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“But would you say so if you didn’t?” he pounced on that.
She took a beat too long to reply. “Yes.”
“No,” he said for her. “You wouldn’t, because in your twisted-up idea of what our relationship should be, you think you can’t refuse me.”
“Gabriel Phel,” she said tightly. “You may have noticed that I argue with you freely. Some might say constantly.”
There was that. “You won’t refuse me sexually. That’s not the same thing, and you know it.”
“Maybe I do and maybe I don’t. Let’s confine this particular argument to the magic. Yes, I wanted your parents convinced about us raising the manse because I think it is the thing to do and I think we can do it. Most important, however, I strongly believe that if you experience for yourself the kind of power we can brew between us, and if you can see with your own eyes that we can use it to raise and stabilize the entire manse, then you will gain the confidence and ability you will absolutely need if it comes to war.”
While she caught her breath, he mulled her points. “You truly believe it could get that extreme.”
“Wasn’t today enough to convince you?”
“Those hunters were from before,” he replied obstinately. “Remnants of the previous conflict.”
She shook her head, slowly and firmly. “We’re already at cross-purposes with the Convocation. Part of that’s my fault. Some of it comes from this historic conflict that brought down House Phel to begin with.”
“Regardless of fault or history, we’re in this together,” he affirmed.
She turned her head and grinned at him, teeth a white gleam in the shadows. “Yes, we are. If worse comes to worst, I want us to be the most effective team possible. And until you unbend enough to truly embrace what you are and what I am—how we can be together—then we’re hobbled. Have you considered that, if I were able to take my alternate form, I could’ve escaped the hunters today?”
That hadn’t occurred to him. “You don’t know what your alternate form is.”
“Maybe I’m a tiger.” She bared her teeth in a fierce growl. “Then I could slice and dice those hunters myself.”
“Maybe you’re a bunny rabbit,” he countered to tease her, but the image of her as a defenseless, small bunny at the hunters’ mercy made his blood run cold.
“You could not be more wrong,” Nic argued, oblivious to his fear. “I know in my heart of hearts that my alternate form is something ferocious and terrifying to behold.”
“That would certainly match your personality,” he noted drily.
“Ha ha. My point is, unless we practice together, you will never be able to trigger my alternate form. That’s something I want, Gabriel.”
And it would be wrong of him to deny her that. He sighed internally. “Does it have to be via the arcanium?”
“Not necessarily, but the arcanium amplifies and focuses your wizardry. It’s foolish to reject that tool.”
“It doesn’t seem all that useful if it only works when we’re inside it.”
“Aha! But that’s not the case. We haven’t yet awakened the arcanium and attuned it to your magic. Mine too, which should make you feel better. Once we have, you’ll be able to use its focusing power and stored magic from a distance.”
“How far?”
“We won’t know until we experiment. With your MP scores? I’m guessing quite a ways.”
That did sound useful. “How do we awaken and attune it?”
She raised her brows and cocked her head.
“I don’t understand why all of these techniques have to be sexually fueled,” he said with considerable frustration.
“I know you don’t. I didn’t before you bedded me, but now I suspect the Betrothal Trials test sexual compatibility beyond simple fertility.”
That was an uncomfortable thought. But he knew what she meant—he’d felt that sizzling, sensual connection between them from the moment he walked into her tower room. Maybe even before that, studying her miniature and recognizing something in her that was meant for him.
“I have a basis for comparison,” she continued. “You don’t because you haven’t worked with any familiar besides me.” She hesitated. “You won’t like this, but one solution would be for you to tap Seliah’s magic. Along with helping her, you’d learn to feel the difference.”
