by Tara Lain
Clearly, this was a bloody convention.
Maybe Nicky knew not-human when he saw it. He backed up beside Luke. “Who the hell are you, and what are you doing here?”
Her voice was deep and heavily accented. “I am the one who made the gun fly, little man. That is all you have to know.”
Nicky looked at Alain. “You, not him?”
For an instant she looked confused. “Yes, me.” She looked back toward the window. “Come in, Magda.”
The black-haired witch stepped over the sill, followed by one of the males. The older one.
Nicky screwed up his face. “Who are you? I was here first, and I have a big beef with these people.”
The blonde frowned. “Beef? You are having food?”
He shouted, obviously pretty frustrated. “Beef. Like I’ve got problems with them. Trouble. They put me in jail, and they’re not going to do it again.”
The females weren’t moving and looked confused.
Nicky threw his hands up. “Enough of this shit!” He leaped toward the gun lying on the floor. A blast of power like lightning cast out of the black-haired witch’s hands, slammed into his chest, spun him like a top, and tossed him in a corner like a broken doll. Perhaps Nicky believed in magic now.
Luke’s arms came around Alain. “Leave him alone. He’s of no value to you.”
The blonde witch scowled. “What do you mean?”
“He’s a human. Can’t you tell that?”
The dark one smiled tightly. “He may be human at this moment, but we saw him change into the cat. He will do it again.”
Alain pressed against Luke. “And even if I could, why do you think Aloysius would be your familiar?”
The male stepped forward. “We will own him. That’s the way the power works.”
Alain gave a little smile. “Aloysius is the most powerful familiar in the world. He is obliged to no witch, you fool.” His heart swelled. Heat filled every nerve ending.
The witches glanced at each other. They obviously hadn’t considered that Aloysius might not serve them as he had Killian. The blonde turned toward them. “It matters not. We’ll have him and deny Killian Barth his power. Plus, every witch in the world will honor us with tribute to get him.”
The male waggled his finger. “So come to us, little human. If you behave….”
The one called Magda sneered. She nodded toward Luke. “We’ll let this pet of yours live, and perhaps when we wipe out Killian Barth’s coven, we will keep his husband alive as well. That will make you so happy you will do anything we ask, I’m sure.”
Luke shook his head and tightened his arms on Alain. “I’m telling you he can’t be changed back. He’s changed twice, and another power surge will kill him. You’ll kill Aloysius too. Just go away and leave us in peace.”
“Mewwww.” Suddenly, Amelia leaped out from under the couch and attacked the blonde witch’s ankle. The kitten grabbed hold with both paws, all claws extended, and bit into the female’s leg.
“Owww.” The witch kicked violently and flashed a hit of power at the tiny creature, sending her into a limp ball of fluff at Luke’s feet.
Alain’s whole body convulsed. “Amelia!”
Luke knelt and picked up the kitten in his hand. She filled his palm. He glowered at the witches. “You assholes. How could something this size hurt you? You’ve injured her for nothing.” He lifted Amelia to his face and pressed his ear to her side.
Alain couldn’t stop shaking, every cell afire. They’d hurt Amelia. “Is she okay?”
“I think she might still be alive, but who knows for how long.”
Magda shrugged. “Enough of this nonsense. Let’s take the boy and go.”
Luke turned and laid the kitten gently on the seat of the couch. Then he squared his shoulders, stepped in front of Alain, and faced the witches. “You can’t imagine that I’m going to let you take him.”
Alain looked around Luke and gripped his hand. “Luke, no.”
The male witch appeared amused. “And what will you do to stop us, human?”
“Die.”
That single word seemed to take the force from the witch.
“If I die, you’ll never get Aloysius to help you in any way, even if you can get him back. You know that, right? Alain and I are a unit. We’re a couple. Married in our hearts. Nothing is more powerful. You can kill us, but you’ll never win.”
Alain’s legs started to shake. In all his lives, he’d waited to hear those words from the lips of the one he would love more than all others.
