Previously, Evariste had rested a hand on her back and placed his arm on her shoulders, but a hu—no—relocation to stand in front of his chest? Why the sudden graduation in physicalexpressions?
Angelique sucked her neck into her shoulders.Something happened. His relatively few addled actions are multiplying. I’ll have to get back to the Veneno Conclave and subtly request for a healer—apowerfulhealer—to comevisit.
Evariste laughed. “Aren’t you going to greet me,Apprentice?”
“I was unaware that…our greetings, that is to say, were supposed to involve…such close…quarters,” Angelique finishedlamely.
Evariste’s smile turned sly. “Come, Angel, my arms are gettingtired.”
Once again, Angelique stared…there.
I’m going to die, she realized.He is going to kill me one day with his bizarre…ideas.
Angelique reluctantly skulked down the last fewsteps.
Don’t want to, don’t want to, don’t wantto.
Her shoulders stiff with…apprehension? Anxiety? Angelique slowly drew closer to Enchanter Evariste, stopping directly in front ofhim.
Evariste enfolded her in a very loose but terribly comforting embrace. “Thank you for welcoming me, dearApprentice.”
Angelique tried to say something, but she only managed to make some sort of high-pitchedsqueak.
“You are very likely the best student I could ask for,” he continuedblithely.
“Thank you?” Angelique finally managed to say—through clenched teeth.Why is his hug so warm and inviting? He’s already got the looks, magic, and charisma! It’s unfair that the world has given him so manyadvantages.
“Which is why we’re celebrating your birthday a few weeks early! Normally I’d wait, but the exact gift I got you makes that impossible, and I had to buy it while it was available.” Evariste swiveled slightly, releasing her with one arm and tucking her against his side with theother.
Thinking of the year prior, when he had given her several new—andexpensive—dresses, Angelique started protesting. “No, Master Evariste, that’sunnecessary.”
“Itisnecessary,” Evariste said, a whiff of fierceness swirling in his voice. “You are a wonderful student and a talented enchantress-in-training. We’re celebrating your birthday. And here is the best of yourgifts.”
He crouched down next to a wicker box held shut with a small latch. With his right arm still folded around Angelique’s back, he tugged her along, so she ended up crouching next tohim.
This close to the box, Angelique thought she could hear something moving inside the wovencontainer.
“Open it,” Evaristeurged.
Angelique reluctantly pushed the latch down and peeled back thelid.
Inside was a fuzzy kitten. It stood on wobbly white paws, and his little black tail was puffed up to resemble a fat firtree.
“His name is Roland Archibald Whisperpaws the Fifth,” Evariste said. “I’m sorry to say you can’t change his name—the man I bought him from was adamant on that, something about a family name—but I think you’ll likehim.”
The kitten was mostly white with a coat of black spread across his back and over the top of his head, and a splash of it covering his top right lip, resembling a half-mustache.
Angelique carefully scooped him up, her heart melting when the kitten released a tinymewl.
She laughed a little as she held the kitten against her chest. “What a handsome, brave little fellow youare.”
The little kitten puffed his chest up, then said in a squeaky voice, “Iamhandsome, aren’tI?”
Angelique almost dropped the feline. “Hetalks?” She stared, wide-eyed atEvariste.
Talking animals were not entirely unheard of, but they were rare. Rarer than unicorns. Tobuya talking animal—even a mere cat—would cost an exorbitant amount ofmoney.
“Of course I talk!” The kitten protested, his voice muffled by the way he was enclosed within herhands.
