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“Stick a fork in it.” He snapped his fingers again, and I wheezed a twisted breath free, leaning forward with a soft choke. I rubbed at my throat and earned an impassive glance.

“Get what you needed?” I coughed.

He shrugged. “I cannot use my gift on Alexei at this time if what you suspect is true. It appears it is something genuine, not forced between you. Merely exacerbated by the situation.”

I nodded.

“I’m glad you’ve found someone.” He pulled a notepad from his pocket and with it, a ballpoint pen that he scribbled a note with. “Say ahhhh.”

I didn’t realize he’d used his gift until I found my mouth opening wide. With a succinct gesture, he popped the pen into my mouth, cap first, and frowned. “Thought we wouldn’t notice, dear?”

I bit down on the pen until the plastic cracked.

He flipped a page, expression stern. “You’re lucky you were a good lay.”

He jerked the pen from my mouth, leaving the cap in place as I huffed, giving a little whistle through its tip as he made another note. “Spill the beans.”

And I did. I obediently told him the change I’d made in the yearbook, exempting Lex from my gift, and the small change I’d done to give him the pouch line.

Mesmer scribbled his notes, sighing as I flinched, every muscle in my body tightening in preparation for what was to come.

“So, the magic that was recorded the day before was not a significant historical change for self-gain. You made no attempt to hide it, and the charms are a bit sensitive, so I’ll let it slide. You used your gift to limit yourself, and who would risk their life to do that? We must be mistaken. It was a simple chronicle, not the work of a Sumna Scriba.” Mesmer wrote his little notes before popping the pen into the cap, still clenched between my teeth.

In frustration, I sighed as I opened my mouth for him to cast another charm, to extend the limitations of my ability to hold a pen—but none came.

I hesitated.

He attempted to put the pen between my teeth at another angle, and it tumbled away from my lips with a clatter. “Interesting.”

I stared him down.

“You made a weakness in it… Fascinating.” He wrote more notes as I awaited punishment, chastisement, fines, infractions, demotions— “You couldn’t have done that if you didn’t have genuine concern for another in your heart. Not quite extenuating circumstances, but you didn’t attempt to do anything harmful. We’ll watch this for now.”

I sighed in relief.

“After all, I’m only here for a CID.” He picked his pen up and tapped my nose. Conception in Dive.

I deflated a little, relief flushing my face in a cool wave.

“So, do you intend to have more children?” Mesmer went back to scribbling notes.

“I cannot say at this time. If the council demands it, I will father no more.” I cleared my throat, and he nodded.

“Good answer.” The pen scratching went on, taunting me.

I watched, stomach still twisting in knots—and not the fun kind.

“Do we know gender, gestational age, time, etc.?” He made another mark. “I had a look at the boy coming in and he seemed normal.”

I rattled off the date weeks ago, the words coming automatically because if I didn’t, he’d just use that magic on me. Part of the reason we parted ways, honestly. His use of his newly gained powers had made him impatient and insufferable.

“Hm.” Only a noise in response. A quiet huff of acknowledgment. “And would you say it was intentional?”

“No.” I cleared my throat. “Though we were in a situation, it should have been a concern.”

“Mhm. What book?” He continued scribbling until I spoke.

“Warwitha Calvin—The Yeast—” I started.