“At this point, given how Papa has dealt with you, that’s sounding like a bonus.”

Nic considered, wishing she could consult with Gabriel, knowing that he’d tell her the choice was hers. “Your wizardry would be welcome,” Nic began, then hesitated.

“But?” Alise waited, expression bland and spine rigid. “You might as well spit it out, Nic. Let’s not dance around each other anymore. If you don’t want me here, I understand and will abide by that.”

“It’s not that,” Nic assured her hastily, burying the uncomfortable stab of guilt that she kind of didn’t want her brilliant wizard sister around dazzling everyone. The time for sibling competition was over.

Alise was watching her carefully. “Then what is it?”

With a sigh, Nic handed Alise her last blank NDA. “This is not because I don’t trust you,” she said as Alise studied the document with climbing eyebrows. “We’re asking everyone to sign them before we discuss the contract to the house.”

“Bold,” Alise murmured as she read. Without looking up, she held out a hand for Nic’s quill, signing with a flourish. “I assume Han and Iliana will be asked to sign, too?”

“Yes, as soon as I copy over some more. Beyond that, now that you’ve signed this…” She waved the document in the air, determined to keep it safe until Gabriel could seal the promise magically. “I can tell you that Han and Iliana will be asked to sign contracts also.”

Alise sat back, taking up her glass again. “I don’t have to tell you that a familiar’s signature on a contract isn’t legally binding in the Convocation.”

“No, though it might be helpful to have someone besides me explaining that to Gabriel,” Nic replied drily.

“Aha,” Alise breathed, clearly thinking that through. “Now I understand.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s not that you’re in love with Lord Phel—though I don’t doubt that you are—but he’s a radical. An outsider. He’s making you his equal partner in this enterprise. That much was clear already, that your input and opinion matters.”

“I don’t see how that was clear when he obviously overruled me about you all staying,” Nic muttered, still annoyed by that, even though they’d made up.

Alise grinned broadly. “See? Just the fact that you were, and still are a bit—unless I miss my guess—annoyed that he overruled you demonstrates that you’re not used to that. In point of fact, you were smart to turn us away, and I can see why you’re worried that Lord Phel chose to take us in. While I’m selfishly glad for his soft-hearted decision, I can see that you have to be the one to hold his feet to the fire regarding truths of life in the Convocation.”

“You’re not wrong,” Nic replied with resignation.

“But what you two are doing here is important,” Alise continued. “I realize now that we don’t have to run away to establish the community I described.”

“We don’t?”

“No, because you’re already doing it.”

Nic considered that with some astonishment and considerable consternation.