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Lord Elal’s instant sneer of disdain shattered into astonishment, then fear as Gabriel received Nic’s magic, spinning it with his into an amalgam of moon, water, and spirit fire.He wrested the spirits and elementals from Elal’s dwindling grasp, then slammed the wizard with steam boiling up from the floor.Elal shrieked, high and frantic, twisting and contorting as silver spikes pierced him from all directions, his blood falling to the floor like the richest of his wines.
With a final wail, he collapsed, holding both hands to his head, sobbing piteously as he tried to pluck the spike embedded in his right eye.Gabriel stood over him, then looked to Nic.“An eye for an eye.”
“Is it enough for you?”she asked softly, no judgment in her gaze.
He considered, the monster within craving more, the man who Nic called foolishly noble uncertain for once of the balance that needed to be struck.“It can be enough,” he told her, “if you tell me it is.”
“It’s enough.”She offered a rueful smile.“There’s been sufficient bloodshed today, and I’d like to be done with it.”
“What shall we do with him, then?”
Nic let out a long sigh, drifting closer, though she spared no glance for her defeated father.“Put him in his carriage and send him back to Elal.Alise can direct the elemental to take him.I want him gone from here.”
“And your mother?”
“Maman stays with us,” Nic answered firmly.
“Won’t she pine after him, try to return?”
“I have an idea.”Finally, she glanced down.“Lord Elal.I am confiscating your familiar as payment for crimes against our family.”
He stared up at her, face contorted as his mouth worked, and she looked away from the spike embedded in his ruined eye.“You can’t,” he croaked.
“I can.”She turned away from him, then spoke over her shoulder.“You should’ve paid my dowry.”
