"True love, a fantastic love, a rare love," he admitted freely.

"You deserve the love you have found with Sarina and you both deserve happiness, but remember your words, dear boy, they will serve you well."

Dagon looked at her oddly. There was an important message behind her reminder, but how to decipher it he wasn't sure.

"You must be truthful with the Ancient One when she arrives."

"Has a time been set?"

"No, we are still negotiating an equitable time frame."

"Then I have time yet to give this matter thought, though I think I know how to appease her."

Sydney grinned. "Then you will be the first-" Sydney paused and shook her head before she continued. "The second who has learned the secret."

"You make her sound ominous."

"She has her moments, but you must remember the vastness of her knowledge, the scope of her

existence, the demand for her powers, and the loneliness she must have endured over the centuries."

Dagon suddenly realized of what Sydney spoke. "She looks for love."

Sydney shook her head. "She knows the true meaning of love and has suffered for it. Be gentle and

wise in your opinion of her. She does what is best, and she does it for love. Understand this and you will understand the magnitude of her magic."

"You guide wisely, Sydney."

"I had an exceptional teacher."

"The Ancient One."

"Yes," Sydney said with pride. "She teaches without teaching and guides without guiding. She knows the way of the soul and understands the heart. She does nothing without knowing it is the wise way."

"And wise choices can bring pain."

Sydney smiled her pride in her own student. "Very good, dear boy. You have learned well."

"I had an exceptional teacher."

"Then the cycle continues as it should," she said, pleased.

"You will teach my children?" he asked.

"Planning children already?"

"I'm already three hundred years old! I think I've waited long enough."

Sydney laughed at his teasing. "I would be honored to teach your children."

"It is I who would be honored, Sydney."

Her laughter erupted softly yet again. "Perhaps not."

"Why?" he asked curiously and answered his own question. "Don't tell me. Ali and Sebastian's child

will grow along with mine and Sarina's and no doubt will create havoc as only a mixture of mortal and witch could." "Sebastian is now a witch." "A b.u.mbling witch." As soon as his words escaped his mouth, he winced. "Think wisely before you speak." He thought about Sarina and how hurt she would have been if she had heard him speak those words. "I am a fool." "A fool in love," Sydney corrected. "A fool nonetheless. Those words were unkind of me." "Yes, they were, but since you realized you erred, the words hurt no one but you." "Always the teacher," Dagon said proudly. "Of which I am forever grateful." Sydney's expression turned serious. "Wise witches look and see, listen and hear. While many witches understand this concept, they never truly practice it. Look and see, listen and hear, Dagon, and you will learn more than you ever thought possible."

"You're telling me I have more to learn."

"We all have more to learn. I for one would never want to stop learning, and heaven forbid Ali should.

I'm still hoping she'll master the art of cooking."

Dagon laughed. "I plan to teach Sarina much."

"And she you."

Dagon raised a brow. "She teach me?"

Sydney sent him a look that warned he was a pupil disappointing a teacher.

He thought better of his remark. "Let me amend that to 'I look forward to whatever Sarina may teach

me.' "

"Now you are being a wise witch."

Dagon felt honored by her words. It took many centuries and many life experiences to acquire the t.i.tle of

a wise witch. He hoped to one day earn that t.i.tle, and with Sydney's praise and encouragement he was

well on his way. "Thank you." "You receive what you earn," she said, though pride in her student remained evident in her smiling face. "Now to return to the problem of the Ancient One. You must be certain you will be able to appease her, or you will suffer her wrath."

"What could she do to me?"

Sydney spoke low, as if wanting no one to hear her response. "She could take Sarina from you."

"Why?" Dagon demanded in an angry shout.

"Shhh," Sydney ordered with a finger to her lips. "I can say no more."

It was then at that very moment that Dagon realized the startling truth. "You know Sarina."

Again Sydney pressed a finger to her lips in caution. "I can speak of this no more."

"I want to know," Dagon demanded with concern.

Sydney answered softly and with patience. "Would I tell you if I could?"

Dagon bent his head back and sighed to the heavens. "There is more going on here than I realize."

"Much, but you are wise enough to unravel the mystery if you put your mind to it."

"You can give me no help?"

"Little."

He attempted another question, but she raised her hand. "Fate has already been tempted. The remaining

answers are within, look and you will see, listen and you will hear. That is all I can tell you."

"This has something to do with the lack of Sarina's powers?"

"You look and see already," Sydney said, standing. A signal that their meeting was at an end.

"You said you will remain," he said, standing with a sleeping Lady Lily nestled in the crook of his arm.

"Yes," she confirmed. "I will not desert you."

"Again, thank you."

"Always remember your greatest source of strength and you will never fail," she advised with a kiss to

his cheek and left the room. It was barely noon and he felt as if the day had already been spent, it had been such a busy morning. And he had yet to conduct any business. His first thought was to return to his bedroom and check on Sarina, but there were business matters that needed his attention, especially that one business deal Sarina had warned him about. It wasn't going as smoothly as he had antic.i.p.ated, and a successful outcome was extremely doubtful. He looked to his computer and then down at Lady Lily. He would return to his room and deposit the kitten with Sarina, giving him a chance to look in on her, and then return to his study to work.

"Busy?" Sebastian asked, sticking his head around the open doorway.

"Business," Dagon said, "but it can wait."

"Good," Sebastian said with a smile. "I was hoping you would help me with some magic."

Dagon almost cringed and then recalled Sarina and all her failed and frustrated attempts to sharpen her

skills and how Sebastian did not hesitate that disastrous night to help her, so he smiled. "Sure, I'll help you, though," he warned with a pointed finger, "no levitation."

"d.a.m.n," Sebastian grumbled, "no one lets me practice that."

And both their glances immediately fell on Lady Lily, and they smiled in unison.

Sarina woke to the spit and crackle of logs and rubbed sleepy eyes to see Sydney poking at the logs in the hearth. She yawned loudly to let Sydney know her noisy endeavors worked, she was awake.

"Oh, did I wake you, dear?" Sydney asked innocently.

Sarina was wise to her ways and let her know it. "You wished to speak with me?"

"Never could fool you."

"You tried often enough."

Sydney laughed, walking toward the bed with Sarina's lavender dress in her hand. "Many of us did and failed."

Sarina sat up, the covers dropping off her, and reached for the dress to slip over her head. She climbed out of bed, and the dress slid down her body to rest at her ankles. Sydney handed her lavender socks. She pulled them on, folding over the thick tops, and walked to Dagon's bureau in search of a comb.

"You've spoken to Dagon."

"Your sight is as powerful as ever."

"One skill that could not be damaged," Sarina said and ran the silver-handled comb through her tangled