Interestingly, she winced, glancing back at them. “As for that…” She gestured them forward, keeping her spirit guardians in place. “I should be transparent before offering insult to House Phel by involving you in a potentially difficult situation.”

Nic and Gabriel exchanged an intrigued look as the other two stepped forward. They were also as bedraggled as Alise, the young man tall with penetrating blue eyes and long pale-blond hair tied back. He still had an arm around a lovely, vivacious redhead. Her long curls hung limp and damp, but her eyes remained brightly interested, freckles standing out bright on her pale face.

“This is Han and Iliana,” Alise said, indicating first the young man, then the young woman—and interestingly omitting their house affiliations.

“Iliana,” Nic said with wariness, tempered by a note of happiness. “I never expected to see you here.”

“Hi, Nic,” the redhead replied. “It’s good to see you again.”

“And Han,” Nic said, “I remember you, too. Everyone had you pegged to manifest as a wizard at any moment.”

The blond young man winced. “That did not turn out as ‘everyone’ expected.”

“We’ve all left Convocation Academy,” Alise put in.

“Left?” Nic asked, pouncing on that.

Alise grimaced. “Yes, well… that’s also a long story.”

“You were the one to caution us that we needed to know the particulars before involving House Phel,” Nic reminded her.

Alise glowered, looking very much the annoyed little sister. “I know that,” she snapped, then sighed and rubbed her forehead, exactly as Nic often did when feeling overwhelmed.

“We’re familiars,” Iliana spoke up, then smiled up at the young man. “Well, you’ve known I’m a familiar for a long time, Nic, but Han is, too.” She paused a moment. “And we’re in love.”

Nic stilled. Even though they were no longer touching, Gabriel sensed her sudden alarm. “In… love?” she repeated incredulously.

“Yes,” Han answered, without any sign of shame or guilt. “I only recently manifested as a familiar. We’d hoped I’d be a wizard and could take Iliana as my familiar. I’m a late bloomer,” he added glumly, and Gabriel felt for the lad. A young man likely only five or so years younger than himself.

“I repeatedly cautioned you on how unlikely it was that I’d be assigned as your familiar, even if you had turned out a wizard,” Iliana broke in, and he kissed her on the forehead before turning back to them.

“As Alise indicated, it’s a long story, but… the short version is that circumstances were such that we faced a terrible fate.”

“Let’s not dance around it,” Iliana reproved Han. “They need to know the details of our circumstances. Lord and Lady Phel, the truth is that one of our classmates, Sabrina Sammael, recently manifested as a wizard—and she’s always wanted Han. She’d had House Sammael draw up a contract to bond Han to her if he manifested as a familiar. If he manifested as a wizard, she intended to bond me, to force him to be her lover.” Iliana retained her poise, but emotion throbbed beneath her words, her eyes bright with unshed tears.