"Because risking his life means less to me than risking yours." I flashed him a smile to take the sting out of the words.
"I love you, too," he muttered, but there was amusement in his eyes.
I snorted softly and returned my attention to Ilianna. "I need you to do a couple of other things, too, if you wouldn't mind."
"Like?"
I hesitated. "There's two things I need."
Actually, there were three, but one I couldn't—wouldn't—ask with Jak present. I wasn't about to give him that much information about the current state of my love life.
"So tell me," Ilianna said.
"The first—can you contact the Brindle and ask if they've sensed any dark magic at work on or near the intersection? If he did use it, they'd have to know about it. Maybe they can tell us about either the magic or the man behind it."
She frowned. "Not necessarily. It depends what sort of protection circle he's using. It could be inclusive—keeping the magic and the spells within the circle and undetectable beyond it."
"But surely the ley line itself would not be contained so easily?"
"I don't know. I'll ask. The second task?"
I hesitated. "Tao's struggling to pull himself together after the accident in the kitchen yesterday. I was wondering if there was some sort of potion or charm that might help him."
She frowned. "Whatever I give him would be more illusion than reality. I've told you before, there's no magic beyond time that will help him heal."
If he ever does. She might not have said the words, but they nevertheless hung in the air between us.
"The illusion of help might be all he needs right now."