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Merlin mewed morosely and hung his head in shame.“I know you want to keep me from fighting, darling, but you know what happens if I forfeit.”

“What happens?” I asked, feeling so out of the loop when it came to Nocturna’s unique methods of conflict resolution.

“An All Paws Bulletin will go out to every single witch in the area. By refusing to fight, I’ll have effectively surrendered my magic, and it is their right to take it from me.” Merlin spoke passionlessly, as if he’d already accepted the worst possible outcome. It wasn’t like him at all.

I shook my head emphatically. I’d believe in my cat enough for both of us, if that’s what was needed. “We can’t take a risk like that. Jeez. I’m so sorry, Merlin. I shouldn’t have forced you to come back here. You tried to warn me.”

The Maine Coon lifted a paw to silence me.“No. This is my fault entirely. I shouldn’t have egged Tom on. I knew he was jealous, and still I took great pleasure rubbing my happiness in his face.”

“But the blood witch…” Luna mewled pathetically.

“We can visit him once this is finished,” I told her. I got that she didn’t want Merlin to fight, but she could at least admit the hypocrisy rather than trying to act like she had other reasons for wanting to hold him back.

“What if you lose?” I asked Merlin somberly. As much as I didn’t like it, we had to consider all possible outcomes. If Merlin lost the magical duel, he wouldn’t die, but he would be left forever without his magic… And where would that leave me?

Merlin sighed.“Then I’m willing to bet the zombie master will be far less interested in what I do going forward.”

“Well, that’s one way to solve the problem, I guess.” I forced a smile because I knew Merlin needed someone in his corner and Luna was oddly detached at the moment.

“In truth, I’m lucky that Tom didn’t put out the APB the first time I disappeared. My guess is he’d find it far more satisfying to land a few good strikes of his own than to simply rob me of my magic due to a technicality.”

I nodded slowly and glanced to Luna. Her blue eyes were wide as she took everything in, but still she remained silent—letting Merlin decide this one for himself, no doubt. Luna wanted Merlin to let her make her own decisions about what was safe versus what held more risk than acceptable, and now she was returning the favor.

“Is there anything we can do to help you get ready?” I asked after a brief moment of silence passed.

“Yes.” He rose to all four feet and stretched. “I need you to remain as close to me as possible once I’m on the field while also keeping a safe distance from harm.”

“How will I know what that is?” Too close and I’d put myself at risk. Too far away and I’d put Merlin at risk. This was not going to be easy, but it was the least I could do.

Merlin rubbed his head against my shin.“I don’t know, but I’m trusting you to figure it out. Your presence will give me an advantage over Tom. He doesn’t have a familiar, which means only I will have access to extra reserves if needed.”

Oh, that was right!

Maybe we could win this thing after all. It could all come down to me. I could save Merlin’s magic, and then once he defeated Tom fair and square, we wouldn’t have to be afraid to return to Nocturna.

Finally my status as his familiar meant something; it gave me a bit of power—power which I fully intended to use for the greater good.

With any luck, Merlin would clinch a quick and painless victory, and we would still have the time we needed to visit the blood witch before the morning sun came out and put the city into a slumber.

If not, I’d need to be ready to bunk down in a town that wasn’t made with humans in mind. And if Merlin lost his magic…

“I have a question,” I blurted out. I didn’t want to add to his anxiety over the pending duel, but I also needed to know.

Merlin plopped onto his rear and stared straight up at me.“Yes?”

“If you lose your magic, what happens to me?” I whispered meekly.

“Well, you remember what happened to Virginia when Luna cut hers off. It severed the tie. Just don’t go chasing after the fleeing magic and try to avoid any wells, and you should be fine.” He smiled half-heartedly, and I reached down to stroke his head.

“Oh, and there’s one more thing you should probably know,” he added sheepishly. “If I lose, then Luna and I will be able to leave with another cat’s aid, but Gracie… You’ll be stuck in Nocturna forever.”

15

Stuck in Nocturna? But what would I do here? How could I make a life in a world to which I simply didn’t belong?

“Can’t another cat help me out, too?” I squeaked.

Merlin met my eye briefly, then looked away.“It’s my blood to which you’re tied. Our connection is what enables you to transport here. Without my magic, that connection is severed.”

I gulped down the tangled knot of emotion that had formed in my throat. Merlin needed a strong second right now, not a liability. I had to push past my fears of what could be and do what he’d asked of me without any added doubts or hesitations on my part.