“What do you plan to tell the proctor about your incantation?” she asked in a low voice, only partly to divert his worry. She also needed him to be prepared with a good lie, something that did not come naturally to her ethically moribund wizard.

“Incantation?” He frowned at her. “For your alternate form, you mean.”

“No. The one you told the proctor you needed me for, in order to recover Selly.”

“Oh.” He waved off that consideration. “I’ll say it didn’t work.”

“I see.”

“What?” He stopped just shy of opening the doors.

“Nothing.”

“No, that’s your oh-so-neutral voice that means you think I’m being foolish but you don’t want to openly disagree with me. Spit it out.”

“You’ve been going to considerable effort to establish yourself as prideful, powerful, and scary Lord Phel with your new minions,” she pointed out. “Which I know has strained your moral code. By admitting to failure—one that doesn’t exist, by the way, as you didn’t even try—you risk undermining all of that.”

He sighed in annoyance. “Why do you even bother to ask me? Just tell me what I should say and I’ll say it.”

If she wasn’t barefoot, she’d kick his shin for that. As it was, she’d only bruise her toes. “Because you’re not my puppet, Lord Phel. I’m giving you advice, as you requested I do, I might add, not shoving my hand up your ass so I can work your mouth with my hand.”

His mouth gave up its flat, irritated line, sensual lips quirking into a reluctant smile. “As charmingly filthy as that image might be, I agree it’s not ideal for the partnership we’re developing. I’d much rather have your hand working other parts of me.” He lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of hers. “I apologize.”

She actually flushed in pleasure and arousal, his moonsilver essence sparkling through her blood, cool and effervescent. “Accepted.”

Still bent over her hand, he raised a brow. “And you suggest that I say…”

“Oh!” Where was her head? He smirked a little, well aware of how easily he’d flustered her. “Say that the incantation is in place but takes time to work. If questioned, make up something arcane and twisty that no one will understand. Make sure it’s enough time for us to find her again,” she added.

“I’m not handing Selly over to the Convocation,” he warned darkly, straightening at last.

“I understand,” she replied, not bothering to explain—yet again—that they might not have a choice in the matter.

~ 2 ~

Everyone came to attention as Gabriel and Nic opened the front doors and walked out onto the graceful porch of House Phel. Though it gratified some small and mean part of him—the overwhelmed and ignorant farmer boy he’d once been—to have the instant and immediate attention of this cohort of the Convocation’s finest, he also didn’t much care to be under scrutiny.

Was it too much to ask to be left alone to enjoy his wife and family in peace and quiet? Apparently so.