Page 30 of Rogue Familiar

“We can argue that point, but our case is weakened by the weight of the rest of this. Besides, there’s more.”

He sighed. “Of course there is. Might as well hit me with all of it at once.” He grimaced at the pile of documents. “They certainly did.”

“Standard Convocation tactics,” she replied with an arch look. “Hit the enemy with all the heavy weaponry at once for maximum impact. In the ancient wars, they did it with magic massed from all the minions of the houses. Apparently that was really something to see. At least now they only barrage you with paperwork.” She reached for the other pile. “To summarize the rest, they’re all from Convocation Center, regarding misplaced—their term—Convocation citizens.”

She brandished the top sheet. “This one demands that you deliver me for retraining, as previously conveyed via their proctor, with substantial fines for failing to comply to the initial request and more fines, plus censures against you for threatening said proctor.”

When he opened his mouth, she gave him an hard stare. “Let me finish, so I can save a single, emphatic ‘I told you so’ for the end.” Tossing that document aside, she held up the next. “I bet you can guess on this one: deliver Seliah for assessment and training, as previously conveyed, etc., etc., plus fines and censures. Then there’s these two from Convocation Academy, demanding the return of their student wizards, Alise and Sabrina.” She raised a brow. “Apparently House Sammael hasn’t bothered to mention to anyone that we sent Sabrina home.”

Gabriel waited. “Nothing about returning their other students to the Academy?”

Nic snorted. “Familiars? No, and be glad for it. It’s one less charge to deal with.”

“All right. I’ll let that go as this is indeed more than enough.”

Cocking her head, Nic studied him. “Is this when I mention that I warned you?”

“Not necessary.” He sighed. “Out with it. What is your plan?”

“I’m curious,” she said, instead of answering. “Had you succeeded in keeping this from me—including, not incidentally, the summons for you to appear at a hearing before the Convocation judicial council—what was your plan?”

“Get Wolfgang, Asa, and Quinn to advise me on the legalities.”

“That’s not a bad approach,” she conceded, which made him feel slightly better. “We’ll do that, although I suspect the best they’ll come up with are stalling tactics. I assume this was sent sealed to you specifically, so you had to open it with your magic?”

He nodded, wincing internally. “Shouldn’t I have?”

“I could wish you’d asked me that before you opened it, but you’re your own wizard. By doing that, you confirmed receipt, so that started the clock ticking on our reply to the allegations.”

“How long do we have?”

“A month.”

He brightened. “That’s not terrible. It gives us time.”

“Time might not make a difference.” She gazed past him, deep in thought. “The wheels of the Convocation turn slowly, but they move with relentless might, grinding all resistance beneath the weight of centuries,” she added darkly.

“That’s quite poetic, if awfully defeatist.”

She blinked at him, deep green eyes focusing again on him. “It’s a quote. By the lawmaker and wizard-philosopher Lord Redlin almost three-hundred years ago. He thought that then; imagine how much greater the solidification of time-honored institutions now.”

“Is philosophy a category of magic potential?”

“If it were, your scores would be off the charts,” she retorted, but she smiled ever so slightly in amusement and he was pleased to have lifted at least some of her dark mood. Then she sobered, tapping another sheet to the side of the others. “Do you understand that this document requires that you remand Seliah into the custody of either Convocation Center or House El-Adrel immediately?”

He’d gathered that much. “At least we’re unable to comply on that one, so long as Seliah stays away.”

“A very slight comfort.” Propping her elbows on the desk, Nic dropped her face in her hands, showing rare dejection.

Concerned, Gabriel moved behind her and set his hands on her shoulders, the tendons in the exposed nape of her neck visibly corded. So tense. He dug in his thumbs, massaging the tight knots, gratified by her moan of pleasure of an entirely different sort than before. “I’m sorry,” he told her, willing her to believe it. “I’ve done everything wrong from the beginning. I should have listened to you. I’m the stubborn one and now I’ve put us all in jeopardy.”

She grunted, though whether in agreement or in response to him finding a particularly sensitive spot, he wasn’t sure. Then she lifted her head and turned, eyeing him. “I’d love to be able to enjoy this moment of vindication more, but I can’t.” Reaching up, she slipped a hand behind his neck, drawing him down and tipping her mouth up for a kiss.

Never able to resist her, he eased into the kiss, brushing his lips softly over hers in a kind of apology and benediction. Not that Nic ever held anything against him. At least, not for long. He might agonize within the quiet of his thoughts over whether Nic loved him willingly, but there was no denying that she loved him unconditionally. Even if he made mistake after mistake, stubbornly forging down the wrong path, she’d stay doggedly by his side, he knew, giving up everything—including her life—to support him.

Could he offer her anything less?

Her whole body relaxing, Nic tipped her head back against the high seat, murmuring into his mouth as he deepened the kiss and stroked light fingers down her throat, teasing the upper curves of her lush bosom. “What did you say?” he asked, withdrawing from the kiss just enough to whisper the question against her lips.

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