Jasper didn't move from his spot. It almost seemed as if he was guarding something.

Anica looked at him. "I had Lily buy this sandwich as a gesture of goodwill, but you don't care, do you? The thing is I need to take you back to the apartment."

Jasper stared at her without moving.

"I apologize for not keeping you safe," Anica said. "I needed to go to the shop and I hated to ask Lily to come over again. I thought Julie would work out. I never dreamed Edna was such a nutcase. I'm sorry for the trauma, Jasper."

Still he didn't come to her.

Anica sighed in frustration. "Look, I have something to say, and I don't want Julie to hear it. Could you come a little closer? I won't make a grab for you, I promise. It's just that this is a sensitive topic."

Jasper stood, stretched, and moved another three feet toward her.

He was still out of reach, but if she lunged at him, she might be able to get her arms around him and hold on. She'd promised him she wouldn't, though, so she resisted the temptation.

Keeping her voice low, she laid out her proposition. "I've been selfish to try and solve this on my own. Or just with Lily's help. I wanted to keep it quiet so my parents wouldn't find out, or the rest of the magical world, for that matter."

c.o.c.king his head to one side, Jasper seemed to be listening intently.

"I can't keep making you drink that potion when I don't know if it will ever create a permanent change. I'm shooting in the dark, Jasper, and I've finally admitted that's not good enough." She took a deep breath. "I'm going to call the couple that Lily met, the ones who are on the Wizard Council, and ask them to help me reverse this spell."

Jasper's chest heaved as if he, too, had taken a deep breath.

"Will you come home with me so we can get to work on that?"

Instead of moving forward he looked over his shoulder at the cardboard box.

"Come on, Jasper. Everything will be okay." She really thought he'd come over to her, but instead he turned and walked back to the cardboard box.

She slumped in defeat. She'd promised him that she wouldn't trick him in order to capture him, but maybe she shouldn't have made that promise. "I don't know what to do, Jasper. Tell me what you want me to do."

Sitting down near the opening of the cardboard box, he meowed in a way that was almost a command.

"Do you want me to come over there?"

He meowed again. Then he crawled inside the box.

Curious now, Anica walked over to the cardboard box, got to her knees on the dirty pavement of the alley and peered inside. Jasper sat near the opening, but farther in a pair of cat eyes glowed in the shadows.

The unknown cat hissed a warning. But that wasn't the only noise coming from inside the box. Soft mewling sounds mingled with the warning hiss.

Anica turned to stare at Jasper in wonder. "You brought me over here so I could help them, didn't you?"

Jasper met her gaze and began to purr.

Chapter 12.

Transporting the mother cat and her two kittens back to the apartment building was more of a project than Jasper had antic.i.p.ated. He'd been so tempted to leave them there, go home with Anica and forget the homeless family ever existed. Although he wasn't normally into acts of charity, the sight of that emaciated mother trying to nurse her hungry babies probably would have haunted him forever.

Lily had gone off to buy a carrier, and by the time she returned the mother cat had devoured every bite of the chicken sandwich that had been meant for Jasper. He tried not to mind too much. After all, Anica was about to risk public humiliation in front of her magical community for his sake, so he should be able to sacrifice a little chicken. Besides, Anica would feed him as soon as they got home.

The chicken helped soothe the mother cat's fears, but she still might not have gone in the carrier if it hadn't been for Julie. That girl had a way with cats, it turned out. She talked to the mother in a soft crooning voice as Lily and Anica transferred the first kitten.

There were only two, so it shouldn't have been tough, but the moment the first was in, the mother cat leaped after it and tried to take it back out. Anica managed to get the second kitten in the carrier before that could happen, and the family was confined.

"I'm taking them." Julie picked up the carrier and started out of the alley.

"We can trade off," Lily said. "They'll get heavy."

"I don't mind," Julie said. "But I meant I'm taking them to my apartment. They can stay with me until the kittens are old enough to adopt out. Then I'm keeping the mother. Come to think of it, I might keep both kittens, too."

