“You think he betrayed Selly into Sammael’s hands,” Alise said flatly.
“I don’t think anything,” Gabriel said, his gaze still on Nic, “but the possibility should be acknowledged and accounted for.”
Nic let out a heavy sigh. “I agree. Though I still don’t think Jadren would stoop that low.”
Gabriel stared at her with some consternation. “I thought you were the cynical one.”
“I am,” she protested, not at all sure why she was the one defending Jadren, of all people. “Or, I was. You’ve no doubt corrupted me. But, I’m arguing this point with full acknowledgment that Jadren is capable of cheerfully committing all sorts of nefarious acts. I just don’t see him turning Selly over to Sammael.”
“Not when he’s in love with her,” Alise agreed.
Everyone but Nic turned on Alise with varying degrees of astonishment to outrage.
“What?” Gabriel demanded of Alise, then turned a blackly betrayed look on Nic. “This is why you’re defending him. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? If that rotten, treacherous scoundrel has laid a fingertip on Selly, I’ll—”
“I didn’t tell you because I don’t know anything of the kind,” she fired back. “This is Alise’s theory. Although,” she admitted, sliding a look at her sister, “I don’t disagree.”
Gabriel fulminated with glimmers of silvery rage. “I can’t believe you’re all so sanguine about this possibility. Jadren is preying on someone who is not in her right mind.”
Before Nic could say anything, Alise rounded on Gabriel with rare lack of deference. “Selly is my friend and I take offense to that on her behalf. Yes, she’s struggled with sanity because of the magic stagnation—no one debates that—but she’s whip-smart and no one’s fool.”
“She’s a fool if she thinks herself in love with Jadren, as you say,” Gabriel countered.
“With all due respect, Lord Phel, that’s not what I said,” Alise retorted crisply. “I said Jadren is in love with Selly. If she’s noticed, I’ll be surprised. I don’t think even he knows it.”
Gabriel raked a hand through his hair, looking to Nic in frustration. “Can you translate this for me?”
Relenting, she went to him and took his hand, then combed her fingers through the hair he’d disordered. “We’re simply speculating, but Alise noticed what I did—that Jadren showed an unusual regard for Selly. He stepped in to help recover her mind when he didn’t have to. In fact, it would’ve been more in character for—”
“Or more in line with his assumed persona,” Alise inserted, and Nic nodded.
“That, too. For him to stay out of it entirely and protect himself.”
“Jadren was different around Selly,” Iliana agreed. “I absolutely support this theory. Besides, it would be terribly romantic.”
Han, Asa, and Gabriel all exchanged uncomprehending looks. Then Gabriel shook his head, shedding himself of the entire conversation. “What’s important is that I must recover Selly from House Sammael as soon as possible, and we can’t know where Jadren stands in this. I’m leaving immediately.”
That pronouncement elicited a storm of response, everyone speaking at once, protesting and volunteering to go—again except for Nic, who simply folded her arms and glared coolly at her wizard. He cut everyone off with a chop of his hand, then raised a brow at her. “I rescued you. I can rescue Selly.”
“It won’t work twice.” She shook her head when he opened his mouth to argue. “It won’t. They underestimated you before, but they’re not fools. They’ll know Selly is your sister and they’ll be prepared for a long-distance attack this time. Also, keep firmly in mind that you killed Sergio Sammael. Though you were well within your rights so far as Convocation law will see it, House Sammael will want vengeance. That’s a matter of strength as much as affection for a lost heir. Not to mention that you sent my father back to House Elal half-blinded and mysteriously severed from his familiar. They are allies in this conspiracy of theirs, so if Lord Sammael doesn’t know all of this yet, he will soon. Including the fact that you are holding his daughter hostage. That’s a fair amount of hostility to overcome.”
“I am not holding Sabrina hostage,” he corrected, though mildly, chastened by the reminder of their precarious political situation. “You wanted to keep her here, to teach her the error of her ways.”
All eyes fell on Nic, glimmering with a range of interest and doubt. Iliana wrapped her arms around herself as if suddenly cold, glancing to Han and reassuring herself he was still with her and not stolen away by Sabrina. All right, yes, it had been an unorthodox decision on Nic’s part, an impulsive move, and likely the wrong one. But Sabrina was even younger than Alise and sending her back to the house of her birth would only cement her character forever as set on selfish deeds and furthering House Sammael’s reign of terror. Nor had Nic been able to stomach seeing Sabrina executed along with her brother. Maybe it was Nic’s pregnancy making her tender-hearted; maybe it was Gabriel’s influence, but Nic no longer saw things the same way. Nothing was as black and white as it had once been.
“It may not have been my intent,” Nic admitted, “keeping Sabrina as a hostage, but unless and until she voluntarily decides to stay with House Phel—”
Han, Iliana, and Alise—Sabrina’s former classmates and victims/nemeses—all snorted at that.
“—then a hostage she is, which was my doing,” Nic continued, undaunted. “And I concede that keeping her here may not have been the wisest idea.”
Gabriel nodded crisply. “Then we’ll offer to trade hostages: Sabrina for Selly.”
“And then do what to balance Sergio’s death?” Nic kept her argument coolly logical. “Will you offer your own heir in exchange for Lord Sammael’s?” Though she knew he’d never do such a thing, Nic couldn’t help setting a protective hand over her womb.
Gabriel’s eyes flashed with silver. “How could you think it?”
“I don’t,” she answered with considerable exasperation, “but I can guarantee Igino Sammael will. There’s also the question of Jadren. He is still your minion, a part of your household. If he is being held against his will, it’s incumbent on you to ransom him also. Anything else would violate your contract with him and House El-Adrel.”