The blonde witch glanced at Magda. She looked worried.
The male stepped forward. “Enough of this playacting. Kill the bloody human, and let’s take the cat-boy with us.”
Still, the blonde hesitated. The power of Luke’s words filled the room, and she could feel them. It showed on her face.
The male snarled. “If you haven’t the stones, I’ll do it.”
Heat gathered in Alain’s chest, hotter and hotter like an inferno. He shrieked. “You are all fools. Even with Aloysius, you can’t beat Killian Barth.”
A streak of worry crossed Magda’s face, but the foolish male pressed forward. “Stop your stupid prattle, boy!” He raised a hand to cast directly at Luke. He was not as powerful as the females, so he had to gather power like a whirlwind in his hand, preparing to flash it straight at the man Alain would always love.
Alain trembled. Fire lit his veins. A dance of electrons circled in his chest. Bam. The big bang and his whole self exploded outward. Pain. Light. Fire.
“Merwaowwwwwwrrr!”
Aloysius sailed through the air, swallowed the cast of power, landed on the floor, and spit it directly at the male witch. The male fell backward and collapsed against the wall.
Magda flashed lightning at him. Her sister screamed, “No. Don’t hurt him.”
Aloysius sucked in the energy, multiplied it a hundredfold, and threw it into the face of the dark witch. She collapsed in a pile, like something from a children’s movie.
He turned to the blonde and stalked toward her. “Merwaooowwwrrr.”
She backed away. “This isn’t possible. You’re a familiar. You have no power.”
Luke laughed. “I guess you better rethink that, witch.”
She flashed a wall of pain straight at Luke. Huge, rolling, it poured through the air like a gathering menace.
Aloysius stepped into it, soaked it into every cell. Power flamed through him like a generator.
He flicked a paw.
The door flew open, and Killian, Jimmy, and Lavender ran in as the power wave crashed over the blonde witch like a pyroclastic flow, and she… dissolved.
Jimmy stopped. “Holy shit.”
Killian stood there, breathing hard. “What in the name of all powers just happened?”
Aloysius licked his paw. He looked up at Luke. Love. Love. At Killian. Love. Protect. The heat gathered in his chest again. He shook himself until everything trembled on its own. His vision blurred, a flash of pain seared through him, and…. Alain sat on the floor in Al’s place.
Luke laughed. “Okay, I totally believe in witchcraft.”
Killian stared. “Alain? You can change at will?”
He looked at his arms. His bare arms. “It would seem so, but I lost something in the process.”
Luke grinned and tossed a couch cushion at him. “Here. Position this strategically until I get your clothes.” He walked back toward the bedrooms.
Killian looked around at the bodies and the pile of rubbish. “You did this?”
Alain nodded. “I believe so. I discovered that I can absorb energy from other witches and feed it back multiplied.”
Lavender laughed. “What is it about this coven that seems to create super witches?”
“I didn’t mean to kill them, exactly.”
Jimmy leaned down by the male. “I think he’s still breathing, but the females are long gone. You dropped a house on them, buddy.”
Jimmy pointed
at Nicky as Luke walked back into the room with Alain’s bathrobe and helped him put it on. “Who’s this dude?”
Luke frowned. “He’s the guy Alain sent to jail for drug charges. The blonde witch killed him.”
The sound of footsteps came from the hall. Jimmy looked around. “Shit, the cops.”
Killian flicked a finger, and all three bodies vanished. A few seconds later, Ruben burst into the room. “What the hell is happening here?”
Luke glanced at the witch Jimmy was holding. “This guy came in through our fire escape window. He had a gun.” Luke gestured to the weapon still on the floor. “Fortunately, our friends arrived unexpectedly a few minutes later and captured him.”
“We were told Nicky was coming here.”
Luke shook his head. “Nope. Haven’t seen him. Hell, he’d know that you’d suspect him right away if anything happened to us.” He looked at the male witch, who was regaining consciousness. “Unless this guy is his accomplice.”
