One of Kate Steele's better offerings. Three short stories around 70 pages each make up one tale about a special type of humanoid familiar and the wizard to whom he bonds. In the first part, ("Lucky Dog") fledgling wizard Tyler ineptly calls for help and his familiar, Alex, answers the call. In the second part, ("Unexpected") an enemy wizard blackmails a magical nuisance into making Tyler's burgeoning wizard abilities misfire- just in time for a magical duel. In the final part, ("Fated") Tyler and Alex have the fight of their lives- a magical duel to prove their right to bond.

The stories are smutty, humorous, fast-paced and fun. It's light snack reading that doesn't require much from the reader and still entertains. ( )

Alex is a soul familiar, a two hundred years old creature that is fated to be an enancer for a wizard. Only one, his soul mate, will have the chance to gain powers through a bonding with him.

When Alex is summoned with a spell, he is surprise to find that the summoner is a young untrained wizard, Tyler, with a little problem: his late mother before dying, cast a protective spell on the son, and know, everytime he is near another man, an hungry cerbetta appears, preventing him to get any closer. And so at twenty two years old, he is still virgin and very eager to resolve the problem.

Alex decides to help the boy, but he is not expecting to remain involved in a more personal way: now Alex wants to get Tyler rid of the spell, but only toward him, since he doesn't want for no one to have the chance to be near to the boy.

The story is short, less than 90 pages, and enjoyable. Funny and relaxing, it's a fast and smooth reading, probably a prequel to a longer series. The plot is nice, I always like "virgin" characters, they are so cute. And Alex is a careless and nice man, a bit ego and self-counscious, but all in all generous and likeable.