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I quickly typed in my number and handed it back. “My familiars,” I said and smiled.

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“But their lifespan… I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I understand the relationship between a witch and their familiar, or familiars in your case, is very close.”

“It’s okay, and you’re right. At any one time, depending on the time of year, the number of familiars I have can range from none, while some hibernate and others wait to emerge, to hundreds. That kind of loss is extremely hard.” I lifted my hand to one of the sweet little souls with me, and she fluttered to my hand. “At the moment, there are only mourning cloaks around. These two have been with me for just over a week now.”

“And you feel a connection to them?”

“Yes, very strongly. Their love is…overwhelming at times, especially when I have two hundred of them flying around me.” I chuckled. “But yes, our connection is as strong as any other witch and her familiar, which is why it hurts so much when they go.”

His mouth tipped up to the side. “If it ever becomes too much, I’d be happy to help you with that.”

I shook my head. “Thanks, but they deserve to be mourned. I love them just as fiercely. I’d be afraid that would change if I never felt their loss.”

“Very wise.”

“Well, thanks again, Xavier. It was fascinating talking to you.”

His lips curled up and his eyes warmed. “You as well, Jasmine. Maybe we could…do it again sometime?”

I paused. “Talk?”

“Well, yes. Over dinner perhaps?”

My face heated. “Like a date?”

His smile widened, and I got a flash of fangs. A little shiver slid down my spine. “Yes, like a date.”

“I’m not sure… I mean… I don’t know.”

“I’ll let you think about it. In the meantime, if I think of anything that could help you, I’ll let you know.”

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Chapter 13

Jasmine

* * *

It was later than I’d intended when I was finally on my way to Ren’s place, but after my disappointing day, hitting wall after wall in my search for the missing souls, then meeting up with Rome, who was pissed with me for going to Xavier’s alone no matter how many times I told him there was absolutely no danger, I’d been running late.

I’d asked Rome if he was going to see Zara again, and he’d looked at me like I was insane. “Was just a hookup, Jazzy,” he’d said. “She’s a nice female, but she was just a way to pass the time, and I was that for her as well.”

Harsh but true. Now that Warrick had found his mate, a lot of the hounds, especially the really old ones, were getting restless. They wanted what their alpha had, and I didn’t blame them for it.

After that, I met up with Mags for a debrief. She’d gotten the same amount of leads as me—in other words, none at all.

And now I was on my way to Ren’s place, and trying to get my head in the game when all I could think about was Zinnia and how she was counting on me, and I was failing her miserably.

Hitching my bag higher, I walked the short distance to the funeral home, across the parking lot, and down the external steps to Ren’s basement apartment. Music played low inside, so I knocked harder than I usually would.

The door swung open and Breanne stood there. She smelled of alcohol and cigarettes. As soon as she saw me, she scowled. “What the fuck do you want?”

So much for him and Breanne being done. He obviously couldn’t stay away from the wolf, no matter what he’d said to me. Pain sharp and ugly swamped my chest. I gave myself a mental slap. Get it the fuck together. “I’m here to see Ren.”