A uniformed officer started reading the male his rights. Alain could feel Killian’s force in the room draining power from the male witch. Perhaps even the Witch Master was more potent now that Aloysius was not only returned, but able to conjure on his own? Time would tell.
“Mew.”
Oh gods, Amelia. How could he have forgotten? He leaped to his feet and rushed to the tiny cat. Still on the couch, she lay on her side gazing up at him. He petted her fur, and she licked his hand. Luke walked over and sat on her other side. He touched her gently. “I think she’s going to be fine.”
Alain smiled. “She’s fierce.”
Ruben peered over the back of the couch. “What happened to her?”
Luke looked up at the policeman. “She took on a much bigger foe.”
Alain laughed. “And she won.”
Chapter Eighteen
LUKE HELD on to the door as he looked out. “Thanks so much, you guys. Get some rest. It’s been quite a night.”
He closed the door behind Killian, Jimmy, and Lavender, then walked into the living room. Alain sat on the couch with Amelia on his lap.
Luke settled beside him and wrapped an arm around his kittens. Both of them. “How is she?”
“Better, I believe.” Alain frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve caused so much trouble for everyone.”
“What? Fuck, kitten, you just saved everyone’s lives.”
“But they wouldn’t have been in jeopardy were it not for me.”
“Hey, it was Aloysius those witches wanted, not you.”
“We’re one.”
“Yeah, well, I do get that finally. But Aloysius is the source of much of the power of this whole witch crew.”
“I suppose.”
Luke took hold of Alain’s wide, strong shoulders. No jostling. He didn’t want to disturb the kitten. “Yes, you shook things up, but we needed shaking. Or at least I did.”
He kissed Alain’s nose. “I think I was in the middle of something when we were so rudely interrupted by all those people who wanted to kill us.”
Alain smiled. “Oh yes, we were watching a movie.”
“Movie, schmoovie. I think I’d just suggested that the two of us get married.”
Wide eyes. “You had?”
“Yep. And I was waiting for your reply.”
Alain looked down at Amelia and ran a hand over her back. The little yellow eyes opened. “Amelia, do we want to marry this man?”
“Mew.”
“Hmm. Yes, we need to ask him how he feels about having a husband who can turn into a cat.” He looked up tentatively. “You can’t pretend that we’re two separate beings now, Luke.”
“Why would I want to?”
“Because it’s weird?”
“Darling, I went so far beyond weird a long time ago.”
“Yes.”
“Beyond weird all the way to happy. I don’t care if you have to hide your tail in your tuxedo, I want you to marry me. If you and Amelia will have me, that is.” He held his breath. Why would someone so amazing want him? But Killian had told him the answer. If Alain loved him, he was worthy.
Amelia blinked. “Mew.”
Alain grinned. “That was feline for ‘yes.’”
Luke’s heart hammered. “Yes?”
“Meaow.”
Luke pulled Alain close under his arm. “You won’t mind that I’m a mere human?”
“I am human also.”
“Not all the time.”
“Most of it. After all, I have work and school, and—”
“You signed up for school?” Jesus, he was so proud.
“Yes. I was able to take a test online that admitted me to college.”
“Five hundred years of cat wisdom?”
“Yes.” He giggled. “On the test I was a whiz at history.”
“That’s great.”
Alain touched Luke’s cheek. “And I have you to care for. I must be human for that.”
“Won’t you please let me take care of you sometimes?”
His teasing face got serious. “You take care of me all the time.”
Luke stood. “Why don’t you put Amelia to sleep and then come to the bed? I have a little surprise.”
“Very well. I love surprises.”
Luke hurried into the bedroom. Where had he put it? He opened his dresser and searched through the boxes and bags he had shoved in there. Under his socks, he found the pale blue box. He put it out on the nightstand, then went into the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and let down his hair. Okay, costume?
Alain’s voice came from the hall. “Amelia thinks she should sleep with us. Can I come in now?”
