Travis Grayweaver is a witch with two significant problems. First, he has a tendency to run toward trouble instead of away from it without the insurance of a Guild to back him. As a freelancing witch taking odd jobs wherever he can, this has landed him in some trouble with the Grand Council of High Magic. Second, he's madly in love with his best friend Niko, and is much too afraid to confess his feelings to him. Niko, born between the corporeal and ethereal worlds, is a familiar -- cat one minute, human the next -- with a rare, pure source of magick sought after by people all over the world. When contracted, familiars will do whatever they have to in order to protect their human. Although Travis has no contract with Niko, they share an unshakable bond built on friendship, loyalty, and trust. But their bond is put to the ultimate test when something dark and sinister threatens their community and their lives. If they don't stop it in time, Travis might lose Niko -- and the chance to ever tell him how he really feels -- forever.

Watch with Glittering Eyes

Back in the kitchen, Travis added those few coins to the jar he kept atop the icebox before getting started on dinner. He’d just begun chopping the butternut squash when Niko squeezed between his legs and phased back to human between him and the counter.


Travis once asked him what if felt like, phasing, and Niko told him he’d never thought about it before. The best way he could describe it was like a combination of a full-body stretch after a long night’s sleep and falling into bed after a long, hard day. Quick. Just the instant snap of the fingers and it happened, and Niko was standing there, naked, wrapping two, long arms around Travis’s neck.


“You, human” he cooed right into his ear, “are too good for this world, you know.”


“Hm.” Travis leaned his brow against Niko’s. “This coming from the one who wouldn’t even kiss me earlier.”


“Maybe if you hurry up with my supper, I’ll forgive you for your inappropriate behavior.”


Chapter 9