Page 30 of The Baker and the Kraken

“That’s true,” Adam agreed. “I mean, it’s not like I think she set out to hurt me. But it does feel a lot like I didn’t feature in her plans once I decided to stay with Dad, and that… that hurt.” He swallowed, then made an effort to rally. “But as much as Dad was hurt by what happened, and as much as he’s never stopped blaming shifters for it, he also worked really hard to be there for me. He didn’t ask to become a single parent, but I always knew he loved me and that he wanted the best for me.”

“I’m glad,” Calder said with a smile.

He had no idea if he was going to get along with Adam’s father, given that the man seemed to be categorically opposed to Calder’s species, but he would always be grateful for that love for Adam. He would try to get along for his sake.

Calder cleared his throat again. He’d had no idea talking to your mate could be this complicated. “Now, uh, there’s still more about the bond. Did you want to hear it, or is this enough for now?”

Chapter Nine

Adam

It was true that it was a lot. Honestly, it was maybe more than Adam had ever expected, in part because he’d genuinely thought he’d never bond. He hadn’t paid a lot of attention to any of the perks because it had always been so easy to point out the negatives, the ones that he and his dad had lived through.

That had informed a lot of Adam’s life, but ever since he’d learned that Calder was a shifter and gotten over himself, the possibility of bonding had been there. Maybe he hadn’t quite been ready to think about it overtly, but it had been stewing around in the back of his mind. He didn’t want to give Calder up, and despite Calder’s claim that bonding wasn’t necessary—yet one more way that Calder was taking care of him and always prioritizing Adam—it was clear that was what Calder ultimately wanted.

And although the part of Adam that had been raised by his dad rebelled against it on principle, the rest of him was filled with certainty that he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

His father would probably tell him that was the “shifter animal magnetism,” but Adam was beginning to understand that was missing the point.

He and Calder had put off a lot of discussion thanks to his ridiculous Valentine’s Day schedule. Adam didn’t want to delay anymore.

“I want to hear all about it,” Adam assured Calder, who relaxed at this pronouncement.

Adam knew without asking that he would have willingly tabled the discussion if Adam had said he needed a bit of time.

“As a mythical shifter,” Calder told him, “I’ll bring you a bigger magical boost than you’d get from a regular shifter, which is bigger again than what you’d get from an animal familiar.”

That was why witches had gotten so excited when they’d first realized that they could form a familiar bond with a shifter instead of a simple animal. It had changed the familiar bond irrevocably, but for the first time, Adam was really thinking about what they gained instead of lost.

“Uh, you know I don’t care about the power, right?” he said after a moment, since Calder seemed to be waiting for a response.

Calder laughed. “Yes, I’m aware. But I believe it takes a little while for witches to adjust to their new magical levels. I don’t want you to cast a stasis spell that leaves a cake untouchable for a month.”

Adam’s eyes went wide as he considered this. “Goddess, is that possible?”

Calder shrugged. “I don’t honestly know. Each bond is individual, and we’ve learned everything through trial and error or theorizing on magnification that might occur compared to a regular shifter familiar bond. But I want you to understand that there will be a change, and it therefore may take time to work out how much magic to put behind a spell.”

Adam nodded slowly, considering this. “I guess it could be useful if my spells worked better.” Then he realized how that sounded and hastened to add, “Not that that’s why—”

Thankfully, Calder was laughing again as he interrupted, “Sweetheart, I’m well aware that you’re not after me for my magic. I genuinely want you to benefit from our connection, and I’m much happier talking about it and figuring things out together.”

“That makes sense,” Adam agreed. “I, uh, I think I’m still reacting a bit like this has to be transactional because that’s how my dad saw the connection. I’ll keep working on it.”

A tentacle appeared and reached across the table to pat Adam’s shoulder.

“We’re in this together,” Calder assured him. “And I don’t want you to ever worry that any reaction you’re having will disturb me. I’d much rather have your honesty and your full feelings than have you try to hide something from me.”

“Same,” Adam agreed, petting the tentacle.

Calder and his tentacle froze suddenly. “Sorry about that.”

Adam grinned. “Don’t be. It means you’re more comfortable around me now. I want you to be yourself, too.”

The second tentacle snaked across the table and caressed the side of Adam’s face.

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

Smiling even brighter, Adam pointed out, “And it means we can cuddle and eat at the same time!”