A Little Too Familiar

By: Lish McBride

Love brings out the animal in you

Louise Matthews has got it good. Wonderful job? Check. Loving family? The best. Roommates? Pretty fantastic, thank you. All of this helps her

stay focused on what she wants: to finish out her apprenticeship and become a fully licensed Switch-an animal mage who bonds familiars to their witches.

Only a problem has just moved in-a hot, occasionally wolf-shaped problem.

Declan Mackenzie doesn't want to be a lone wolf, but he doesn't have a choice. Girlfriend? Gone. Sister? Starting a new life. Parents? In prison where they belong, thankfully. All he wants is a fresh start-new home, new job, new life. What he gets is a house full of witches, a fledgling phoenix named Dammit, and rogue ferrets who won't stay out of his business.

And he could handle all of that if it wasn't for Louise. It's not great to crush on your roommate. It's even worse when you realize she wields the kind of

magic that sends you running for the door.

Still, Declan is no pup, and he's not going to let this set him back.

Until the past comes back to haunt him-the parents he put in jail have busted out. They want revenge.

And the only thing standing between them and Declan is Louise and the very magic he vowed never to go near again.