“That’s the question, isn’t it? But she’s not anywhere Papa’s spies can find her, which probably means she crossed salt water. Nander doesn’t know anything either,” Alise added, a bitter twist to her mouth. “He just went back to sleep.”
Hmm. “What did Lord Phel do?”
Alise shrugged. “Papa didn’t say. He probably slunk back to Meresin. Humiliating, I’m sure, but what else would he do? Maybe that’s why Nic ran, because she didn’t want to be bonded to a rogue like Phel.”
“He’s a powerful wizard, though.” Gabriel Phel’s MP scorecard had made the rounds, everyone gawking at the numbers.
“Completely untrained,” Alise countered. “He never attended the academy at all.”
“How could he?” Iliana replied with some irritation. It wasn’t Gabriel Phel’s fault that he grew up outside Convocation society. Would Nic have rejected him for that reason? Iliana had never pegged her for that much of a snob. “He was a late bloomer. By the time he manifested, it was too late for him to attend academy.”
“A late bloomer like Han. Speaking of which, what’s going on with you two?” Alise leaned her head in her hand, craning to get a good luck at Iliana’s face. “I saw you dancing all night with him.”
“Mmm.” Iliana acknowledged noncommittally, sipping her tea. “Han is a good friend still.” At one time the three of them had been the best of friends.
“You’re blushing,” Alise pointed out. “Tell me everything.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“Uh huh. Then why this thing?” Alise snaked out quick fingers to twitch the lace away, her eyes rounding. “Whoa. I’m aroused just looking at that love bite. How did it feel getting it?”
“Eyew!” But Iliana couldn’t help laughing as she scooted away. “I didn’t need to know that and I’m not telling you anything.”
“That’s all right, I can just imagine.” She sighed dreamily. “You two are so romantic. Like Sylus and Lyndella, a real wizard-familiar love match.”
“Han isn’t a wizard.”
“Yet.”
“We don’t know that,” she argued. “It could go either way.”
“Oh, come on. With his MP scores? Everyone knows Han will be a powerful wizard, and you’ll be his beautiful familiar, the new epic romance.”
“Everyone thought Nic would be a wizard, too,” Iliana reminded her.
“True.” Alise deflated. “Life is so unfair.” She perked up again. “But youarein love?” she asked wistfully.
She was. And, with all the hindsight of the morning after, Iliana recalled all the excellent reasons why being in love with Han was a terrible idea. Living in the moment sounded great during the moment; it was afterward that one had to deal with the repercussions. Nothing had changed—whether Han manifested as a wizard or a familiar, whether they were in love or not, it all spelled doom for Iliana’s heart. Losing her appetite, Iliana stared at her plate.
“I don’t want to talk about this here,” she said in a lowered voice. “I’ve already been warned.”
“Yes.” Alise lowered her voice, too. “You should be careful. Besides, here he comes now.”
“Good morning, ladies,” Han said smoothly. He had his long, pale hair neatly tied back, and he looked unbearably handsome as he sat across from them. He raised his brows at Alise. “Is this a Founder’s Day miracle, wizards lying down with familiars?”
“Han, don’t—”
“No, it’s all right,” Alise interrupted. “It’s been weird between us and I’ve hated it. So, yes, I’m having a shitty day and would appreciate a truce.” She glanced at Iliana. “You can tell him, but later. Swear him to secrecy.”
Iliana nodded, Han looking curious, but he let it go when Iliana gave him a look. He smiled at her innocently, but his eyes glinted with sensual mischief. “And how are you this morning?” he asked in a low, intimate voice.
Iliana’s face flushed hot—sometimes she really hated about her translucent complexion—as the previous night flashed through her mind in an erotic kaleidoscope.
“She is glowing,” Alise answered for her. “Well done, my friend.”
“It wasn’t all him,” Iliana noted acerbically, stung by the implication that she’d somehow just lain there while Han worked his magic. Though that wasn’t far from the truth.
“It’s true,” Han murmured. “I feel quite… ravished this morning.”
