“And if this were your familiar, you would still need a leash.” Lucas was also not in the mood to be forgiving. “You are not Will Battle.” Each word was a slap and he wasn’t done. “You would have gotten this animal killed or hurt for the sake of pretending to have power you don’t. Or someone could have been scared and struck out at an unleashed dog coming toward them.”
“I know! But he’s a good dog, and I thought…”
“Did you?”
The hair stood up on the back of Robin’s neck as if the air was filled with electricity. He wondered if the dark clouds above them were sparking.
“Did your mother teach you that you needed a familiar to be something?” Lucas wasn’t any less mean despite gentling his tone. “It’s a responsibility and it’s not meant to be easy. If it were, then every witch you know would bring theirs into town with them.”
Josiah had guts enough to muster an argument, if not the sense to stay quiet. “But Chester Sibley…”
“You are not Chester Sibley, either.” Lucas hardened his voice again. “Train it better and keep it leashed in town, or I’ll give it to Connor.”
That he could was obvious; the dog was still sitting at his feet. That he would… well, Connor would likely love another hound, especially one smart enough to make someone think it could be a familiar.
“You can’t do that,” Josiah tried anyway. He had a streak of courage deep down that he had not gotten from his mother, a gossipy coven busybody of the highest order.
Lucas tilted his head. Robin thought of the ancient raven no doubt watching all of this as it watched everything.
Then Lucas lowered his hand and the dog laid down. “You know what I can do.”
“Because you’re…” Finally, Josiah showed sense and decided to shut up. He looked at his dog, if itwasstill his dog. “I just wanted her to think I mattered.”
“You matter, with or without any familiars at your side.” Robin butted in. “They’re a responsibility, like a pet, if more serious. And if you love them, you have to take care of them. That meanskeeping them safe. Why, even Athenais Sibley’s Doberman wears a leash when out. Will Battle is special.Tabithais special. But I think if it meant keeping her safe, Will would buy her a pink leash to go with her pink collar. I don’t have any other advice on the subject, but I think if you can’t take care of a pet, you aren’t ready for a familiar anyway.”
Josiah turned to Robin with wide eyes. “Oh. I….” He scowled briefly, then shook his head. “Sorry, I know you but I can’t remember your name.”
Lucas stiffened next to him but Robin almost laughed. “That doesn’t really help my ‘if you aren’t powerful, you still matter,’ argument, I suppose.”
“This is Robin Blessing.” Lucas was back to being as icy as the northern winds. The crackle remained in the air. “And you should know to listen when he speaks. If Lisbeth didn’t teach you that, she’s failed you twice now.”
Robin looked up at Lucas, feeling his jaw drop but unable to do anything about it. Lucas kept his gaze on Josiah. Eventually, Robin turned to Josiah again too.
“Um,” Robin managed. “That’s a little harsh about Lisbeth,” he offered at last, though he agreed with each and every word. They rattled around in his head and rearranged themselves and formed a picture. He studied Josiah more intently. “Oh. Did you also want a familiar because you wanted a friend? Someone to stand with you when your mother decides things for you?”
He didn’t mean to ask it, but it slipped softly from his mouth and came to life in the air.
Lucas finally turned to stare at him but Robin was focused on Josiah and the hitch in his breathing. He felt Lucas take the paper bowl of ice cream from him but didn’t think to question why until his hands were in motion. A dog with soft eyes andwarm colors, and a boy with a mother like that, in a town like this, full of Greysmiths and Sibleys and Battles… and Blessings and Redfernes, not so very long ago.
There was a reason so many of the less powerful ran from Ravenscroft and never came back. This coven had so much to answer for.
Robin wished for a loom to help him find the pattern that would be, or a shining surface to make things clear, but Lucas was near, so it was not as difficult to find the threads as it could have been.
“Even with a leash, the dog will get away. It’s looking for someone.” Robin exhaled shakily and reached for Lucas’ hand. “It will get hit.”
Josiah made a rough sound and dropped to his knees to put his arms around the dog. It went willingly, licking Josiah’s neck as if in apology.
“A Zuberi is in training at the vet’s office.” Robin remembered a piece of information handed to him by someone and set aside until now, when he needed it. “She will need a faithful hound. She’ll know his name, I think.”
He blinked once, then again, trying to clear his vision.
Josiah looked up at him, angry and disbelieving.
Robin wiped at his eyes and then trailed his fingers through the air. “You were close to what you wanted with this one. This creature is ready to be loved and to be a familiar. But not for you, Josiah Hawthorne. I’m sorry.”
Robin frowned and looked away, tearing his hand out of Lucas’. Lucas only stepped in closer, offering the bowl of half-melted ice cream.
“You should have some more.” Lucas said it as if he knew that Robin was going to be tired now. Robin took the bowl and mechanically ate three more spoonfuls, all of Chester’s magic wasted on him in this moment. Lucas waited until Robin had started eating to turn back to Josiah. “You could give the dog to her now. Or, if you like, I could do it for you. If that would be easier.”
