The Professor Woos The Witch (Nocturne Falls Book 4) (12 page)

“That much I knew about her.” Corette made a soft, throaty noise. “Wait, I thought you said this Cole was Ulysses’s great-nephew. How did his daughter inherit Gertrude’s abilities?”

“She didn’t. Kaley is his adopted daughter. And her mother was a witch.”

“So Cole was bonded?”

“No. It’s a long story, but his first wife basically did whatever she could to get herself bonded to him, but it never took. Which is why she left him.”

“Maybe he’s not a familiar.”

“No, he is. Definitely. A raven shifter.”

“Definitely?”

Pandora slipped the feather from the side pocket of her purse and laid it on the counter.

Her mother stared at it for several long moments. Then she took a breath as she slid her eggs onto a china plate. “Pandy, I know this must be very exciting for you, but from what I understand, human familiars are not only rare, they don’t just bond with any witch who comes along. His ex is proof of that. I’m sure he sounds like an answer to your craft troubles, but I’d hate for you to get your hopes up only to find out he makes no difference.”

Pandora put the feather away. “What happens when a witch and a familiar bond? Besides her powers strengthening?”

“When the familiar is in his animal form, the witch can communicate with him telepathically. She can also see through his eyes in that form.” Corette pursed her mouth. “This is only what I’ve heard and read. I imagine Gertrude could tell you more.”

“I’ll have to talk to her again the next time I’m at Cole’s.”

Corette sighed. “I can tell you like this guy, and with you two working on the house together, that’s probably not going to change. I worry you’re going to end up hurt. You need some distance, honey. Get to know him, sure, but take your time.”

Pandora swallowed. “It might be too late for that. I already know my magic works perfectly around him. And when we…touch, he gets these visions of himself in his raven form.”

“And more than visions, apparently.” Corette’s brows lifted as she shifted her gaze toward the pocket of Pandora’s purse that held the feather.

Pandora nodded slowly. “Until we made contact, he had no idea what he really was.”

Corette sat at the counter across from her daughter, her eyes filled with concern. “So his parents never told him about his true identity? I can almost understand that. There was a time when familiars were practically hunted. Not in the shoot-to-kill sort of way, but witches with mediocre powers—even those with decent gifts—starting aggressively seeking out human familiars. A human familiar became a kind of status symbol. And a chance to increase one’s power. Many human familiars were coerced into relationships against their will.”

“That’s horrible.”

Corette took a delicate bite of her breakfast before she answered. “I agree. Most covens frowned on it, and eventually the ACW declared that any attempt to coerce a human familiar into a relationship against their will would be dealt with by a minimum of a five-year power nullification.”

Pandora made a little eek sound. The American Council of Witches had the final say in all things witchy. If they decided you were going to lose your powers for five years, that’s exactly what would happen, and they had the witches on staff to back that punishment up. “I wonder if that’s why Cole’s ex-wife finally gave up on him.”

“You’re sure they didn’t bond?”

“Doesn’t seem that way. I don’t think he’d ever shifted before he met me.”

Corette lifted her fork, then put it back down. “You say your magic works around him?”

Pandora nodded. “I haven’t tried any big spells.” She hadn’t done any of those in years. “But the two simple things I did went off without a hitch. And Kaley said my aura didn’t look so broken now.”

Corette smoothed the cloth napkin on her lap. “It could very well be his influence, but it may also be your craft is finally straightening itself out.”

“I think we both know that’s not the case.”

“No, maybe not.” Corette sighed. “I just don’t know if you should get involved with him, Pandora. I understand what a temptation it must be to think that another person could fix everything you think is wrong. But a human familiar is nothing like an animal familiar. You’re talking about having a relationship with a man you know nothing about. And he’s got a child.”

“Who I like.”

Corette held up a hand. “I have nothing against the girl. Or the idea of taking on the role of parent to a child who’s not your blood. Look at Sheriff Merrow and Ivy’s boy, Charlie. They get on like a house on fire.”

“I hear Saffie’s rather fond of Charlie too.”

“She’s got herself a crush, that’s for sure.” Corette smiled, but her expression quickly turned serious again. “But it’s not fair to the little girl if you waltz into her life on a whim only to waltz back out again. Children need stability. If this child falls in love with you, and things don’t work out between you and Cole, she’ll end up hurt too. That’s not right, Pandora. You have to understand what a relationship with this man entails. However enticing it may be to be around him.”

“I get what you’re saying, Mom, but I just met the guy. There is no relationship yet.” Kissing, but no relationship. A detail her mother didn’t need to know.

“You said you agreed to help him with the house.”

“Okay, there’s a business relationship. If anything else comes of it, we’re going to take it very slow. I swear.”

“Good. You have no idea if you’re compatible. Just because you’re a witch and he’s a familiar means nothing. That’s not a basis for a marriage. And working well together might be a basis for a business, but trust me, a marriage is a very different thing.”

“Hold the phone. Marriage isn’t even a word that should be uttered yet.”

“And what if you bond? What then?”

“I, uh, I don’t think that’s going to happen.” Pandora looked down at her coffee, acutely aware of how that bonding happened. She wondered if the warmth in her cheeks was turning her cheeks red.

“I take it Gertrude told you how the bonding works?”

Apparently it was. Pandora’s eyes stayed on her cup. “Yep.”