“Uh, not quite.” He stripped off his shirt, grabbed a floral vest he’d worn sometime in his checkered past, and layered it over skin, then lowered all the lights in the room and lit the two candles he kept for blackouts.
He knelt on one knee, opened the box, and called out, “Come in, kitten.”
Alain opened the door slowly and peeked around it. His eyes widened. “Oh my.”
“How about we put Amelia on the chair for a while. Think she’ll go?”
“Oh, I’m sure she won’t mind.” Alain set her carefully on the worn upholstery, then turned to Luke. “What is this?”
“It’s a ring I picked out for myself a long time ago when I’d made a lot of money for Nicky. I always liked it, but for some reason I never wore it.” He smiled. “I think I was waiting for you. It could be our engagement ring.”
Alain looked into the box. The brilliant blue sapphires and bright diamonds winked in the candlelight. Luke was holding his breath again. Alain smiled. “It’s so beautiful.”
“I think I was dreaming of your eyes even then.” Luke took it out of the box and raised Alain’s left hand. “It may not fit the proper finger. I was smaller then, but you’re so slender.” He slid it on Alain’s ring finger. Too big. But the middle finger was just right. “It looks perfect.” He gazed into the Caribbean-blue eyes. Perfect barely described it.
KILLIAN SAT with Jimmy and Lavender on either side of him at the table in his family home, all of them facing the three elders of the Prague coven. He reached up and stroked the black fur of Aloysius, who perched on his shoulder. Might as well increase the drama. “So we’re agreed. This treaty will bind us in mutual respect and friendship.”
The white-haired male witch glanced uneasily at Aloysius. “Agreed.”
Killian leaned back in his chair. “You’ve seen a demonstration of our power. I must reiterate that we have grown stronger since that time. We’ve defeated every force you’ve sent against us.” He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t do it again.”
The two females glanced at the male who sat between them. The older witch gave one sharp nod. “We are in accord.”
Killian smiled tightly. “Good. Then the future will be bright—for all of us.”
A sound came from beside his right ear. “Merwaowrr.”
“WOOF.”
“Meeeow.”
“Woof, woof.”
“Mew.”
Alain leaned on the fence. The dogs and cats of all the witches chased each other through the side yard of Killian’s family home in New York. The stately mansion had both a side yard and a backyard, an amazing luxury in the city.
When Killian had heard Luke and Alain wanted a wedding, he’d insisted on hosting it himself—and paying for it. How very kind.
A hand touched Alain’s shoulder, and he looked up into the clear blue eyes of his master, his friend, his companion. Killian smiled. “You ready?”
“For centuries.”
Blaine stepped up on his other side and gave him a squeeze around the waist.
Killian’s eyes looked misty. “I feel like I can’t give you away because I already did. That day I thought I’d never see my familiar again was the hardest. Now I know I have both of you. It’s much easier.”
Alain nodded. “For me too. I hated leaving you, but I knew that I had to be true to my love.”
Blaine hugged him again. “We understand that down to the ground, kiddo. Killian was willing to give up his power to be with me.”
Alain nodded. “And Luke told the witches he would die for me.”
“We’re all pretty damned fortunate.”
Killian offered his arm on Alain’s left. Blaine did the same on his right. “Shall we go?”
Alain walked back into the beautiful house on the arms of two of the people he loved most in the world. They moved through the informal living room to wide-open french doors that led to a flagstone terrace decorated with flowers. The entire community of witches gathered on either side of the terrace. Sammy and Ryder. Jimmy and Lavender. Alain couldn’t hold all the joy. He saw Luke. With a little witch power, his partner’s hair had returned to its natural color, and the golden mane shone in the late-afternoon sun.
Music started to play. Alain looked at Blaine and then at Killian. The Witch Master grinned. “I know your future will be bright, Alain. I’m hoping we can give Aloysius a nice long rest.”
Blaine laughed. “Amen to that, baby.”
Alain nodded. “Perhaps there will be no more challenges to your authority.”
Blaine nudged him. “Now that they know we have Super Cat.”
