Unfortunately, short of playing arrogant wizard to the hilt, Gabriel couldn’t banish Laryn from the room. And if Asa needed to access his familiar’s magic to help Nic, then any amount of embarrassment would be worth it. He only hoped Nic would see it the same way.

“Alternate form is tricky,” Asa answered, though sounding almost as if musing to himself. “Even with long practice, the process can be draining and difficult. I surmise you two haven’t had extensive practice yet?”

If he only knew how little, that he and Nic had only figured it out a couple of hours ago. Rather than explain, especially as he wasn’t sure how much Nic would want anyone to know, he simply folded his arms and grunted. Asa accepted that response, and Gabriel had to give Nic credit: the taciturn and broody image she’d encouraged him to cultivate came in handy in circumstances like this.

“I can tell you that the pregnancy is fine,” Asa said, fortunately intent upon Nic and so missing Gabriel’s start of guilt and surprise.

He hadn’t thought about the pregnancy, nor had Nic mentioned it as a problem when he forced her into alternate form. Of course the pregnancy could be at risk. So unutterably careless of him. And yet… with Nic’s well-being at stake, he’d make the same choice again. With nothing to do but wait on her wizard, Laryn watched him closely, her serious eyes resting on his face, something of a knowing smirk on her otherwise pretty mouth. She rested a hand on her own noticeably rounded belly, beaming with superiority.

No wonder Nic didn’t care for the woman.

Just then, Nic inhaled sharply, jerking from her slouch, color flooding her cheeks. Asa smiled broadly. “There we are. How do you feel?”

Gabriel had opened his mouth to ask the same question, and closed it again, irritated to be edged out.

Nic curled her fingers around Asa’s. “Better now. Thank you. That was… a very strange experience.”

“I’ll bet.” Asa rubbed Nic’s hands between his, then stopped and slowly released them, casting a wary look at Gabriel as a low growl escaped him. Laryn gazed at Gabriel with increased interest, pursing her lips thoughtfully.

“Lord Phel,” Nic said softly, holding out a hand to him. “Do you have need of me?”

He did, but not in the way she intended their audience to believe. But he seized the excuse to touch her, taking the proffered hand and enfolding it in his, like he might hold an injured bird that might further harm itself by trying to flap away. Nic met his gaze, a world of reassurance in it. She said she loved him, and he wanted to believe it. Mostly he did believe it, though he would likely never forget how the Fascination drove her to cleave to him whether she chose to or not.

“What happened?” he asked.

Asa answered. “Taking alternate form, as I said, is a powerful experience for a familiar. You both have plenty of magical potential to perform the feat, obviously, but sheer power—while it gets the job done—isn’t all that’s required. It takes getting used to, and I don’t recommend practicing to excess.”