“Yes,” Asa agreed grudgingly. “There’s nothing wrong with Selly’s health at this point. At least, nothing that diligent attention on her part won’t cure in time.” He gave Selly a stern glare, and she simpered at him. “And it will be good for her to spend her magic.”

“I think it’s a bad idea,” Jadren grumbled.

Alise, black eyes alight with speculation, looked back and forth between Jadren and Selly.

“Good for me that you’re not in charge, then,” Selly taunted, then looked to Gabriel. “I’m ready to go.”

“So am I,” Han said, joining them. He surveyed the small circle. “Why so shocked? This was the deal. Iliana can’t go, but I’m fine.” He patted his new enchanted sword. “I’m eager to see how this beauty works on something besides hunters.” His striking blue eyes chilled. “And I have a score to settle with a certain spoilt teenage wizard.”

“I’m not asking you to leave Iliana,” Gabriel said, shaking his head.

Han shrugged. “Then I’m volunteering. Iliana would be disappointed in me if I let you down. Besides, she’s in good hands here, yes?”

“Yes,” Asa answered firmly, clapping the blond man on the shoulder. “By the time you come home, I’ll have her back on her feet and running to greet you.”

Han smiled wistfully. “Coming home. That sounds very good to me.”

~ 19 ~

Maman was here? Nic’s heart simultaneously leapt with joy and crashed with terror at her father’s words. He’d kept Maman from Nic thus far, rather than bringing her with him, as Maman would’ve begged to do. Therefore, this was some new twist in the game her father played with them both. Indeed, Lord Elal watched her with a smug smile dancing on his lips.

She took refuge in revealing nothing, standing in polite expectation, keeping her expression calm and serenely pleased to be seeing her mother again. Pretending that her abused heart wasn’t fluttering against her ribs, uncertain whether to break or fly.

Sergio, seeming oblivious to how easily he did Lord Elal’s bidding—her father had a knack for turning everyone into a servant—returned quickly with a cloaked Lady Elal, locking the tower door behind them again.

Lord Elal held out a proprietary hand. “Come here, precious.” And Maman went to him immediately, without even glancing in Nic’s direction first. She laid her hand in his, then turned, using her free hand to sweep her voluminous hood back.

Nic gasped, unable to contain her shock, and her father’s smile widened in satisfaction at her reaction. Maman gazed at her with vacant eyes, the pupils feline, as they would be in her alternate form of a cat. And they held no human intelligence to speak of, only bright curiosity.

“Maman…” Nic whispered, her uncertain heart settling on grief, charring to ash. “What has he done to you?”

“What she did to herself,” her father snapped, finally revealing the vicious anger that had driven him to such an extreme, “was betray me, her house, and you.”