"What about your allergic brother?" Anica scooped Jasper up in her arms and he offered no objection. He was happy to be going back to a warm apartment where no one would throw bricks at him.

"You know, I just realized that I don't want to go through the rest of my life not having cats because of my brother's allergies. He doesn't have to have animals if they bother him, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't get some."

Jasper thought that was a fine att.i.tude indeed. From his new perspective of having bricks thrown at his head, he could see that pets needed all the friendly humans they could find. He'd never realized how dangerous the world could be for an animal. To think he'd come d.a.m.n close to losing his boys. Too d.a.m.n close.

In a restored Victorian house on the edge of the town of Big k.n.o.b, Indiana, Dorcas Lowell was trying to get an oil stain out of her husband Ambrose's good designer slacks when the phone rang. She detested laundry and had tried various magic spells to get rid of the stain, but she'd only smeared it. She would have turned the job over to her husband, but he was worse at laundry spells than she was and he'd ruin the slacks for sure.

She wouldn't have to be doing this if he'd give up that ridiculous red scooter he'd insisted on buying a couple of years ago. He thought he looked like a biker dude on that contraption, which was now acting up and throwing out oil on his good slacks.

"Ambrose! Phone!" Working on the stain wasn't the sort of job Dorcas wanted to interrupt for a phone call and return to later. Once she'd launched herself into the task, she wanted it over in three minutes or less, not dragged out by interruptions.

Finally she realized that Ambrose wasn't going to answer and, even more irritating, he'd forgotten to turn on the answering machine. He hadn't mentioned going out, but for all she knew he was riding around town on that blasted scooter, deep in his h.e.l.l's Angels fantasy, getting more oil stains on his clothes.

"Zeus's b.a.l.l.s." She abandoned her stain duty in the laundry room and walked into the kitchen. She could just let the phone ring, of course, but intuition told her the call was important. The caller was persistent, at any rate. Dorcas had a habit of counting rings, and this was the tenth. The caller still hadn't given up.

Dorcas picked up the cordless from the wall mount beside the kitchen window. "h.e.l.lo?"

There was a slight hesitation, as if the caller was deciding whether to speak or hang up. "This is Anica Revere," a woman said at last. "My sister, Lily, tends bar at the Bubbling Cauldron on Rush Street in Chicago."

"I remember Lily." Dorcas had been quite taken with the tall brunette. Lily might need to ground herself a little more but she had s.p.u.n.k. Dorcas admired that in a witch.

"She gave me your number. I . . . I have a problem and I need some help."

As Anica told her story, Dorcas gazed out the window toward the lake. The ice was melting, which meant that the two lake monsters, Dee-Dee and her mate, Nor-ton, would soon want to come out of their cave under the water and take moonlit swims with their growing children.

The lake monsters had to be careful that the residents of Big k.n.o.b didn't see them, which was becoming more of a challenge now that there was a whole family of them living in the lake. Ambrose had erected a flagpole down by the sh.o.r.e, which he'd billed as a patriotic gesture. In reality it was a signaling device. When the flag was right side up the lake monsters had to stay hidden. When it was upside down they were free to come out.

But as Dorcas concentrated more fully on Anica's problem, she decided the lake monsters would have to wait another week before they began their swimming season. Dorcas and Ambrose were needed in Chicago.

"We'll be there first thing in the morning, Anica," she said. "In the meantime I'll do some research on the spell you cast. Because I don't know what we're dealing with, I think it's better if we meet you at a place where Jasper can't hear what we have to say."

"Then come to Wicked Brew." Anica gave the address. "Can you make it by eleven?"

"I think so." Dorcas winced at how early they'd have to be on the road, but she shouldn't complain. Not so long ago they weren't allowed to leave Big k.n.o.b at all. They'd been sent here-banished, in fact-to rehabilitate George, the dragon who had been shirking his job as Guardian of Whispering Forest. The Wizard Council had decreed that they couldn't leave, not even for a vacation, until George had earned his golden scales.

