Sage stretched and then looked up at him and Conrad wasted no time in kissing him good morning.The kiss was languid and sleepy and utterly perfect.Sage rested his cheek on his shoulder and smiled drowsily.
“You smell like roses and almonds now.I like it.”
“Mm.If that’s enough incentive for you to spoil me with a massage before bed each night, I won’t complain.”
Sage chuckled.“Ridiculous man.You know you need only ask.”He yawned.“Are you going down to breakfast?”
“Yes.I’d like to find out what the plan is for the day.Would you like to come with me?”
Sage grumbled a little and tucked in closer.“I’d like to stay in this warm bed with you all day, but I have a feeling I’ll be outvoted.”
Conrad laughed.“I don’t think you’re in danger of being outvoted when there’s only two of us.”
“But when Roger and Wyndham and Torquil and Keelan and Emrys all clamor at the door for you to go and rejoin the living, I shall certainly be outvoted.”
“They’ll be clamoring for you to join them too, you know.Harriet was most put out that you were disappearing into the study with us.”
Sage wrinkled his nose.“It was very strange.I’ve barely spoken three words to her.”
“Your friends like you,” Conrad said as gently as he could.
Sage grunted.“It’s taking some getting used to.”
Conrad pressed a kiss to his forehead.“I know.Shall we put that into practice now with breakfast?”
Sage groaned, but got out of bed.They took their time getting dressed.Each item that was donned, it seemed, was punctuated with another kiss or a cheek caress, fingers gently tucking hair behind ears.Conrad felt as though they were both reluctant to break the spell of togetherness when they left the room.But he had never been one to daydream his problems away.If they joined the rest of the group, they could talk with more people, or practice more spells, which would increase the likelihood of Conrad getting the position, which would then increase the possibility of seeing Sage in the future.And perhaps then he’d find a way to keep Sage in his life more fully.
This time, Sage’s entrance in the breakfast room caused little clamor.It seemed as though his presence was now anticipated.They filled their plates and sat together, and Conrad was immediately pulled into a conversation between Roger and Torquil.When he noticed Keelan and Silas chatting amiably with Sage, Conrad relaxed, pleased and proud.
He had not been wrong in guessing that Roger wished to see more magic from the two of them.But he was relieved that the man wanted to go over the notes he had compiled before continuing.
“I’ll admit this is only the second time we’ve had a full-blooded human work with a fae,” he explained as they all sat together in the study.
“And I’m guessing I’m the first person who hasn’t been able to feel magic,” Conrad said.
Roger winced.“Yes.I wish we could do something about that.Although if it makes you feel better, I barely feel magic.It’s more of asomethingjust out of reach.And I certainly can’t control it like Wyn or Sage.”
It didn’t really help, but Conrad appreciated the attempt.
“However,” Wyndham said from his seat on the chaise, “I suspect that most humans we work with will not be able to feel magic either.So your participation is exceedingly valuable.”
“Exactly,” Roger said.“Perhaps before we continue, we ought to pause and go over any questions you might have.Anything we need to explain better?”
“Perhaps you could give a better explanation of magical compatibility,” Sage said.They all turned to look at him.“I did my best, but I’m not sure my explanation was sufficient.And the conversation at dinner last night was full of the expectation that everyone present knew the subject matter intimately.”
“We did get a bit carried away,” Roger admitted.“That’s a good suggestion, Sage.Thank you.Wyn, would you mind?”
Wyndham got up from the chaise and perched on the edge of the desk.“Tell me what you know so far.”
“I know that the wedding ceremony is when the compatibility is first publicly demonstrated, but that a couple will likely have experimented in private beforehand.I know that it is the reason your magic together is so remarkable.”He glanced at Sage for permission.He gave a nod and a small smile.“And I know it’s the reason Sage inadvertently kicked up a wind when we were in the lake together.And it’s the reason my magic is so much stronger when we cast together.”
Wyndham smirked.“That’s a good start.Let’s take a step back for a moment.People often bandy about the expression of magical compatibility to mean something particular.But, in point of fact, everyone has a level of compatibility or incompatibility with every other person.This past spring, we invited a group of fae-humans to London to help develop our third rubric.And compatibility between them and our fae volunteers was a major component of the project.Silas’ magic was incompatible with practically everybody.His magic was constrained, sometimes painful, and sometimes explosive in a negative way with others.When he and I cast together, it was better.His magic was sufficiently powerful.But when he cast with Keelan…it filled the entire room.”
“I see,” Conrad said slowly.“And that’s the case with two humans casting together as well, is it?”
Wyndham nodded.“Although since most humans cannot sense magic, they probably don’t know how their magic is interacting with each other.”
“Not to mention most humans cast spells together differently,” Conrad said.
