He nodded.

“Me, too. Thank you.” She held up the feather. “Now we just need to talk to Kaley and make sure she understands the plan.”

“She’ll be home at three fifteen.”

“Good. That gives me a couple of hours to get some work done.” And to get used to the idea that she and Cole were in love. She kissed him back. “See you then.”

It wasn’t until after four that Pandora was able to return to Cole’s. She stood with him in the foyer. “I meant to be here sooner, but I had to run comps for a new client, then email them, then they had questions. You know how it is.”

“I sure do. Work happens. I get it.” He slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. The comfortableness of his affection was sweet. “Kaley’s in the kitchen. You ready?”

“I guess.” She bit her lip.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just nervous Kaley won’t go for our plan. What if this doesn’t work?”

“We’ve been through this. It’s going to be fine. We’ll make her understand. She’s thirteen. She needs to recognize what her mother is really capable of.”

Pandora let out a little sigh. “Okay, let’s do this.”

Kaley was at the table eating apple slices and Nutella and texting. She looked up from her phone. “Hi, Miss Williams.”

“Hi, Kaley. Is that what you get for an afternoon snack? Man, all I got as a kid was lizard tails and eye of newt. That’s what witches eat, you know.”

Kaley laughed. “That’s totally gross and totally not true.” She held up her plate. “Want one?”

“No, thanks, I’m good.” Pandora took a seat at the table while Cole leaned on the counter. “How was school?”

Kaley munched a bite of apple. “Good. You know, school is school.”

Pandora nodded. “Talked to your mom lately?”

Kaley held up her phone. “She texted me this morning to say have a good day.”

Pandora nodded again. Enough beating around the bush. “Your dad told me that you mentioned his being a familiar to her.”

Kaley’s happy expression disappeared. “I thought it would be okay because she’s family.”

Pandora made sure to keep her voice soft and kind. “It’s something your mom already knew, but she probably didn’t know that your dad knew that about himself.”

“So I still shouldn’t have told her?”

“Well… Based on some other things I’ve learned, I think your mom could be out to hurt you or your dad.”

Kaley glanced at Cole. He nodded. She looked back at Pandora. “What kind of things have you found out?”

“For one, you told your dad that she asked if you’d found any feathers.”

Kaley shrugged. “So? She wants to make me an amulet. I think that’s cool.”

“It would be, if that’s really what she wanted to do. But neither my mother nor my sisters or I have ever heard of a feather amulet for those who see auras.”

Kaley sat back, eyes clouded with suspicion. “You think she’s lying to me? Why?”

“Yes, she’s lying,” Cole said. “It’s because she knows I understand who I am. She wants that feather so she can use it to cast a spell on me. Not a good spell, either.”

Kaley crossed her arms. “Of course you’d say that. You hate her.”

“I don’t hate her.” A muscle in Cole’s jaw jumped. “I just know what she’s capable of and honey, you need to too. Lila’s needs come before anyone else’s, Kaley. Yours included, unfortunately.”

Pandora could feel the mood going south. “Kaley, there is proof in the American Witch Council records that your mother was married and divorced to two other human familiars. We think she’s back for another attempt to get your father to bond with her.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

Cole straightened. “It means that I would be permanently attached to her, even though I’m in love with Pandora.”

Kaley’s eyes got wide. She glanced at Pandora.

Pandora nodded. “I feel the same way about your dad. We’re meant to be together, Kaley. Our spirits recognize each other as one half of a whole being. When I’m around your dad, my magic works perfectly. And it never worked right in my life until he showed up.”

“And,” Cole went on, “I finally know and accept who I am.”

Kaley seemed to take that all in. “I still don’t get the feather thing.”

Pandora looked up at Cole. “Show her.”

“I don’t think—”

“She’s your daughter and a fledging witch. She needs to fully understand.”

He nodded and took a breath. “Don’t freak out, Kaley.” Then he stepped to the center of the room and shifted into his bird form. He stretched out his wings and flew onto the back of the empty kitchen chair.

“Holy crap,” Kaley whispered. She looked at Pandora. “Is that seriously my father or did you do that to him?”

“That’s your dad.” Pandora reached out and stroked one of his wings. “Human familiars have the ability to shift into an animal form. When your dad and I are bonded, I’ll be able to see through his eyes when he’s a raven and we’ll be able to communicate telepathically.”

He cocked his head and cawed at Kaley.