Page 31 of Did It Have To Be Gnomes?!
“Thanks.” I cleared my throat. “So you really think she could be my familiar?”
He stared at me for a few beats before nodding to himself and asking, “Do you feel connected to her at all?”
My eyes widened. “I was just thinking that.”
“Thinking that you feel connected to her?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’ve felt it since that first day, and it feels like it’s getting stronger.”
His grin was slow to show, but it was wide and reached his pretty ice blue eyes. “You’re creating a familiar bond.” He bounced in his seat a little, looking like an excited kid. “You need to give her a name to help connect with her more. I bet in a couple of weeks, you’ll have a full bond, and we can get the little miss registered with you. Then you don’t have to worry about applying to be a sanctuary or any of that. You won’t even need the net out back because she’ll always come back to you.”
I swallowed thickly at the thought. When I was a little kid, I’d wished for a familiar, like all kids did. It was a dream I didn’t think possible. I’d never heard of an empath having one. Our magic was more innate, unlike most others who used spells and potions and who knew what else in order to work their magic.
I’d always been told only real practitioners who worked spells got familiars.
But maybe those people who’d said it shouldn’t be trusted. My family had never treated me well, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d lied to me my whole life.
Winter seemed to know what he was talking about, and if I was being honest, his explanation for this growing connection made more sense than anything else.
“You… really think she’s my familiar?”
He shifted in his seat and held his hand out to the bird. She explored it for a few seconds before nudging it, and he scooted closer so he could reach her more easily and started petting her. Since she was still on my shoulder, he was sitting really close to me, so close his knee was pressed against my thigh. When our eyes met, I had the strange urge to pull him even closer.
I wanted to feel his strong body against mine—a secret dream I’d had since we were in high school.
I hated when people invaded my space because their emotions were always so loud.
But with Winter, he was like a peaceful lake—calm, quiet, and serene.
He quietly said, “Yes, Miles, I really think so. Her being your familiar actually makes total sense now. Usually firebirds are destructive to a house and catch things on fire all over the place, but she isn’t doing that because of the bond. She feels safe here. She feels at home. So she’s calm, and her flames are calm. Because this is where her practitioner lives.”
I thought about that for a few seconds, not looking away from his gaze. But then it got too intense, and I had no idea what to do or say, so I closed my eyes and leaned my face into the firebird on my shoulder, nuzzling her side.
She let out her happy little trill, and I couldn’t help but smile before looking back at Winter.
“Thank you. I… just, thank you.”
His smile was small but true, and he gave a nod. “I didn’t do anything, but you’re welcome anyway.” He gave her another pet. “She still needs a name.”
I glanced at her. Yeah, she really did.
Chapter Ten
Winter
Miles seemed to tense up more the longer I sat there, so I scooted back a tiny bit. It was a shame because I liked being close enough I could smell his unique scent. He didn’t wear cologne, but his strawberry shampoo and clean scent made me want to drift closer to him and tuck my face into his neck. It made me want to pull him into my arms and bury my nose in his hair.
Earlier, when I’d carried him out of the mansion, I’d been too concerned about getting him out of that house and away fromthe gnomes for me to really appreciate having the smaller man in my arms.
That was a shame too.
Maybe one day he’d let me carry him for a different reason. Maybe I could pick him up so he’d wrap his arms and legs around me, and I could carry him to bed.
Maybe I—
The firebird let out a loud whistle, startling me out of my thoughts—good thing too because I didn’t want to be caught adjusting my pants, which I absolutely would’ve had to do if my mind kept down that path. She pulled her attention back to herself as if reminding me of what I’d said about giving her a name.
Knowing the firebird was Miles's familiar—or on the way to being his familiar—made me feel so much better about the whole thing. When he didn’t respond right away, I asked, “Got any ideas?”
