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“A familiar?” River repeated. “Wait. Like, a witch’s assistant? I’ve been feeding a stray witch’s assistant?”

“More like a protector,” I said, plucking the cat off my chest and holding her before me so I could stare into her eyes. “Is that what you are, sweetie?”

The cat blinked. I supposed that was answer enough.

“I think she’s been waiting here for me.” It was the only thing that made sense. Unless⁠—

“Wait. Was she Selina’s familiar?”

River shrugged. “Selina didn’t like animals. Any animals.” He nodded at the tiny werewolf who more resembled a Pomeranian. “That’s Krishna. He and Selina loathed each other.”

Krishna yipped once, apparently in agreement.

River gave the small wolf a considering look. “I suppose that was more because she bullied him and he was afraid of her. Either way, pretty much anytime he was in her vicinity, he lost control and wolfed out like this.”

Krishna tucked his tail between his legs and bowed his fluffy head.

I had no idea what that bit of information had to do with whether this cat was Selina’s familiar, but I wasn’t about to tell Phoenix to stop talking. Not with that mesmerizing musical voice that was doing all sorts of curiously warm things to a certain part of my body that had not had any attention in far, far too long.

I rubbed my cheek against the cat’s soft fur and watched River talk and tried really hard to remind myself that he and I should stay far, far away from one another. Well, as far as one could while still living in a small town in the middle of nowhere.

At the moment, I couldn’t even remember why I was supposed to stay away from him.

“And anyway, the cat didn’t show up in town until a few weeks after Selina left. After all Selina’s magic disappeared and the coffee shop reverted to this.” River waved at the hot mess we were standing in, effectively bringing me out of my weird fugue state and back to reality.

A bit too harshly for my own liking, frankly.

I needed to address the disaster that was supposed to be my means for survival. Without relying on my magic. Without using my magic at all, actually.

Maybe that’s why I was suddenly granted a familiar. Maybe she really was my protector, now that I’d officially sworn off magical use.

“I’ve never had a familiar before.” Not every witch partnered with a familiar, but most did. My family had strictly forbidden me from seeking one out. They’d been afraid I would accidentally injure it.

Unfortunately, it was a very real fear. Even after swearing off magic, I still had a terrible tendency to be clumsy. Mental note: don’t trip over the cat.

“What should I name you?” I murmured to my new best friend.

“Patches,” River blurted. “That’s what I’ve been calling her, anyway.”

“Patches,” I repeated, watching the cat. Did she just shake her head? “I don’t think she likes it. Do you want to be called Patches?”

The cat narrowed her eyes.

No Patches, then. It was a cute name for a family pet, but this cat was a protector, a witch’s familiar. She needed a strong name, a powerful name.

“How about Wyldfire? With a Y.”

The cat began purring so loudly, they could probably hear her in Dallas.

Wyldfire it is,” River announced with a smile I was pretty sure was for the cat, although it was affecting me, too. “I like it,” he said softly.

I smiled too. Were we sharing a moment?

We were totally sharing a moment.

Wyldfire snuggled into the crook of my arm, lying like a baby, purring and curling her paws as if she were making biscuits in the air.

The tiny werewolf barked once. It was more of a yip, really. High-pitched and not at all scary.