Dorcas and Ambrose had finally helped George accomplish that and now they could travel. They'd bought a Toyota Prius and had made several trips to Chicago for the plays, the food and the nightlife. On their last trip they'd discovered the Bubbling Cauldron, run by wizards and staffed by magical people.

"I'll look for you around eleven, then," Anica said. "Also, I probably don't have the right to ask you, but . . ."

"What is it?"

"I know you're both on the council and I suppose you're required to report everything to them."

Dorcas laughed. "They might like that, but I don't see it as my sacred duty."

"Then would you mind not saying anything about this to anyone except your husband, at least for now?"

"You know an alert came down to the Wizard Council when you lost your magic. Most likely there's already a note in your file."

"But they don't know why I lost my magic unless somebody tells them, right?"

"I'm pretty sure that's how it works." Dorcas was sympathetic to those who screwed up. After all, she'd done it herself. She'd messed up a spell involving the Grand High Wizard's brother-in-law, which is why she and Ambrose had been shipped off to Big k.n.o.b, the Wizard Council's version of Siberia.

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone, then," Anica said.

"We can be discreet."

A relieved sigh traveled across the miles between them. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. We haven't solved your problem."

"No, but I have faith that you will."

Dorcas wasn't so sure. Transformation spells were tricky, especially the older ones. She didn't want to rub that in, though. Anica Revere sounded as if she might be at the end of her rope and Dorcas knew exactly how that felt.

"See you tomorrow, Anica. Give my best to Lily." She replaced the phone in its cradle. Hera's hemorrhoids. Now she had to finish working on that stain. Maybe she'd have to resort to Spray 'n Wash, but that would be admitting she couldn't do laundry magic. No self-respecting witch would ever admit that.

Once Anica got Jasper back in her apartment, she wasn't willing to leave again until the next morning when she went to meet Dorcas and Ambrose Lowell at Wicked Brew. She'd thought keeping the shop operating smoothly was important to her until she'd almost lost Jasper, but her priorities were clear now. Her employees would have to handle things at the shop, and if they couldn't, well, she'd shut the place down temporarily.

She sent Lily home to sleep and gave Julie enough cat food and litter to get her through a couple of days with her new charges. Fortunately the responsibility of a mother cat and kittens had distracted her new friend from the subject of witchcraft, but Anica knew Julie would ask again. If she'd been given skull earrings by a great-aunt, then she might come by her curiosity naturally. She might have a few magical people lurking in the branches of her own family tree.

After Lily and Julie left, Anica sliced up some chicken for Jasper, who had certainly earned it.

His self-sacrifice surprised her. After the way he'd manipulated her affections Anica had categorized him as a self-serving jerk. A s.e.xy jerk, but a jerk nevertheless. Yet he'd been determined to save this mother cat and kittens before going home with her to fix his own problem.

When she went into her bedroom to change into sweats, she left Jasper scarfing up chicken from the bowl she'd set on the counter, and Orion pacing underneath, meowing his protest.

By the time she came back out, Orion and Jasper were at opposite ends of the sofa, grooming themselves. She sat down next to Orion and leaned over to give him a good scratch. "Poor guy. I know it's tough to be the one with your nose pressed against the candy store window, so to speak. Your life should be back to normal soon. You . . . smell like chicken."

She knew Orion couldn't hop up on the counter, or else he would have done that while she was slicing the chicken. Jasper certainly had. He'd been right by her elbow while she unwrapped the package.

So there was only one way that Orion could have eaten any chicken. Slowly she turned to Jasper, who gazed at her innocently. Now she had to know for sure.

Standing, she walked into the kitchen and crouched down to examine the floor underneath Orion's thoroughly cleaned bowl. Sure enough, there was a damp smear on the linoleum. Jasper had drop shipped chicken to his buddy Orion.

She walked back into the living room. "Jasper, I appreciate your generosity, but Orion's trying to shed some pounds. I realize you won't be here long enough to thoroughly corrupt him, but please don't get him started on any bad habits."

