“I suppose.” I didn’t understand her cavalier attitude, but I hadn’t been Al’s familiar for a millennium. “I don’t want a familiar,” I said, glad Nick was so distant he couldn’t feel any of this. I was sure if he was close enough, he would’ve called to make sure I was okay. I think.

“You’re doing well.” Ceri sipped her tea and glanced at the dark windows. “Al told me it took me three months to get to where you are now.”

I looked at her, shocked. There was no way I could be better than her. “You’re kidding.”

“I was fighting him,” she said. “I didn’t want to learn, and he had to force me into it, using the absence of pain as a positive reinforcement.”

“You were in pain for three months?” I said, horrified.

Her eyes were on her thin hands, laced about her teacup. “I don’t remember it. It was a long time ago. I do remember sitting at his feet every night, his hand soft on my head while he relaxed as he listened to me cry for the sky and trees.”

Imagining this beautiful wisp of a woman at Algaliarept’s feet suffering his touch was almost too much to bear. “I’m sorry, Ceri,” I whispered.

She jerked, as if only now realizing she had said it aloud. “Don’t let him take you,” she said, her wide eyes serious and solemn. “He liked me, and though he used me as they all use their familiars, he did like me. I was a coveted jewel in his belt, and he treated me well so I would be useful and at his side for a longer time. You, though…” Her head bowed, breaking our eye contact and pulling her braid over her shoulder. “He will torment you so hard and so fast that you won’t have time to breathe. Don’t let him take you.”

I swallowed, feeling cold. “I wasn’t planning on it.”

Her narrow chin trembled. “You misunderstand. If he comes for you and you can’t fight him off, make him so angry that he kills you.”

Her sincerity struck me to the core. “He’s not going to give up, is he?” I said.

“No. He needs a familiar to keep his standing. He won’t give up on you unless he finds someone better. Al is greedy and impatient. He’ll take the best he can find.”

“So all this practice is making me a more attractive target?” I said, feeling sick.

Ceri squinted apologetically. “You need it to keep him from simply stunning you with a massive dose of ley line force and dragging you into a line.”

I gazed at the darkening windows. “Damn,” I whispered, not having considered that.

“But being your own familiar will help in your profession,” Ceri said persuasively. “You’ll have the strength of a familiar without the liabilities.”