"It's my night," Celeste said, her voice dropping several degrees. "We had a schedule."
"Schedules are for humans." Maki's hand landed on my thigh. "Familiars operate on need. And I need my master right now."
I grabbed Maki's wrist before her hand could venture higher. "Enough. Transform or leave."
Her lower lip jutted out. "But I want a treat. You promised me yummy milk if I was good."
Celeste sat up suddenly. "Yummy milk?"
"She means—"
"I know what she means." Celeste's face was flushed, her eyes glittering with frost. "Your familiar is quite direct."
Maki grinned, showing her pointed canines. "Life's too short for games. Even for immortal cats."
"You promised her..." Celeste couldn't even finish the sentence.
"I did not," I said firmly. "Maki has a creative interpretation of conversations."
"He kissed me earlier," Maki said proudly. "With tongue."
Celeste's eyes widened. A thin layer of frost spread across the bedsheets.
