Still pacing, she glowered. “Morgan, this is serious. Brice was talking of coercion to force Sallis’s tattletale to tattle all!”

Another punch, as hard as the first. “And did he prevail?”

Fetching up at the attic window, she turned. “No. At least not yet. Morgan—”

“You’ve nothing to fear, Venette,” he said, unhitching himself from the bench. “I’m done working with azafris for now. And what I have left will serve my purpose for some time.”

“Which would be what? What are you doing with it?”

He let his eyes and voice chill. “Mind your manners.”

“If I could trust you weren’t dancing a jig with danger, Morgan, I would!” she retorted. “But how can I trust that when Greve begs me to drag you by the scruff of your neck out of this attic?”

Now that does cross the line.

“You’ve no business bothering my father. He’s unwell. I won’t have him upset.”

“Then stop gambling your life on azafris!”

Needing a moment to regain control of his temper, he pulled his tunic back on. Pushing its buttons through their holes, he saw his fingers were trembling… and felt his belly roil.

Pestilent, pestilent Sallis Arkley. What I wouldn’t give to snap my fingers and ruin him.

“Morgan…” Venette’s scolding tone was softened to a wheedling. “I know you think you need to prove yourself. You don’t. Not like this. Not with azafris. My dear, you’re no longer an ordinary mage. You’re a councillor. You have obligations.”

He gave her a swift and brittle smile. “Really? I had no idea.”

“Oh, it pleases you to be flippant,” she said. “Well, if you won’t think of yourself, Morgan, then at least think of Maris!”

“Maris Garrick has nothing to do with this.”

“She has everything to do with it!” Venette took a step toward him, jewelled fingers tightening to fists. “She has feelings for you, Morgan. And she believes they are reciprocated. If this goes badly she will be hurt.”

“So I’m answerable to you for her feelings, am I?”

“You must be answerable to someone!”

“Maris’s parents, surely. Was she suddenly orphaned today, Venette, that you feel the need to play at being her mother?”

“Oh, Morgan…” Lips tight, Venette turned away. “I think you must have breathed in too much of that cursed azafris. I have never known you so contrary.”

“And I have never known you so determined to meddle in things that are not your concern!”

She raised a finger at him. “Maris is my concern. If you pursue her to an understanding and then tumble yourself into strife with your magework, you’ll tumble her with you! Have you even bothered to think of that, Morgan? To think of her? Or does your selfish ambition blind you entirely?”