No.
I glanced at him. If it's not assimilation, then what is it?
He gave me the mental equivalent of a shrug and my annoyance surged. Some things, it seemed, would never change.
"We haven't even had the chance to explore our options with the Brindle witches yet," I said to Lucian.
And since they were some of the most powerful witches in the land, you'd have to think they should be able to come up with something.
"What you bear in your heart is unlike anything the Brindle witches have seen before," Lucian commented. "It is Aedh in origin, and their magic far exceeds anything ever seen here on earth."
"By that logic," Azriel said, before I could even open my mouth, "a dark sorcerer will be of as little use as the Brindle witches."
Lucian gave him a somewhat scathing glance. "Except that witches rely on natural magic, whereas a dark sorcerer uses the magic of this world and the other. In this case, that is probably as close as we'll ever get to Aedh-strength magic."
"Which does not mean we should discount other options without even exploring them." Azriel's voice held a dangerous edge. "Risa, you cannot—"
"We have to at least talk to this sorcerer," I cut in firmly even as trepidation crawled across my skin. I'd heard too many of Ilianna's stories to ever be comfortable in the presence of a dark sorcerer. "Even if we do nothing with the information he gives us."
"At least someone in this little group has some common sense," Lucian said. "I've arranged a meeting for this evening."
"I'm working at the café until eleven."
He shrugged. "Shall I pick you up, or would you prefer to meet us there?"
"The latter." I didn't want to be reliant on him to get back home, simply because that was one sure way to end up in his bed rather than alone in mine. Amusement teased his lips again. I added, somewhat crossly, "I thought you could only read my thoughts during sex?"
"That is mostly true."