Page 27 of The Darkest Night

“If that doesn’t piss him off, I don’t know what will,” Miles said, pale-faced.

Trixie and Millie uttered sympathetic noises.

To everyone’s surprise, the fox approached slowly. He stopped and started several times, his body language screaming that he still didn’t trust any of them. A yelp of surprise left him seconds later.

Mae had lunged forward and scooped him up in the towel when he’d come within arm’s reach. She sat back on the floor, laid him in her lap, and started rubbing him down briskly.

“There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

The shocked look he gave her was so comical Mae couldn’t help chuckling. He stilled at the sound, his gaze roaming her face. He straightened as Mae carried on drying him, his head inching closer and closer to her face.

Mae blinked when he tentatively licked her chin.

“That tickles.”

The fox seemed pleased by her words.

Mae faltered before stroking his soft, rich fur. “What’s your name?”

The fox observed her solemnly.

“You have to give him one,” Violet said.

Mae looked blankly at the witch. “What?”

Violet reached out and scratched Trixie’s head. “All familiars are given a name by the witch or sorcerer they bond with. It’s tradition.”

The rabbit made a happy purring sound.

Mae cocked her head to the side and studied the fox. “Hmm. I don’t know why, but I feel like he has one already.”

She drew a sharp breath when the fox pressed his forehead against hers. His eyes glowed as he gazed into hers.

Sotsuna.

Mae froze. She knew the voice inside her head belonged to the creature gazing at her.

My name was…Sotsuna.

Mae’s hands clenched on the fox. “Sotsuna.”

“What?” Miles said, puzzled.

Mae looked over at him and Violet, her pulse quickening. “He just told me his name. It’s Sotsuna.”

Violet’s brow wrinkled. Miles’s eyes bulged.

“He—he told you?!” the sorcerer stammered, his gaze swinging jerkily between Mae and the fox.

“Yes. Like a voice in my head.” Mae’s stomach knotted. “Wait. You guys don’t hear your familiars’ voices?!”

“No,” Violet replied grimly.

They all stared at the fox, Violet and Miles in dread and Mae in wonder.

The fox nuzzled Mae’s cheek.

Sotsuna was the name your former self gave me. I think I should have another one for this era.

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