Overthenextmonth,Will did exactly what Sage told him to when it came to studying magic, and then some.He read and wrote spells or little nonsense rhymes when Sage was out working, such as “swaddle, waddle, wooden paddle, turn into a kitchen ladle.”
That particular one, Will used on an old washing paddle he’d found in a cupboard under the stairs.The result had been a ladle strainer, probably on account of the rhyme not really working.When Will had shown Sage, he’d decided that was still more useful than a washing paddle, the existence of which had baffled him.
More complex spells usually took Will some time to come up with, and when Sage asked him to wind the large kitchen clock—not easy, he’d said, since it was so old and had been with the Verts for so long it was half made out of magic by now—it took Will a whole morning to come up with:
“Clock on the wall, time’s face watching,
rigors of time, the clockwork’s catching.
Smooth and steady, hands tick by
and wind themselves so they comply
to rigorous time and time again,
as stout and steady as arts arcane.”
Will aimed the spell at the clock under Sage’s watchful eye, and Sage clapped excitedly when the big hand adjusted itself back three minutes to tell the proper time again.
Will also took to making breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and whenever Sage came home after a job, Will did his best to subtly sniff him.The fear that Sage would call or text one day to let him know he was spending the night elsewhere haunted him, and whenever Sage was out long for a job, Will’s wolf grew anxious and frustrated.
Still, by silent agreement, Will now slept in Sage’s bed.It had helped massively with just sleeping in general.Will still woke up sometimes during the night, but less often, and he no longer felt the need to wander through the house like he had before.Also, Sage just had regular cushions in his bedroom, no enchanted ones, and that was a nice change.
As much as the routine seemed to work for Sage, who never once demanded that Will tell him what the fuck was wrong with him, Will had the nagging feeling that the clock was ticking on…this.Whateverthiswas.He knew he wanted Sage, but he wasn’t going to kid himself.Sage could do better.If Will failed to get his head on straight, Sagewoulddo better, and Will would have no one to blame but himself.
He'd been thinking about all of that one day when he realized he already had the solution to all his problems at his fingertips.When Sage headed out to reinforce some warding the next morning, Will sat down at the kitchen table with the large clock ticking above him and called Peter.
The vampire sounded bored when he answered.“Did Sage accidentally turn himself into a toad?”
“What?No.Why would Sage transfigure himself?”
“The real question is, why are you calling me, William?”
Peter still sounded bored.
“Are you…doing something with stock photos?”
Peter paused.“Maybe.If I were, I’d tell you to get to the point, because I need to get back to the stock photos.”
Will took a calming breath.“Okay, so I want to ask you for your help again.Or a favor.I want to ask you for a favor.”
“Troubling, but go on.”
“I want you to compel me.”
There was silence for five whole seconds before Peter said, “And why would I do that, William?”
“It’s…it’s embarrassing.”
“Like bed wetting?”
“No!It’s… I need you to compel me so Sage can touch me.”
“I believe I’m getting where this is going.When you say touch, you mean well below the waistline, yes?”
Will swallowed, his throat suddenly tight.“Yeah.”
“Has Sage been pushing you to let him touch you?”
