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

For the first time since waking, the gravity of what happened at the inn had the chance to really settle. It sat heavy and uncomfortable on Travis’s chest. No matter how quickly it happened, Travis thought he’d lost Niko for good. The pain of such a thing was just indescribable. Something, in that one, unbearable moment, had reached into his chest and squeezed all the love and hope and cheer right out of his heart.


Travis never really gave thought to how loving someone so much could affect him. It was frightening, really. To have so much to lose. Frightening and wonderful at the same time.


“Niko, I…” Eyes on the cup in his lap, the glands in his throat swelled painfully tight. The lukewarm coffee tried to give him encouragement. Travis was grateful for its attempt. “You were…you…”


“Hey, hey.” Niko slipped a hand under Travis’s chin, coaxing his gaze upward again. “I’m okay. Really.”


Chapter 29