“For once.” He lifted her to her toes. “For once, do something my way without arguing, without questioning, without making me want to strangle you.”

Her eyes heated. “I was stating my opinion. And if this is going to work, we’d better get one thing clear right now. There’s no your way, there’s no my way. There can only be our way.”

Since no amount of searching helped him come up with an argument, he released her. “I have a remarkably even temper,” he said, half to himself. “It very rarely flares, because power and temper are a dangerous mix.”

Pouting a bit, she rubbed her arms where his fingers had dug in. “Yeah. Right.”

“There’s one rule, one unbreakable rule, that we live by in my world, Sutherland. ‘An it harm none.’ I take that very seriously. And for the first time in my life I’ve come across someone who tempts me to whip up a spell that would have her suffering from all manner of unpleasant discomforts.”

She sniffed and picked up her beer again. “You’re all wind, Donovan. Your cousin told me you’re lousy at spells.”

“Oh, there are one or two I’ve had some luck with.” He waited until she’d taken a good swallow of beer, then concentrated. Hard.

Mel choked, gasped, and grabbed for her throat. It felt as though she’d just swallowed a slug of pure Kentucky moonshine.

“Particularly spells that involve the mind,” Sebastian said smugly while she fought for breath.

“Cute. Real cute.” Though the burning had faded, she set the beer aside. There was no point in taking chances. “I don’t know what you’re all bent out of shape about, Donovan. And I’d really appreciate it if you’d hold the tricks for Halloween, or April Fools’ Day, or whenever you all break out for a few laughs.”

“Laughs?” He said it much too quietly, taking a step forward. Mel took one to meet him, but whatever they might have done was postponed as the side door swung open.

“Oh.” Anastasia, with her hair blowing into her eyes, held the door open with a hip as she balanced a tray of dried flowers. “Excuse me.” She didn’t need to go any closer to feel the tempers rattling like sabers in the air. “I’ll come back later.”

“Don’t be silly.” Sebastian nudged Mel aside—none too gently—and took the tray from his cousin. “Morgana’s in the shop.”

Hastily, Ana brushed her wayward hair away from her face. “I’ll just go tell her I’m here. Nice to see you again, Mel.” Ingrained manners had her offering a smile. Then her gaze fixed on the ring. “Oh. How beautiful. It looks like …” She hesitated, flicking a glance at Sebastian. “It looks like it was made for you.”

“I’m just kind of borrowing it for a few weeks.”