“Well, as the prime wizard of House Phel,” Iliana explained. “The communication isn’t perfect. I mainly get her emotions. She feels very loving toward you, Lord Phel.”

“I’m soul sisters with a giant candy-pink seahorse,” Nic murmured.

“Anyway,” Iliana said, giving Han a last kiss, then going to Alise, who dismounted. “I assume you need my magic to get around Lord Elal’s guardians. The invaders are all in the manse somewhere,” she added, “doing villainous things, no doubt.”

“Did Sabrina hurt you?” Han demanded.

Iliana shook her head. “Asa hid me from her in the workshop. Then they decided to lock everyone in there, and it was so crowded, it was easy for me to hide. The Sammaels are waiting for you all to arrive, thinking that you’ll stumble into some sort of surprise trap. But Nathi and I outwitted them!” she crowed in delighted triumph. Several of Nathi’s deep-purple tentacles lifted from the water, waving in celebration. Iliana sobered, scanning the group. “Shouldn’t Wizard Jadren and Selly be with you, too?”

“Long story,” Gabriel answered. “What about Lord Elal?”

“He was going on about locating the arcanium, apparently.” She blanched, giving Nic and Alise an apologetic glance. “You knew he was involved, yes? I’m so sorry.”

“We knew,” Nic confirmed, then looked to him. “So, we ride up to the house, dispatch the Sammael siblings, then kick my father out of the arcanium?”

“And be done in time for formal dinner,” he replied, bowing in the saddle. If only it would be so easy, and yet he felt a kind of giddiness rather than apprehension. It could be the utter absurdity of their current circumstances, but he found he wasn’t worried about the outcome. He and Nic could do this. In truth, the prospect of finally being able to unleash their magic on deserving targets came as a relief. “Alise, let us know when the way is clear, and Nic and I will handle the rest.”

“You sure you want to approach the manse directly?” Nic asked, but her eyes were shining with similar fervor.

“It’s our house,” he confirmed, drawing the moon and water magic close, the massive charge feeling like pressurized lightning, ready to wreak havoc. “They should be afraid of us.”

Nic had never been prouder of, or more entranced by, her wizard. She could swear he glowed with silvery light, even in the bright sunshine, as they circumnavigated the lake. Vale and Salve paced each other at a gentle gallop. She felt like the avenging hero come to save the day, something akin to her early fantasies of the sort of wizard she’d be—and something she’d never expected to be as a mere familiar.

But she was something more than that, wasn’t she? The magic cycling back and forth between her and Gabriel, growing, amplifying, felt as much hers as his. As if hearing the thought, Gabriel grinned over at her. Together, they were greater than either of them alone.