Page 50 of The Librarian’s Familiar

“A bit further. I thought I’d show you my family’s hut. It’s where my brothers and I ditch our things before shifting. I thought we could sit there, have a snack.” August glanced at him.

“You mean turn into a bear and scare me,” Charlie mumbled. Even though August hadn’t said it, he felt the wildness in the bond and knew August was thinking about it.

“I think you need to see me shifted, since we’re mates.”

Charlie couldn’t argue with that. “Did you lure me out here so you could shift?”

“I don’t need a shift, and if you don’t want me to, I won’t.”

He couldn’t ask his familiar not to shift. That would be like August asking him not to use magic, almost impossible. Not only that, but August was right; he should see his mate shifted at least once. And it wasn’t as though he’d never seen shifters shift, though it was considered polite not to watch as the process wasn’t pretty or painless.

“No, you’re right. I should get over my fear of polar bears.”

“I didn’t say that either. You should definitely still be afraid of the animal.” August held both of Charlie’s hands. “But I don’t want you to be afraid of me. Obviously, it might take more than one shift.”

“Are you that big and terrifying?” Was he bigger than a tiger? That was the largest shifter he’d ever seen. For some reason, the cat hadn’t been that scary…a bear was very different.

“I can be.”

At least he was being honest. “Okay. I’ll try not to panic.”

“Please don’t turn me into goo.”

“It’s not instant,” Charlie reminded him.

August gave him a tight smile. “Not making it better.”

While he was afraid of polar bears, August was afraid of being unmade. “No magic. Promise.”

“You say that, yet I’m pretty sure I can feel the bond starting to fray.”

Could he, or was he imagining it? The changes were so subtle. By tonight, the unraveling would be more obvious, and by morning, he guessed there’d be very little, assuming they didn’t do anything to strengthen it again. “Do you want to shift now?”

August nodded. “For a few minutes.”

“Is it worth it?” Shifting burned energy. It was one of the reasons shifters ate so much, and all he’d brought as a snack was a packet of cookies. Their coffees had been finished before they’d left the town, and the cups were now in the backpack that was slung over one of August’s shoulders.

“Yes.” There was a glint in his eyes, and Charlie had the distinct feeling that they weren’t talking about shifting anymore.

He was worth the trouble.

Charlie nodded and released August’s hands. “Where do you want to do this?”

The edge of the lake seemed far too exposed…yet it also meant there were people not that far away. He hated the anxious churning of his stomach and the worry that he might need help. How could he fear that side of his fated mate?

What was wrong with him?

Or was it normal for witches to have fears about the animal side of their mate?

August sighed. “I can sense your fear.”

“I can’t help that.” Was it his heart, or the scent of his skin betraying him? Not that it mattered.

August glanced across the lake at where the other people were. “Are you okay with stepping into the woods for a little bit?”

It sounded like a sure way to disappear, but August was his mate, and their lives were bound while the bond existed between them. He nodded and saw a narrow trail leading into the bush. That must be the route that August and his brothers took after leaving their things in the hut.

They didn’t go very far down the trail, a few yards. When Charlie glanced over his shoulder, he could still see the lake through the trees.