Page 14 of Spookily Yours

“But I’m not a man, remember?”

It was her turn to come to a screeching halt. “Are you telling me someone found out you were a demon and then did this to you?” Her eyes looked almost… concerned. I didn’t deserve that.

“Something like that.” I couldn’t explain to herwhyI was in the human realm, why I’d been out where a witch could curse me in the first place, but when you boiled it down, that was what happened.

“And no one’s come looking for you? No one’s… worried about you?” Her eyes were glassy. And how strange was that? That this little witch was concerned for me?

I shook my head. No one would come looking. My half-brother wouldn’t give a second thought to my absence as long as I completed my task.

“Come on,” Willow said, scooping me up into her arms. Cuddling me like she had before work yesterday, even though she knew what I was now. “Library is just around the corner.”

“Why are you carrying me, little witch?” I muttered, tilting my head up to look at her. “I can walk just fine.”

“Shush, beastie. I don’t want them to think I’ve gone completely nuts.”

She scratched my head, and I let out an involuntary satisfied meow in response before settling into the hold.

I… didn’t hate it. Maybe it was because it was her? I had razor-sharp claws in this form, and yet I was perfectly content letting her carry me into the library, nuzzling my face into the crook of her elbow.

I didn’t perk my head up again until the smell of old books entered through my nostrils. The library was dark, densely filled with books. It almost felt like there was an other-worldly presence in here. I wondered how many witches had studied here, learned magic here.

“Willow!” A young man’s voice called out, and I felt the hair stand up on my back.

For whatever reason, I didn’t like other humans talking to my witch.Huh.

“Oh, hi, Simon,” Willow said, the warmth clear in her tone. I didn’t need to look at her to know a smile curled over her face.

“Who’s this?” The redheaded boy—who could have been no older than his early twenties—pushed up the glasses onto the bridge of his nose, looking at me.

I hissed, bearing my teeth at him.

“This is my new cat. I couldn’t leave him home,” she said, wincing. It surprised me at how easily the lie slipped from her lips.

Though maybe she didn’t trust me. I would understand why.

“I see.” Simon’s lips spread into a fine line as he looked at me, before turning his attention back to my human. “Is there anything you need help with today?”

“No. Just doing some research.” She looked down at me, and I chirped, the sound passing through my lips unintentionally. “I promise he’ll be on his best behavior.”

I meowed in response, narrowing my eyes.Yeah, as long as you don’t keep looking at her like that,young wizard.

“Damien,” she huffed, her voice low as we headed towards a table in the back. “You’re going to get me in trouble.”

Rows of books surrounded us on either side, keeping us out of eyeshot from the other patrons. And, hopefully, out of hearing range too.

I jumped out of her arms, landing in front of the table. “I didn’t like how he was looking at you.”

Willow deposited her bag onto a seat, draping her coat over the back. “He’s myfriend.I’ve known him since I was a toddler. Goddess help me.” She rubbed at her temples. “Now, you stay here. I’m going to go see what I can find on curses.”

“You don’t want me to come?”

I found I didn’t like that, either. I wanted to stay by her side. Protect her. Even if I weighed ten pounds, I still had sharp claws. And pointy teeth.

If anyone threatened her…

“You don’t think it’s going to look weird if I wander around the librarytalking to my cat?”

“Mm. Point taken.” Laying down, I curled my body up into a ball, resting my head on my paws so I could still watch her.

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