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“It’s against the law the compel someone!” Her words dripping with outrage.

I mimicked her pose and answered sassily, “Are you going to lock me up?” My eyed danced. “Maybe you should leave me in a cave or something. Whatever will I do with myself? On the other hand, maybe you are right. Caves really are nice places-”

“You are doing it again!” Viv screeched.

Joanie’s lip twitched. I could tell that she caught the humor in it, but then she wasn’t the one getting the full dose of the compelling spell either.

“Lucy,” Veti’s voice cut across the room from where she was trying to shove too many books into a small bag. “Cut it out!”

I waved a hand to enlarge her bag and turned back to Viv and Joanie.

“I am not sorry,” I said firmly.

This time Joanie did laugh. “She reminds me a lot of you, Viv.”

Vivian didn’t look like that had been much of a compliment.

“Gee, thanks, Joanie,” she muttered under her breath. “Listen, you are going to come with us, or I will bring reinforcements to yank you out of here.”

I seriously doubted she and Joanie had the magical ability to travel with more than just themselves, seeing as how they had used a simple scrying spell. Neither one had a grasp on the magic. I felt another kernel of guilt. I could teach them about their magic, how to harness it and how to use it properly. I really was enjoying having them here and a part of me was starting to wonder if maybe they really were my sisters.

But then there was the master. I had been in love with him for as long as I could remember. He was kind to me, always treated me with the utmost respect. He had saved me when I was a baby from the Alliance and brought me here. I couldn’t imagine leaving without telling him.

Veti sighed, “We are going with them, Lucy. It’s time.”

I looked at the three women who were trying to browbeat me into something I didn’t want to do. The master said not to contact him unless it was dire.

I figured we had reached dire status.

“Okay,” I said slowly. “Just give me five minutes.”

I would just contact him and leave a little note. What’s the harm in that?