You are the magic of this place. Adam flushed, flattered by that. This place was beautiful and powerful beyond his wildest dreams, and Alec spoke as though Adam was the shining star that brought light to it.

"I was told that we're supposed to collaborate," Adam explained. The guard cat was... more than that. There was an entire pride of guard cats, but it was Alec who kept turning up in every single one of Adam's readings. "I still don't know what I'm supposed to do, but it involves some kind of union or accord between us."