Me and My Christmas Familiar (An MM Monster Christmas)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

O nly embers remained in the fireplace. Lachlan grabbed a large square cloth that had been stacked by the fireplace. He laid it on the floor and then, using tongs, gripped one of the large sandstone bedwarmers that lay by the embers and placed it in the cloth. He wrapped it several times and picked it up, feeling the warmth already penetrate the fabric.

Entering his room, Lachlan lifted the sheets and placed the bed warmer at the bottom. Then he undressed down to his underthings and climbed beneath the sheets. Kit crawled in, burrowing beneath the blankets and snuggling on Lachlan’s chest.

“This is cosy, isn’t it?”

Green eyes peered up at him.

“Ahh. Pissing potions! I forgot to turn off the lantern.” He stared at the flame on the table, several steps away from the bed.

Lachlan knew it’d be better to just do it and get it over and done with. But it already felt so snug in the bed with Kit, especially when Lachlan pressed his feet against the bed warmer.

“It’s so annoying that my powers are so much weaker up here even though I live here. If I was in the bakery, the lantern would extinguish with a thought.” Lachlan stared at the lantern, willing it to puff out. But nothing happened. “My powers really are limited to the bakery.” He sighed. “I’ll do it in a minute.”

He patted Kit, sliding his hand over his soft fur. Kit purred.

“You’re so beautiful, Kit.” His hair had grown in where there had been spots missing. Lachlan could no longer feel the sharp angles of Kit’s spine and ribs. Nothing could be done for his half-missing ear and tail, but neither seemed to bother or hurt Kit.

Lachlan ran his hand down Kit’s tail, which ended abruptly.

“I’m so glad I found you when I did.” Lachlan didn’t like to think of Kit living on the streets, cold, hungry, and injured. He thought of the morning they’d met. He wondered how many years Kit had been on his own.

“And you saved me too, you know. Now I have a friend, a constant companion, a familiar. My world is so much better with you in it.” He kissed Kit’s head.

Kit rubbed his chin against Lachlan’s throat.

Lachlan chuckled. “And did you know familiars live long lives? They will usually live as long as their witches.”

Kit peered up at him.

“We’re going to be together a long, long time.” Lachlan scratched behind Kit’s ears, his own body continuing to relax into the bed.

“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Kit.” He smiled at Kit, stroking his fur. “I love you.”

Kit stood on Lachlan’s chest. He leaned his face close to Lachlan’s. Green eyes stared into Lachlan’s.

“Meow.” Kit leaned closer. “Meow.”

Lachlan laughed. “Does that mean you love me too?”

“Meow.”

Lachlan kissed Kit on the head. “Thank you.”

“Meow!” Kit grew louder. “Meow!” He paced. He lowered his head.

Lachlan frowned at Kit’s odd behaviour. He seemed unsettled.

Kit’s eyes narrowed. His whiskers twitched. He meowed again. And again, the sounds became more distressed. His tail whipped back and forth jerkily.

Lachlan sat up. “Are you all right? Kit! What’s wrong?”

Kit’s claws dug into Lachlan’s chest. Lachlan gritted his teeth.

Kit flinched back, as if in pain.

“Kit!” Lachlan sat up, cradling Kit in his lap. “Kit! What’s going on?”

Kit’s eyes remained closed. He trembled violently.

But he continued to meow. The sounds elongated and morphed into a choking noise.

“Kit!” Lachlan’s heart raced. He ran his hands over his familiar, worry and panic spiking inside him. “What’s wrong?”

Kit opened his green eyes. But they were different. Lachlan froze.

Circular black pupils had replaced vertical slits. The green didn’t reach the edges of his eyes; instead, white had appeared around the edges.

Quivering, Kit shrank on himself. Then his limbs snapped, going rigid.

Lachlan cried out in panic.

Then suddenly, Kit grew outwards and up.

Lachlan fell back, eyes wide in shock.

Black fur shortened and disappeared into brown skin. His legs grew. Paws stretched into fingers. Kit lifted his head, his features morphing and distorting.

Panting, Lachlan stared up at the man who straddled his lap, a very naked, attractive man. The man was completely human, except for the two black cat ears, one of which was missing half. His green eyes stared down at Lachlan. A tail swished behind the man.

Lachlan’s brain struggled to function. He didn’t speak, didn’t move. He could do nothing but breathe heavily.

They stared at each other for several moments.

Then the man smiled. He placed his hands on Lachlan’s chest.

“I love you too,” the man said.

Then he leaned forward.

Lachlan sucked in a breath, thinking the man was about to kiss him, but instead, the stranger rubbed his cheek over Lachlan’s throat and face.

“I love you so much, Lachlan,” the man with cat ears murmured. “My witch. I love you!”

What the fuck is happening?