“Crowe?Where are you, baby? Did you hear the news?”
Joell’s voice! At last!Would she find him in the closet? Crowe meowed his loudest until she opened the door, and he jumped into her arms.
“How’d you get into the closet? Oh well, never mind. I’m just so happy, I had to tell you first, Crowe… We got ’em!” She held him high over her head and whirled in place.Please stop, Wonder Witch. Don’t make me lose my lunch too!
“I thought Rick would be here, but he must be downstairs. Let’s go find him!”
Should he tell her? Could he tell her?
She set him down and peered into the mirror, checking her hair and makeup. She looked gorgeous, of course. She always did.
How could he let a louse like Rick Torres take advantage of her? Rick’s a dirty cop and doesn’t deserve her. He could never love her the way she deserves to be loved. Completely. Unconditionally.Like I love her.
It sort of hit him like a lightning bolt. He didn’t have a choice. It wouldn’t be an easy thing to do, but he loved her enough to try. The problem was he didn’t have much time to think it over.
There was only one way to tell her everything he knew and at the same time show her all the love in his heart, but it was so drastic. He’d have to give up his role as her familiar. And if he did that, there was no guarantee she’d want him in her life in any other role. He could only shift once.What’s it going to be, Crowe?
“I’ll be back in a jiffy.” She hummed her way to the bathroom and closed the door.
Think, man, think!At that moment, he had his answer. He wanted to be a man. Her man. He didn’t know if he could truly make that happen or not. He’d been told at an early age that familiars were shifters but had also been warned that taking his other form would be permanent, and he’d have no more lives after that. He’d be a regular mortal. Crowe had always been so happy as a witch’s familiar; he’d almost forgotten about the possible alternative. It was a risk he’d have to take.
He jumped onto the bed and concentrated on his wish. The Goddess would only grant his request if his motives were pure and he wanted it with all his heart. He didn’t really have time to examine those things, so he just went off the assumption that if anything were wrong with his spiritual desire or motivation, it wouldn’t happen. He’d stay a cat.
Concentrate, Crowe. Give it all you’ve got.
He took several deep, slow breaths and closed his eyes. He reached out with his mind to the powers of the universe and tried to elevate his consciousness to the necessary level. When he felt as if he had made the connection, he recited something he thought she’d say if she were in his predicament.
My dearest wish, my greatest hope, is to be a man—a good man. As I set forth this desire, I feel your love drawn to me. I will not cease trying to help my witch and ask this to help her more. I call upon all good spirits and divinities that care about the world and its creatures to help my witch in the best possible way. So mote it be.
A strange sensation came over him. It was a heady feeling. Sharp pain shot through him, and he fell onto his side.Oh, Gods! It felt as if my body was pulling apart, and I’d be ripped in half. Why did I wish this without asking the powers-that-be to make the transition gentle and pain-free, please?
Just as he thought his skin would split, everything inside relaxed, and his body stretched like he was made of rubber. The pulling began in his torso and stretched up to the top of his head and down to his paws… Wait, feet.I had feet!
Crowe sat up on the bed and looked down. He had feet all right, and muscular calves, strong knees, and powerful thighs with only a light covering of short, dark hair. And, whoa! A thatch of black curly hair with a massive shaft sticking out of it!Nice! Thank you, Divine ones!
He wanted to see the rest of his body in a mirror but didn’t have a chance to get up and try his legs before the bathroom door opened. Joell stepped out. When she looked over and saw him, she jumped backward and drew her weapon from inside her boot, aiming it at him.
“Who the hell are you, and how did you get in?”
He hadn’t tried his voice yet, and when he did, it came out as a short yowl. She cocked her head and stared at him. He hadto learn to talk, and fast! Then he realized that she had left the bullets at the mansion and relaxed a bit. That reaction must have served to loosen his vocal cords, and as he tried to form coherent speech, words tumbled out of his mouth.
“I—I know you have no bullets in your Derringer, Joell, and you wouldn’t want to hurt me, anyway.”
She lowered her weapon as her eyes narrowed and she examined him. “I know those eyes, but…” She scanned the room as if looking for someone else. “It’s impossible.”
“It is possible.”
“Crowe?”
“I’m here, as always, ready to serve my Witch.”
She turned paler than he’d ever seen her and staggered backward until she bumped into the dresser. Then she clung to it, her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open.
“Please don’t be afraid of me. I’m your familiar and best friend. I can prove it. You found me on the doorstep when I was just a kitten. You took me into your home and gave me a bowl of milk in bone china with a pink rose pattern.”
She closed her mouth and swallowed. His hearing, still acute, heard the gulp.
“We’ve gone everywhere together. Paris, Rome, Milan. And we’ve done so many things. I wouldn’t know where to start.”
