“I doubt that,” Gabriel commented sourly, though what Jadren had said to him in those final moments couldn’t be shaken so easily. “It would have happened too fast.”
“I don’t think there’s a timeline for such things.”
“They suffered through an intense trial together,” Gabriel argued. “That creates an emotional attachment of its own. Like warriors in battle. It fades once the fight is over.” He wanted to believe that.
“What did he say to you?” Nic asked, her expression knowing when he glanced at her in surprise. “I saw your face. What did he say when you both thought he was dying?”
“That true love makes fools of us all in the end,” Gabriel answered on a sigh.
“Ah,” Nic breathed. He imagined she remembered, also, how Jadren had snarled at them for being stupid in love, embracing upon their reunion while the hunters bore down on them. “So he does love her.”
“Or thinks he does,” Gabriel corrected darkly. “Either way, it might be difficult to convince them to allow Alise to sever the bond. Do you think she can do it without their cooperation?”
“You would do that to them?” Nic asked in considerable surprise, and perhaps a hint of censure.
“I’ll do what I have to do to protect Selly,” Gabriel returned. That wasn’t a question. “If possible, I’d like to prevent Jadren from knowing about this trick. I think it would be unwise to trust him with that secret. He might tell El-Adrel.”
“And here I thought you wanted to broadcast it to all the world and free the familiars from tyranny at last!” Nic punched a fist into the air, giving him a bright smile.
“You shouldn’t mock me,” he told her, fighting not to laugh.
“Why, will you punish me for it, wizard?” She gave him such a heated look that he considered pulling her from Salve’s back and demonstrating exactly how he’d take revenge.
“Later,” he promised.
“Good,” she purred, looking immensely pleased with herself.
“As far as broadcasting the bond-severing to all the world,” he continued, firmly ignoring the fantasies she was deliberately conjuring for him. “I’ve been thinking on the perspective you offered. It’s a potent weapon. If we’re going to overturn the Convocation, then we need to use this weapon wisely and judiciously. You’re right—if the Convocation discovers this too soon, they’ll move to destroy anyone who knows.”
“While you know I love to hear that I’m right,” she said, producing a smile that fell short of saucy, “I feel I should point out that my father will know. He can’t fail to notice Maman has been severed from him.”
“You were the one to point out that Lord Elal has been oddly silent since we sent him home, even given the wound I gave him.”
“Knowing him, he’s plotting his next move,” Nic commented darkly, gazing into the distance. “We likely won’t know what it is until it hits us.”
“Then we need to plot our own next moves. Form a strategy.”
Nic flashed him a brilliant, and very real smile this time. “My favorite thing.”
“Your favorite?” he teased.
“Well…” She pursed her lips, raking him with a lascivious gaze. “Top five, anyway.”
That did it. He halted Vale, leapt from the gelding’s back, and came around to lift a laughing Nic off of Salve. “Gabriel, my only love,” she exclaimed, pretending to be shocked. “Here, in the Refoel wilderness?”
“Yes.” He claimed her mouth, sinking into her. “Whatever it takes to crowd planning war out of your top five.”
“Oh, my darling wizard,” she murmured, yielding utterly. “You say the sweetest things.”
~ 23 ~
Jadren awoke in the House Phel infirmary. For a disorienting moment, he thought it was still the days after Seliah had been treated, when he’d collapsed after draining her stagnant magic. Then he became aware of how much his body hurt, particularly his heart, which sent a stabbing double ping of agony with each one-two beat. Gabriel Phel and his fucking sword.
A cool hand smoothed his brow and he opened his eyes to see Seliah sitting beside him, looking hopeful and worried. She’d cleaned up, and had her hair neatly trimmed so it wreathed her pixie face in adorably springy black curls. But, despite the youthful delicacy of her fine-boned features, she no longer looked like the waifish gamine of a girl he’d first met. Seliah had a woman’s confidence to her now, a sensual ripeness in the way she caressed his forehead, and he was abruptly reminded of the promise she’d extracted from him.
Good thing he’d been clever enough to build a loophole into it.
“Hey,” Seliah said softly. “How are you feeling?”