“You’re a grown woman. He’s a grown man. But if you sleep together and bond and end up not liking each other, I can promise that you will both be miserable. And not just because things don’t work out.”

“I get it.”

“Pandora, look at me.”

For a moment, Pandora felt like a child again. She lifted her head. “What?”

“Bonding with a familiar and then losing that familiar would be worse than a bad breakup. Worse than living with faulty gifts. It would destroy your magic for the rest of your life. And you’d both end up with holes inside you that would eat away at any happiness you find.”

“Like Ren.”

Corette nodded. “Like Ren.”

Pandora stared at her mother as the words sank in. She certainly didn’t want that for Cole or herself. One tragedy on her conscience was enough. “I never intended to get involved with this guy. Now I’m not sure I want to.”

Corette took her plate to the sink. “Familiars have a way of finding the witches who need them the most and, in the case of human familiars, the witches they belong with. There’s a good chance you could be meant for each other as a fated pair. But like I said, that doesn’t mean you’ll get along as man and woman. Just witch and familiar. It’s a lot to consider.”

“That’s for sure.” But clearly it had worked for Ulysses and Gertrude.

“I know this must be overwhelming for you to take in. Did I answer the question you came over to ask?”

“Not really.” Pandora sighed. “I wanted to see if I could bring Cole and Kaley to dinner tonight. Kaley still needs a mentor, and she’s dying to be around other witches. Plus, I thought maybe being around my family would help Cole see there’s nothing weird about us.”

Corette laughed. “Pandora, there will be four witches and a rook at dinner. You want to add a fledgling witch and a familiar and you think it’s not going to be weird? Bring them, but don’t expect miracles.”

Pandora grabbed her stuff. “Thanks. All I want is for him not to be afraid of who he is.”

Because no matter what the risks were, Pandora couldn’t help but be attracted to Cole. He was handsome and sexy and smart and, yes, her magic worked perfectly around him, but beyond all that, she felt drawn to him. Ever since that kiss.

She gave her mom a little wave. “See you tonight.”

Her mother nodded back as Pandora left the house. She walked to her car with a sinking feeling. What if the lure of being a witch with unencumbered powers was why she really liked Cole?

Getting to know him better seemed like the only way to know for sure. But then she could be setting herself up for a disaster, and she’d already had one of those in her life. She couldn’t be responsible for ruining another man’s life.

She got in her car, closed the door and started the engine, but didn’t pull out of the drive. Liking Cole for Cole was one thing. Liking him because he was a familiar was another. There was only one way she could think of that would keep both of them safe.

Under no circumstances, no matter how sexy Cole was, no matter how much she was tempted, not even if he did some kind of familiar magic spell on her (if that was even possible), there was absolutely, positively no way she could end up in bed with him.

Jack Van Zant arrived at Cole’s house earlier than expected. He greeted Cole with a hearty handshake. “Good to see you, son.”

“You too, Dad.” He raised his brows as he looked at his watch. Quarter to noon. “You made good time.”

His father shrugged. “What else have I got to do these days?”

“Grandpa!” Kaley came down the stairs. Despite being a thirteen-year-old, she hadn’t yet lost the ability to be affectionate, at least with her grandfather. Maybe it was because he was the only grandparent she had any regular contact with.

Jack scooped her up in a hug. “Hello there, baby girl.”

She returned his hug until he deposited her back on solid ground.

Then he started with the questions as he came into the foyer. “How’s the move treating you? You like your new school? Keeping your grades up? Have you made any friends? I hope none of them are boys.”

“Grandpa, no. No boys. And my grades are fine.” She rolled her eyes. Not even Grandpa Jack was spared that.

“Good. Just checking.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out an iTunes gift card. “You have any use for this thing? I won it playing poker. It says it’s worth twenty-five bucks, but it looks like a fake credit card if you ask me. If you don’t want it, I guess I’ll just throw it away…”

Kaley squealed. “Don’t throw it away!”

Jack put on a confused face. “You mean you want this old piece of plastic?”

“Yes, totally. Can I?” She held out her hand, playing up the cute factor with big eyes and a winsome smile. It was a look Cole had a hard time saying no to as well. And it was one of the few things Kaley had inherited from her mother.

“Sure, but I want a kiss first.” Jack offered her his cheek.

She gave him a long peck as she grabbed the card out of his hand. “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome, baby girl.”

Kaley popped her hip to one side, the card firmly in her hand. “Can I go upstairs?” she asked Cole.

“Sure, but we’re having lunch in a few minutes.” Normally, he’d make her stay and talk to her grandfather, but Cole needed some time alone with him.

“Okay, I won’t be long.” With that, she scampered back to her room to fill her iPhone with new music.

“Thanks, Dad. That was nice of you.” Cole shut the front door.

“I don’t see that kid enough since you’ve moved.”

“You know it’s just temporary. We’ll be back as soon as I get this place fixed up and sold.”

Jack looked around. “I might be dead before then.”

“Dad, please.”

His father took a hard look at the stacks of paper still filling the dining room. “You’ve got your work cut out for you, that much I know.”

“It’s well underway, I promise.” But Cole hadn’t contacted his father to talk about the house. There would be plenty of time for that topic at lunch when their conversation would have to be tempered for Kaley’s ears. “Let’s go out on the porch so we can talk.”