“That we would,” he corrected with a half smile. “I still have no idea how you put that together, about the bonding.”

She moved to him, adding an extra swish to her hips, just to enjoy the silvery-bright surge of desire from him, and trailed her finger down his muscled chest. “I happen to be exceedingly clever,” she informed him.

“That you are,” he agreed warmly, snagging her provocative fingers and lifting them to his mouth, brushing a kiss over her sensitive fingertips, nipping just enough to make her shudder. “As well as innovative, powerful, loving, sensual, and staggeringly beautiful.”

“Are those qualities listed in order of preference?” she teased.

“I like the entire package,” he answered, wizard-black eyes like a starless night.

“I like your package, too,” she murmured, swaying close enough to rub against him.

“Excellent news, as I have need of your assistance, familiar.”

She caught her breath, knees going weak with her dizzying reaction. No longer able to play coy, she nodded. “Whatever my wizard desires of me.”

He swept her up into the balcony of his arms, carrying her out of their bedchamber. “We have an arcanium to cleanse and retune to the proper magics.”

“Oh,” she breathed, not daring to hope. “That will take considerable work, but we must do our duty to House Phel.”

The look he gave her scorched from the inside out. “Just so. I plan to spend all night on the project.”

She shivered, unbearable need taking her, a sweet counterpoint to the lulling comfort of being held close to his heart, enfolded in his strong embrace. “I confess, I love it when you carry me,” she murmured.

He brushed a kiss against her hair. “I know. I can feel it.”

He carried her all the way to the arcanium, through the temporary doors that they planned to reinforce. Everyone now had a very good idea of where the arcanium was located, so relying on secrecy to protect it was no longer an option. Gabriel, the master of innovation, had already been thinking up various magical tricks to provide additional defenses.

“Close your eyes,” he murmured as they reached the final door. His magic took hers in a sweet embrace, laying their joined mental hands on the silver circle, and she felt it open. The arcanium didn’t smell of blood as she’d feared. Instead, the heated scent of candles and roses filled her senses.

Gabriel set her on her feet. “You can look now.”

Opening her eyes, she gasped in wonder. The center circle of the tiled floor was ringed with lit candles and red roses. Inside, directly under the moon window, sat the silver bed—complete with a mattress and black bedding, neatly turned down to show the scattering of rose petals. Gabriel encircled her wrist with a firm grip, gaze firing as he sensed her heated curl of desire. “I thought you’d look good, spreadeagled naked on black, but I might have to try other colors.”

“It’s important for a wizard to experiment,” she acknowledged, mouth dry with anticipation. “Incantations of this complexity require meticulous fine-tuning.”