Jasper might not be able to talk, but there was no mistaking the look he was giving her. Quite clearly it said, Bite me.

After the morning he'd had, Jasper was exhausted. He slept all afternoon and only woke up when he smelled chicken warming in the microwave. This time when Anica fed him she watched him like a hawk, so he couldn't share any with Orion. To make up for that he played hide-and-seek with Orion for a good half hour afterward.

Orion obviously loved it, creeping around corners and pouncing on Jasper, then trading off and letting Jasper skulk around and leap out at him. There was no animosity between them anymore. The chicken-sharing event had obviously clinched the deal as far as Orion was concerned.

Jasper played with Orion partly for the cat's sake, but mostly as a demonstration for Anica. He hoped she was getting the message that Orion needed a playmate and Jasper wouldn't be around much longer to serve in that capacity. Instead of putting her cat on a diet she should get him a friend.

Playing was fun but Jasper was still low on sleep. When Anica turned in early, he was more than happy to settle down on the end of the bed along with Orion. He didn't even have the energy to sneak into the bathroom and catch Anica taking off her clothes and putting on her pajamas.

He heard her brushing her teeth, and then she came out in a flannel gown b.u.t.toned all the way up to her neck. She'd also braided her blond hair loosely and tied it with a ribbon. The getup seemed designed to discourage a man from thinking about s.e.x.

Jasper wished he could feel discouraged by her efforts to look plain, but instead he noticed how her nipples made two of the flowers on the gown stand out in 3-D. His still-active human male brain took that outfit as a challenge, not a turnoff.

He was still a cat, though, which meant that it didn't matter what his libido wanted at the moment. Would he transform again tonight? He had no way of knowing.

If he'd only get another ten minutes, though, he'd rather it didn't happen at all. Reentry was just too hard on the psyche. When he changed the next time he wanted it to be for good. He'd pinned all his hopes on the witch and wizard from Big k.n.o.b. Surely they could pull that off.

He dreamed, as he had ever since his transformation, that he was a man again. His past dreams had involved his condo, the office, and his normal routine. But tonight his dream had to do with s.e.x.

No wonder-he'd gone several weeks without any. Quite naturally the dream centered on a certain blonde, one who owned a s.e.xy red dress and knew how to dance a mean salsa. His erection throbbed as he dreamed that he'd peeled off that dress and lifted her onto a bed that was sort of like his at home except with antique posts like Anica's double bed.

Eagerly he climbed into bed with her and moved between her thighs. When he caressed her he discovered how wet she was, how ready for him. Thrusting deep, he felt the immense satisfaction of that ultimate connection.

They writhed together, hot and slick with sweat, both yearning for a mind-blowing climax. He moaned and called out her name.

"Jasper?"

The dream drifted away and he kept his eyes closed, wanting to sink back into the dream, back into Anica's lush body. If he opened his eyes he would see her bedroom through the eyes of a cat, which meant he could see extremely well, but it also meant he was still a cat. He didn't want to know that right now.

A warm hand touched his shoulder and shook him gently. Anica's voice hummed with excitement. "Jasper, wake up. You transformed again!"

His eyes flew open, and instead of his cat night vision, he saw the room as shadowy and indistinct. Human sight! He also had the granddaddy of all erections going on, a holdover from the dream. Grabbing a corner of the quilt he covered his woody as he gingerly pushed himself to a sitting position.

Then he looked at the clock. Eleven thirty. He was a man again but he didn't know how long that would last. He didn't know how long his erection would last, and that was a more immediate problem.

Waking up in the same bed with the woman he'd been having dream s.e.x with wasn't helping. He could smell her, almost taste her. She'd moved her hand and was no longer touching him, but his skin remembered how warm she'd felt. He wanted her to touch him again. He wanted her touching him all over, but he had a specific spot that really demanded attention.

"Should I turn on the light?"

"Not . . ." Using his voice felt weird. He cleared his throat. "Not yet." He had to think, decide what to do next, but all his blood had drained south.

"I could get your clothes, leave them on the bed and go out into the living room while you get dressed."