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.