Amy topped off Jester’s food dish with a can of his favorite soft cat food as an advance apology for her upcoming absence.

“I should be back in time for dinner. But if I’m not, I’ll call the shop to have one of the women come up and check on you.”

Jester poked his nose at the offering before digging in eagerly. “I should be fine,” he said between mouthfuls. “Take all the time you need. You’ve been lonely and needing a trip like thish for a while.”

As if having her friends dote on her wasn’t bad enough, now her familiar had to get in on the act?

“Oh, thank you very much for the advice, Dr. Felis.”

Jester looked up from another bulging mouthful to stare at his mistress with a reproachful look in his glinting blue eyes. “Even a cat without an empathic bond could tell you’ve been lonely.”

“I have not been lonely,” Amy protested as she attempted to quickly clean some of the messes she should have sorted out ages ago. “I have wonderful friends and people who treat me like family.”

“You have too been lonely,” Jester sniffed.

Amy wasn’t about to lose an argument to a cat, but she was having trouble coming up with good retorts.

“I have not been lonely, I’ve just been … I don’t know …”

After a few moments indecision she finally chose, “horny?”

“Go borrow a couple of Brigid’s toys.”

“Jester!” Ugh, trust a cat to have absolutely no sense of delicacy.

“Then go buy a new one of your own.”

Amy felt her cheeks warming. This was as bad as trying to spar with Bri.

“It’s not the same.”

“Then you’re lonely,” said Jester with a note of smug finality as he dug back into the food dish.

Amy fought back a riot of ideas, not wanting to concede yet another verbal match today.

“Fine!” She fired back. “While I’m at the Union, why don’t I just set up a contract with a personal consort? Having a hot guy here to bonk me silly for a few nights ought to fix me right up in no time.”

“Just make sure he’s not allergic to cats,” was Jester’s only concern. “I’m not doing the crate thing and you’re rotten at cleaning up my hair anyway.”

“Ugh,” Amy rolled her eyes.

Jester was arguably her closest confidante these days, but there was no denying he was really good at pushing her buttons. How very much like him to have no problem pointing out his mistress’s failings. None of the other witches at the Union mentioned stuff like this.

A glance in the mirror suggested that maybe Bri made a good point. After rummaging through badly sorted drawers, she found the perfect replacement for the t-shirt and jacket she’d thrown on over her exercise outfit. A frilly, white, thrift-store skirt and that lovely, long-sleeved, black top from cousin Xiu with its festively colored fireworks embroidery and flirty off the shoulder neckline were just the thing for some light femininity. Not that anyone would look twice at a five-eleven Amazon in girly gear with Hunter Lox and Dr. Hotness Murphy right there. Anyway, her favorite blue hat and matching cloak completed the ensemble.

“I plan on being home around six or seven. Make sure you behave yourself.”

“Don’t feel like you have to.”

Amy paused in uncertainty, “what, be home at six or seven?”

“No, don’t feel like you have to behave yourself.”

Amy wanted to give a witty reply to get the final word, but damn, that was a good one. And something about getting permission from her familiar to misbehave, even just a little, left her feeling giddy and more than a bit daring at the prospects.

“Thanks, Jester. Love you.”

“Of course.”

By the time Amy had locked the apartment and headed out, much of the morning gloom had eased.

‘Hmm, party time,’ she thought optimistically as she took the stairs down two at a time.

‘Think positive.’

“Cute! I like it!”

“Very nice. You look happier already.”

Bri and Kim’s hearty approvals of Amy’s outfit brought a welcome warmth to her chest. Most of the time, Amy preferred letting her two effortlessly fashionable friends draw all the attention. It would be a nice change, feeling almost on their level.

Except today, their usually perfect choices seemed a little off for some reason.

“Hey Bri, are you sure about wearing that fancy cloak?” Amy asked in concern. “There’s still plenty of puddles from last week’s rain.”

“It’s all good. Lin enchanted it to repel dirt and stuff.”

Bri couldn’t resist doing a quick twirl, making her cloak fan out. As the high heels of her boots clicked lightly on the old tile floor, the golden trim and tiny stars decorating the plush, violet fabric sparkled in the rays of light coming through the beveled glass of the entryway door.

“And it goes great with this dress’s warming charm. Gotta love the feel of bare arms and legs in spring!”

Kim gave a little snicker, “And here I thought all your clothing was charmed to strip on command.”

“Why bother?” Bri seemed unperturbed. “Getting a partner to do the job is half the fun.”

“Right,” Amy smiled and shook her head. She then turned to eye Kim and her long, black leather duster. “And you look ready to cook in that. It’s supposed to hit almost seventy today.”

“Nah, I’m good,” Kim grinned. “It stays cooler than you think. Besides …”

She pulled the coat’s front open by the silver-trimmed lapels, revealing a pair of long-strapped handbags slung underneath. A half dozen Hunter implements, hopefully unnecessary on this recreational outing, were strapped to the thighs and calves of her loose, black cargo pants.

“Best to keep prying eyes away from company papers and the daily deposit. Tonya asked us to stop by the bank on the way to the Union. And certain somethings are best not left out in the open.”

“We’re not going into a war zone, Kimmy,” Bri sniffed. “We’re perfectly safe without all that.”

Amy had gotten a decent glance, “None of it’s the heavy stuff. And it never hurts being prepared.”

“Exactly!” Kim agreed, with a hearty smack to Amy’s shoulder.

“Fine, whatever. So are we …”

Bri paused midsentence, right as Amy felt a tingle of something approaching.

“Wait,” Kim reached for the stun wand at her hip.

Before Amy could decide how best to respond, a soft, feminine voice spoke in her mind.

‘My apologies for the interruption.’

All three relaxed as the ghostly, jade green front end of a foo dog emerged partly from a nearby wall. LuXi, one of the store’s guardians, was visiting in her spirit form. The looming head nodded to the trio.

‘I believe Dr. Cheng could use some assistance in the shop.’