“Then don’t fight this. I want you. You want me. I’ll give you time to do what you think is right, but if our magic cannot be unraveled, then so be it.”
He exhales long and slow. “Fine.”
“Yes?” I ask, relieved.
“Yes.”
“How long is fair?”
He thinks about it, running his hand through his chocolate hair. “Three years.”
I gasp. “No.”
“You cannot rush magic. It’s complex, with an ocean of unknowns?—”
“A month.”
“Amonth?” He looks taken aback, horrified that I would suggest something so absurd.
“Fine. Two months.”
“There is no possible way I could do it in less than three months?—”
“Deal. Three months.”
He starts to laugh, shaking his head. “Kit, no. It’s ridiculous. I couldn’t?—”
“Shall we ask Ansel then?” I hide a smile. “If you can’t do it, then maybe he can…”
Rowan narrows his eyes, seeing right through my tactic. “Nice try.”
Grinning, I say, “I have faith that you can do this. After all, how many mages have pulled off a level five metamorphosis?”
“That argument will be more impressive once I’ve successfully reversed a level five metamorphosis as well. I’ve only managed half the process.”
I shrug like that’s a tiny detail. “I need to go. Want to come home with me?”
“I planned on taking you home.”
“I mean, do you want to stay for dinner?”
“You should spend the evening with your parents.”
“I want to introduce you to them. We were so busy, I didn’t have a chance earlier.”
“All right,” he agrees, looking nervous again. “But then I’ll let you have some time with them.”
I head into the back and walk up the stairs. When he follows me, I ask, “What are you going to do this evening?”
“After I take you home, I’m going to the library to see what I can find about magical bonds.”
“The last time you went, you rode in my purse,” I tease him. “Ah, memories.”
He rolls his eyes as we enter the apartment. Chester wanders in from the office, looking like he just woke up from a nap. The red and white pomsky yawns. He stretches one back leg, then the next, and finally trots over to say hello.
“Hi, Rat,” Rowan says affectionately, leaning down to pet the fussy ball of fluff.
My summer magic warms the room. “I’m so happy the two of you are getting along.”
