“I’m quite capable of managing my own blood drinking, thank you very much.How’s your beard?”
“I just forget to shave sometimes!Gods, Peter.I think I accidentally started a thing with Will, but I kind of like it and I really don’t want to stop having a thing with Will.”
“Oh.Thatis the ethical issue?”
“Yeah, that’s the ethical issue.I’m supposed to be teaching him, and also…I’m guessing you met those loups-garous he mentioned to me?”
“Briefly.”
Peter sounded like a glacier incarnate.Regardless, it was good to know those loups-garous had met their…Peter.
“You see why this is something I’m struggling with, then.”
“Actually, no.Among the more idiosyncratic habits of witches is that funny one where they foster out apprentices with the specific intent of merging families, so getting it on with an apprentice is actually a common witch thing.And if you want my opinion, it’s far less disturbing than the vampire stake-making to prove you’re a real witch.Although it was nice how yours glowed in the dark.So easy to evade.”
“Can you stop dissing Glowstick, and also, the fostering out of future witch brides isn’t really done anymore because it’s backwards, and…just plain yucky.Plus, as far as I know, the witch brides of the past knew they were supposed to be witch brides.Which is not what this is.Godsdamn, I just don’t want to take advantage of Will.”
“Well, if you aren’t taking any steps to adjust his temperament, you are certainly spoiling the pup.”
“Will’s temperament is fine, Peter.”
“He lacks the average pack member’s instinct to follow an alpha without getting overly contrary and downright disobedient.Hmm.Also not a desirable character trait in a witch bride, if I remember correctly.I once met one called Octavius, and he killed his teacher with his vampire stake.Very much not the recommended use for it; a total break with tradition, you could say.He changed his name, went into hiding, and established a Christmas tree farm.”
“Peter, no one sends their children off to become witch brides anymore.Can you please just tell me if I’m being an exploitative asshole here?Fuck.I’m not sure Will always knows what’s best for him, you know?So I have to know, and that’s a really high level of knowing stuff.”
“Wolf shifters are excellent at trusting their wolf’s gut, especially around the full moon.It was the full moon yesterday, wasn’t it?”
Apparently, even a vampire was better at keeping track of the phases of the moon than Sage was.He released the steering wheel from his iron grip.
I didn’t know that thing about shifters and their wolves.Because I still haven’t gotten around to digging that damn book out and reading it.It’s high time I do.
“You’re saying if he wants to be close to me around this time, that’s a good indicator that he doesn’t feel mistreated?”
“It’s how being a werewolf works, yes.A witch of your skill ought to know these things, Sage.”
“Oh, fuck you.I’m not an ancient vampire who can’t admit he needs to drain a coed or something.”Sage cleared his throat.“Look, I think Will got really hurt, and I only know a little, but he’s not okay.He’s trying to be, but I don’t think he is.”
“Would you prefer him to be fine and more responsive to your needs?And for your information, I do not drain coeds.But I might head to the University Library and see whether I can run into any interesting humans there.”
Sage hoped Peter wasn’t infatuated with some college kid.He wasn’t sure how he would handle Peter liking a college student, but it really was beside the point.
“I want him just the way he is, Peter, I just don’t want him hurting.And I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Then I suggest you don’t, which is my advice as your friendly neighborhood ethics specialist.Now go find your cat, Sage.”
Sage pinched the bridge of his nose.“I did not lose a cat.And to be clear, Will isn’t some witch bride, and even if he decides he needs something else in the relationship department, I’ll teach him what I know in the magic department.”
“Yes, that seems ethically sound as well, although why you are telling me and not the pup is, frankly, befuddling.May I go and add special ethics to my résumé now?”
“Just go eat someone, Peter.”Sage ended the call.“Well that cleared up exactly nothing,” he said to his abused steering wheel, then he finally headed back to the house.
Since Peter had been exceedingly unhelpful, Sage decided he was going to let things move slowly.Will needed it, even if he didn’t seem to know it, and maybe Sage needed it too.
Will insisted on cooking unless Sage put his foot down, and he was getting so good with his menial spells that most of the cleaning around the house got done more and more precisely and thoroughly.
I did all of that too when Granny really started training me.Only I never enjoyed having to do all the chores.Will does.And when I’m not out working, he always tries to be where I am.It’s probably a shifter thing.
When Sage came home after his talk with Peter, he considered what he could do to show Will that he was getting better, that he’d soon be able to do more.
