I looked at Alec. He looked back at me. Well? I asked him in turn.
Well, what? Are you trying to imply that you'd like me to take over this matter, rather than let you deal with it as you obviously prefer to do with problems?
I jabbed him in the side with my elbow. "You are so incredibly funny. Get over yourself already, would you? You know full well what I mean."
He laughed again, wrapped an arm around me, and addressed Christian. "Is your Beloved available for a Release ceremony?"
Christian pursed his lips slightly as he glanced at Eleanor's angry expression. "I have no doubt she would be happy to do so, although she has not yet conducted such ceremonies on the living. Allegra is nothing if not dedicated, however, and I'm sure she would be delighted to tackle the situation. Madame, if you would please follow August, he will take you to my Beloved."
The messenger's companion gestured toward the doorway, still filled with liches who were watching the proceedings with unabashed interest. They parted to allow Eleanor and the vampire through.
"You're welcome," I yelled after Eleanor when she turned on her heel and marched off without anything but an annoyed sniff in our direction. "I hope you stay there this time," I added in a much softer tone.
Alec's arm tightened around my waist, no doubt in warning to behave myself. That reminded me of just why I was there with Jane's lich army. I turned back to the four council members, who were now clustered around the messenger, who was gesturing at Alec and me as he spoke in a low tone.
"I am not going to let you send Alec anywhere," I announced in a firm, no-nonsense voice. "Or me, if that's what Mr. Nosy there is telling you that you should do. I know you guys are angry at Alec about some mix-up in the past, but that was then, and this is now, and although I may not be a lichmaster like Jane, I think you can see that Alec and I mean business."
Thank you for including me in that statement.
I told you, we're a couple now. That means we do important things together. I glanced at him, suddenly worried that he didn't really want to be part of a team.
He leaned to the side and kissed me, very gently. There is nothing I want more than to be a team with you , Beloved.
I smiled, all warm and fuzzy inside at the emotion behind the words.
"Yes, we can see that you mean business," Christian said, taking his own sweet time to finish his conversation before turning back to us. He made a dismissive gesture. "You're free to go."
I gawked at him for a minute. "Both of us?" I asked, just to make sure I was understanding him correctly.
"Both of you." He gave a pointed look toward the mass of people at the door. "I'd be appreciative if you took your lich army with you."
"We're not really an army," Jane said quickly. "We're fully unionized, so that each member can feel he or she is an important part of our family."
"Wait. . . . You're letting us go?" Alec laughed again as I shook my head. "You're really that worried about the liches?"
"On the contrary, with all due respect to the lich union, they are nothing more than an annoyance."
I thought for a moment. "Is it because Sally is helping us? Did she threaten you guys?"
"Sally?" Christian frowned. "Do I know of a Sally?"
"I mentioned her earlier," the messenger said with a dark look toward me.
"Ah, her." Christian's eyes widened for a moment. "No, it is not the threat of the - " He bit off the word with a look toward the liches. "It is not due to her that we have released Alec."
I looked at the love of my life. "Did they just come to their senses?"
"Something like that," he said, kissing me again.
"I didn't need to rouse the liches?"
"No. If you'd stayed put, I would have been back there by now, and it all would have been taken care of."
I smacked him on the chest. "Dammit, I hate being left out of things. What did you do to get them to let up on you?"
"He helped rid the mortal world of Bael," Christian answered. "That, along with continued petitions by Kristoff and Pia, have been deemed as suitable punishment for the acts of the past."
"But . . . I thought you guys didn't mind Bael? I mean, wasn't there some sort of a pact you had with him?"