Phlox waved me off. “I’m fine. Or at least I’m fine enough. I’ll crawl into bed next to Leon soon.” His eyes softened, and Phlox’ssmile was warmly fond. The expression was brief as worry overtook it. Gaze darting to the corners of the kitchen, Phlox made a zipping motion over his lips. Taking the hint, I activated one of Pops’s silencing charms.
“We’re good,” I said.
Phlox grunted. “Or so we think.” He shook his head, that exceedingly long hair flowing back and forth. “Honestly, none of us have a clue if these silencing charms work or not.”
I’d lived with fear so long that I barely registered the surge Phlox’s concerned words brought. “I suppose it’s the best we can do.”
Phlox’s nose scrunched up with obvious annoyance. “I absolutely hate that thought.” When I gave him a blank stare, Phlox deflated some, relaxing back into his chair. “I’m being a brat. I know. I just hate this whole situation. The Magical Usage Council is like a family to me. To think the parental lead of that family is in the wrong… It messes with your head. It’s like having the rug pulled out from under you. Thank the Goddess for Leon. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
Phlox leaned forward, his elbows planted on the table as he twirled the nearly empty glass of tea between his small hands. “I never dreamed I’d find a mate.” Phlox shrugged. “I’m only half shifter, so it was never a certainty.”
“I’ll bet Leon felt the same, about finding a beloved.”
Phlox’s expression softened again, showing how tired he truly was. “That’s true. We were lucky. It’s so different with mates.” Phlox placed a hand on his chest above his heart. “I know, in here, without a shred of doubt, that Leon is always on my side. Oh, that doesn’t mean we don’t bicker, but there’s never any malice behind it, and I know down deep in my core that everything he does is with my best interests in mind. Leon would never intentionally harm me—emotionally or physically.It’s an emotional constant that is impossible to erode away. It’s untouchable. It’s the one constant and sure thing in my life.”
“To my knowledge, necromancers don’t have mates or beloveds. Not in the way you describe. However, I feel like I have that with Franklin. Maybe he’s just a human and I’m just a necromancer, but the surety of our relationship gives me something similar.”
Phlox’s kind smile remained. “I’m glad.” His eyes hardened again, and his expression grew taut. “My understanding is that Director Huxley has threatened your human.”
My gut twisted and the taste of bile was sour on my tongue. “He has. I…I’m not sure what to make of it. Tenzen seems to think that Franklin can’t protect me.”
“He’s human. Of course he can’t protect you the way others could.” I started to protest, but Phlox waved me off before I could defend Franklin. “That wasn’t a criticism. Your human does the best he can with what he has to work with, the same as all of us.” Phlox jerked a thumb in the direction of the hall and spare guest room. “Take Leon. The sun doesn’t instantly turn him to ash any longer, but I think it’s fair to say that he wouldn’t be worth much fighting midday. As much as it kills him to know how vulnerable he is at that time, Leon works with his shortcomings. Or maybe he works around them.” Phlox shrugged. “Leon knows I can take care of myself.” Phlox puffed up with pride. “We take care of each other. That’s the way it should be.”
The knot twisting my stomach eased ever so slightly. “That’s exactly how it is.”
Phlox gave a firm, agreeable nod. “Now, one thing I think none of us are capable of protecting each other against is a djinn.” His head cocked to the side. “Well, you might be the exception to that rule.” Phlox was one of the few beings who knew what I could do. He’d seen it with his own eyes when Ipushed Janus’s soul back into his body, negating all the magical manipulation he’d undergone and turning him mortally human again.
I shook my head. “Honestly, I’m not sure if I could do it quickly enough or not. Janus didn’t know what was coming. He didn’t know to try and defend himself against me.”
“That doesn’t aid my calm, Erasmus Boone.”
“It wasn’t meant to.” Blowing out a deep breath, I let my fingers slip down the side of my glass of tea, the condensation easing the way. “If it helps, I think I could pull it off in time to save everyone else.”
“I think I need more explanation.” Phlox’s head was cocked to the side again, his eyes deep blue once more as he remained fully in his pixie form.
“It depends on where the soul is. The return isn’t instantaneous. If there’s a distance to travel, then that will take time. It also depends on how eager the soul is to return. Some take a little more…cajoling than others. If the soul is eager and close at hand, then the return is quick. What I’m trying to say is that I can quickly instigate the process, but the results may not be as immediate. If a djinn knows what I’m doing, and they decide to eliminate me”—I swallowed hard at that thought—“then by the time their soul reenters their body, there is a good chance I’ll be dead.”
“Well, fuck me, that’s a shitty possibility.” Phlox blew out a deep breath. “Also horribly unacceptable.”
“I couldn’t agree more. I’m just saying that it’s possible.”
“Does your human know this?”
My gaze drifted off to the side. “Probably not. Franklin knows what I can do, what I could do to Aurelia if… Well, I don’t like to think about thewhat-ifsin her case. I doubt he’s considered the time lag and that the djinn I’m trying to stop will likely have time to dispatch me.”
“Hmm.” Phlox’s wings battered against the back of the chair, not that he seemed to mind. The kitchen quickly filled with a cloud of dust, and I was extremely grateful for the charm Phlox had given me prior to entering my home.
With a huff, his wings stilled and he leaned back into his chair, crossing his arms. “And Ajita? Will it be the same with her?”
“I have no idea.” I’d actually given it a lot of thought. “I think it depends on if she keeps her object of attachment on her at all times or if she’s hidden it somewhere far away.”
“If she were in front of you, would you be able to tell?”
“Yes.” My answer was swift and needed no extra consideration. “I always know where a soul is.”
“Well, I suppose that’s something.” Phlox yawned, his teeth no longer feline sharp. “Fuck, I am tired. My eyes feel like sandpaper.”
“Go on.” I nodded toward the hall. “Get some sleep. No one will disturb you or Leon.” I thought better of that statement and with a deep sigh, I amended. “I suppose I can’t guarantee that. Aurelia does have a habit of popping in and out. She might find the news that you’re here…interesting. She’s been a little bored as of late.”
