“Only one out of ten untethered familiars gets fostered or adopted.” Ben hugged Sheamus’ neck, holding the dog close as the old hound licked Ben’s face. “We’re like brothers.”
Oh, dammit. I rolled my eyes up. That was a dirty tactic. Bringing up Ben’s foster status, how he’d lost his family, how we gave him a second chance. Milo and Ben were brilliant and vile.
“Look what cool tricks he can do.” Ben held out his arms, and the dog barked, casting telekinesis which hurled Ben into the air, sending him flying around the living room.
That answered part of the question on why so few untethered familiars were adopted. Most people could barely afford a license to cover their magic practice, but to pay fees for a familiar that couldn’t bond with another witch? Unlikely.
Thankfully, Milo had those absurdly high vaulted ceilings, but still not what I wanted for a six-year-old.
“Well, that’s a safe little trick.” I turned to Milo, who kept his blue eyes locked on Ben.
“No worries.” Milo’s fingers moved ever so slightly. At least he was latching his telekinesis onto Ben, too. “Remember, Sheamus. None of that unless me or Dorian are home, right?”
The dog sat at attention and nodded.
Okay, at least if they had to adopt a pet, they picked a familiar. They were almost as smart as the average person, which made them smarter than most people in general.
I plopped onto the couch and watched Ben play with Sheamus and Charlie for another hour or so, all while he rambled about the things he learned at the familiar haven. While I knew the haven worked to find homes for familiars who’d lost their witch partners, I didn’t realize they did same-day adoptions.
Milo tensed when he caught my gaze shifting back to him. Of course they let him do a same-day adoption.
“Anything for Enchanter fucking Evergreen, huh?”
Milo grinned. “I mean, can you blame them?”
I rolled my eyes.
“But you should’ve seen how overcrowded the haven was. They were maxed out on kennels; they’re undersupplied on toys and equipment. All their funds go to food and magical warding and habitats. Just be glad Ben didn’t want the cheetah or viper or giraffe. Where would Lenny the giraffe have fit? I didn’t expect Ben to fall in love with the pup. But look how happy he is. It means a lot for him to have another friend.”
I sighed. “Fine. We can keep the dog.”
Sheamus looked back at me the moment I sent the thought to Milo. He gave me a very gruff ‘as if I was leaving’ expression. I shook it away. Too many years dealing with King Clucks. It wasn’t like this dog could read my mind. Then the little bastard tilted his head like he planned to prove me wrong. This was what annoyed me about animals. I couldn’t read their minds, understand them, know for certain just how much they did or didn’t know.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I said. “Mind making sure Ben gets ready for bed?”
“Absolutely.” Milo smiled.
With that, I unwound while Milo, Ben, and the dog goofed around for the better part of the evening before bedtime rituals started up.
Sleep came surprisingly easy. The one benefit to the new dog was that Ben cuddled up to him right away and passed out in his own bed for a change. I was so drained that I dozed off quickly, and thanks to Milo’s presence, I synced to his thoughts. They blocked out the city, silencing everyone nearby.
Milo’s mind danced in memories, swam through fantasies, and drifted between visions. Eventually, the beauty of Milo’ssubconscious faded as the weight of the world he carried returned. Too often, he was burdened by visions, by nightmares, but the shadows that soon swirled around us were unfamiliar to me.
A young version of Milo, not much older than Ben, appeared in the darkness. It stretched out infinitely, reminding me of the horrors from the chimera’s inner core. There was something demonic and unsettling about this nightmare. Soon, humanoid shadows sprang forth from the depths of the bleak black void surrounding us.
“No,” Milo’s high-pitched voice cried out.
I wanted to soothe this version of him, wanted to shake him free of this nightmare, but I lay asleep and locked in this fiendish hell.
One by one, they emerged from the shadows with piercing red eyes. Ten horrifying figures, each locked onto Milo. Each taking steps toward him, carrying a menacing weight of unspeakable terror in their wake. I couldn’t place it, couldn’t form the words to describe it, but I knew these unseen entities held truly devastating force. They would end the world. They would ruin everything.
Milo gasped, springing forward in the bed.
His jostling movement shook me free from my own slumber. I sat up, pressing a hand to his chest. His heart pounded, his skin was clammy, and his face was covered in a sheen of sweat.
“Are you okay?”
“Just a nightmare.”
