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One that Skye echoed from deep within his chest, staring Calcifer down until the mimic retreated a step, whining and flattening his ears.

Taly sighed. “Feel better now?”

Skye continued up the stairs. Over his shoulder, he gave her that insufferable smirk. “Yes, actually.”

Ivain’s voice carried down the hall. “Taly, I need to speak with you.”

Her face fell. “Shit. What’s his problem?”

“You did use magic in town,” Skye reminded her.

“When I was falling off a skyscraper. What was I supposed to do? Go splat?” Skye grimaced. “What?”

“I’m just… trying not to think about it.”

This new agreement between them—it was still a delicate work in progress. Old habits and instincts didn’t disappear overnight.

“He’s just worried.” Skye placed his hands on her shoulders and smoothed them up and down. “We all are, Taly. The city’s a powder keg. If it comes out that Ivain’s been harboring a time mage—”

“I know,” Taly grumbled and scratched at the itchy tangle that was her hair. “I know.” But it was getting harder. Holding back. Pretending to be weak so she could pass as human.

Sure, there had been a time when she lived in the shadow of her magic.

When silence, inaction, and isolation were her only means of protecting the people she loved.

But the fear—it was slipping. Shifting. And for the first time, she was starting to see her magic for what it was.

Not just a burden. A weapon . And as the days passed, she was forgetting the reasons she wasn’t allowed to wield it.

“It’ll be okay,” Skye said. “Just get it over with.”

She nodded. “No offense, but that’s a shitty pep talk.”

More than anything, Taly hated disappointing Ivain.

Skye flicked her nose. “Make the face.” She knew which one. Her eyes grew impossibly large and innocent. “Pout harder. And try tilting your head; it makes you look even more pitiful.”

She did.

“Good. Now get in there and turn him into a puddle.”

Skye gave her ass a slap for encouragement—and maybe just a chance to grope her—as he aimed her towards Ivain’s study and her doom.

Skye was waiting outside in the hall when the door to Ivain’s study burst open, and Taly stormed out.

“Hey—” But she stalked right past him, unshed tears brimming in her eyes, caught on the edge of spilling.

Skye let her go. He’d catch up with her. Walking the few steps to Ivain’s open door, he found the man himself still seated behind his desk.

“What the hell?” Skye demanded.

Ivain didn’t look up immediately. When he did, his expression was calm, stern, as if he’d already braced for this confrontation. “I take it you were listening through the door?”

That and Taly had broadcasted the high points through the bond. “She did good, and you know it. Hell, she did more than good—she carried this team last night.”

Ivain’s gaze hardened. “Half the city witnessed her doing things no human should be able to do.”

“Even when Taly was human, she did things no human should be able to do, Ivain.”

“Do you know what will happen if anyone starts asking questions? If even one person gets a whiff of what she is?”

“You know I do.”

But Ivain said anyway, “They’ll hunt her down without mercy.

And all the work that we’ve done, the plans we’ve made to protect her—everything will have all been for nothing.

I didn’t think I needed to explain that.

Not to you. You were supposed to watch over her, not encourage her to throw caution to the wind. ”

Skye crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Maybe I’m coming around.”

“Oh Shards, not you too.”

“No, maybe Sarina’s right. Hiding made sense at first, back when we thought she’d be untrained and volatile. But she’s not either of those things. If anything, the more daring she is, the more the public seems to adore her.”

“And how long do you think that adoration would last if they knew what she was?”

Skye shrugged, his tone sharp but steady. “I don’t know, Ivain. What I do know is that this siege has shown me how easy it is to circumvent the rest of the Imperium. You control the Gates. This is your island.”

“And it’s my decision how I’ll keep my daughter safe.”

“And how does a desecration spell keep her safe?” Skye shot back, the remnants of Taly’s fury—and her heartbreak—thrumming through the bond. “Taking away her magic? That’s not a precaution. That’s a punishment.”

Ivain’s jaw tightened. “Trust is earned. And last night, Taly abused mine. She’s always had a habit of testing limits. This time, there will be consequences.”

“Aneirin will come for her again. You know it. I know it. You’re leaving her defenseless.”

“You let me worry about that.”

“But—”

“ I am not discussing this ,” Ivain snapped.

Skye raised his hands in surrender. He could tell when he’d hit a wall. “Alright, have it your way. Just don’t expect me to play mediator when this blows up in your face. And it will, Ivain. You can only push Taly so far before she pushes back. I hope you’re ready for it.”

Skye didn’t wait for a response. He’d said his piece. With a final pointed look at the man behind the desk, he left to comfort his grieving mate.