I shed when I’m nervous.

Van didn’t seem to even notice the state of her pajamas.

Lou held my leg as Dr. Larsen cleaned and bandaged the wound, keeping it covered until my body could catch up to what it needed to do. Then she employed Trick and Van using wet washcloths and towels to clean the rest of me as best they could. The ferrets tried to help as well, crawling all over me to get the spots Van and Trick missed. It wasn’t great, but no way was I getting a bath right now.

Once that was done, she ushered us out into living room. “I want to see both of you in the morning.” Her arms were crossed over her chest and her face set in no-nonsense lines. “You need sleep.” She frowned at me. “You need to change back.” When I whined, she held up a hand. “Not now. In the morning.”

Lou shivered, swaying where she stood. “What’s going to happen to us?”

Trick frowned at her. “What do you mean?” He looked between her and Mama Ami. “We’re missing something, aren’t we?”

“Familiar.” Lou’s teeth chattered a little over the word. “I made Declan my familiar.”

Trick’s eyes went wide. “Oh fuck.”

All the blood left Van’s face. “Oh, Lou. That’s—”

“Forbidden,” Lou chattered.

Mama Ami grabbed a throw blanket from the couch and wrapped her in it. “I need to bring in the tribunal on this.”

Lou collapsed onto the couch. “I’m going to lose my license before I even get it. You’re going to lose your license when they find out. Oh gods.” Her head flopped back on the back of the couch. “Shhiiiiiiiiit.”

Dr. Larsen clucked her tongue. “Language.”

“Sorry, Mama Ami.”

“No one is losing anything, not yet.” Mama Ami crossed her arms and scowled, like she was daring the entire universe to contradict her.

I could feel the echoes of despair that flowed through Lou. She was devastated. All of her hopes, up in smoke before they’d even caught fire. I should be afraid of her—of this. But it’s hard to be afraid of someone when you can know their feelings echo your own. She wasn’t gloating that she’d bound me. She was freaking out and worried about her family. I very carefully laid my head on Lou’s knee. She rested her hand on the back of my neck, fingers plunging into my fur, like the contact helped make her feel better, too.

“Could we maybe not tell them?” Van asked. “I mean, not right away? Give her some time to fix this?”

Dr. Larsen was already shaking her head. “No. If they find out she tried to hide it, they would revoke her provisional license. The consequences would be much worse. If we go right away and explain…” She stared at us, the fingers on her right hand tapping on her arm like a little wave. “I hope we can explain, anyway. This isn’t…usual.”

“Well, they won’t be able to explain anything if they’re half dead on their feet,” Trick said, clapping his hands. “Okay, you two, bedtime. Let’s go.” He came over and helped Lou up.