Al’s expression at my outburst was one of pure disgust, and when Newt turned to me, I wished I’d kept my mouth shut. “You want that elf for a familiar?” she asked.

I licked my lips. “He put me in a cage,” I said, trying to come up with a reason other than rescuing him. Trent got to his feet, the dinghy rocking until he steadied himself against the dock, whereupon Dali kicked him back to the bottom of the boat.

“He’s the perfect familiar for my student,” Al interjected smoothly over my head, his grip on my arm telling me to shut up. “Easily hurt, stubborn, prone to biting, but basically harmless. One must learn to ride a pony before tackling the stallion. He owes Minias a favor. I could press the issue since the elf is voluntarily wearing her smut, but honestly, it’s easier just to buy a mark.” Al smiled with a delicious irony. “Maybe I’ll offer to tell him about my new student. That ought to be worth something.”

I tensed as Newt’s eyes narrowed. “You’ll tell me again, if I forget?” Al nodded, and Newt’s face grew ugly. “The elf doesn’t owe Minias anything. I give his mark to you.”

Trent groaned and fell back, his hate-filled expression chilling me.

Dali’s brows rose. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

Newt spun, making her robe unfurl. “He’s my familiar, bought and paid for. I can claim anything of his. Even his life.”

Al cleared his throat nervously. “That’s good to know,” he said lightly. “Important safety tip. Rachel, write that down somewhere as lesson number one.”

Her lips pressed tightly, Newt pulled her attention from the false horizon and found me. Ice seemed to scum my skin, and I felt myself pale. I had everything I’d come for. I had rubbed out Newt’s mark, or at least I would when I gave Al his name back. I had saved Trent—I thought. So why did every instinct tell me everything was about to hit the fan?

“You will teach her?” Newt said to Al, looking at me with her black eyes.

Al nodded and pulled me closer, and I let him. “As if she were my daughter.”

Newt dropped back a step, her hands clasped before her and her head bowed. She looked funny, and I got the feeling that something was being settled that I didn’t understand. “You’re a good teacher,” Newt finally said when her head came up. “Ceri was very skilled.”

“I know. I miss her.”

Her head moved up and down, and then she turned to me. “When you’re ready, come to me. Maybe by then I’ll have my memory back and I’ll know what in hell is going on.”