Page 2 of Must Love Dragons
“Yep,” Delaney said.
“I’ll think about it,” Kinsley said.
The buzzer for the front door sounded and Delaney said, “The warlock is here.I’ll let him in if you want to start bringing the animals out.”
“Sure thing.”
Starting with Galahad, she brought the familiars out into the main room and introduced them to the warlock.He was a young male with caramel skin and a neatly trimmed beard.He nodded with a smile, “I’m Emory Grent.Thank you so much for making time for me to come see your familiars.I wish there were more places like yours around.”
“You made quite the trek up here,” Kinsley said as she put the last cat down on the carpeted floor.“We’re definitely unique.”
Delaney nodded.“So we’re going to let you hang out and spend time with them.If one of them is your familiar, you’ll know.There’s never a guess about it, it will feel like a lightning connection between the two of you.”
She and Kinsley stepped behind the counter.
She hoped one of the animals was a familiar for him, although she knew if it was Galahad, that Delaney would be sad.The owl had been her mom’s familiar, and when her mom passed away, Delaney took him in to care for him.Someday, he might find a new master, but for now, he was with them and safe, and that’s what mattered.
“Well, hello there, sweetheart,” Emory said as a white cat with pale blue eyes purred loudly and climbed onto his lap.As he put his hands on her to pet her thick fur, a golden glow flared in his eyes and he inhaled sharply.The cat pressed against his chest, her purr vibrating like a motor.
Kinsley smiled broadly and Delaney let out a soft murmur of happiness.
“I felt that,” Emory said as the cat cuddled in his arms.“What’s her name?”
“Sophie,” Delaney said.“She’s been with us for a year.She just showed up one day, filthy and malnourished.We believe her master passed away and she was left to fend for herself.Familiars feel drawn to us because of how many of them are here, so they know it’s safe.”
“I’m so happy she chose you,” Kinsley said.She and Delaney moved from behind the counter and joined him on the carpeting.
“Is that it?Do I need to do anything?”he asked, holding her tight as she purred like a motorcycle in his arms.
“Nope,” Delaney said.“She chose you, and that’s all that’s needed.If you come over to the counter, I’ll give you all her medical paperwork, and we’ll get a carrier and supplies for your trip home.”
Kinsley put the other animals away and then gathered the items they gave every new familiar owner while Delaney got him checked out.They didn’t charge much for the familiars who were adopted, and any money they made went right back into the agency.
“Thank you so much,” he said when he’d tucked Sophie into the carrier, and they’d helped him carry the things out to this car.“I can’t…I can’t tell you how much I wanted this to work, and I really thought fate was not on my side and I’d go home empty-handed.I’ve been waiting so long to find my familiar.I can’t believe I finally have her.”
“We’re so happy for you,” Kinsley said.“We’re glad it worked out.”
They spoke to him for a little while longer, then wished him well on his journey.
Kinsley leaned down and looked into the carrier where Sophie was curled up in a contented fluff ball.She lifted her head and looked at Kinsley.“You’ve got a new home and a new master, young lady.Have a wonderful life full of magic and love.”
With a whisper, she cast a protection spell over the familiar and then closed the door.
“Safe travels,” Kinsley said.
“Tell your friends,” Delaney said.
He waved and got into his car.They stood in the parking lot and watched him leave, and then they walked into the small building.“I can’t believe that happened, so cool,” Delaney said.
“I was really hoping he wouldn’t make that trip up here for nothing,” Kinsley said.“I’m glad it worked out.Can you believe how happy Sophie was?I never heard her purr so loudly.”
“I know!So sweet.We’ll miss her, but maybe this means another familiar will be coming our way soon.”
“Speaking of familiars,” Kinsley said as she pulled the front door closed and locked it, “I got an email earlier today from a witch school in North Carolina asking if they could bring their graduating class up here to see if any of the familiars were meant for their students.”
“Oh wow,” Delaney said.“That’s awesome.”
“What’s awesome?”Brody, Delaney’s mate, asked as he strode into the back room and gave her a kiss on the cheek.Now that the sun had set, he could move around without worrying about getting scorched.
