”
“And I fell off mine so long ago my corpse has been picked clean by the crows!” I yelled. “I’m exhausted from trying to be who or what you think I should be. Even when I tried, you found ways to hurt me, so what’s the point? You bonded with a defective mate, just cut your losses. Give it a try with your wife, maybe.”
“Enough about my wife!” he bellowed, the windows shaking behind me. “You are the one I want, and if it was safe for you, I’d—”
I laughed, shaking my head at the ridiculousness of it all as I gestured to myself. “Ah yes, here I am, safe and sound. The picture of health.”
I knew I looked terrible. I was covered in scars, I had lost weight, my hair was falling out, and I was sure if Victor hadn’t removed all the mirrors from fear I’d smash one and try to cutmyself again, I would see dark circles under my eyes and gaunt cheeks staring back at me.
He took a step forward, wincing in pain as the light hit him. “I have made mistakes. I should have told you about Accalia beforehand, and you will never know how sorry I am about Kain.”
His skin blistered as he took another step towards me. “But why can’t you see that so much of your misery is caused by your own obstinacy? If you’d just submit and let me lead, acknowledge that I am your alpha, your mate, and only have your best interests at heart, you’d be so happy.”
I watched in horror as his skin began to sizzle. “You’re asking me to change myself entirely to be who you want, but you’ve never once considered whatIwant. I’m not just an omega, and I’m not just a witch, and it makes me want to scream that you don’t even seem to know what those identities even mean beyond your own stereotypes and superficial understandings. Not all omegas want to submit, and I’m proof of that! And don’t even get me started on the familiar.”
He took another step forward, the acrid smell of burnt flesh turning my stomach. “Tell me then.”
“They aren’t even animals!”
He paused, his expression contorting in pain. “What do you mean?”
“They’re shapeshifters! We can only pair with them in a ceremony by the Temple of Hecara. It’s a connection between souls. You don’t just walk into a pet store, buy a cat, and call it a familiar!”
I stood on shaky legs and stepped up to him, shielding him as best I could from the sun. I didn’t want him to burn. “And if you’d ever bothered looking below the surface of me, you’d know that. In fact, I don’t think you even know me at all.”
I tried to walk around him but he grabbed my wrist. “I’d like to,” he whispered.
